Super Crump trumps Cardiff

24 from 24 takes Aussie star 31 points clear at top

Last updated: 29th June 2009

Crump: Maximum points

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Jason Crump went through the card to take the British Grand Prix in blistering style in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Australian rider claimed maximum points with seven wins from seven to go 31 clear at the top of the championship in an action -packed evening at the Millennium Stadium

The opening heat on the temporary surface saw Rune Holta excluded after a coming together with Emil Sayfutdinov.

But it was in heat five that the fireworks really started when Sayfutdinov felt that British rider Scott Nicholls had forced him out wide illegally as he tried to get past at the final turn.

In the aftermath of the race the Russian rushed towards Nicholls to make his views known and soon punches were being thrown by both riders on the track in front of the 45,000 crowd.

Flare up

I couldn't really understand him," Nicholls told Sky Sports straight after the incident. "I've just seen the replay and I moved him over, though I didn't do anything wrong.

"He was having a moan afterwards and when you're having a season like mine it doesn't take much for things to flare up."

The first semi-final saw Crump line up against Swede Freddie Lindgren, Sebastian Ulamek of Poland and fellow countryman Tomasz Gollob.

Crump maintained his maximum score to take the first race in style, barging his way into the lead at the first turn and leaving Lindgren and Gollob to wage a fierce battle for second place.

In the end the Swede came out on top to confirm his place in the last four with Gollob and Ulamek finishing third and fourth respectively.

The second semi-final brought more of the high drama that characterised the evening - firstly Harris finding himself disqualified after clipping Andersen.

On the restart it was Andersen who made contact, this time with Pedersen who was sent crashing into the barrier.

Awesome

Much to his dismay the Norwegian found himself excluded from the restart, leaving Andersen and Hancock a free passage into the final but still having to race.

At the third attempt Hancock took the lead and held on from Andersen to claim a confidence boosting win going into the final and three points to propel him into the top three in the rankings.

Crump however would prove too good on the night, bursting through to take the lead early in the final and continuing to pull away with every lap.

Lindgren took second with Andersen behind in third and Hancock following up, but the night belonged to Crump who with just half the season gone looks a near certainty to claim the title.

"What a night," said the Bristol-born 33-year-old. "I never dreamed I'd come here and go seven for seven. It's awesome.

"I couldn't have dreamed for a lead like that but we still have six GPs to go. It's not over yet."