Motor

Pressrelease från BSI

RICKARDSSON REIGNS IN DENMARK

BSI boss John Postlethwaite hailed the "genius" of Tony Rickardsson after the super Swede won his fourth Grand Prix of 2005 in Copenhagen on Saturday.

Rickardsson continues to rewrite speedway's record books and his victory in the KANSAS Danish Speedway Grand Prix saw him become the first rider to win three consecutive rounds and also the first to win four times in one season. With four rounds to go Rickardsson has an almost unassailable lead but he still refuses to accept that a sixth World title is assured.

"Anything can still happen," he said after winning at the PARKEN stadium in Copenhagen for the first time. "I really don't think about records, I just like winning!"

Postlethwaite said: "I really think the fans are enjoying seeing such a genius in action. He is winning because he is so good and I don't think it is bad for the sport to have someone like him at the top."

Rickardsson saw off a spirited challenge from young Swede Antonio Lindback, who was third, and American Greg Hancock who was on the rostrum for the first time this year. Both Rickardsson and Hancock have appeared in all 75 Grands Prix events since the inaugural round in Wroclaw, Poland, in 1995.

Home favourite Nicki Pedersen once again made it through to the final in his native country but that first Danish title remains a dream for the 2003 World Champion, Rickardsson's lead in the World Championship race is now a hugely impressive 45 points over Jason Crump who had won the two previous Danish GPs held at PARKEN. Crump was joint top scorer with Hancock in the qualifying rounds but couldn't make it through to the last four on this occasion.

Three riders - Andreas Jonsson, Hans Andersen and Jaroslaw Hampel - all score eight in the qualifiers but none could reach the final. Once again neither of the two British riders, Scott Nicholls and Lee Richardson, made the semis. Richardson started well with an opening heat win but failed to capitalise on that while Nicholls fell in each of his last two races.

Once again, however, the night simply belonged to Rickardsson. "He is our hero," admitted runner-up Hancock. "He is setting the standard and it is up to the rest of us to try and reach it.

"I will be giving it my best shop over the final four rounds and into next year. I still believe I can be World Champion again." Lindback, whose career is just beginning, also confessed that Rickardsson is the rider he most admires and one he tries to learn from. "I desperately want to beat Tony but at the moment he is just too good."

That thought is echoed by the whole Grand Prix line-up!

FIM KANSAS Danish Grand Prix:
T.Rickardsson (Sweden) 25
G.Hancock (USA) 20
A.Lindback (Sweden) 18
N.Pedersen (Denmark) 16
J.Crump (Australia) 12
A.Jonsson (Sweden) 8
H.Andersen (Denmark) 8
J.Hampel (Poland) 8
L.Adams (Australia) 7
N.Kristian-Iversen (Denmark) 7
L.Richardson (Great Britain) 6
T.Gollob (Poland) 6
R.Sullivan (Australia) 5
S.Nicholls (Great Britain) 4
B.Pedersen (Denmark) 3
T.Chrzanowski (Poland) 2

Overall World Championship after 5 rounds: T.Rickardsson 120
J.Crump 75
N.Pedersen 68
L.Adams 56
A.Lindback 53
G.Hancock 51
B.Pedersen 46
H.Andersen 43
J.Hampel 38
T.Gollob 36
S.Nicholls 34
A.Jonsson 32
R.Sullivan 29
L.Richardson 22
T.Chrzanowski 19