WORLD PAIRS FINAL

 
Bulgaria got this meeting underway in stunning fashion by beating Scotland 5-1 and following that up by splitting the English pairing in their next heat to move to 7 points.  England bounced back strongly in their next heat with a 5-1 over Australia to move to the top of the leaderboard after 7 heats, on 9 points from a possible 10.
 
A 5-1 for America over Bulgaria put them on 13 points before Norway, the defending champions, moved to 11 by drawing 3-3 against Scotland but all eyes were now on England to see if they would make any slip against Poland.  Irzyk did split the pair but another 4 points pulled England level with America on 13.  Just 2 points for America in heat 13, losing out to Australia as Ryan Irwin picked up his third heat win of the meeting, meant England would really take control if they could see off Norway in the next race.  As it was the defending champs managed to relegate Hayden Wood to the back meaning it was tight at the top as each nation had 2 heats left to race: England 16, America 15, Norway 14, Australia 13.
 
After Australia had picked up 3 to move to 16 the crunch heat between England and America took place with Liam Reay and Hayden Wood streaking clear to seemingly all but wrap up the title.  Norway kept the pressure on with a 5-1 of their own, over Bulgaria, in the next leaving England needing 4 points to be sure of the title against Scotland in heat 19.  Liam Reay made no mistake at the front but the Scots tucked in behind and England finished their 6 heats on 24 points, meaning Norway needed a 5-1 over Australia to force a run-off for the title.  Before that America sealed a rostrum place by beating the struggling Poles, for whom Tercjak was totally out of form and Irzyk only managed to complete 4 laps in half his races.
 
So to the big one and although Bergestol showed his class at the highest level by jetting away for the win it was the Aussie pairing who picked up the minor points meaning England were the new World Pairs champions.
 
For the English Liam Reay was in excellent form and Hayden Wood, despite a few blips, did enough in support and they were definitely the best pair on show and worthy of their win.  Norway put up a great defence of their title and Bergestol continues to show that he has grown into a genuine world class rider.  America took the bronze medal with Braxton McChesney scoring well while they couldn't have asked any more of Jeremie Loucks in support.  Ryan Irwin scored 14+1 for Australia but didn't have the support to claim a medal for the Aussies whilst the Scottish pair of Bridges and Treadwell rode well together but without enough consistency.  Bulgaria were just happy to even be in the final but impressed once more, particularly Dimitar Stoyanov who reached double figures as they surprisingly beat Poland to avoid bottom spot.  The Poles had started the meeting expecting at the least to chase a rostrum place but Irzyk just never got going, Tercjak was completely off the pace for some reason and reserve Jarzabek picked up their only heat win when beating the Bulgarians in heat 15.
 
 
 ENGLAND 24
 1. Liam Reay................. 1  2* 3  3  3  3  15+1
 2. Hayden Wood............... 3  3  1  0  2* 0   9+1
 3. David Bedford............. Did not ride
 
 NORWAY 22
 1. Hans E Bergestol.......... 3  3  1* 2  3  3  15+1
 2. Olle Bjorn Thoresen....... 0  2* 2  1* 2* 0   7+3
 3. Rudi Juritzen............. Did not ride
 
 AMERICA 21
 1. Braxton McChesney......... 2  3  3  2  1  2* 13+1
 2. Jeremie Loucks............ 1* 2* 2* 0  X  3   8+3
 3. Pat Landis................ Did not ride
 
 AUSTRALIA 19
 1. Ryan Irwin................ 3  1  3  3  3  1* 14+1
 2. Andrew Scott.............. 1  0  1  -  -  -   2
 3. Carl Hooper............... 1  0  2  -  -  -   3
 
 SCOTLAND 16
 1. Scott Bridges............. 1  0  3  3  2  1* 10+1
 2. Luke Treadwell............ 0  1  0  2* 1* 2   6+2
 3. Mark Briggs............... Did not ride
 
 BULGARIA 14
 1. Dimitar Stoyanov.......... 3  2  0  2  2  1  10
 2. Rumun Dimotrov............ 2* 0  1  R  1* 0   4+2
 3. Stojan Lukanov............ Did not ride
 
 POLAND 10
 1. Gabrys Irzyk.............. 2  1  2  F  R  F   5
 2. Maciej Tercjak............ 0  0  0  -  -  -   0
 3. Jozef Jarzabek............ 1  3  1  -  -  -   5
 
 No. Results
  1: Dimitar Stoyanov, Rumun Dimotrov, Scott Bridges, Luke Treadwell 
  2: Hans E Bergestol, Braxton McChesney, Jeremie Loucks, Olle Bjorn Thoresen 
  3: Ryan Irwin, Gabrys Irzyk, Andrew Scott, Maciej Tercjak 
  4: Hayden Wood, Dimitar Stoyanov, Liam Reay, Rumun Dimotrov 
  5: Braxton McChesney, Jeremie Loucks, Luke Treadwell, Scott Bridges 
  6: Hans E Bergestol, Olle Bjorn Thoresen, Gabrys Irzyk, Maciej Tercjak 
  7: Hayden Wood, Liam Reay, Ryan Irwin, Andrew Scott 
  8: Braxton McChesney, Jeremie Loucks, Rumun Dimotrov, Dimitar Stoyanov 
  9: Scott Bridges, Olle Bjorn Thoresen, Hans E Bergestol, Luke Treadwell 
 10: Liam Reay, Gabrys Irzyk, Hayden Wood, Maciej Tercjak 
 11: Ryan Irwin, Dimitar Stoyanov, Andrew Scott, Rumun Dimotrov (R) 
 12: Scott Bridges, Luke Treadwell, Jozef Jarzabek, Gabrys Irzyk (F) 
 13: Ryan Irwin, Braxton McChesney, Carl Hooper, Jeremie Loucks 
 14: Liam Reay, Hans E Bergestol, Olle Bjorn Thoresen, Hayden Wood 
 15: Jozef Jarzabek, Dimitar Stoyanov, Rumun Dimotrov, Gabrys Irzyk (R) 
 16: Ryan Irwin, Scott Bridges, Luke Treadwell, Carl Hooper 
 17: Liam Reay, Hayden Wood, Braxton McChesney, Jeremie Loucks (X) 
 18: Hans E Bergestol, Olle Bjorn Thoresen, Dimitar Stoyanov, Rumun Dimotrov 
 19: Liam Reay, Luke Treadwell, Scott Bridges, Hayden Wood 
 20: Jeremie Loucks, Braxton McChesney, Jozef Jarzabek, Gabrys Irzyk (F) 
 21: Hans E Bergestol, Carl Hooper, Ryan Irwin, Olle Bjorn Thoresen