Event 1 and 2: Teams confirmed in Speedway World Cup

The teams for Events 1 and 2 of the 2012 FIM Monster Energy Speedway World Cup have been revealed and Poland retain just two members of last year's gold medal-winning side.Skipper Tomasz Gollob leads the SWC holders into Event 1 against Denmark, Russia and the United States of America at Bydgoszcz on July 7 and he is joined by Janusz Kolodziej, who was part of Poland's victories in the 2010 and 2011 tournaments.  The in-form Grzegorz Walasek is recalled for the first time since 2008, when his country claimed silver at Vojens. And World Under-21 champion Maciej Janowski is handed his SWC debut.The Poles, who are without the injured Jaroslaw Hampel, are up against a Danish team, which must get through their opener without national champion Nicki Pedersen. He has opted out of Event 1, but will return for the 2012 FIM Monster Energy Race-Off and Final at Malilla on July 12 and 14 respectively, should Denmark make it that far.  Niels-Kristian Iversen, who is in the form of his life, captains an inexperienced side, featuring World Cup debutants Michael Jepsen Jensen, Leon Madsen and Mikkel B Jensen.Russia will be spearheaded by Bydgoszcz rider Emil Sayfutdinov. His club mate Artem Laguta will also look to use his home track knowledge. Grigory Laguta and skipper Roman Povazhny complete the quartet.The USA, who won a qualifier at Slovenian track Ljubljana on May 5 to make it to Bydgoszcz, are led by world champion Greg Hancock and FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) legend Billy Hamill. Ryan Fisher and Ricky Wells complete an unchanged side from the qualification round as the Americans bid to reach the Race-Off for the first time since 2006.British referee Jim Lawrence takes charge of Event 1.Great Britain are sweating on the fitness of Scott Nicholls and Tai Woffinden ahead of Event 2 at King's Lynn against Australia, Germany and the Czech Republic on July 9.  Nicholls hopes to shake off a collarbone injury, while Woffinden hopes he will be cleared to race as he recovers from a broken scaphoid. SGP racer Chris Harris and Danny King are also in Neil Middleditch's four.New Australian team manager Mark Lemon brings World Championship rivals Jason Crump and Chris Holder to the Norfolk Arena, along with former King's Lynn riders Davey Watt and Darcy Ward.The Czechs are led by Dryml brothers Lukas and Ales. Czech SGP semi-finalist Josef Franc returns to the international stage, along with former Prague wild card Matej Kus.Germany's quartet features King's Lynn racer Kevin Wolbert, who will hope to give skipper Martin Smolinski, Tobias Kroner and Max Dilger the benefit of his Norfolk Arena experience.Polish official Marek Wojaczek will be on the buttons for Event 2.The winners of Events 1 and 2 join hosts Sweden in the 2012 FIM Monster Energy Speedway World Cup Final at Swedish track Malilla on July 14. The second and third-placed teams enter the Race-Off at the G&B Arena on July 12, where the winners will also progress to the last four.Britain's Craig Ackroyd has been given the nod to take charge of both the 2012 Monster Energy Speedway World Cup Race-Off and Final.Teams HERE

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1340696087-event-1-and-2-teams-confirmed-in-speedway-world-cup/

Franz Aschenbrenner Stuart Aspin Len Atlee Pierre Audry Karl Auer