Speedway: Jason Crump Comes to Britain

Imagine David Beckham playing for Real Madrid one day, Manchester United the next and then, 48 hours later, turning out for Juventus. In football it would be laughable but speedway's equivalent of that schedule is a weekly occurrence for the world champion Jason Crump.

The Australian, who roars into Cardiff's Millennium Stadium tonight for the British grand prix, rides for Belle Vue Aces in England, Apator Torun in the Polish League and for VMS Elit in Sweden. "Sometimes I race six times in a week in three different countries. So sometimes, like right now, I feel exhausted," he said.

But Crump's tireless travelling comes with its rewards. Last year he lifted the world title, edging the Swede Tony Rickardsson by three points. This year, after three rounds, he trails Rickardsson by 11 points and motivating himself to compete is never a problem, despite the obvious weariness.

"It's a hectic lifestyle. But then, at 6.30 or 7.00 when it's time to compete, I just put on my race face and my weariness goes away for a while."

For all his miles across Europe, Crump is part of the lucky elite who fly everywhere and find their bikes waiting for them when they arrive; the less fortunate travel by van with their machines, though they race less often.

"I take part in about 100 meetings in the season, which runs from March to October," he said. "That means criss-crossing between England, which holds about half the meets, Poland and Sweden. The worst part of this game is the travelling.

"It's flying followed by practice followed by the race and back to the airport again. I've been to Prague 30 times but, though people say it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world, I've never seen the sights ..." And for his holidays he goes halfway round the world to Australia.

The world championship has developed into a two-horse race between the 29-year-old Crump and the five-times world champion Rickardsson. You may feel tempted to cheer on the Bris tol-born and Northampton-based Crump tonight but you should remember this is an ocker Aussie and as down to earth as they come.

When this reporter said he would phone back to check something he replied: "I have my phone switched off, mate."

"Um, I'll leave a message then?"

"Don't return messages, mate."

Get the idea? He is the son of the former champion Phil Crump and was brought up in the state of Victoria. His aggressive, single-minded racing is uncompromising. But it brought him his first world championship last year after three seasons as runner-up.

"It started to change for me when I got a sports psychologist, who trained my mind to work in different ways and to curb my bad traits. And I'm even stronger this year. I'm aggressive in the right way and I like being a winner. I give it all I've got.

"This sport is very much down to the rider because the bikes are very much the same. It's all about how you set it up and even if you get out of bed the wrong way."

There are some who think that Crump gets out of bed on the wrong side on a regular basis. "I'm not the most popular rider out there," he said. "But I'm not out to be popular, just to win. Maybe some people don't like the red colour of my hair."

In Norway two years ago he and his family received death threats, though he refuses to discuss this.

Kelvin Tatum, who will commentate on tonight's meeting, said: "Jason is not the easiest of people but he's actually a smashing guy. He's got the monkey off his back by winning the world title.

"He's very intense but a little more relaxed these days and I think that helped him win it. I think Tony has the edge on most things but they both know how to win ugly. I also think Nicki Pedersen, who won here last year, has a great chance."

Britain's best-known rider, Coventry's Scott Nicholls, said: "Tony and Jason are running away with it at the moment. Tony is the ultimate pro. He sets the benchmark in everything.

"You always get the nice guy and the bad guy in any sport and Jason seems to have this image. He's very aggressive and doesn't have the razzmatazz. He's happy as long as he's scoring points. But he's not unpopular with the other riders, who respect him."

For Nicholls, like Crump, the Cardiff meeting is the highlight of the speedway season. "This is the biggest event of the year. And I'm not just saying that because I'm British. Most of the riders feel the same way. It's a great stadium with a big crowd and a fantastic atmosphere. It always feels more than just a speedway meeting."

Nicholls has had disappointing performances in this season's three grands prix but adds: "It's still early and the format is such that you can pull a lot back at this stage."

But the attention will be focused on the rivalry between Crump and Rickardsson. "Beating Tony last year really added something to the title and to do it again would certainly be special," Crump added.

Crump would like to spend some time with his second sporting passion this summer, the Australia cricket team. "I'd love to have been a cricketer, leading the side out like Allan Border and Steve Waugh. I'd love to get to a match but looking at my itinerary I don't think it will be possible."

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