Greg Hancock close to glory

Whisper it quietly, but Greg Hancock is now just 10 points away from becoming a three-time world speedway champion.

If you speak to ‘Grin’ he’ll tell you he’s a long way off that but after a logic-defying performance in Stockholm this weekend the American legend needs just 10 points from a possible 21 to become world champion.

He hasn’t stepped on a bike for a month after breaking his fingers in a crash in the Polish GP, but he hopped aboard his 500cc beast in Sweden on Saturday and somehow managed to finish on the podium yet again.

First of all we have to give props to meeting winner Jarek Hampel, who went through the card to win all seven of his races and win a GP in the rarest of ways - with a maximum score.

Aside from Hampel’s imperious performance there was a title fight and GH went into the penultimate event with a seven point lead over current champ Tai Woffinden - himself just five weeks on from a broken hand.

While Tai struggled for speed Hancock was taking full advantage and powered to 11 points from his qualifying races, then joined Chris Holder in the final as they got the top two places in the semi.

With Hampel pretty much nailed on to win the final it was all about who could take the other two places on the podium and Greg did what he always does, delivered the goods under pressure.

His lead at the top is now 12 points with only one round left, but he’s been around the block enough times to know it aint over just yet: “I’m going to Torun to win, it’s too early to think about anything other than that because anything can happen.

“It’s been a crazy season for things like that and I don’t want to be on that end of it again. I want to go there, make starts, win heats and win a world title.”

Woffinden is now third overall but only three behind second-placed Krzysztof Kasprzak and still hunting glory, while Chris Holder moved to sixth with another impressive performance.

With the speedway mecca of Torun hosting the final round of the year it’s still all to play for, but Hancock is within touching distance of the ultimate prize and it’s going to take something special to stop him.

Scandic Speedway GP Result

1 - Jarek Hampel (21 points)2 - Greg Hancock (15 points)3 - Krzysztof Kasprzak (11 points)4 - Chris Holder (13 points)

Series Standings

1 - Greg Hancock (127 points)2 - Krzysztof Kasprzak (115 points)3 - Tai Woffinden (112 points)4 - Matej Zagar (109 points)5 - Nicki Pedersen (107 points)6 - Chris Holder (93 points)7 - Jarek Hampel (87 points)8 - Niels Kristian Iversen (87 points)


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