Originally published October 19, 2009
MILDURA’S Jason Crump sealed his third World Speedway Championship in Poland.
Crump was crowned the champion in the final FIM Grand Prix of 2009 at Bydgoszcz, in Poland, on Saturday night.
The 34-year-old went into the meeting needing eight points on the night to take the crown, and had already picked up five points in his first three rides of the night.
After title rival Tomasz Gollob finished third in heat 12, Crump sealed the championship in the next heat, lucky number 13, streaking away from Nikki Pedersen.
Crump won three out of this year’s Grand Prix events and said he was thrilled to be world champion for a third time.
“The first half of the season went like clockwork, but I messed up a little in the second half when I became a speedway rider rather than a speedway racer,” Crump said.
“The injury never helped , but things came good at the end and it was pretty special to win heat 13 when I only needed a point.
“It’s an awesome feeling to be world champion again.”
Fellow Mildura speedway rider Leigh Adams missed out on ending his world title career in style, finishing runner-up to Pedersen in the final.
Adams announced his retirement from world speedway racing this week after finishing eighth in this year’s championship.
Earlier this month teen sensation Darcy Ward was crowned Under 21 Speedway World Champion in his first full season of racing in Europe.
The 17-year-old, who won the Australian Junior Title earlier this year, hails from Queensland.
He is being touted by experts as a future world champion.
