Crump - Why I walked away

Australian star reveals why he will not race in the Elite League in 2009

Last updated: 13th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Crump - Why I walked away

Crump has quit Britain

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Jason Crump has spoken exclusively to skysports.com about his decision to quit British racing next season.

The Australian, who narrowly missed out on the world title to Nicki Pedersen, has decided not to ride in the Sky Sports Elite League next season.

It will be the first time since 1991 that Crump misses a season in England's top flight, but admits the pressure of riding all over Europe has become too much.

"I think I will miss it, it has been a big part of my life for a long time," he told skysports.com.

"But I am at the point now where I am at the age where I am struggling to do five meetings a-week, I am 33 now and have been doing it since I was 16 - it is a difficult decision but one that needed to be made."

Crump insists his decision was not a statement about British speedway, but he hopes it will serve as a wake-up call for those in charge.

"I think it is something the BSPA and the Elite League promoters particularly need to look at, speedway doesn't stop at Dover - I have said it for years," he said.

"There is a big speedway scene in the whole of Europe and it is not just Britain and for many years England boasted the Premier League of speedway at the highest level but over the last two, three possibly four years that level has gone down.

"Promoters look at their figures, attendances but they are giving out a weaker product now and the product is probably not worth what they say it is and from a rider's point of view it is very frustrating the number of meetings we have to do in England, some away tracks we go to three possibly four times a year.

"I hope the promoters will look at it, I am big fan of British speedway and for me to walk away from speedway over here people may realise they have to start doing something about what they are trying to sell."

Problems

Crump feels the repetitive nature of British speedway is a huge problem.

"Supporters and fans don't want to see the same riders every week," he said.

"For example the people at Belle Vue don't want to see Coventry three or four times a week, the level of racing in England, the competition has gone down and down, whilst other leagues are getting tougher and that is showing with the riders who are here now."

Part of Crump's decision to quit Britain is down to his ambition to recapture the world championship.

Danish ace Pedersen again took the crown by a wide margin and Crump admits it was always a struggle to get near him.

"Second is the best I could hope for this year, there were too many GPs where I just didn't score enough points and I have got no complaints," he said.

"I wish I had won, but I just didn't ride well enough this year."

Crump also admitted that he cannot see an Australian GP being brought back in the near future, unless there was a major expansion in the Grand Prix series.

"I think Australia is too far away from the rest of the world to warrant a GP," he said.

"I think the whole series needs to expand before they can get Australia in there, to go from Europe to Australia for one meeting, if there are several in between dotted about then it could be possible.

"Maybe New Zealand and look towards Asia you could maybe get something going."

Comments (15)

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John Perrins says...

It may sound crazy but I would not want the Brummies promoted even if they were good enough. The Elite league is boring racing against each other four time splus the cups etc.. I want to see different teams each week and what the promotion team at Birmingham understand very well is that its all about entertainment. Went to Coventry for one match and was bored to tears!! This can't be right.

Posted 17:31 1st December 2008

Paul Isaacs says...

crumpy you make some valid points.as for me just getting back into watching speedway again,(ellesmere port gunners 78 till 85). i for 1 will miss you flying around kirky lane.. wish you all the very best in the grand prix,s

Posted 16:35 18th November 2008

Paul Harrison says...

go back to 6 pts tact ride fine clubs when riders ride in the grand prix then declare unfit to ride league meets up team average to 46 pts the minimum needed to win a match give a total of 27 pts max to cover the three heat leaders leaveing 19 to be shared by the remaining four riders then over a period of three to four years we should grt back to what british speedway was all about instead of riders being put in at reserve and sacked because a team needs riders of 2 and three point averages with no experiance but are expected to score match winning points

Posted 12:10 18th November 2008

Christopher May says...

make the final race in world championship rounds 6 laps so it really stands out from other races or semis and final 6 laps

Posted 11:45 15th November 2008

John Steward says...

Absolutely right. Where is the attraction to the Elite league with no GP riders, apart from the emotional reason for following your team what is the difference from following a team in Elite and Premier league racing. With a lack of GP riders will the promoters of the Elite league reduce prices, I think not. Lets get these GP riders back into British Speedway, 2 to each team, then blend this with a set number of Uk riders and the balance from other countries. The relegation and promotion system is a complete joke. Remove the 2 main riders from the Elite team replace with 2nd strings or allow the Premier team to select 2 heat leaders from the Elite league. This would then be an even playing field. Just another 2 meetings to generate revenue at the moment. Lets reintroduce the 4 team tournament for Elite league to be ridden on a neutral track ie Premier league. this type of meeting and individual should be held on tracks in the opposite League. This is basic thinking which the promoters do not seem to grasp. Promoters lets have some real good positive ideas for the betterment of the sport and not purely for revenue generation

Posted 14:24 14th November 2008

David Swain says...

Amen to Jason Crump, speaking for all true speedway fans. Let those who have ears hear, (and LISTEN,) otherwise the Promoters and Managers may not have a job!!! When will the Brains learn? Who, for example, at a time of economic crisis, organises the BSPA as a PURE JOLLY in Spain? This follows a speedway season where the sports' fat cats have been bleating about being unable to bring new riders into the fray because of budget constraints. Are we thought to be cabbage coloured and as dim as the BSPA? David Swain

Posted 12:03 14th November 2008

Nick Jones says...

Jasons racing will be missed here. Watching him on Sky and at tracks around the country. But I am sure he will be back for events over here. he cant keep away all year. I will look forward to seeing him at Cardiff In June

Posted 10:43 14th November 2008

Steve Lee says...

I agree with increasing the points limited but do not agree with joining the elite and premier league, what a stupid idea they would be riding 2 teams a week home and away on top of there european commitments, and how fair would it be to the premier league teams ? they dont have the fan base to afford top riders and will always be at the bottom. be like putting league 1 teams in the premiership of football. sure they may coarse a rare upset but look at the winners of the premier league, they got thrashed by wolverhampton and stayed in the premier league. its the ELITE league for a reason !!!

Posted 23:42 12th November 2008

Alwyne Bates says...

coventry got penalised for having a good side a few years ago when hancock etc were there, then it was poole's side with there strong side (inc w/champ) then coventry won all 3 titles last year again team penalised with the points dropping again, I expect poole to hit this year, so they probably won't be any good this season. yes I know we want a fair league and a bigger one like it used to be is what we need so we only play a team twice in league matches, but some teams/owners/promotors, either cannot attract the good riders or don't want to pay, just line there pockets. if it means the prices have to go up a bit so be it, to obtain a better league, A premier football match is£30 quid min,(sorry no premier in norfolk,no idea) and not half as exicting.put the points up to fifty, if a team can't fulfil it with good enough riders then they struggle, a team used to have 3 heat leaders, but most now a 1 plus a decent 2nd but hardly a good 3rd. might be going back a few years when semi proffesional but the ENGLAND team to ride against SWEDEN at coventry was made up of 7 coventry riders as they were that good, you cannot hardly make a good english 7 at the moment as nobody is really consistent. Bit like the english football clubs too many foreigners, and i'm not against them either, 3 a team max the rest brits. good luck jason

Posted 20:29 12th November 2008

David James says...

why dont they join premier league and elite league together there would be more local derbys like poole easbourne glasgow edinburugh then we mite get more top riders over here and not premier riders moving up and strugling would love to see crump adams nicki pedersen riding round somerset it would be awsome

Posted 17:44 12th November 2008

Ashley Jones says...

1.speedway home meetings should be bi-weekly to reduce the repetition factor 2.A pan european league could be introduced for the top club teams 3. all elite matches need to be held on the same day as per poland,sweden etc 4 The elite league should as its name suggests be that,no points limit whatsoever,teams that cant hack it financially can play with the premier boys. BUT PROMOTERS BEWARE IF YOU WATER THE PRODUCT DOWN FURTHER THE FANS THAT ARE LEFT WILL VOTE WITH THEIR FEET

Posted 15:27 12th November 2008

Chris Whitby says...

I totally agree with Jason's comments. The BSPA need to start listening to the fans and riders more. I believe the sport is still going in the right direction overall, however changes need to be made to the points limit and the number of teams in the elite league. I have followed Arena Essex/Lakeside for many years and one of the things i think can be made better with the sport is the way the GP series is planned. Any European club who has meetings on a Friday or Saturday, and GP riders in their teams, dont get to see the full potential of speedway. I'm not saying stop the GP at all, but surely the GP series can be extended into the "off season" and take the pressure off the European Clubs throughout the summer. At the moment the GP series affects many clubs every two to three weeks, but extending the series out means this will not happen as much.

Posted 11:26 12th November 2008

David Livings says...

im sure you will be missed lets hope the promoters get there act together

Posted 10:32 12th November 2008

Howard Eve says...

Jason is spot on with his comments about British Speedway but alas I cannot see the BSPA or the Elite League promoters taking a blind bit of notice.For years now they have stuck there heads in the sand and let British speedway at the top end stagnate to such an extent that it is becoming boring and all too predictable. I started going to speedway in 1973 at Hackney when British speedway was the at its best,but from the end of the seventies I have seen a gradual decline to such an extent that I just do not feel like going anymore and I close to Ipswich speedway.I used to follow Hackney all over the country because I loved the sport,so if I feel like I do now how many other fans feel the same,many im sure. The powers that be need to listen to Crumpie and take note from a fantastic servant to British speedway and a man who knows what he is talking about. Good luck next season Jason and hope to see you back over here again soon.

Posted 10:21 12th November 2008

David Lacey says...

well done jas,at last a rider that is on the same wavelength as the supporters!!.for too long these promoters have been out of touch with us supporters!!. now join the elite /premier together set the points average at a decent level ,say 45-48 points ,make the rules simple so even a first timer can inderstand them !,then maybe british speedway may just start to flourish again!!.

Posted 16:15 11th November 2008
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