Nicki Pedersen is struggling to get into the world championship race after failing to reach the semi-finals in the Czech Grand Prix in Prague.

The Eastbourne Eagles rider and defending champion went out of the meeting after a clash with Greg Hancock at a rain-hit Marketa Stadium and is now down to ninth place after two rounds.

Pedersen was controversially allowed back into the race after Hancock had been left in a heap on the track as the Dane roared underneath him. The American, however, gained revenge when he went past Pedersen in the rerun.

The event was won for the third successive year by Jason Crump, who now leads the title race by seven points from Swedish Grand Prix winner Leigh Adams.

Jarek Hampel was second, Tony Rickardsson third and Ryan Sullivan fourth, while Adams, Hancock, Tomasz Gollob and Lee Richardson, the leading English rider, reached the semi-finals. Former Eagles Mark Loram and Toni Svab were eliminated in the early stages.

Top ten standings: Jason Crump 45pts; Leigh Adams 38; Tony Rickardsson 36; Tomasz Gollob 29; Greg Hancock 24; Ryan Sullivan 23; Jarek Hampel 23; Lee Richardson 22; Nicki Pedersen 21; Jesper Jensen 16.