# 1988 Speedway World Team Cup

The 1988 Speedway World Team Cup was the 29th edition of the FIM Speedway World Team Cup to determine the team world champions.
The three legged final format was scrapped and a one off final returned, which was held at the Veterans Memorial Stadium (Long Beach) in California, United States. It made no difference to Denmark who duly wrapped up a sixth consecutive title (and eighth in total) moving level with England's record. It was also Hans Nielsen's eighth gold medal having taken part in all of Denmark's title wins.

## First round

* 10 April 1988
* Stadion Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Austria - 41 Heinrich Schatzer - 14 Siegfried Eder - 12 Walter Nebel - 7 Robert Funk - 7 Andreas Bössner - 1 | New Zealand - 35 Mitch Shirra - 14 Gary Allan - 9 Alan Rivett - 8 Bruce Cribb - 4 | Norway - 25 Ingvar Skogland - 10 Arnt Förland - 7 Tor Einar Hielm - 5 Einar Kyllingstad - 2 Arne Svendsen - 1 | Netherlands - 19 Henny Kroeze - 8 Henk Steman - 7 Robert Jan Munnecom - 3 Rob Steman - 1 Rene Elzinga - 0 |
* Austria to second round

## Second round

| Day | Venue | Winner |
| 2nd round ||||
| 26 June | Szeged | Hungary |
| 3 July | Lonigo | Hungary |
Leg 1
* 26 June 1988
* Napos út, Szeged
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Hungary - 52 Sándor Tihanyi - 15 Zoltán Adorján - 14 Antal Kocso - 12 Janosh Balogh - 7 József Petrikovics - 4 | Italy - 41 Armando Dal Chiele - 13 Armando Castagna - 10 Paolo Salvatelli - 9 Valentino Furlanetto - 9 Gianni Famari - NS | Bulgaria - 15 Nikolai Manev - 5 Georgi Petranov - 3 Rudolf Valentinov - 3 Angel Eftimov - 3 Orlin Janakiev - 1 | Austria - 12 Walter Nebel - 5 Robert Funk - 4 Toni Pilotto - 3 Siegfried Eder - 0 Heinrich Schatzer - 0 |
Leg 2
* 3 July 1988
* Santa Marina Stadium, Lonigo
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Hungary - 44 Zoltán Adorján - 12 József Petrikovics - 12 Antal Kocso - 11 Sándor Tihanyi - 5 Janosh Balogh - 4 | Italy - 43 Armando Castagna - 14 Valentino Furlanetto - 12 Paolo Salvatelli - 9 Ottaviano Righetto - 8 Armando Dal Chiele - 0 | Austria - 22 Walter Nebel - 6 Robert Funk - 5 Toni Pilotto - 5 Andreas Bössner - 5 Siegfried Eder - 1 | Bulgaria - 10 Georgi Petranov - 3 Rudolf Valentinov - 3 Nikolai Manev - 2 Orlin Janakiev - 1 Aleksi Todorov - 1 |
* Hungary to third round

## Third round

* 12 August 1988
* Ellermühle Speedway Stadium, Landshut
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| West Germany - 40 Klaus Lausch - 11 Tommy Dunker - 10 Karl Maier - 10 Gerd Riss - 9 Hans Faltermaier - 0 | Hungary - 38 Zoltán Adorján - 14 Antal Kocso - 13 Sándor Tihanyi - 8 Janosh Balogh - 3 József Petrikovics - 0 | Australia - 32 Stephen Davies - 11 Mick Poole - 9 Craig Hodgson - 6 Troy Butler - 5 Steve Baker - 1 | Finland - 10 Ari Koponen - 4 Aki Ala-Riihimäki - 2 Olli Tyrväinen - 2 Roy Malminheimo - 2 Kai Niemi - 0 |
West Germany to fourth round

## Fourth round

| Day | Venue | Winner |
| 4th round ||||
| 21 August | Prague | Sweden |
| 25 August | Linköping | Sweden |
Leg 1
* 21 August 1988
* Markéta Stadium, Prague
| Placing | Team / Rider name | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 1 | Sweden | 49 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 38 | 39 | | 42 | 44 | 47 | 49 |
| 1 | (5) Per Jonsson | 13 | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 1 | 10 | | | 3 | |
| 1 | (6) Jimmy Nilsen | 14 | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | 12 | | | | 2 |
| 1 | (7) Tony Olsson | 11 | | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | 9 | | 2 | | |
| 1 | (8) Conny Ivarsson | 6 | | | 3 | | | | | 2 | - | | | | 1 | | | | 6 | - | | | |
| 1 | (18) Henrik Gustafsson | 5 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | 2 | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Czechoslovakia | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | | 22 | 25 | 27 | 28 |
| 2 | (1) Roman Matoušek | 11 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | 10 | | | | 1 |
| 2 | (2) Antonín Kasper Jr. | 6 | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | E | | | | 2 | | 3 | | 3 | | |
| 2 | (3) Lubomír Jedek | 7 | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | F | | | 3 | | | | 5 | | | 2 | |
| 2 | (4) Petr Vandírek | 4 | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | | | - | | | 2 | 2 | | | |
| 2 | (17) Bohumil Brhel | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | |
| 3 | West Germany | 26 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 25 | | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
| 3 | (13) Gerd Riss | 10 | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | 10 | | | | 0 |
| 3 | (14) Klaus Lausch | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | 0 | | - | | | | | 1 | | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 3 | (15) Karl Maier | 8 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | | 0 | | 3 | | | 7 | | | 1 | |
| 3 | (16) Tommy Dunker | 6 | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | 6 | | 0 | | |
| 3 | (20) Hans Faltermaier | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | |
| 4 | Poland | 17 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 |
| 4 | (9) Roman Jankowski | 4 | | | 0 | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 0 | 4 | | | 0 | |
| 4 | (10) Piotr Świst | 0 | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | - | | | | | | E | | 0 | - | | | |
| 4 | (11) Andrzej Huszcza | 4 | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 3 | | 1 | | |
| 4 | (12) Zenon Kasprzak | 8 | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 1 | 0 | | | | 6 | | | | 2 |
| 4 | (19) Eugeniusz Skupien | 1 | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | | | |
| Placing | Team / Rider name | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
M - exclusion for exceeding two-minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell
Helmet colours were permanent for each team (Red, Blue, White and Yellow/Black). Colours in diagrams indicate gate positions: :
| gate A – inside | gate B | gate C | gate D – outside |
Leg 2
* 25 August 1988
* Linköping Motorstadion, Linköping
| Placing | Team / Rider name | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 1 | Sweden | 51 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 33 | 36 | 38 | 41 | 42 | | 45 | 48 | 50 | 51 |
| 1 | (9) Per Jonsson | 10 | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | | | | - | 9 | | | | 1 |
| 1 | (10) Jimmy Nilsen | 11 | | | | 3 | | 2 | | | - | | | | | | 3 | | 8 | | 3 | | |
| 1 | (11) Tony Olsson | 10 | | 3 | | | | | | 2 | | | - | | | 2 | | | 7 | 3 | | | |
| 1 | (12) Conny Ivarsson | 11 | 3 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | - | | | | 9 | | | 2 | |
| 1 | (19) Henrik Gustafsson | 9 | | | | | | | | | 3 | | 2 | | 3 | | | 1 | 9 | | | | |
| 2 | West Germany | 31 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 22 | | 24 | 26 | 29 | 31 |
| 2 | (5) Gerd Riss | 12 | 2 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 2 | 10 | | | | 2 |
| 2 | (6) Klaus Lausch | 6 | | 1 | | | 2 | | | | | | | 1 | | | 0 | | 4 | | 2 | | |
| 2 | (7) Karl Maier | 11 | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | 8 | | | 3 | |
| 2 | (8) Tommy Dunker | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | 0 | - | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | - | | | |
| 2 | (18) Hans Faltermaier | 2 | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | | 0 | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Czechoslovakia | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | | 18 | 18 | 19 | 22 |
| 3 | (1) Roman Matoušek | 11 | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | 8 | | | | 3 |
| 3 | (2) Antonín Kasper Jr. | 5 | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | 4 | | | 1 | |
| 3 | (3) Lubomír Jedek | 0 | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | - | | | - | | | | 0 | - | | | |
| 3 | (4) Petr Vandírek | 3 | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | 0 | | | 3 | | F | | |
| 3 | (17) Bohumil Brhel | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | | 3 | F | | | |
| 4 | Poland | 14 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| 4 | (13) Andrzej Huszcza | 5 | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | | | | 0 | 5 | | | | 0 |
| 4 | (14) Piotr Świst | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | - | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | 1 | - | | | |
| 4 | (15) Roman Jankowski | 4 | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | | | | 0 | | 1 | | | 4 | | | 0 | |
| 4 | (16) Zenon Kasprzak | 2 | | | | 2 | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | - | | | | 2 | | F | | |
| 4 | (20) Eugeniusz Skupien | 2 | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | E | | | |
| Placing | Team / Rider name | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
M - exclusion for exceeding two-minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell
Helmet colours were permanent for each team (Red, Blue, White and Yellow/Black). Colours in diagrams indicate gate positions: :
| gate A – inside | gate B | gate C | gate D – outside |
* Sweden to World Final

## World Final

* 10 September 1988
* Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium
| Placing | Team / Rider name | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 1 | Denmark | 44 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 36 | 39 | | 40 | 42 | 44 | 44 |
| 1 | (1) Hans Nielsen | 14 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | 12 | | | 2 | |
| 1 | (2) Jan O. Pedersen | 12 | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | 12 | | | | - |
| 1 | (3) Erik Gundersen | 8 | | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | | 8 | | - | | |
| 1 | (4) Tommy Knudsen | 8 | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | 3 | | | 7 | 1 | | | |
| 1 | (17) John Jørgensen | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 2 | | 0 |
| 2 | United States | 32 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 23 | | 26 | 26 | 29 | 32 |
| 2 | (13) Sam Ermolenko | 13 | | 3 | | | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | 10 | | | | 3 |
| 2 | (14) Lance King | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | 0 | | | | | - | | 3 | 3 | | | |
| 2 | (15) Shawn Moran | 8 | | | F | | | 2 | | | | | | 2 | | 1 | | | 5 | | | 3 | |
| 2 | (16) Kelly Moran | 5 | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | 0 | | 2 | | | | 5 | | 0 | | |
| 2 | (20) Rick Miller | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | E | | 0 | | | | |
| 3 | Sweden | 22 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | | 17 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
| 3 | (9) Per Jonsson | 9 | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | 7 | | | | 2 |
| 3 | (10) Conny Ivarsson | 0 | | | | 0 | | - | | | F | | | | | | - | | 0 | - | | | |
| 3 | (11) Tony Olsson | 4 | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | | | - | | | 0 | | | 1 | | 3 | | |
| 3 | (12) Jimmy Nilsen | 5 | 3 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | E | | | | 5 | | | E | |
| 3 | (19) Henrik Gustafsson | 4 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | 4 | E | | | |
| 4 | England | 22 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 4 | (5) Simon Wigg | 0 | 0 | | | | | 0 | | | | | - | | | | | 0 | 0 | | | - | |
| 4 | (6) Simon Cross | 3 | | 2 | | | 0 | | | | | | | 0 | | | - | | 2 | | 1 | | |
| 4 | (7) Kelvin Tatum | 7 | | | | 2 | | | 0 | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | 6 | | | | 1 |
| 4 | (8) Chris Morton | 4 | | | 1 | | | | | 0 | - | | | | 3 | | | | 4 | - | | | |
| 4 | (18) Gary Havelock | 8 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | 1 | | 5 | 2 | | 1 | |
| Placing | Team / Rider name | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
M - exclusion for exceeding two-minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell
Helmet colours were permanent for each team (Red, Blue, White and Yellow/Black). Colours in diagrams indicate gate positions: :
| gate A – inside | gate B | gate C | gate D – outside |