Poland champs as Adams suffers (From Swindon Advertiser)

Poland champs as Adams suffers

3:52pm Sunday 19th July 2009

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ROBINS captain Leigh Adams was visibly crestfallen after his last-heat loss at the hands of Tomasz Gollob saw Poland pip Australia to an unlikely World Cup win today.

The Poles had been the pre-event favourites on home in Leszno, which was pushed back from Saturday evening due to rain.

But the Aussies, led by skipper Adams and Jason Crump - who both scored 12 points, took an early grip on the final and looked in control until the rain returned during heat 20.

When racing resumed Australia held a six-point lead over Poland with just three heats remaining.

The hosts duly played their joker in the 23rd heat as Jaroslaw Hampel doubled up to four points by finishing second on a tactical ride.

The same rider won the 24th to draw the two nations level on 41 points ahead of the final showdown.

Adams went into the race as favourite against the 38-year-old Gollob, who had failed to register a point in his previous two rides and had to borrow a bike from his teammate.

But the veteran made a brilliant start off the inside gate and led from start to finish, celebrating victory halfway through the final lap.

Sweden finished third on 36 points, one ahead of Russia - the shock winners of event one.

The champions’ top scorer Hampel said: “We are very happy because we are the best.

“Tomas was not good all through the meeting but he is a big man because the pressure was on him.”

Adams cut a distraught figure in the pits and teammate Jason Crump summed up the mood, saying: “We’re gutted. We thought when the rain came we were in a great position.

“We got the meeting back under way again and we started off okay and then we just ran out of steam in the end.

“Gollob produced a special ride in the last one to win it for the Poles. He was obviously inspired by all the fans here.

“We can't look at one of our guys and say they didn't give 110 per cent. To not come away with the gold after that is devastating.”

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