TOMASZ Gollob has become Poland’s first World Champion for 37 years after taking victory in Saturday’s Italian Grand Prix.

TOMASZ Gollob has become Poland’s first World Champion for 37 years after taking victory in Saturday’s Italian Grand Prix.

Gollob was assured of the top prize before the Final at Terenzano after his nearest challengers Jason Crump and Jarek Hampel were eliminated before that stage - Hampel in a photo-finish with Britain’s Chris Harris in the semi-final.

Gollob, though, ensured he finished on a high by defeating Harris, Greg Hancock and Nicki Pedersen in the Final - and he heads to the last round of the series on home soil at Bydgoszcz in a fortnight as Champion.

He said: “I’m very happy. It’s the World Championship for me after 20 years of trying to win it. I have to thank my team and my sponsors for all their work.

“I’m sorry it has taken 20 years for me to win this. It has been 37 years that Poland had to wait. Twelve years ago in Wroclaw I had that big crash and the World Championship didn’t go to me. It went to Tony Rickardsson. But tonight is different – tonight is my night.”