JASON Crump won a Speedway Grand Prix for a record 21st time in front of an enthusiastic and appreciative 42,000 crowd at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Crump stormed to seven perfect wins to claim victory in the FIM British Speedway Grand Prix presented by Rockstar Energy Drinks. It was his third win in four years at Cardiff after victories there in 2006 and 2008.
It was a flawless display by the Aussie, who increased his championship lead over all of his nearest rivals, including Russian Emil Sayfutdinov and defending World Champion Nicki Pedersen.
Crump now has a 31-point cushion at the head of the leaderboard after beating Fredrik Lindgren, Hans Andersen and Greg Hancock in the final.
“This was as good as it gets,” said Crump. “I made some great starts all evening and to do this here of all places was fantastic.”
Crump paid tribute to the organisers and especially Ole Olsen, for his preparation of the track at Cardiff.
“Every rider will tell you that it couldn’t get any better. Of course it wasn’t easy out there, it was a tough night, but it was safe."
American Hancock chipped in, saying: “This was the best Grand Prix track ever. It was smooth, there were no ruts and there was more than one racing line. We couldn’t ask for more.”
Lindgren was happy with his second place, saying: “I have had an up and down season but I came into this meeting on the back of some good form. I only dropped two points in four league matches this week and that helps your confidence."
Crump was especially pleased to have past Rickardsson’s total of 20 GP wins.
He added: “I wouldn’t say Tony was an idol but he was a fierce opponent and to have won more GPs than him is something I am proud of. But then, he has six World Championship wins and as yet I still only have two.”
German referee Frank Ziegler upset many riders and thousands of fans with some controversial decisions. “Where is the common sense?,” asked Pedersen after being excluded from his semi-final after a fall on the first turn on the outside of Andersen.
In the first running of the same semi, Britain’s Chris Harris, who had brought the massive crowd to its feet by reaching the last eight, was also excluded for an incident that seemed to warrant a re-run with all four riders.
Sayfutdinov and Great Britain’s Scott Nicholls were summoned to attend a FIM Jury Meeting after the Grand Prix following an unsavoury incident between the pair.
They tussled returning to the pits after Heat 5, punches were thrown and they finished up sprawling on the track.
Until the Jury, comprised of British representative Tony Noel, Jury President Christer Bergstrom and referee Ziegler had reached a decision about possible punishment of one or either, the result of the British Grand Prix cannot be deemed official.
Hopefully, the results and current Grand Prix standings will be confirmed later this evening.
FIM British Grand Prix (results to be confirmed): Jason Crump (Australia) 24, Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 16, Hans Andersen (Denmark) 15, Greg Hancock (USA) 14, Tomasz Gollob (Poland) 9, Chris Harris (Great Britain) 9, Nicki Pedersen (Denmark) 8, Sebastian Ulamek (Poland) 8, Kenneth Bjerre (Denmark) 7, Emil Sayfutdinov (Russia) 7, Rune Holta (Poland) 7, Scott Nicholls (Great Britain) 6, Andreas Jonsson (Sweden) 5, Edward Kennett (Great Britain) 4, Leigh Adams (Australia) 3, Grzegorz Walasek (Poland) 1.
World Championship standings (to be comfirmed): Crump 98, Sayfutdinov 67, Hancock 59, Gollob 53, Pedersen 52, Jonsson 51, Lindgren 49, Andersen 38, Bjerre 38, Ulamek 35, Holta 34, Adams 31, Harris 30, Walasek 25, Nicholls 17, *Lindback 17, *Iversen 11, *Hampel 9, *Kennett 4, *Kus 1.
* denotes wild-card.
