First it was Mark Webber winning the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, then it was Chris Holder winning the Speedway British Grand Prix in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. This was the sixth round of the Speedway Grand Prix and after his outstanding success in Poland, Thomasz Gollob was looking to further extend his lead over Jaroslaw Hampel with both Kenneth Bjerre and Jason Crump looking to stage last-ditch Championship campaigns. The omens were looking very good for Crump, who was looking to achieve back-to-back British Grand Prix successes. Last year he won every race and was looking good to do the same here after winning his first three heats (out of five).
But it was his from his fourth heat the night seemed to slip away from him; from the first corner he slipped off his bike forcing a restart. Luckily the referee didn't exclude him and all four riders restarted the race where he eventually finished second, it was after the race where things got a little heated; Chris Holder was unhappy that his fellow Australian didn't leave enough room for him ride well and clearly though that was an impediment. He made sure Crump was to know about it and they had a little tiff on their bikes, Crump cut Holder up as they looked to exit the track and that heated Holder up more. With the Speedway World Cup in two weeks and these two riding together they probably could have done without this argument, but they carried on in the paddock for a good five minutes before they agreed to disagree and carried with the night's action.
More outbursts came in the 18th heat when Tai Woffinden won the only heat for a Brit; he was oblivious to the jostling between Hans Andersen and Nicki Pedersen behind him. The two Danes were then to have afters when the race finished and again these two would be teaming together in the World Cup for Denmark. They exchanged words and heads came together before they drove each other into the safety wall, then separated by the stewards they carried their argument on in the paddock.
After the heats were completed it was Thomasz Gollob who topped the list with twelve points and would be joined in the semi-finals by Hampel, Crump, Holder, Freddie Lindgren, Andersen, Rune Holta and Pedersen. Holta and Pedersen just sneaking in ahead of Greg Hancock and Kenneth Bjerre who all had seven points. As for the British riders they capped the night off with Chris Harris and Woffinden on six points with Scott Nicholls on four.
The first semi-final was competed by Gollob, Holder, Andersen and Holta. From the start Gollob looked to have taken a lead but his bike blew-out and forced him out of the semi-final when he looked certain to reach the final. This gave Holder the win and Andersen could sneak second place to earn the right to race in the final. The second semi-final was contested by Hampel, Crump, Lindgren and Pedersen. Hampel won the semi-final which put him level on Championship points with Gollob and after finishing last in his final heat, Crump held onto second to make the final. It would be the two Aussies who came out on top in the final with Crump finishing behind the victorious Holder, Hampel finished 3rd with Andersen 4th.
This result leaves Hampel on 92 points just two ahead of Gollob with only four meetings left until Finals day, where the top eight race to be outright winner. Crump is third on 75 with Bjerre now 4th on 66, Holder is now four points ahead of both Holta and Andersen on 60 points. Nicki Pedersen currently hold the final spot to be in with a chance of racing on Finals day on 51 points with a slender lead over Andreas Jonsson on 48. The other possible contenders for that final 8th spot are Lindgren and Magnus 'Zorro' Zetterstrom on 43 points, Chris Harris on 42 and Greg Hancock on 41. The Grand Prix takes a break to make way for the Speedway World Cup in two weeks time with Great Britain, Australia, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Finland and Czech Republic all looking to become World Champions.
No comments:
Post a Comment