FIM Speedway GP line-up confirmed for AucklandThe event will be the first meeting of the 14-round world championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix series (SGP) that returns to the southern hemisphere for the first time in nearly a decade. Defending champion Greg Hancock became the oldest rider ever to win the sport’s biggest prize when he sealed the title at Croatian track in Gorican, aged 41 years and 113 days old last September. The charismatic Californian won his first SGP crown back in 1997 and will not be keen to wait another 14 years for his third title. But standing in his way is three-time winner Jason Crump – Australia’s most successful speedway rider of all time. After almost two years without winning a Grand Prix round, he will be eager to get back on top of the rostrum in the land of the long white cloud. They are joined by triple champion Nicki Pedersen from Denmark, as well as 2010 SGP gold medallist Tomasz Gollob – one of Poland’s true sporting icons. Six-time New Zealand national champion Jason Bunyan has been handed the wild card place for the meeting and is the only man in the field to have previously raced at Western Springs and should enjoy plenty of local backing. World No.2 Andreas Jonsson, a man in the form of his life, makes the trip from Sweden, while last year’s bronze medallist Jaroslaw Hampel will fancy his chances of making an impact in Auckland. Australian champion Chris Holder from New South Wales will be well-supported and is desperate for a big performance after winning his fourth Australian speedway title in five years in Adelaide on January 21. Double World Under-21 champion Emil Sayfutdinov joins triple British title winner Chris Harris and former Danish champions Kenneth Bjerre, Hans Andersen and Bjarne Pedersen in the field. Brazilian-born Swedish racer Antonio Lindback and his international team mates Freddie Lindgren and Peter Ljung also line-up in Auckland. The field is completed by defending New Zealand champion Grant Tregoning and Andrew Aldridge, who will serve as track reserves. They will appear if any of the main 16 riders are forced to sit out a ride due to injury, illness, a starting offence or other reasons.
2012 FIM NEW ZEALAND SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX LINE-UP:
|
