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{Left) ,Jason Crump (4) grabbed his second GP victory in as many rounds. The Aussle has been red hot down the stretch in the 2001 sertes, and he will likely be a contender for the title in 2002. (Below) Hiklas Klingberg (13) had a tense moment as he crashed during this Main Event heat race. He would pick up the pieces and move on with enough points to secure a berth In next year's series. briefly in front - but in the end the Swede had to bow to the red-hot Aussie who also took top spot on the rostrum at the penultimate GP in Poland. Karlsson began the night in 10th place overall, and vulnerable to the challenge of those just below him, notably outgoing World Champion Mark Loram and Hancock. But in the end it was emerging Danish hotshot Nicki Pedersen who missed out, dropping out of the top 10 when he made his exit in heat 15. Loram, despite being excluded from the Main Final for tape touching, had his best Grand Prix of the year and displaced Pedersen in the top 10 to survive having to race in the GP Challenge. Karlsson, who went straight into the Main Event after a rostrum place in Poland. started with a win in heat 13, and was second behind Crump in 17. He then won his semi-final ahead of Ryan Sullivan, but was unable to get the better of Crump in the Main Final after the Aussie had first choice of the favored inside grid. Gate one provided no fewer than 16 of the 24 race winners - a disparity that revealed how influential starting positions can sometimes be Andreas Jonsson, a 21-year-old who is a team mate of Hamill and Hancock's at Coventry, made a spectacular Grand Prix debut as one of the wild-card entries. From the moment he powered off the outside gate to win heat one ahead of Gollob, the young Swede was a revelation, and never far away from the thick of the action. He had to face an eliminator race after being caught by Leigh Adams in heat seven, and almost dropped his machine on the first two turns of heat nine before recovering to follow Gollob home. He was then second to Rickardsson after brilliantly repassing Loram in heat 12, but the unkind reward was a gate three in heat 17. He tried to jump the start but the race was pulled back by referee Tony Steele, and in the re-run Jonsson was left at the back, the same fate that befell him in heat 20 as he followed Hamill home. The hard luck story of the night was that of Britain's Carl Stone hewer, whose engine malfunction while sec- ond behind Rickardsson in the second semifinal contributed to him missing out on a place in the top 10. _ (Above) Greg Hancock had another nighbnare meeting In Sweden, and the fonner Wortd Champion is now on the outside looking in. Hancock must finish in the top six at the GP Challenge in two weeks' time. (Left) Billy Hamill had another decent meeting at Sweden, and will land sixth In this year's standings· good enough for a spot in next year's GPs. OlyJapic Stadium StDclchDlm, Sweden Results: September 29, 2001 (Round & of &J SEMI 1 (Top 2 to Main Final): 1. Jason Crump; 2. Mark Loram; Tony Rickerdsson; 4. Greg Hancock. SEMI 2 (Top 2 to Main Final): 1. Mikllel Karlsson; 2. Ryan Sullivan; 3. Leigh Adams; 4. Carl Stonehewer. CONSOLATION FINAL: 1. Tony Rickardsson: 2. Leigh Adams; 3. Carl Stonehewer; 4. Greg Hancock. MAIN FINAL: 1. Jeson Crump; 2. Mikael Karlsson; 3. Ryan Sulllven; 4. Mark Lomm. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Arter 6 of 6 rounds): 1. Tony Rickerdsson (121/2 wins); 2. Jason Crump (113/2 wins): 3. Toma.. Gollob (89/1 win): 4. Ryan Sumvan (50); 5. Leigh Adams (69): 6. Billy Hamill (61/1 win); 7. Mikeel Kerlsson (59); 8. Todd Wiltshire (56); 9. Merk Loram (54): 10. Niklas Klingberg (54). cue •• n • _ S • OCTOBER 17,2001 21