Crump World Champion - Speedway 2004

[mmciau]

Absolutely fabulous news for Jason Crump.

I was privileged to have watched his father in the 1970s

First Australian for 52 years to win Title (late Jack Young of Adelaide, South Australia the last to do so).

Mike

[ranoff]

Yes, I am so pleased for him. I remember him as a kid at Brandon for an Intercontinental Final (i think)back in the 80's.

My Dad drove the riders on parade in a truck, so i felt well connected.

In the meeting Phil fell, and Jason had to be stopped running on to the track. I remember he was very upset and I felt the same because he was a kid of the same age as me.

He was this little scrawny red haired kid. Look at him now!!

[TWIGLET]

Over the moon for Jason, very well deserved.

[275 GTB-4]

Thanks probably would not of heard about it unless I read a specialist Motor Cycle publication....what is it with people over this side of the world not recognising their champions!!

[ranoff]

With a bit of luck there will be a bit of this televised in Aus on one of the sports round up shows on satellite cable. In UK we had a live 3.5 hour show on Sky sports from the final round at Hamar in Norway. Solo speedway is big on Sky over here. We have it live every Monday from April to next week. BTW Sky is a Rupert Murdoch company! It makes great telly viewing. Don't understand why Jason has not been publicised in Aus along with Leigh Adams and Ryan Sullivan plus others. Now Jason has got the World title i think he can do it more times. For you Australians who dont know its mainly a team sport in UK two teams, 7 riders each team, 15 x 4 rider heats. IMHO speedway riders generally interview very well, and on sky they talk to them between races. imagine pat rafter or Leighton hewitt being interviewed at match point, no way!

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by ranoff
With a bit of luck there will be a bit of this televised in Aus on one of the sports round up shows on satellite cable. In UK we had a live 3.5 hour show on Sky sports from the final round at Hamar in Norway. Solo speedway is big on Sky over here. We have it live every Monday from April to next week. BTW Sky is a Rupert Murdoch company! It makes great telly viewing. Don't understand why Jason has not been publicised in Aus along with Leigh Adams and Ryan Sullivan plus others. Now Jason has got the World title i think he can do it more times. For you Australians who dont know its mainly a team sport in UK two teams, 7 riders each team, 15 x 4 rider heats. IMHO speedway riders generally interview very well, and on sky they talk to them between races. imagine pat rafter or Leighton hewitt being interviewed at match point, no way!

I'm 55 years old and Solos have always involved teams - I attended numerous meetings way back when I was a small boy - am I missing something there??

[mmciau]

275 GTB-4,

I grew up with the old Adelaide Rowley Park speedway where each friday night solo, sidecar, TQ, speedcar sprintcar, saloon car and in earler years hot rods.

Kym Bonython was the promoter with fingers in art, jazz, etc

Mike

[jetsetter]

Congratulations to Jason Crump on becoming Australia's latest World Champion. Having watched a lot of Crump at the Exhibition Speedway in Brisbane i am exceptionally proud of how far he's come.

[ranoff]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
I'm 55 years old and Solos have always involved teams - I attended numerous meetings way back when I was a small boy - am I missing something there??

Sorry, think I should have said we do not have mixed meetings like you do in Australia. The last meeting I went to at Gosford NSW had a bit of everything. In Britain the whole thing is generally a league set up. A meeting will be a 15 heat team match then a second half of junior try-outs or sometimes a junior team match. When we get an individual meeting it will usually be just that, a 16 rider 20 heat meeting to the old world individual championship format. From what I have gleaned, the GPs next year are of similar format with 20 heats plus A and B finals. No more of this two bad heats and you're out stuff.

If you are interested in looking at the British set-up try the link.

http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/

[ranoff]

Sorry for the bad etiquette in following on my own post.
It is reported in the UK Speedway Star magazine that Jason has married his long term partner (name forgotten sorry) in Mauritius.

It is also strongly rumoured locally in the Coventry Evening Telegraph that Coventry Bees are pursuing Jason for next season, subject to confirmation of next years team building regulations for the Elite League. I was surprised to read that Jasons UK contract is owned by Oxford promoter Nigel Wagstaff.

Eddie