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Photo - Kelvin Tatum:
Courtesy Andy McGechan:
Email Andy He just may have a photo of you?
Mauger Motorsports News - Press Release:
THE dangers of motorcycle racing were rammed home at the weekend with the near-death experiences of two riders at the latest round of the Long Track Speedway World Championships in France.
Seven ambulances and a helicopter were called to attend a high-speed smash at round four of the world series at Morizes, France, and the immediate future of Czech Republic rider Zdenek Schneiderwind and English rider Matt Read still look bleak several days later. Both riders are in hospital in nearby Bordeaux.
With riders at times reaching speeds in excess of 200 kmph, on bikes without brakes, it’s inevitable that things sometimes goes wrong and that’s what happened when Schneiderwind and Read clipped one another and smashed through the track’s safety fencing. Read was resuscitated at the track. He has serious head and chest injuries and remains in intensive care.
“Riders realise there will be some pain from time to time, but head injuries are very serious,” said Ivan Mauger, promoter for New Zealand’s final round of the series in November. “We won’t know for a few days the full extent of his injuries. Read is very lucky to be alive,” Mauger said.
It is believed Schneiderwind’s injuries are less serious. He has a broken arm and leg.
Neither Read nor Schneiderwind will now attend the final round, at New Plymouth’s Pukekura Raceway on November 6, and Mauger will look to the next two men in the standings to fill the void. Italy’s 15th-ranked Massimo Mora and 16th-placed Glen Phillips, from England, will now likely complete the international entry list for New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Kelvin Tatum won the day’s racing at Morizes and further stretched his lead at the head of the points standings.
Tatum edged out German riders Gerd Riss and Robert Barth to win at Morizes and, with just New Zealand’s final round to go, the great Briton has put himself in the box seat to retake the title he last held in 2000.
It would be a brave person indeed to now bet against Tatum (40) wrapping up the championships at the fifth and final round. But that won’t stop Tatum’s nearest rivals from trying to unseat him and foremost among those is Riss, the long track world champion in 1991, 1996, 1999 and 2001.
Neither can Tatum count out defending world champion Barth from making life difficult for him in New Zealand. The 36-year-old Barth showed, after his third placing at Morizes, he was still a threat to take round honours at the New Zealand GP, although his outright title hopes were torpedoed early on when he injured himself just prior to round two in July.
RESULTS & STANDINGS:
Results from round four of the World Long Track Speedway Championships, the French GP at Morizes, at the weekend:
Final: 1. Kelvin Tatum (England); 2. Gerd Riss (Germany); 3. Robert Barth (Germany); 4. Stephan Katt (Germany); 5. Bernd Diener (Germany); 6. Enrico Janoschka (Germany); 7. Andrew Appleton (England); 8. Maik Groen (the Netherlands); 9. Herbert Rudolph (Germany); 10. Glen Phillips (England).
World championship points: Kelvin Tatum (England) 88 points; Gerd Riss (Germany) 78; Bernd Diener (Germany) 62; Enrico Janoschka (Germany) 54; Andrew Appleton (England) 45; Zdenek Schneiderwind (Czech Republic) 44.5; Theo Pijper (The Netherlands) 42.
