Czechs bounce Britain from speedway final

Britain narrowly missed out on the final places for the World Speedway final on August 10 on Thursday night.

An on-form Czech Republic took the win with Denmark snaring the final qualification spot.

Even with the squad’s top riders Mark Loram and Scott Nicholls, absent through injury, the playoff would have been tight. The Czechs, Denmark and the United States had all brought strong teams to the Peterborough stadium and from the start Britain struggled.

But as they started to come good the heavens opened and officials were forced to call a halt.

The Czechs won with 54 points, with the U.S. and Denmark tying on 51. Britain finished fourth on 49 and Finland a distant fifth on 19 points. The Danes qualify with the Czechs because they won more heats than the Americans.

The two qualifiers will face Australia, Sweden and Poland in the final at Peterborough on Saturday night.