World Speedway - Round 2

Australian speedway ace Jason Crump will be chasing his third Swedish Grand Prix victory in four years when the world championship continues on Saturday, May 31.

The 27-year-old world number two, who rides Jawa machinery, finished a disappointing seventh at the opening round in Poland on May 17, but is confident that a return to Swedish soil will be the panacea to re-ignite his 2003 campaign. To that end, Crump will recall his emphatic victories in the 2000-01 Swedish GPs, and his fourth in 2002 behind five-time world champion Tony Rickardsson.

The last-named also prevailed in the opening round of this year’s title – and will be competing in round two at his Swedish league home track after a late change of venues. However, Crump, a six-time GP winner, is undeterred, maintaining he’s now got the package to return to the winner’s dais for the first time since the Czech Republic round of the title in 2002.

“My new Jawa engines are now going very well,” said Crump, who recently became a father for the second time. “I’ve used them in recent domestic league outings in Poland and the UK, and they have performed very well.

“Now the next thing I’ve got to work on is my starts, which haven’t been quite as good as they should be. However, if I get the right breaks – which I didn’t in round one – I’ll be right. I’m riding well.”

Crump currently sits on 11pts in the nine-round title, equal with compatriot Leigh Adams. Rickardsson leads on 25pts from young guns Nicki Pedersen (20pts) and Lukas Dryml (18pts).

Three other Aussies will compete in Sweden -- Ryan Sullivan, Todd Wiltshire and Jason Lyons – on the ‘proper’ track in Brovallen – as opposed to the purpose-built incarnations that have become synonymous with the world title in recent years.