Jason Crump: A World of My Own

JASON Crump is launching into print to bring an entirely contemporary perspective to the continuing flood of speedway publications.

The 2004 world champion and three-time World Cup winner, a fixture in the world's top two for the past five years, is rarely short of an opinion.

The appearance of A World of My Own (Galathco Publications, £17.99), co-written with Australia-based former promoter and administrator Martin Rogers, puts a slick, professional, modern spin on his life and times from bush baby to global superstar.

Jason's involvement in the Grand Prix, British, Swedish and Polish racing and his opinion on Australian speedway all make for compelling reading.

If Jason was born into the sport and destined to be a champion, he nevertheless had a tough road to negotiate before his undoubted potential and lifetime expectations were fulfilled at last.

This 272-page book, which features 125 photographs including a 16-page full colour section, raises the bar with an honest, fast-paced chronicle of his highs and lows. There also is expert analysis, the thoughts of many of the most relevant names in the sport, and a rare behind the scenes insight from Jason's wife Melody.

Behind his often controversial image there is an intelligent, driven and sometimes surprising inner man. Love him or hate him, he has been one speedway's greatest riders and entertainers for years and says he has no thoughts of calling time on his glittering career just yet.

This then is a story so far of what Jason Crump and speedway's experts regard as very much a work in progress.

This article was first published on 17th February 2006