Danes Seek Sixth Cycle Team Title

World speedway motorcycle champion Erik Gundersen will lead Denmark in its attempt to win a sixth straight World Team Cup at 8 tonight in Long Beach Veterans Stadium.

Gundersen, 28, won his third world championship last week in Vojens, Denmark, by defeating countryman Hans Nielsen in a 4-lap runoff. Gundersen is the captain of the Danish team that will race against teams from Great Britain, Sweden and the United States.

Sam Ermolenko of Cypress and captain Shawn Moran of Glendora head an American team that also includes Kelly Moran of Glendora, Lance King of Fountain Valley and reserve Rick Miller of Reseda.

The U.S. was the last nation to defeat Denmark, in 1982, and lost a two-point decision to the Danes in 1985, when the race was held on the quarter-mile track at Long Beach. But the prospects of another close race against the great Danes appear slim.

“The only way the Danes will lose is if somebody locks them in their dressing room,” said Barry Briggs, a four-time world champion and co-promoter of the race.

The Danish team includes Nielsen and Jan Pedersen, who finished second and third in the World Final. It marked the first time one nation has swept the top three positions in the World Final since Sweden accomplished the feat in 1961.

Kelly Moran, U.S. champion in 1983-84, said Denmark is a big favorite but doesn’t think the Danes are unbeatable.

“The pressure is on Denmark because everyone expects them to win,” Moran said. “We beat them in a qualifying round at Coventry (England) last year, and with the crowd behind us, we could pull off the upset. But that 1-2-3 finish gave them an extra boost that they really didn’t need.”

Gundersen and Pedersen were particularly impressive in a practice session on Wednesday. Afterward, Gundersen said, “This is the best track I’ve ever ridden. After we rode here in 1985, everyone on our team agreed this was the best track we had ever ridden.”

Teams will field four riders and a reserve with one rider from each country represented in each of the 20 heats. Three points are awarded for a win, two for second and one for a third-place finish. The top-scoring rider from each nation then will compete in the final heat.