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FNAL GAMBLE: Andreas Jonsson.

LAKESIDE Hammers' Swedish star Andreas Andreas Jonsson made a dramatic exit in the final of the Slovenian Grand Prix in Krsko, when his bid to jump the gate in the evening's climax saw him touch the tape and he was excluded.

It was a disappointing end to the evening for Jonsson who nevertheless picked up 12 points in the first Grand Prix of the season.

He was forced into trying to get the dream start after being slotted into gate three as a result of a tactical blunder in his semi-final.

With first choice of gate he opted to go for gate two, leaving world champ Nicki Pederson the opportunity to take the inside starting position that had been the most successful during an evening marred by a heavy downpour midway through the meeting.

Pederson didn't spurn the chance, leading from tape to gate with Jonsson second and getting only third pick for position in the final.

He gambled on getting a flier, dropping the clutch a fraction early. It almost paid off as he shot away from the startline first but his wheel just brushed the tape and he was excluded.

Without Jonnson in the restart it looked likely that Pederson would seize the victory but Polish legend Tomasz Gollob, who won the first ever Grand Prix 13 years ago, who triumphed.

The opening twelve races showed the Grand Prix at its very best as the competitors put on some of the finest action ever seen in the series on the wide Krsko circuit with several racing lines available.

Pedersen was on top at that stage with eight points from a possible nine, while Jonsson and Hans Andersen had recovered from problems in their first rides to record two race wins each - Andersen finally getting the better of countryman Bjarne Pedersen in an epic Heat 10 which went right to the wire.

Heavy rain during the interval then totally changed the track conditions, and gating became a matter of paramount importance with the inside route offering the fastest way around the circuit.

The points spread for the whole field was just six, with the top four riders each on ten points and Bjarne Pedersen on four - and 13 of the 16 competitors managed at least one race win.

10:29pm Saturday 26th April 2008

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