Denmark ease into final

Denmark ran out comfortable winners of the Speedway World Cup Race-Off to book their place in the final.

Defending champions Poland and Great Britain had their moments in Malilla, but the Danes led from the start and never looked back after winning six of the first seven heats.

Recalled former world champion Nicki Pedersen was in excellent form with 12, but it was youngster Michael Jepsen Jensen who shone as he top scored with 13.

With Niels Kristian Iversen also hitting double figures, Denmark could even cope with having Leon Madsen come home with only four points.

Great Britain were forced to use their Joker early on but Tai Woffinden won Heat eight in glorious fashion. That saw Team GB close to within two points but they could not get on level terms, with Scott Nicholls and Danny King both struggling.

Skipper Chris Harris came home with 11 points but admitted things did not go as they should have.

"We are very disappointed, started off promisingly but we fell off in the end," he said.

Champions out

Defending champions Poland came with a late charge and Tomasz Gollob took four wins, including won Joker ride, for 15 points but Krzysztof Buczkowski was the only other Pole to reach double figures.

Instead it was Denmark who took the victory and sealed their place in Saturday's final, where they will face Russia, Australia and hosts Sweden.

"It is nice, the race off is always tough especially with one team going through but all the teams put on a good show and it went well for us," said Nicki Pedersen.

"We are happy with that and I am glad I was part of it."

Team boss Anders Secher said: It was a tough one but the boys did a good job. We did very well, even though the teams played their jokers - we stayed in front."

Mikkel B Jensen, who was rested on Thursday, is rumoured to be in line to return for the final and he admitted that could happen, saying: "That is a possibility."