Sam Ermolenko

Sam Ermolenko, born Guy Allen Ermolenko in 1960 in Maywood, California, is a former motorcycle speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1993. He began in motocross, then raced on the Californian speedway circuit before moving to Britain in 1983 to ride for the Poole Pirates, and later spent years with the Wolverhampton Wolves, topping their averages several seasons running. He reached his first World Final in 1985, finishing just short of the title after a run-off, and took bronze in 1987. As captain he helped the United States win the World Pairs and World Team Cup in 1992 and won the World Team Cup with the national side in 1990. He also rode for Vastervik in the Swedish league and was nicknamed The Mad Russian because of his family roots.