Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128225
Heat 19 was a thriller. Pedersen led on lap one but finally finished at the back as Bajerski, Gollob and Nicholls all got by, and Hancock then took 20 with a rocket-ignited start off the outside grid, with Crump passing Rickardsson on lap two for second. Nicholls, Adams, Rickardsson and Pedersen avoided missing out on the semifinals in heats 21 and 22, with Hancock already safely through after his win in heat 20. Nicholls, in his third-consecutive semi but without a previous final appearance to his name this season, finally did the business in winning heat 23, as he and Crump went either side of Bajerski, who had bolted away into the lead. But there was a shock for Crump on the last lap as he ran out of fuel as Pedersen, who had initially been at the back, attacked his inside on the back straight. Hancock drew gate two in the second semi but failed to make it four final appearances on the bounce when he trailed in last behind Gollob, Adams and Rickardsson. So the final read Adams, Nicholls, Gollob and Pedersen across the grid, and the unassuming Aussie was quick to size things up in powering to the front. He looked to be cruising until Pedersen surprised him by shooting into the lead on the last lap, but he had enough power to cut back and regain the lead and the glory to take the honors. Nicholls finished third. "I have been riding good and felt I was good enough to get to the final in each of the last two rounds," Nicholls said. "I am confident, and a place on the rostrum for the second time (he was second in Australia last year) means I am going in the right direction." Hancock is in fifth place, 20 points behind the leading pair of Rickardsson and Pedersen, and he now needs to win a GP - and quickly - if he is to stand any chance of mounting a serious challenge in the final four rounds. There is now a mid season hiatus before the next GP at Gothenburg in Sweden on August 23, mainly due to the forthcoming Speedway World Cup in Denmark between August 3 and 9. After Gothenburg, the final three GPs are at Prague in the Czech Republic on September 6, Bydgoszcz in Poland on September 20 and finally Hamar in Norway on October 4. eN Ilrsko Stadium Ilrsko, Slovenia Resulb: July 12, 2003 [Round 5 of 9) SEMI 1 (Top 2 transfer to Final): J. Scott Nicholls: 2. Nicki Pedersen: 3. Tomasl Bajerski; 4. Jason Crump. SEMI 2 (Top 2 transfer to Final): 1. Tomllsz Gollob; 2. Leigh Adams; 3. Tony Rickardsson; 4. Greg Hencock. FINAL: I. Leigh Adams; 2. Nicki Pederson; 3. Scott Nicholls; 4. Tomasz Gollob. FlM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPEEDWAY SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 9 rounds): I. (TIE) Tony Rickardsson (89/1 win)/Nicki Pedersen (89/1 win); 3. Leigh Adams (78/1 win); 4. Jason Crump (72/1 win): 5. Greg Hancock (69): 6. Lukas Dryml (58); 7. (TIE) Toma" Gollob/Rune Hoi.. (56); 9. Ryen Sulliven (54/1 win); 10. Scott Nicholls (50). r-----------------------------------------------~~~~~~ o diately to Cycle News. I year/50 issues for 545.00. (can be billed 2 monthly payments) o o arne Address City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Slale o Zip Phone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Order Dale Send to: I!JP!/I!J III!II.ItlI, Inc. Every week for two years (l00 issues for $80.00) Six months second class (25 issues for $23.(X» This is a o New Subscription o Renewal Please bill me 1 payment of $45.00 o o p.o. Box 5084, Cosla Mesa, CA 92628-5084 Toll Free Subscription Hotline (800) 831-2220 24-hour FAX Order Line (714) 75'1-6685. E-rnaii: Subscribe@cyclenews.com Signature Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - Gothenburg, Sweden, August 23 Round 7 - Bydgoszcz, Poland, September 20 YES! Start my subscription imme- Bill 2 payments of $22.50 Enclosed is my check or money order Charge my _ 0 Visa o Mastercard == l'I'SA One year (SO l8Suesl. 2nd class Canllda or Mexico MC/Visa# Expiration Date :~~a~l:.t~~~':ir~~~v:tl~a~I:~2~(~:~~.d.).sI l ~----------------------------------------------n e _ S • JULY 30, cu cle 2003 43