Crump wins in Cardiff

Australian comes back to form, while Brits impress

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 1st July 2008

jason crump

Crump: 'Awesome' win

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Former world champion Jason Crump claimed victory in the British GP on an incident-packed evening in Cardiff.

Briton Scott Nicholls made it to the final but was then excluded for jumping the tape, as he took a gamble on a fast start which did not pay off.

In the re-start, Australian Crump, who was born in Bristol, swept to the front on the first bend from Gate 4 and stayed there to win, but American Greg Hancock pushed him all the way in a great race.

World Champion Nicki Pedersen hit a rut and came off but got his bike off the track to allow the race to continue.

The win - and the 22 points earned - brings Crump to within ten points of Pedersen at the top of the standings with six races still to come.

Worth wait

Welcoming his victory, the world champion of 2004 and 2006 told Sky Sports: "It's been too long but that was worth the wait - that was awesome. The fans make this event. As a rider trying to race on this track is pretty difficult. We do our best for all you guys sitting up there and you guys all make it worthwhile coming here.

"I just came tonight to try and win a Grand Prix. It has been 16, 17 since my last win. I am trying to get back to the way I was a couple of years ago. It's taken a while. Last year was up and down through injuries and not riding too good."

British rider Chris 'Bomber' Harris put on a brave performance to try and repeat his victory of last year.

Needing just a point in the last heat, he was involved in a spectacular crash with Niels Kristian Iversen, breaking his nose and hurting his right knee.

He needed treatment on the track but eventually rose to his feet and walked back to the sound of 'Land of Hope and Glory' with much flag-waving from the crowd.

He then came second in the re-run to make it to the semis but could not progress further, coming home third behind Hancock and Crump in the qualifier.

Wildcard

In a positive contribution which bodes well for the future, British wildcard Ed Kennett did well against the more experienced riders, claiming a second and a third in his five heats.

The evening had its fair share of controversy as the referee Marek Wojaczek attracted criticism in some quarters after excluding Bjarne Pedersen from the semi-final and Leigh Adams from a heat.

In winning the final, Crump became the third qualifier for the Super Prix event which will pitch the winners of the Swedish, Danish, British and German GP finals against one another in October for an additional $200,000 of prize funds.

He takes the white helmet for the race, with Rune Holta already in red and Tomasz Gollob in blue.