Sam Ermolenko

Sam Ermolenko
Sam Ermolenko (left) and Roman Jankowski
Personal information
Nationality
Date of birth	November 23, 1960 (1960-11-23)
Place of birth	Maywood, California
Current club information
Career status	Retired
Career history
Poole Pirates Wolverhampton Wolves Sheffield Tigers Belle Vue Aces Hull Vikings Peterborough Panthers	1983-1984 1986-1995, 1998, 2001, 2003-2004 1996 1997, 2002 1999 2005
Individual honours
World Champion Overseas Champion USA National Champion Elite League Riders' Champion	1993 1986, 1989, 1994, 2000 1993, 1994 1991, 1994, 1996
Team honours
World Team Cup World Pairs Champion British League Champion	1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1992 1991

Guy Allen 'Sudden Sam' Ermolenko (born 23 November 1960 Maywood, California) is a former Speedway rider. In 1993 he won the Speedway World Championship in Pocking, Germany. He is the older brother of Charles 'Dukie' Ermolenko who also rode in the UK.

Early career

After originally showing an interest in Motocross, Sam began riding in the Californian speedway circuit. As he wore red leathers, former World Champion Barry Briggs suggested the nickname of "The mad Russian" (Due to Sam's family roots) although it is believed this is not something Sam himself was keen on.

Coming to Europe

After some liberal success in California, Sam moved over to the UK to race for the Poole Pirates for the 1983 British league season. He soon become a big hit with fans in Dorset and was welcomed back in 1984. In 1985, Sam could not agree a deal to return to the UK so raced back home in California. He did however qualify for the World Final at Bradford's Odsal stadium and came within a whisker of winning the World Title, narrowly losing out after a run of with Danish duo Hans Nielsen and (eventual winner) Erik Gundersen

Wolverhampton Wolves

In 1986 (and until 1995) Sam returned to the UK to ride for the Wolverhampton Wolves in the British league. It was at Wolves that Sam established himself as a genuine World Class rider.

He rode for Sheffield in 1996, Belle Vue 1997 before returning to Wolverhampton in 1998. In 1999 he helped Hull in their short stint in the top league before returning to Wolves in 2000 and 2001. In 2002 he had another spell at Belle Vue and at the age of 42 he again rejoined parent club, Wolverhampton for the 2003 and 2004 season before spending his final season at Peterborough in 2005.

He was trainer/manager of Reading in 2006 and was involved in the bid to get Leicester Speedway back in the sport for the 2011 season.

Sam is the regular face of Sky Sports speedway coverage, doing both league and GP meetings.

He finished third in the World again in 1987 in Amsterdam (the first & only year when there was a two day world final - Sam was leading after day one) and fourth in 1988 World Final in Vojens, Denmark. Many tipped Sam for World title honours in 1989, however a horrific injury whilst racing long track meant that he would sit out the 1989 & 1990 world title races.

Sam did however lead the USA victory in the World team cup in 1990. Bad luck and injury meant Sam missed out on individual world honours in 1991 & 1992. However he Captained Wolves to the British League title and was crowned British League Riders Champion in 1991 & won both the World Pairs & World Team cup as USA captain in 1992.

World Title year

The 1993 season was supposed to see the last of the 'one off' world finals before the Grand Prix was introduced (this was not the case and the GP system did not begin until 1995) Sam was again one of the pre season favourites. At the world final in Pocking, Germany, Sam had a fantastic start to the meeting winning his first three rides. In Heat 15 Sam met fellow title contender and three time World Champion Hans Nielsen. In the first staging of the race, Nielsen was adjudged to have knocked Sam off his machine and was excluded. In the re-run Sam shed a chain entering the first bend, however fellow American Billy Hamill ran into the back of him and the referee controversially ordered a re-run with the three remaining riders. Sam & many others felt he deserved this slice of luck after all the bad luck in previous world title attempts. Sam duly won the third staging of the race and after gaining an unbeaten 12 points from his 4 rides, Sam could afford the luxury of coming last in his final outing & still be crowned World Champion. After his World final triumph, Sam was virtually unbeatable. He again led the USA to Pairs and Team cup glory. At the latter, he beat his old enemy Nielsen in a last heat decider on the Dane's home Coventry circuit. He was also unbeaten as the USA whitewashed England in a 3 match Test Series. It also looked as though he would again lead Wolves to league title triumph however, cruelly, a broken leg put an abrupt end to his season and this combined with injuries to other key members of the side, meant Wolves narrowly missed out on winning the league to the Belle Vue Aces.

Defending Champion

The 1994 season started late for Sam as he recovered from the previous seasons injuries. He did again qualify for the World Final (in Vojens) winning the Overseas title on route. However luck again deserted him and after a controversial exclusion in his opening ride, Sam scored only 6 points to finish way down the field. The season did finish on a high note though, as he led Wolves to a respectable third place finish in the league & won the British League riders Championship again.

Grand Prix & later years

1995 saw the inaugural Grand Prix season. Sam started his first Grand Prix campaign slowly but after a stronger finish to the season, he finished third in the World. 1996 Was Sam's second and final year in the GP series, finishing 1 place below automatic qualifying place for the next years series. He did though once again win the British League Riders Championship in 1996, this time representing Sheffield Tigers. Sam did attempt to qualify back into the GP's in future years but unfortunately never made it. He did however continue to figure prominently in the British league. Sam retired in after the 2005 season where he rode or the Peterborough Panthers. In 2006 he staged a Farewell meeting at Wolverhampton's Monmore Green stadium. It was a fitting tribute to one of the sports greatest ever riders.

World Final Appearances

• 1985 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 3rd - 13pts + 1pt
• 1986 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 7th - 9pts
• 1987 - Amsterdam, Olympic Stadium - 3rd - 24pts + 2pts
• 1988 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 4th - 12pts
• 1991 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 7th - 9pts
• 1992 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium - 8th - 7pts
• 1993 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - Winner - 12pts
• 1994 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 13th - 6pts

Speedway Grand Prix results

Year	Position	Points	Best Finish	Notes
1995	3rd	83	2nd	2nd in Denmark and Great Britain
1996	9th	52	4th

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Since retirement

Sam currently works for Sky Sports in the UK as a trackside reporter and occasionally works inside the studio. He also had a spell helping out the Reading Bulldogs off the track in 2006 when they finished runners-up in the Elite League.

He is now tuning engines for riders as well his Sky TV work and was the main well known name behind the rebirth of Leicester Speedway for 2011 but all that collapsed in September 2010 and has moved onto other projects and now nothing to do with the Leicester set up.