Jonsson’s shock win at Danish Speedway GP

Andreas Jonsson of Sweden stunned a 30,000 crowd at the PARKEN in Copenhagen on Saturday when he snatched victory in the FIM Dansk Metal Danish Speedway Grand Prix from home favourites Nicki Pedersen and Hans Andersen.

But it was Jonsson’s controversial semi-final clash with Andersen that brought the crowd to its feet and a chorus of boos raining down on Jonsson when he stood on top of the rostrum.

Andersen had seemed set for a place in the final when his semi was stopped after Antonio Lindback had fallen. In the rerun Pedersen made no mistake at the second time of asking and his Danish colleague looked good to follow him home until Jonsson stormed up the inside and clipped the Dane as he roared past.

Andersen’s bike immediately stopped and as he crawled to a halt,
remonstrating with the referee, Jonsson sailed serenely on behind Pedersen.

Aussie Adams had looked a racing certainty to win successive Grand Prix
meetings for the first time following his victory in Eskilstuna last month. He had been the top scorer in the qualifying heats and won his semi and had first choice of gate in the final.

“I just messed up at the start,” he admitted. “I rolled a little and the referee caught me out, as simple as that. Andreas made a good start and squeezed down on me and that was that.”

Pedersen, who had been excluded for touching the tapes in his first outing, put in another gutsy performance, fighting back to qualify for the semis and then take second place, which leaves him with a 13-point lead over Adams.

All riders, and particularly Adams and Jonsson, paid tribute to the track prepared by Grand Prix Race Director Ole Olsen at PARKEN. “It was one of the best speedway tracks I have ridden on,” said Adams. “There were so many racing lines and that stopped the same part of the track getting a pounding all night.”
Jonsson agreed and said that if Olsen can achieve the same in Cardiff for the FIM Meridian Lifts British Grand Prix in Cardiff on June 30, that event will also be a spectacular one.

Adams actually scored more GP points (18) on the night than winner Jonsson and says he is still right in the hunt for the title.

Gollob was the surprise package. His GP form this year, including a home meeting in Wroclaw, has stuttered along but he was full value for his fourth place this evening.
There were encouraging signs, too, from Lindback who chalked up nine points and reached the semis.

Defending World Champion Jason Crump again looked a shadow of the rider he was a year ago. He battled through to the semis and at one stage seemed set to follow Adams into the final but Gollob came between them.

Britain’s Chris Harris had a hard time, blowing a motor at the start of Heat 9 and he never really recovered.

Matej Zagar had a heavy fall in his first ride after being hit by Bjarne Pedersen and was forced to withdraw suffering from chest pains. He was later taken to hospital.

FIM Dansk Metal Danish Grand Prix:
A.Jonsson (Sweden) 16, N.Pedersen (Denmark) 16, L.Adams (Australia) 18,
T.Gollob (Poland) 11, H.Andersen (Denmark) 12, K.Bjerre (Denmark) 10,
A.Lindback (Sweden) 9, J.Crump (Australia) 9, G.Hancock (USA) 7, J.Hampel (Poland) 7, S.Nicholls (Great Britain) 7, R.Holta (Polan d) 5, B.Pedersen (Denmark) 5, C.Harris (Great Britain), W.Jagus (Poland) 3, M.Risager (Denmark) 2, M.Zagar (Slovenika) 1, J.Jensen (Denmark) 0.

Championship points:
N.Pedersen 74, L.Adams 61, H.Andersen 54, G.Hancock 50,
J.Crump 38, C.Harris 36, A.Jonsson 33, T.Gollob 33, W.Jagus 29, J.Hampel 26, .Holta (Poland) 22, S.Nicholls 21, B.Pedersen 21, M.Zagar 20, A.Lindback 5.