Crump has closed the gap at the top of the championship

Two-time world champion Jason Crump kept the pressure on Nicki Pedersen after winning the British Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Crump beat Greg Hancock into second place, while Pedersen, who benefitted from two debatable refereeing calls in the earlier rounds, was back in third.

Britain's Scott Nicholls, urged on by the 45,000 crowd, reached the final for the first time only to break the tapes.

Nevertheless, Pedersen still leads the championship standings by 10 points.

Crump, who rides for Manchester-based Belle Vue Aces, made a dreadfully slow start to the season, but the Australian is back to top form and cutting the gap on Pedersen.

Pedersen crashed in the final - his fourth of the night - but the Dane got back on his feet to finish the race.

Meanwhile, Eastbourne Eagles star Nicholls admitted he was devastated by his untimely mistake at the start of the final.

"It was a huge blow because I felt very quick, I felt comfortable on the bike," said Nicholls.

"The track was pretty unpredictable but that didn't bother me. It's a huge shame because I really thought I was up for the win."

Coventry Bees' Chris Harris, last year's Millennium Stadium winner, was unable to repeat his 2007 success and finished sixth.

Peterborough Panthers captain Hans Andersen was seventh, Arena-Essex Hammers' Andreas Jonsson was eighth, Swindon Robins' Leigh Adams was ninth and Wolverhampton Wolves' Niels-Kristian Iversen finished 10th.

British Grand Prix results:
1. Jason Crump (Australia)
2. Greg Hancock (USA)
3. Nicki Pedersen (Denmark)
4. Scott Nicholls (Great Britain)
5. Bjarne Pedersen (Denmark)
6. Chris Harris (Great Britain)
7. Hans Andersen (Denmark)
8. Andreas Jonsson (Sweden)
9. Leigh Adams (Australia)
10. Niels Kristian-Iversen (Denmark)

Leading World Championship Standings (after Round Five):
1. Pedersen 80
2. Crump 70
3. Hancock 64
4. Gollob 62
5. Adams 49