Research on Sam Ermolenko

Sam Ermolenko
World Speedway Champion 1993
World Team Cup Champion 1990, 1992, 1993
American Final Champion 1987, 1988, 1989

Nickname: "Sudden Sam"
Name: Guy Allen Ermolenko
Rider Number: 13
Hometown: England, UK
Place of Birth: Maywood, California - USA
Birthdate: November 23, 1960
Occupation: Speedway Grand Prix television analyst
Facebook Page:
Web Site:
Brother: Dukie Ermolenko
Started Speedway: 1980
Photo by: Gary Roberts

Achievements:
1993Speedway World Champion in Pocking, Germany 1990, 1992, 1993 World Team Cup Champion
Peterborough UK
2003 - 2004 Wolverhampton UK
2002 Belle Vue UK
2000 - 2001 Wolverhampton UK
1999 Hull UK
1998 Wolverhampton UK
1997 Belle Vue UK
1996 Sheffield UK
1986 - 1995 Wolverhampton UK
1983 Poole Pirates UK

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.

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

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, but that ended as he was left in the dark and now has nothing to do with the project.

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

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.