SPEEDWAY: CHRIS Harris top scored for Team GB at the Speedway World Cup Final in Leszno, Poland, on Saturday as the Brits finished fourth behind champions Poland, runners up Sweden, and third placed Russia.
The Coventry-based racer hoped Team GB – clear underdogs heading into Saturday night’s meeting – could ‘surprise a few’ in an interview with The Observer prior to Saturday’s World Cup Final.
However it became clear from heat one that Team GB were up against it at Stevie Worrall smashed through the tapes in the opening race, meaning GB were excluded from one race before a wheel had turned.
While Poland and Sweden battled for the gold medal, Team GB were playing a constant game of catch up against Team Russia – who were left deflated prior to Friday night’s race-off when star racer Grigory Laguta was disqualified by the FIM after failing a drugs test.
Helped by former Coventry Bees racer Emily Sayfutdinov though, Russia entered the last race needing to finish just one place behind British representative Robert Lambert – who despite initially leading the race dropped back to third while Sayfutdinov claimed second to secure the Russians the silver medal.
Though Alun Rossiter’s Team GB side never secured a race win, they were involved in a series of closely fought races – including Chris Harris’ efforts in heat 19 where he fought off the ferocious challenge of Patryk Dudek to finish third.