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IN THE WIND P22 HANCOCK TAKES BACK THE LEAD K rzysztof Kasprzak com- pleted an extraordinary weekâbecoming the Polish champ for the first time at Zielona Gora, Poland, on Thursday, August 14, and taking the Latvian Grand Prix victory. The 30-year-old Pole topped the rostrum ahead of Nicki Pedersen, who had to pass American Greg Hancock along the way. Hancock moved into a five- point lead over Tai Woffin- den at the World Champi- onship summit with third place and a large 16-point haul. Kasprzak started the season with third place in Auckland and the first Speedway Grand Prix win of his career at Bydgoszcz in April. He unfortunately tore the cru- ciate ligament in his left knee in May, which dashed his title hopes. He credits his engines that have transformed him into a top contender in the Speedway Grand Prix Series. "I won my second Grand Prix of the year," Kasprzak said. "I'm very happy and thank you to Pe- ter Johns. I must say this man has changed my career. He just gives me fast engines. When I feel fast, I can win races like that." Daugavpils runner-up Nicki Pedersen is determined to ce- ment his place in the World Cham- pionship's top three after edging into the third spot with 18 points. Hancock went into the event three points behind World Cham- pionship leader Woffinden and left five in front of the 24-year- old. But he was gutted not to land his fourth Daugavpils gold medal and admits riding defen- sively in the final cost him dearly. "I pretty much gave that one away," Hancock said. "I think I rode a little bit more defensively than I should have done, rather than just going out to win. The track was changing quite a lot and I was trying to be clever and ride a different line. If I'd just gone for glory, it would have been another story. "But Krzysztof rode a great line and produced a good cor- ner. I still got some points and I'm feeling good about it." Hancock refuses to get too excited about his slender advan- tage at the top of the standings in what's shaping up to be an epic title race with World Champion Woffinden, who was knocked out of the meeting at the semi- final stages with eight points. "Anytime you can get a lead at the top of the World Champion- ship, it's good," Hancock said. "Everybody keeps talking about whether it will go this way or that way. All that matters is me being one point in front at the end." John Hipkiss Nicki Pederson (left) and Greg Hancock (right) give Krzysztof Kasprzak (center) a champagne bath to celebrate his victory at the Latvian Speedway Grand Prix. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN HIPKISS