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GREAT Britain’s Young Lions failed to their earn stripes as they finished last in Sunday’s World Under-21 at Rye House – with the event comfortably won by a hugely talented Denmark side.
The Lions were on the backfoot from the start after former Rocket Tai Woffinden was unable to take part in the meeting suffering from the effects of concussion.
And it was a day to forget for Rye House Rockets rider Kyle Hughes, who failed to score in one of the biggest meetings of his life.
Lewis Bridger was the star of the GB team with three superb race wins, while team-mates Josh Auty battled hard for his seven points and a Heat 21 victory for Joe Haines helped the British Under-21 champion to an identical score.
Woffinden’s replacement Kyle Newman finished pointless as the Young Lions propped up the table with 25 points.
Denmark eased to their first World Cup success after securing runner-up spots in the previous two competitions.
Their attack was spearheaded by Newcastle Diamond’s rider Rene Bach who stormed to a 15 point maximum.
He received excellent support from 17-year-old Michael Jepsen Jensen (12 points) and Belle Vue Ace Patrick Hougaard. Peter Kildemand returned from a hand injury to contribute eight and Lasse Bjerre – the youngest competitor in the field at just 16 – chipped in with points in four of his five outings.
Sweden briefly threatened the Danes’ domination before having to settle for runner’s-up sport. Rockets star Linus Sundstrom had a nightmare start – excluded in his opening heat for a tapes infringement, but he blasted back with blast a couple of race wins before being forced into third places in his two remaining rides.
European Under-19 champion Dennis Andersson was the pick of their bunch with two race wins and 11 points.
Defending champions Poland had to settle for third place after winning all five previous World Cup finals.
Coventry’s Przemyslaw Pawlicki was in excellent form, with 14 points, with his key support coming from Maciej Janowski of Swindon.
The Poles were in with a shout of second spot at one stage, but for four falls and a couple of starting exclusions put paid to their hopes.
Match result and scorers: 1. Denmark, 51 points (Rene Bach 15, Michael Jepsen Jensen 12, Patrick Hougaards 11, Peter Kildemand 8, Lasse Bjerre 5); 2. Sweden, 37 (Dennis Andersson 11, Linus Sundstrom 8, Simon Gustafsson 7, Ludvig Lindgren 7, Kim Nilsson 4); 3. Poland, 35 (Przemyslaw Pawlicki 14, Maciej Janowski 10, Artur Mroczka 8, Szymon Wojniak 2, Patryk Dudek 1); 4. Great Britain, 25 (Lewis Bridger 11, Josh Auty 7, Joe Haines 7, Kyle Hughes 0, Kyle Newman 0).
