A wild Speedway Of Nations weekend at the National Speedway Stadium, Manchester saw 32 years of pain and frustration ended for the host nation. "I just knew I needed to get some points and get past Bartek if I could. I didn't look behind me for the whole race."I only realised we had won when I was looking at Dan, asking "Are we No.1? Did we get it? Then I saw the fans going nuts." Robert Lambert talks you through the dramatic Final.
...ARE WORLD...
And even that last win, at Bradford in 1989, was tainted by the crash that ended mighty Dane Erik Gundersen's career. But maybe we won't be waiting quite so long in future... "It’s pretty cool for the British fans. I was born 10 years after they won it last time, so it has been a long time coming. Who knows? Maybe in the next few years we can be a bit more successful hopefully. But we’re just focusing on this one for now," says Dan Bewley.
...CHAMPIONS!
It wasn't just about what happened on the track. Rob Painter and Vicky Blackwell have brilliantly steered Great Britain to this moment, aided by joint managers Simon Stead and Oliver Allen. "We have been best mates since we were doing junior grasstrack together," Stead says of Olly. "This hasn’t been cobbled together. This is something Olly and I dreamed of as riders."
ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S MAGAZINE
• Who do you think you're kidding Mr. Critic? Speedway's answer to Captain Mainwaring - Scott Nicholls - steers Peterborough to a memorable Premiership title • We wrap up the Championship play-offs latest • Dream Team Birmingham • Oh, have we mentioned the Speedway Of Nations?
