Arena Essex Speedway captain, Kelvin Tatum, won the semi-final of the World Longtrack Championships, which took place in Parkim, Germany on Sunday.
This ensures his place in this season's series.
Tatum, the three times World Longtrack Champion, was runner-up in the 2003 series behind German Robert Barth and the pair met in this semi-final.
After the qualifying heats, in which each of the 18 riders rode in four races, the leader was German Gerd Riss on 10 points.
Behind him on 18 points were Theo Pijper from Holland and the Hammers captain on 18 points with Ralf Loding (Germany) and Antonin Svab (Czech Republic) on 15 points.
The final place in the six-man final was taken by Barth on 14 points.
He had the same number of points as his fellow German Bernd Diener, but claimed the place in the final courtesy of him having one race win as opposed to Diener's best finish of a second place.
The thrilling final was won by Tatum ahead of Riss, who was second, and Pijper (3rd). Barth finished in fourth, Loding in fifth with Svab in last place.
Former Hammers Matt Read and Joonas Kylmak-orpi were both in the 18 man field with Read finishing in second place in the "B" final and Kylmakorpi winning the "C" final.
Published Thursday May 27, 2004
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