AMERICANS TRIUMPH OVER REST OF THE WORLD IN CALIFORNIA TEST

05/02/2023

AMERICANS TRIUMPH OVER REST OF THE WORLD IN CALIFORNIA TESTAMERICANS TRIUMPH OVER REST OF THE WORLD IN CALIFORNIA TEST

Former FIM North America champion Max Ruml stunned Speedway GP star Dan Bewley in a last-heat decider as the United States secured a 44-40 victory over the Rest of the World in their California test match on Saturday.

Racing on the 189-metre Kern County Raceway track in Bakersfield – 100 miles from Los Angles – the hosts took the fight to the tourists in their first home fixture since the 1988 FIM Speedway World Team Cup Final.

Former American international Gino Manzares led the charge on nine points, with current FIM North America champion Luke Becker matching Ruml’s haul of eight paid nine points.

Despite failing to win his opening three outings, Ruml delivered a big victory when it mattered most, beating Bewley in heat 14 to seal the honours for the Americans.

Veteran Billy Janniro also weighed in with a rock-solid seven paid eight, while Broc Nicol collected six paid seven.

Danish champion Rasmus Jensen starred for the Rest of the World on nine points, while British shooting star Tom Brennan scored seven. Former Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell added six paid seven, with Bewley scoring a straight six – winning only his opening ride.

Former British champion Adam Ellis scored five points along with Canadian racer Kyle Legault. But Ellis took victory in the World Challenge individual knockout tournament staged as part of the event.

The French-born racer won the final ahead of Jensen, Thorssell and Bewley. Brennan, Becker, Nicol and Ruml joined them in the semi-finals.