<I>Crash.net</I> preview - Grand Prix of Sweden.
The Speedway Grand Prix moves on round two this Saturday from the Avesta Motorstadion, Brovallen, Avesta instead of the original venue of Stockholm. After his victory in Poland two weeks ago, Tony Rickardsson races in his homeland event seeking to stretch his standings lead and move a notch closer to that record equalling sixth title.
The Speedway Grand Prix moves on round two this Saturday from the Avesta Motorstadion, Brovallen, Avesta instead of the original venue of Stockholm. After his victory in Poland two weeks ago, Tony Rickardsson races in his homeland event seeking to stretch his standings lead and move a notch closer to that record equalling sixth title.
The five time champion already has a handy lead after Poland and will be a strong favourite to win on home shale especially as one of his main rivals, Ryan Sullivan, took another knock recently and is not 100% fit. Sullivan finished down the card in Poland thanks to his injury and really must put up a good show on Saturday if his world championship dreams are not to be iced for another year.
Perhaps Rickardsson's biggest challenger in Avesta may turn out to be Sullivan's compatriot and current world number two Jason Crump. The Belle Vue superstar is certainly the form pick if using the "horses for courses" methodology as he's won three out of four Swedish GPs. Crump, like Sullivan, didn't have the best of nights in Poland and also faces a recovery mission on Saturday.
Nicki Pedersen, Lukas Dryml and Tomasz Gollob finished second, third and fourth in Chorzow two weeks ago and any one of this trio is capable of doing the same or better and don't discount Leigh Adams either.
This is an open looking GP with the likes of Scott Nicholls, Michael Max and Greg Hancock and Sullivan all having the start from early the pre-qualification heats but all serious contenders. Pedersen and Dryml made the final last time from the same pressured beginnings so none can be discounted.
Former champion Mark Loram will again be missing and needs more time to recover from his arm injuries and his place will be taken by Ronni Pedersen. Andreas Jonsson, another contender recovering from injury, may also lose hit fitness race.
This will be veteran Aussie Todd Wiltshire's last Swedish Grand Prix. He announced last week that he will retire from speedway at the end of the season.
The bookmakers can't see past a Rickardsson victory on Saturday chalking him up at a hideously short 11/8 to stand in premier position atop the podium. Would you take that or have your pound on "form horse" Crump at 5/1?
Current championship standings:
1. Tony RICKARDSSON 25
2. Nicki PEDERSEN 20
3. Lukas DRYML 18
4. Tomasz GOLLOB 16
5. Rune HOLTA 13
= Piotr PROTASIEWICZ 13
7. Jason CRUMP 11
= Leigh ADAMS 11
9. Greg HANCOCK 8
= Krzysztof CEGIELSKI 8
11. Mikael MAX 7
= Lee RICHARDSON 7
13. Ryan SULLIVAN 6
= Scott NICHOLLS 6
15. Mark LORAM 5
= Bohumil BREHL 5
17. Tomasz BAJERSKI 4
= Sebastian ULAMEK 4
19. Rafal KURMANSKI 3
= Hans ANDERSEN 3
21. Todd WILTSHIRE 2
= Bjarne PEDERSEN 2
23. Jason LYONS 1
= Peter KARLSSON 1
