Hammers double success

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Two of the Vortex Hammers team had weekends to remember, with Hammers number 1 Andreas Jonsson guiding his Swedish team to victory in the Speedway World Cup final in Vojens, whilst Adam Ellis, won the National League Fours, riding for his Birmingham Brummies National League team. The Hammers Fast Track reserve won a run off against Coventry’s Dan Greenwood to help clinch victory.

The club send congratulations to both riders.

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SWC review

After their world cup win, Swedish skipper Andreas Jonsson said his side’s teamwork was a triumph as they snatched their first Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup for 11 years at Vojens on Sunday afternoon. The Swedes last lifted the Ove Fundin Trophy at British track Poole in 2004 and Denmark and Poland have dominated the competition ever since.

But AJ’s men capitalised on some catastrophic luck for hosts, holders and red-hot favourites Denmark to snatch gold on 34 points, just pipping the Danes who finished on 32 in the greatest Monster Energy SWC Final in recent memory. A young Polish team scored 27 to beat Australia (26) to bronze by one point.

Sweden started the day as rank outsiders to lift the trophy, but with Jonsson (12), Fredrik Lindgren (11), Antonio Lindback (seven) and Linus Sundstrom (four) all contributing useful points, manager Morgan Andersson’s men pulled off a famous win.

 “I knew we were up against some really good riders, but we kept our cool and took care of the points we could. We worked as a team, and I think that’s what made us win.”

– Andreas Jonsson

A delighted AJ was elated with Sweden’s team effort. He said: “We did the best we could. I knew we were up against some really good riders, but we kept our cool and took care of the points we could. We worked as a team, and I think that’s what made us win.

“After heat 18, we were four points down and I thought ‘this is going to be really tough.’ We still believed, though, and when Freddie went out and won his last ride in heat 19, I thought ‘we’ve got nothing to lose now; we can do it.’

“It’s a team effort and you have to make sure you don’t make too many mistakes. Every mistake costs you.

“Denmark and Poland were the favourites. Poland came in with some injuries and it was tough. Denmark had a bit of bad luck. But it’s all about working as a team and collecting the points, which we did.”

Results:

FIM SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP FINAL, Vojens, Denmark

SWEDEN 34: Andreas Jonsson 12, Fredrik Lindgren 11, Antonio Lindback 7, Linus Sundstrom 4.
DENMARK 32: Peter Kildemand 13, Niels-Kristian Iversen 9, Kenneth Bjerre 6, Nicki Pedersen 4.
POLAND 27: Maciej Janowski 11, Przemyslaw Pawlicki 9, Krzysztof Buczkowski 4, Bartosz Zmarzlik 3.
AUSTRALIA 26: Jason Doyle 8, Troy Batchelor 8, Chris Holder 8, Nick Morris 2.
Sweden win the 2015 World Cup

NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS, Coventry

Group A
BIRMINGHAM 18: Adam Ellis 6, Tom Perry 5, Zach Wajtknecht 4, Sam Chapman 3.
COVENTRY 14: Dan Greenwood 6, Darryl Ritchings 5, Luke Crang 2, Rob Shuttleworth 1.
EASTBOURNE 8: Bradley Wilson-Dean 4, Marc Owen 3, David Mason 1, Richard Andrews 0.
KING’S LYNN 7: Ryan Kinsley 3, Josh Bailey 2, Tom Stokes 2, James Cockle 0.

Group B
RYE HOUSE 16: Kyle Hughes 6, Luke Priest 5, Luke Chessell 3, Sam Woods 2.
KENT 16: Danny Ayres 5, Ben Morley 5, Aaron Baseby 3, James Shanes 3.
CRADLEY 9: Ellis Perks 3, Luke Harris 3, Matt Williamson 2, Arron Mogridge 1.
MILDENHALL 7: Dan Halsey 4, Connor Coles 2, Jack Kingston 1, Connor Mountain 0.

Final
BIRMINGHAM 15: Adam Ellis 5, Tom Perry 4, Zach Wajtknecht 4, Sam Chapman 2.
COVENTRY 15: Dan Greenwood 6, Darryl Ritchings 4, Luke Crang 3, Rob Shuttleworth 2.
KENT 13: Ben Morley 6, Danny Ayres 3, Aaron Baseby 2, James Shanes 2.
RYE HOUSE 4: Kyle Hughes 2, Luke Chessell 1, Luke Priest 1, Sam Woods 0.

Run-off: Ellis beat Greenwood

Images: Andreas Jonsson and Adam Ellis – Credit Rob Newell / TGS Photo.