1.
GV Start of race watched by crowd. (2 shots)
0.14

2.
SV Bikes rev up for race ZOOM INTO spiked wheels on bikes.
0.19

3.
GV Race starts with No. 15 Kurt Westlund leading field watched by crowd. (5 shots)
0.58

4.
GV Westlund receiving trophy.
1.04



Initials VS 18.55 VS 19.00


SPORT: MOTOR CYCLE RACING ON ICE

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Sweden has dominated the finals of one of the newest winter sports, motor cycle racing on ice.

The sport began about ten years ago in the Soviet Union where the Russians began organising motor cycle races on the Frozen lakes.

The bikes used int eh sport have special small spikes attached to their wheels - 100 spikes on the front wheel and 200 on the rear wheel.

Riders taking part in the sport wear special protective clothing and the bikes themselves have special modifications; a short handlebar on the left side to enable the riders to lean into the curves of the small tracks....and no brakes as these would be useless on the ice.

Before each race the riders warm up their bikes with blowlamps. Each track is surrounded with a barrier of ice more than six feet thick to withstand the rigours, crashes and smashes of the sport.

Because the sport originated in the soviet Union, Russian riders were expected to dominate the West Berlin event, but it was the Swedish riders, Kurt Westlund and Bjorn Sjobom, who came first and second respectively with Wladimir Smirnow of the Soviet Union in third place.