    |
 |
|
|
|
Photo - Robert Barth:
THE world title may be out of his reach but that has not diminished the resolve of reigning world champion Robert Barth to finish the season on a high.
The German star is hell bent on giving his rivals a run for their money at the New Zealand finale of this year's Long Track Speedway World Championships and he will now undergo an operation on his injured hand to enhance his chances of winning the day at New Plymouth's Pukekura Raceway on November 6.
Barth has been handicapped by injury this season and it is now mathematically impossible for him to catch series leader Kelvin Tatum, of England.
“Even so, Barth's determined to put up a real fight at New Plymouth,” said New Zealand event promoter Ivan Mauger, OBE, MBE, himself a nine-times former speedway world champion.
“Barth has continued to do well at various international events this season but he realises he has to have the operation on the tendons in his hand if he's to compete with riders like Kelvin Tatum and Gerd Riss at New Plymouth.”
But the clock is ticking for Barth, with barely seven weeks now before the world series fifth and final round, the New Zealand Grand Prix, and it would be a brave person indeed to now bet against Tatum (40) wrapping up this year’s title.
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. And Tatum cannot count out defending world champion Barth from making life difficult for him in New Zealand, especially if his operation is successful.
The 36-year-old Barth showed, after his third placing at round four of the world series at Morizes three weeks ago, 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.
“Men like Barth are a special breed,” said Mauger. “And it is important to Barth, from a psychological point-of-view, that he does not go into the winter off-season with his rivals having written him off. He will want to give everyone a hiding at New Plymouth so that the last thing his rivals remember about him is that he’s a tough customer. “He may be only 13th in the current rankings but that is certainly no reflection of his world standing. “He can’t win the world title this year, but Barth can win some respect.”
RESULTS & STANDINGS:
LEADING results from round four of the World Long Track Speedway Championships, the French GP at Morizes, on September 5:
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).
LEADING 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.
