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feeling the after-effects of a Polish pileup six days earlier. Jonsson set up another inside pass of Gollob to take heat 12 and share the lead with Rickardsson on 8 points, With Hampel on 7. With two rounds of races remaining, Nicki Pedersen had 5, Adams 4 and Crump just 2. Hampel bolted away at breakneck speed to beat Rickardsson and book his semifinal berth in heat 13, and Crump's miserable night suffered another setback in 14 when he was caught by Norris off the fourth bend. Heat 15 was pivotal for Adams, Gollob, Bjarne Pedersen and Nicholls. Nicholls, like Adams, only had four by his name, and he made the worst possible getaway off gate four. But when Adams lifted on the second bend, Nicholls seized his moment, surging from fourth to first in a flash of full-on commitment. Bjarne also capitalized and Adams was left in third spot. The pressure was mounting, and it got to Nicki Pedersen in heat 16. His wayward first corner sent Hancock and Chrzanowksi slamming into the fence, with the Californian lucky that the Pole's bike didn't inflict worse damage on his well-being. With Pedersen ditched, Andersen won the rerun, and the Dane (9) joined Rickardsson (10), Hampel (10), Jonsson (9) and Bjarne Pedersen (8) as confirmed semifinalists. Crump was out for the count, and six riders still had designs on the last three places. Hancock, clearly suffering the effects of his crash, trailed in last behind reserve Edward Kennett in heat 17 as Gollob beat Hampel to become qualifier number six. A winner-takes-all heat 18 was to decide the seventh qualifier, with Nicki Pedersen, Adams and Lindback all on five points. Crump was the spoiler, but once again he didn't complete a lap. On this occasion there was no room for doubt, Crump unearthing a rut cutting back off the second bend to skittle both Lindback and Pedersen. Adams, off the outside, looked to be the favorite to claw his way into the last eight in the rerun, but instead, Lindback shot out in front and rode the perfect race. Jonsson lined up an overtake on Rickardsson in heat 19 in a race where all four were already through, and the battle of the Brits in heat 20 left Nicholls needing a point to finally hurdle the semifinal barrier. He slipstreamed Richardson to get second behind Chrzanowksi. The two outside gates were the top picks for the semifinals, but Jonsson failed to take advantage of trap four in losing out to Bjarne Pedersen and Andersen in the first, Andersen overhauling Lindback to qualify for the final. The second semi, rerun after Nicholls performed a 360-degree turn, saw Hampel defeat Rickardsson for the second time on the night and then select gate three again in the final. Rickardsson plumped for the outside, and it was a decision that set the scene for a riveting climax. Hampel was again sharp off the start, but Rickardsson went way, way out into virgin territory on the second bend. Leaning the bike over in what was almost a wall-ofdeath move, his rear wheel made contact with the foot of the airfence, and it propelled him to the front, with Andersen then being passed by Hampel and Pedersen. It was an extraordinary move from an extraordinary rider, and Rickardsson said: "I have been riding for over 15 years, doing between 500 and 600 races a season, and I am now 34, but I think that was the best first corner of my life." eN MIUENNIUM STADIUM CARDIFF, WALES RESULTS: JUNE 11, 2005 (ROUND 4 OF 2005 Golden State Flat Track Series Come join us jor Southern California's best Flat Track Series at the famous Costa Mesa Speedway 1/8 mile oval and Perris Flat Track's brand new 115 mile dirt track. Classes andfunfor evelyone! Entries are limited so enter TODAY! 9) SEMI I: I. Bjarne Pedersen; 2. Hans Andersen; 3. Antonio Undback; ... Andreas jonsson. SEMI 2: I. Jarek Hampel: 2. Tony Rickardsson: 3. Toman Gollob: 4. Scon Nk:holls. FINAL: I. Tony Rickardsson; 2. Jarek Hampel; 3. Bjame Pedersen: 4. Hans Andersen. FIM WORLD SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 4 of 9 rounds): I. Tony Rickardsson (95/1 win); 2. Jason Crump 63/1 win); 3. Nicki Pedersen (52); 4. Leigh Adams (49); 5.Bjame Pedersen (43): 6. (TIE) Hans Andersen (35)/Antonio Undback (35); 8. Greg Hancock (31); 9. (TIE) Tomasz GoUob (30)JJarek Hampel (30)/5cott Nicholls (30). UPCOMING ROUND: Costa Mesa Speedway and Perris Flat Track presents: Dates June 25 July 23 August 13 August 19 Costa Mesa Speedway Perris Raceway Costa Mesa Speedway Perris Raceway Dates August 27 October I October 15 October 29 Costa Mesa Speedway Perris Raceway Costa Mesa Speedway Perris Raceway For entry, membership application, or more information contact: Costa Mesa Speedway (949) 492-9933 or www.cmspeedway.com Perris Raceway (714) 642-3156 or www.perrisflattrack.com Round 5: Copenhagen, Denmark, June 25 CYCLE NEWS • JUNE 22, 2005 31