Rune Holta
Personal information
Nationality	Poland
Date of birth	(1973-08-29) August 29, 1973 (age 38)
Place of birth	Stavanger, Norway
Website	Official website
Current club information
Polish league	ZKŻ Zielona Góra
Swedish league	Indianerna
Career history
Norway NMK Sandnes & Jæren Poland GrudziądzMorawski Zielona Gora<1996> Unia Tarnów Częstochowa Rzeszów Unia Tarnów Gorzów Wielkopolski Denmark Outrup Sweden Valsarna Vetlanda Indianerna Dackarna Indianerna	1991-2001 1994 1997-1998 1999-2000, 2002-2005, 2010 2006 2007 2008-2009 1997-2002 1995-2002 2003-2008 2009 2010 2012
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
2009 Number	7
Starts	74[1]
Podiums	5 (2-1-2)
Finalist	8 time
Winner	2 times
Individual honours
Norwegian Champion Polish Champion Nordic Champion Golden Helmet of Pardubice (CZE) Swedish Grand Prix Scandinavian Grand Prix	1994, 1996, 1997, 2000 2003, 2007 1999, 2000 2009, 2011 2008 2010
Team honours
World Cup Winner Polish Team Champion Polish Pairs Champion Swedish Elitserien Champion Danish League Champion Polish Div Two Champion	2005, 2007, 2010 2003 2007 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 1999, 2001 1999

Rune Holta (born August 29, 1973 in Stavanger, Norway), grew up in Randaberg Norway.^[2] He is an international speedway rider who has been a Polish citizen since 2002, allowing him to represent Poland in international competitions and was a member of their Speedway World Cup winning teams in 2005, 2007 & 2010. He has also won the Polish Championship in 2003 and 2007.

For his sport achievements, he received:
Golden Cross of Merit in 2007.

Speedway Grand Prix[link]

2007 Speedway Grand Prix - 7th place

Final Championship standings:		7th	91+3	Riding No (14)
	Grand Prix	Pos.	Pts.	Heats	Draw No
1 /11	Italian SGP	15	2	(X,0,X,2,0)	4
2 /11	European SGP	11	6	(1,F,2,3,X)	6
3 /11	Swedish SGP	6	9	(3,1,1,1,3) +0	1
4 /11	Danish SGP	12	5	(0,2,3,F,0)	4
5 /11	British SGP	11	5	(3,1,E,1,0)	7
6 /11	Czech Rep. SGP	3	16	(1,2,3,2,3) +3 +1	11
7 /11	Scandinavian SGP	11	5	(0,0,1,1,3)	10
8 /11	Latvian SGP	10	7	(1,1,2,3,0)	16
9 /11	Polish SGP	6	10	(0,3,2,2,3) +0	11
10 /11	Slovenian SGP	3	17	(2,3,3,3,2) +2 +1	13
11 /11	German SGP	6	10	(1,2,3,1,2) +1	15

2008 Speedway Grand Prix - 13 place

1

Final Championship standings:		13	5	Riding No (7)
	Grand Prix	Pos.	Pts.	Heats	Draw No
1 /11	Slovenian SGP	13	5	(3,1,0,1,0)	1
2 /11	European SGP
3 /11	Swedish SGP
4 /11	Danish SGP
5 /11	British SGP
6 /11	Czech Rep. SGP
7 /11	Scandinavian SGP
8 /11	Latvian SGP
9 /11	Polish SGP
10 /11	Italian SGP
11 /11	German SGP

Plane crash[link]

Place of 2007 plane crash.

In 2007 Holta survived a plane crash with fellow rider Tomasz Gollob. The plane, flown by Władysław Gollob, crashed on the way to a meeting at Tarnów. Holta escaped with cuts and bruises.^[3]

On his official website, Holta stated "In spite of the circumstance I'm doing OK but I'm very shaken. We have been very lucky, and I'm just glad that I'm still alive."^[4]

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rune Holta

• List of Speedway Grand Prix riders
• Norway national speedway team
• Poland national speedway team

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

2011 Speedway Grand Prix riders
1	Gollob	2	Hampel	3	Crump	4	Holta	5	Hancock
6	Harris	7	Bjerre	8	Holder	9	Jonsson	10	Pedersen
11	Lindgren	12	Sayfutdinov	13	Laguta	14	Lindbäck	15	Kołodziej

v t e 2009 Polish national speedway team Senior Team: Baliński · Dobrucki · T.Gollob · A.Gomólski · Hampel · Holta · Jaguś · Jędrzejak · K.Kasprzak · Kołodziej · Miedziński · Skórnicki · Świderski · Ułamek · Walasek Junior Team (U-21): Celmer · Dudek · Janowski · Kajoch · Lampart · Mitko · Miturski · Mroczka · Musielak · Pawlaszczyk · Pawlicki · Piaszczyński · D.Sperz · Szewczykowski · Zengota

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

A cross marking the crash site near Holta. The plaque reads "In memory of those who died here 9 August 1961. 34 English school boys, their two teachers and the three crew members. Erected by friends in Rogaland".

Holta is a farm in Strand municipality in Rogaland, Norway. The farm is situated on the northern hills overlooking Bjørheimsvatn Lake. It is approximately 10 kilometres from Stavanger, with a 14-kilometre journey by sea.

On 9 August 1961, the Holtaheia Accident took place as a Vickers VC.1 Viking passenger aeroplane, G-AHPM operated by Cunard Eagle Airways, transporting schoolboys from The Archbishop Lanfranc School in Thornton Heath, London, crashed into the mountainside above the farm (Holtaheia). 34 students, two teachers and three crew members were killed.

Coordinates: 59°5′10″N 6°2′2″E / 59.08611°N 6.03389°E / 59.08611; 6.03389

This Rogaland location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (June 2009)

Greg Hancock
Personal information
Nationality	USA
Date of birth	(1970-06-03) June 3, 1970 (age 42)
Place of birth	Whittier, California, USA
Website	greghancock.com
Current club information
British league	None
Polish league	Zielona Góra
Swedish league	Piraterna
Czech league	PDK Grepl Mšeno
Career history
Cradley Heath Heathens Getingarna (SWE) Leszno (POL) Rospiggarna (SWE) Gniezno (POL) Coventry Bees Wroclaw (POL) Oxford Cheetahs Gdansk (POL) Reading Bulldogs Częstochowa (POL) Piraterna (SWE) Zielona Góra (POL)	1989-1996 1992-1994 1992-1994 1995-2009 1996-1997 1997-2001 1998-2004 2003-2005 2005 2006-2007 2006-2009 2010- 2010-
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
2009 Number	5
Starts	all 133[1]
Podiums	36 (11-15-10)
Finalist	52 time
Winner	11 times
Individual honours
World Champion USA National Champion British Grand Prix Champion Czech Grand Prix Champion Polish Grand Prix Champion Danish Grand Prix Champion Australian Grand Prix Champion Norwegian Grand Prix Champion Latvian Grand Prix Champion Croatian Grand Prix Champion New Zealand Grand Prix Champion Elite League Riders Champion	1997, 2011 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 2005, 2006, 2009 1995, 2004, 2011 1997, 2011 1997, 2008 2000 2002 2003 2006, 2009 2010 2012 1997
Team honours
World Pairs Champion World Team Cup Winner Swedish Elitserien Champion British League KO Cup Winner Craven Shield Winner Elite League Fours Winner Czech League Champion Danish League Champion Polish Div Two Champion	1992 1992, 1993, 1998 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002 1989 1997, 2000, 2005 1995 2000, 2009, 2010 1995 1998

Gregory Alan "Greg" Hancock (born June 3, 1970 in Whittier, California, USA)^[2] is an American motorcycle speedway rider.

He is the current Speedway World Champion and a multiple World Team champion with USA, with whom he is currently captain. At the end of the 2011 season, Hancock is the only rider to have appeared in every Grand Prix round since its creation in 1995.^[3]

He rode for the Swedish team Rospiggarna for 15 years, but since 2010 he has ridden for Piraterna from Motala, Sweden.

Early career[link]

Greg first came to the United Kingdom at the end of the 1988 speedway season to ride exhibition races with fellow 18 year old Californian Billy Hamill. It was during this time that Greg agreed a deal to ride for Cradley Heath the following year – the same team that his mentor Bruce Penhall used to ride for. Greg was an instant success for Cradley in the British League. He also won gold medals for the USA in the 1992 World Pairs and World Team Cup. However due to injury and problems with the American Motorcyclist Association, Greg was not able to contest in the Individual World Championship until 1993. That year he went through to the World Final in Germany where he finished last place. In 1994, Greg again qualified for the last ever 'one off' World Final. He went into his last race needing a victory to become world champion but he finished third in the race and fourth overall on the night.

Grand Prix Years[link]

In 1995 Greg finished in 4th place in the first year of the Grand Prix (GP). He won the final round, the British GP at the Hackney Wick Stadium. The following year he joined with fellow American and Cradley teammate Billy Hamill to form Team Exide. With this new found sponsorship, the two young Californian's began to dominate world Speedway. In 1996 Hamill won the World Title and Hancock finished with the bronze medal in third place. In 1997 Greg moved from Cradley Heath (due to the clubs closure) to the Coventry Bees. He won the first GP of the year in Prague and continued the season in the same form. He won the World Title (with Hamill finishing second for a Team Exide one two) and won the Premier League Riders Championship.

In 1998 to Grand Prix format changed to a more cut throat elimination system. Greg did not fair so well and finished the year in sixth place but won win the World Team Cup with Hamill and Sam Ermolenko. The next year was even worse for Greg and he finished in 11th place in the Grand Prix. 2000 Saw Greg win his first Grand Prix since his title winning season and he finished a in fifth place and in 2001 he finished in 13th place. In 2002 Hancock won the last Grand Prix round in Australia and finished 6th overall. He went one better in 2003 finishing in 5th place after again winning the final round, this time in Haamar, Norway. The following Season Greg was back amongst the medals, finishing the season in third place. That year he won the British GP at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. In 2005 Greg slipped back to fifth in the world unable to win a GP. A 36 year old Greg finished the Grand Prix series in second place in 2006 and remained unbeaten in that years World Cup but the USA did not qualify for the final as the rest of the team struggled. In 2007 Greg Finished in sixth place. Although he failed to win a GP, he finished in second place on three occasions. In 2008 Greg finished fourth overall in the Grand Prix series. He was on the podium four times, winning the Polish Grand Prix in Bydgoszcz.

Hancock finished the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season in fourth position and achieved two podium places as runner up at the Danish Grand Prix and winner of the Latvian Grand Prix. He became the USA Speedway National Champion for the eight time in 2009 and was subsequently named as the Racing Athlete of the Year by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).^[4][5]

Greg finished 1st place in the 2011 Czech, British and Nordic Grand Prix. He secured the 2011 World Championship during the Croatian Grand Prix on September 24th, reclaiming the title after a record 14 years at the age of 41 years and 113 days.

Personal[link]

Greg lives in Costa Mesa, California. During the European speedway season he is based in Hallstavik, Sweden with his wife Jennie and 2 sons Wilbur & Bill.^{[citation needed]}

World Final Appearances[link]

• 1993 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - 16th - 2pts
• 1994 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 4th - 11pts^[6]

Speedway Grand Prix results[link]

See also[link]

• United States national speedway team
• List of Speedway Grand Prix riders

References[link]

External links[link]

• Greg Hancock web site
• Reading Racers
• Włókniarz Częstochowa
• Rospiggarna
• Zielona Gora

2011 Speedway Grand Prix riders
1	Gollob	2	Hampel	3	Crump	4	Holta	5	Hancock
6	Harris	7	Bjerre	8	Holder	9	Jonsson	10	Pedersen
11	Lindgren	12	Sayfutdinov	13	Laguta	14	Lindbäck	15	Kołodziej

v t e Speedway World Champions     1936 - L. Van Praag 1937 - J Milne 1938 - B. Wilkinson 1949 - T. Price 1950 - F. Williams 1951 - J. Young 1952 - J. Young 1953 - F. Williams 1954 - R. Moore 1955 - P. Craven 1956 - O. Fundin 1957 - B. Briggs 1958 - B. Briggs 1959 - R. Moore 1960 - O. Fundin 1961 - O. Fundin 1962 - P. Craven 1963 - O. Fundin 1964 - B. Briggs 1965 - B. Knutsson 1966 - B. Briggs 1967 - O. Fundin 1968 - I. Mauger 1969 - I. Mauger 1970 - I. Mauger 1971 - O. Olsen 1972 - I. Mauger 1973 - J. Szczakiel 1974 - A. Michanek 1975 - O. Olsen 1976 - P. Collins 1977 - I. Mauger 1978 - O. Olsen 1979 - I. Mauger 1980 - M. Lee 1981 - B. Penhall 1982 - B. Penhall 1983 - E. Müller 1984 - E. Gundersen 1985 - E. Gundersen 1986 - H. Nielsen 1987 - H. Nielsen 1988 - E. Gundersen 1989 - H. Nielsen 1990 - P. Jonsson 1991 - J. Pedersen 1992 - G. Havelock 1993 - S. Ermolenko 1994 - T. Rickardsson 1995 - H. Nielsen 1996 - B. Hamill 1997 - G. Hancock 1998 - T. Rickardsson 1999 - T. Rickardsson 2000 - M. Loram 2001 - T. Rickardsson 2002 - T. Rickardsson 2003 - N. Pedersen 2004 - J. Crump 2005 - T. Rickardsson 2006 - J. Crump 2007 - N. Pedersen 2008 - N. Pedersen 2009 - J. Crump 2010 - T. Gollob 2011 - G. Hancock

v t e Reading Racers Squad 2007 (British Elite League) Matej Žagar · Janusz Kołodziej · Travis McGowan (c) · Mark Lemon · Zdeněk Simota · Krzysztof Buczkowski · Jonas Davidsson Also rode: Greg Hancock · Danny Bird · Andy Smith · Phil Morris Manager: Tim Sugar

Tomasz Gollob
Personal information
Nationality	Poland
Date of birth	(1971-04-11) 11 April 1971 (age 41)
Place of birth	Bydgoszcz, Poland
Website	www.gollobracing.com
Current club information
Polish league	Stal Gorzów Wlkp.
Swedish league	Hammarby Speedway
Career history
Polonia Bydgoszcz (POL) Wybrzeże Gdańsk (POL) Ipswich Witches (GBR) Västervik (SWE) Unia Tarnów (POL) Stal Gorzów Wlkp. (POL)	1988, 1990-2003 1989 1998-2000 2001-2010 2004-2007 2008-
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
2009 Number	2
Starts	112[1]
Podiums	42 (20-6-16)
Finalist	51 time
Winner	20 times
Individual honours
World Champion Polish Champion Polish Under 21 Champion Polish Golden Helmet Winner Polish Silver Helmet Winner Polish Grand Prix Champion Swedish Grand Prix Champion Czech Grand Prix Champion German Grand Prix Champion	2010 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009 1990, 1991, 1992 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002 1990, 2002 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 1997 1999 2001
Team honours
World Team Cup Winner World Cup Winner European Cup Champions' Winner Polish Team Champion Polish Pairs Champion Elite League Champion Elite League KO Cup Winner Craven Shield Winner Swedish Elitserien Champion	1996 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 2001 1992, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 1998 1998 1998 2005, 2006

Tomasz Gollob ([ˈtɔmaʂ ˈɡɔlːɔp] ( listen); born 11 April 1971 in Bydgoszcz, Poland)^[2] is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who has appeared in every Speedway Grand Prix series since its inaugural season in 1995. His brother Jacek is also a speedway rider.

Career summary[link]

Site of 2007 plane crash.

Gollob spent almost all of his career with hometown club Bydgoszcz until he moved to Unia Tarnów in 2004. He has won the Polish Individual Championship eight times (between 1992 and 2009) and the Polish Pairs Championship ten times. He has also won the Polish Grand Prix eight times in thirteen years. Tomasz Gollob is the Speedway World Champion of 2010 after securing the championship in Terenzano, Italy. He is the second Polish man to win a championship in 37 years.

Gollob was also a member of the Poland speedway team that won the World Team Cup in 1996 and the World Cup in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011.

In 2007 Gollob survived a plane crash with fellow rider Rune Holta. The plane, flown by his father Władysław, crashed on the way to a speedway meeting at Zielona Góra. Gollob escaped with cuts and bruises after pulling his father from the wreckage.^[3]

For his sport achievements, he received the Order of Polonia Restituta:
Knight's Cross (5th Class) in 2000,
Officer's Cross (4th Class) in 2007,
Commander's Cross (2010)

World final appearances[link]

• 1993 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - 7th - 8pts
• 1994 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 17th - 0pts^[4]

Speedway Grand Prix results[link]

Family[link]

Tomasz Gollob has two brothers and one sister ^[5]

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tomasz Gollob

• Poland national speedway team
• List of Speedway Grand Prix riders
• Speedway in Poland

References[link]

External links[link]

• www.gollobracing.com - official website

Awards
Preceded by Robert Korzeniowski	Polish Sportspersonality of the year 1999	Succeeded by Robert Korzeniowski

2011 Speedway Grand Prix riders
1	Gollob	2	Hampel	3	Crump	4	Holta	5	Hancock
6	Harris	7	Bjerre	8	Holder	9	Jonsson	10	Pedersen
11	Lindgren	12	Sayfutdinov	13	Laguta	14	Lindbäck	15	Kołodziej

v t e 2009 Polish national speedway team Senior Team: Baliński · Dobrucki · T.Gollob · A.Gomólski · Hampel · Holta · Jaguś · Jędrzejak · K.Kasprzak · Kołodziej · Miedziński · Skórnicki · Świderski · Ułamek · Walasek Junior Team (U-21): Celmer · Dudek · Janowski · Kajoch · Lampart · Mitko · Miturski · Mroczka · Musielak · Pawlaszczyk · Pawlicki · Piaszczyński · D.Sperz · Szewczykowski · Zengota

v t e Speedway World Champions     1936 - L. Van Praag 1937 - J Milne 1938 - B. Wilkinson 1949 - T. Price 1950 - F. Williams 1951 - J. Young 1952 - J. Young 1953 - F. Williams 1954 - R. Moore 1955 - P. Craven 1956 - O. Fundin 1957 - B. Briggs 1958 - B. Briggs 1959 - R. Moore 1960 - O. Fundin 1961 - O. Fundin 1962 - P. Craven 1963 - O. Fundin 1964 - B. Briggs 1965 - B. Knutsson 1966 - B. Briggs 1967 - O. Fundin 1968 - I. Mauger 1969 - I. Mauger 1970 - I. Mauger 1971 - O. Olsen 1972 - I. Mauger 1973 - J. Szczakiel 1974 - A. Michanek 1975 - O. Olsen 1976 - P. Collins 1977 - I. Mauger 1978 - O. Olsen 1979 - I. Mauger 1980 - M. Lee 1981 - B. Penhall 1982 - B. Penhall 1983 - E. Müller 1984 - E. Gundersen 1985 - E. Gundersen 1986 - H. Nielsen 1987 - H. Nielsen 1988 - E. Gundersen 1989 - H. Nielsen 1990 - P. Jonsson 1991 - J. Pedersen 1992 - G. Havelock 1993 - S. Ermolenko 1994 - T. Rickardsson 1995 - H. Nielsen 1996 - B. Hamill 1997 - G. Hancock 1998 - T. Rickardsson 1999 - T. Rickardsson 2000 - M. Loram 2001 - T. Rickardsson 2002 - T. Rickardsson 2003 - N. Pedersen 2004 - J. Crump 2005 - T. Rickardsson 2006 - J. Crump 2007 - N. Pedersen 2008 - N. Pedersen 2009 - J. Crump 2010 - T. Gollob 2011 - G. Hancock

Nicki Pedersen
Personal information
Nationality	Denmark
Date of birth	(1977-04-02) 2 April 1977 (age 35)
Place of birth	Odense, Denmark
Website	www.nickipedersen.com
Current club information
Polish league	Gorzów Wielkopolski
Swedish league	Vargarna
Danish league	Holsted
Career history
Great Britain Newcastle Diamonds Wolverhampton Wolves King's Lynn Stars Oxford Cheetahs Eastbourne Eagles Peterborough Panthers Denmark Fjelsted Holstebro Brovst Holsted Poland Gniezno Grudziądz Wybrzeże Gdańsk Zielona Góra Rybnik Stal Rzeszów Włókniarz Częstochowa Stal Gorzów Russia Mega Lada Sweden Filbyterna Västervik Smederna Hammarby Bajen Lejonen Vargarna	1998 1999-2000 2001-2002 2003 2003-2007 2011 ?-1997 1998-1999 2000-2002 2003- 1999 2000 2001 2002, 2004-2005 2003 2006-2007 2008-2009 2010- 2007-2010 1997-1998 1999-2001 2002-2005 2006-2007 2008-2010 2011-
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
2009 Number	1
Starts	77[1]
Podiums	28 (9-10-9)
Finalist	35 time
Winner	9 times
Individual honours
World Champion Danish Champion Elite League Riders Champion Danish Under-21 Champion European Grand Prix Champion British Grand Prix Champion Slovenian Grand Prix Champion Polish Grand Prix Champion Italian Grand Prix Champion Czech Grand Prix Champion Golden Helmet of Pardubice (CZE)	2003, 2007, 2008 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 2004, 2007 1997, 1998 2002, 2007 2003 2006, 2007 2006 2007 2007, 2008 2010
Team honours
World Cup Winner Polish Div Two Champion Danish League Champion Elitserien Champion	2006, 2008 2001, 2002, 2003 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 2008

Nicki Pedersen (born 2 April 1977 in Odense, Denmark)^[2] is a Danish motorcycle speedway rider. He has won the World Championship in 2003, 2007 and 2008 and was a World Cup winner with Denmark in 2006 and 2008.^[3] His brother, Ronni Pedersen, has also ridden in the Speedway Grand Prix and World Cup.

Career[link]

Domestic teams[link]

Pedersen began speedway racing aged 11 at Danish club Fjelsted. He started his Polish speedway career in 1999 with Polish second division club Start Gniezno and has since ridden for GKM-u Grudziądz, Wybrzeże Gdańsk, ZKŻ Zielona Góra and RKM-u Rybnik. Between 2006 and 2007 he rode for Stal Rzeszów and since 2008 he has ridden for Włókniarz Częstochowa. Pedersen rides for Lejonen in the Swedish Elitserien, and Holsted in the Danish Super League.^[4]

Pedersen's speedway career in the United Kingdom began with the Premier League team Newcastle Diamonds, before Elite League side Wolverhampton Wolves bought him for the 1999 season. He was at Wolverhampton for two years before the club loaned him out to King's Lynn, Oxford and Eastbourne. Pedersen spent four years at Eastbourne but left at the end of the 2007 season due to a change in ownership of the club and a reduction of the points limit for team building purposes by the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).^[5] Although Nicki is still an asset of Wolverhampton, he has ruled out a return to the Elite League.^[6]

Grand Prix[link]

Pedersen took part in his first Grand Prix in 2000, as a wildcard in Denmark and impressed by finishing in fourth place. That earned him a permanent Grand Prix spot in 2001. He showed potential in the opening round in 2001, finishing third in Germany. Consistent scoring left him in 11th place in the World Championship after his first full year.

Pedersen had a bad start to 2002, but secured his GP place in 2003 after recording the first win of his career in the European Grand Prix. He finished the year in 12th place despite an inconsistent season. In 2003, he improved massively on his 2002 performance. He finished second in the opening Grand Prix of the season, and after a 10th place in the Swedish Grand Prix, Pedersen won again in Cardiff to give him a chance of becoming World Champion. Consistent high placings and four more podium finishes, including three in a row, secured the 2003 World Championship for Pedersen.

The 2004 season was less successful for Pedersen; he failed to record a win or a podium place. He finished in fifth place in the World Championship, well behind the two leaders Tony Rickardsson and Jason Crump. A second place in Slovenia was his best result during the 2005 Grand Prix season and he finished in fourth in the World Championship. Pedersen won the opening GP meeting of the 2006 season in Slovenia, but after that he fell behind championship leaders Rickardsson and Crump. He improved to finish third in the World Championship however, after a podium place in Latvia and a win in Poland.

Pedersen was dominant in 2007, winning four of the eleven Grand Prix, and finishing runner-up in two. He dropped only one point in the opening two rounds and had a run of six consecutive finals, which ended after an exclusion in the semi final in Great Britain. Pedersen won the penultimate Grand Prix in Slovenia and in doing so became the 2007 World Champion after accumulating an unassailable lead at the head of the standings.^[7]

Speedway Grand Prix results[link]

2007 Speedway Grand Prix - 1st place

Final Championship standings:		1st	196	Riding No (3)
	Grand Prix	Pos.	Pts.	Heats	Draw No
1 /11	Italian SGP	1	24	(3,3,3,3,3) +3 +6	13
2 /11	European SGP	1	23	(3,2,3,3,3) +3 +6	3
3 /11	Swedish SGP	4	11	(0,3,3,X,3) +2 +0	9
4 /11	Danish SGP	2	16	(T,3,3,1,2) +3 +4	6
5 /11	British SGP	6	12	(2,3,2,3,2) +X	9
6 /11	Czech Rep. SGP	1	24	(3,3,3,3,3) +3 +6	7
7 /11	Scandinavian SGP	5	16	(3,3,3,3,3) +1	12
8 /11	Latvian SGP	2	19	(3,3,1,3,2) +3 +4	11
9 /11	Polish SGP	3	19	(2,3,3,3,3) +3 +2	16
10 /11	Slovenian SGP	1	23	(3,2,3,3,3) +3 +6	14
11 /11	German SGP	8	9	(1,1,1,3,3) +E	7

2008 Speedway Grand Prix - 1st place

Final Championship standings:		1st	174	Riding No (1)
	Grand Prix	Pos.	Pts.	Heats	Draw No
1 /11	Slovenian SGP	2	17	(3,2,3,1,1) +3 +4	11
2 /11	European SGP	3	16	(3,2,1,3,3) +2 +2	3
3 /11	Swedish SGP	3	16	(2,1,3,3,2) +3 +2	7
4 /11	Danish SGP	2	20	(3,3,3,2,3) +2 +4	13
5 /11	British SGP	3	11	(2,1,2,0,3) +3 +f	10
6 /11	Czech Rep. SGP	1	22	(3,2,3,3,3) +2 +6	10
7 /11	Scandinavian SGP	3	14	(2,2,0,3,3) +2 +2	14
8 /11	Latvian SGP	2	18	(2,3,3,3,0) +2 +4	1
9 /11	Polish SGP	2	21	(3,3,2,3,3) +2 +4	10
10 /11	Italian SGP	11	6	(1,x,3,0,2)	8
11 /11	German SGP	5	13	(3,3,1,2,3) +1	7

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Rider page at speedwayworld.tv
• Rider page at armchairgm.com

2011 Speedway Grand Prix riders
1	Gollob	2	Hampel	3	Crump	4	Holta	5	Hancock
6	Harris	7	Bjerre	8	Holder	9	Jonsson	10	Pedersen
11	Lindgren	12	Sayfutdinov	13	Laguta	14	Lindbäck	15	Kołodziej

v t e Speedway World Champions     1936 - L. Van Praag 1937 - J Milne 1938 - B. Wilkinson 1949 - T. Price 1950 - F. Williams 1951 - J. Young 1952 - J. Young 1953 - F. Williams 1954 - R. Moore 1955 - P. Craven 1956 - O. Fundin 1957 - B. Briggs 1958 - B. Briggs 1959 - R. Moore 1960 - O. Fundin 1961 - O. Fundin 1962 - P. Craven 1963 - O. Fundin 1964 - B. Briggs 1965 - B. Knutsson 1966 - B. Briggs 1967 - O. Fundin 1968 - I. Mauger 1969 - I. Mauger 1970 - I. Mauger 1971 - O. Olsen 1972 - I. Mauger 1973 - J. Szczakiel 1974 - A. Michanek 1975 - O. Olsen 1976 - P. Collins 1977 - I. Mauger 1978 - O. Olsen 1979 - I. Mauger 1980 - M. Lee 1981 - B. Penhall 1982 - B. Penhall 1983 - E. Müller 1984 - E. Gundersen 1985 - E. Gundersen 1986 - H. Nielsen 1987 - H. Nielsen 1988 - E. Gundersen 1989 - H. Nielsen 1990 - P. Jonsson 1991 - J. Pedersen 1992 - G. Havelock 1993 - S. Ermolenko 1994 - T. Rickardsson 1995 - H. Nielsen 1996 - B. Hamill 1997 - G. Hancock 1998 - T. Rickardsson 1999 - T. Rickardsson 2000 - M. Loram 2001 - T. Rickardsson 2002 - T. Rickardsson 2003 - N. Pedersen 2004 - J. Crump 2005 - T. Rickardsson 2006 - J. Crump 2007 - N. Pedersen 2008 - N. Pedersen 2009 - J. Crump 2010 - T. Gollob 2011 - G. Hancock

v t e Eastbourne Eagles Squad 2007 (British Elite League) Nicki Pedersen (c) • Lewis Bridger • Dean Barker • Davey Watt • Stefan Andersson • Morten Risager • Cameron Woodward • Trevor Harding Also Rode : David Norris Manager: Trevor Geer