Jason Crump collected his second Grand Prix win of the season as he followed his Cardiff triumph with victory in the eighth round of the series at Daugavpils.

The Australian was beaten by Nicki Pedersen when they clashed in the second semi-final but conjured a move of true brilliance in the first half-lap of the Final to take the full six points from the race.

But Pedersen will also be happy with the result as Crump only managed to take one point out of his overall series lead, meaning that the Dane still takes a 16-point advantage into the final three rounds of the season.

Those start at Bydgoszcz in a fortnight, which makes it all the more timely that the acknowledged master of the Polish venue Tomasz Gollob made a big gain with third place in Latvia.

Gollob scored 16 points to vault over Hans Andersen into fourth place overall, and is just four adrift of Greg Hancock after beating the American in the Final.

A meeting of ever-changing fortunes saw the eventual top four on the night all score eleven points in their qualifying races.

Crump, Pedersen and Hancock all won three heats but also suffered a last place each too - Crump's coming when he was excluded for a second-bend fall in Heat 13 as Hans Andersen swept through on his inside to force the referee into a decision which could have gone either way.

Pedersen ran a last in Heat 20 although his semi-final qualification was never threatened, and Hancock was always at the sharp end too despite a mid-meeting blank in Heat 10.

The battle for the other semi-final places was intense with no fewer than six riders tieing on seven points, Bjarne Pedersen taking the final spot on the countback system.

Whilst Krzysztof Kasprzak and Lukas Dryml could reflect on positive performances, seven points would have been a particular disappointment for overall rostrum contender Andersen, who was left to rue a fall in Heat 11, a race which seemed likely to net him useful points.

Scott Nicholls was another with a hard luck story after starting in positive fashion with five points from two rides. Last place in Heat 12 put him back under pressure, and it was followed by a fall on turn two in Heat 14 at a stage where track conditions were tricky.

Nicholls managed a last-ditch pass on Kasprzak in Heat 19 for second place, but it still left him a point short of countryman Chris Harris who made a welcome semi-final appearance after an eventful night's racing.

Harris's night ended in the first semi-final although he gained a point by passing Adams on the third lap as Gollob and Hancock went through.
Pedersen and Crump took control of the second semi, which left Pedersen going from the inside gate in the Final with Crump on the outside.

Pedersen appeared to initially be in control of the Final as he forced Gollob aside, but Crump then produced a marvellous cut-back off turn two to slice between his rivals up the back straight. It was a move out of the top drawer which secured an 18th overall Grand Prix triumph for Crump, with Gollob fending off Hancock for third place during one of the best first laps of the season so far.

Overall, though, Pedersen is still smiling with 134 points compared to Crump's 118 as the final stages of the season approach. Third place is still very much up for grabs between Hancock, Gollob, Andersen and Adams - and the fight for eighth also has a long list of contenders too.
 
RESULT:
Jason Crump (Aus) 19, Nicki Pedersen (Den) 18, Tomasz Gollob (Pol) 16, Greg Hancock (USA) 13, Andreas Jonsson (Swe) 10, Chris Harris (GB) 9, Leigh Adams (Aus) 9, Bjarne Pedersen (Den) 7, Hans Andersen (Den) 7, Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 7, Scott Nicholls (GB) 7, Krzysztof Kasprzak (Pol) 7, Lukas Dryml (Cze) 7, Rune Holta (Pol) 4, Grigory Laguta (Rus) 2, Niels-Kristian Iversen (Den) 1, Maxims Bogdanovs (Rus, res) 0.
 
OVERALL STANDINGS:
Nicki Pedersen 134, Jason Crump 118, Greg Hancock 102, Tomasz Gollob 98, Hans Andersen 91, Leigh Adams 89, Andreas Jonsson 71, Fredrik Lindgren 59, Rune Holta 57, Scott Nicholls 52, Niels-Kristian Iversen 49, Chris Harris 49, Bjarne Pedersen 45, Krzysztof Kasprzak 38, Lukas Dryml 32.