Motorcycling: Rickardsson clinches world title

Tony Rickardsson only managed fifth place in the season finale, but it was enough to clinch his fourth world speedway motorcycling championship title.

Racing before a sellout crowd of nearly 16,000 at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium, the Swede finished the six-meeting series with 121 points.

For the first time, Rickardsson missed the final. He finished fourth, first, first, second and second in the other meets in Germany, England, Denmark, Czech Republic and Poland.

"My bike was perfect in my first heat, then I lost my focus a little bit," Rickardsson said. "But it was great to compete in Stockholm and the other riders felt the same."

Australian Jason Crump won the finale with 25 points and was second overall with 113 points. Poland's Tomasz Gollob placed third in the series with 89 points.

Rickardsson now shares the all-time record with New Zealand's Barry Briggs and Hans Nielsen of Denmark. Both also won four world titles.

Rickardsson won his previous championships in 1994, '98 and '99.