Danes great at home

Host nation oust cup holders

Last updated: 19th July 2008

Speedway Hans Andersen Peterborough Panthers - CREDIT FOTOSPEEDWAY.PL

Andersen: Winning captain

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Denmark made the most of their home advantage by pipping holders Poland to the World Cup in Vojens.

The host nation eventually took the crown with a score of 49 points, three more than Poland after Saturday night's 25 heats.

Both countries gradually eased away from Sweden, who finished third with 39 points, while Australia lagged behind in fourth place on 21 points.

The Australians failed to score a heat win all evening, although their star rider, double World Champion Jason Crump, withdrew with a wrist injury after colliding with Sweden's Peter Ljung in heat three.

Two wins for both Wieslaw Jagus and Jaroslaw Hampel, plus another for captain Tomasz Gollob, allowed Poland to open up a three-point lead over Denmark after 10 heats.

However, two wins for captain Hans Andersen, plus one each for World Champion Nicki Pedersen and Kenneth Bjerre, saw Denmark take a one-point lead by the end of heat 20.

Indeed, that heat and the next proved crucial in shaping the eventual outcome - Andersen's heat 20 win giving Denmark their point advantage after Poland's Rune Holta came off his bike.

Hampel error

Then, in the following heat, and after taking an early lead, Hampel ran wide coming off the final corner on the opening lap and hit the barrier.

Nevertheless, Denmark could not take advantage - Sweden's Andreas Jonsson winning while Nicki Pedersen could only finish third.

But wins for Bjarne Pedersen and Bjerre in heats 22 and 23 saw Denmark extend their advantage - Holta and Jagus respectively finishing third.

And victory was secured next time out as, with Poland staking everything on their joker, Niels-Kristian Iversen took the win with Gollob third.

Andersen later told Sky Sports: "Full credit to the boys. Everyone worked hard. Today was a team effort. The conditions were hard but it was a team effort: mechanics, riders, managers..everyone.

The captain also said that, despite having four grand prix riders in the team, egos were left parked outside the Vojens Speedway Centre.

He added: "We're fairly equal. In the GPs, we want to win every one and in the World Cup as well...we're winners. And if we are to win the World Cup we have to help each other.

"We can't ride without each other in the team World Cup, so it's fairly natural to help each other and it's great to get the gold back...where it belongs."