Crump out of Speedway World Cup
Has withdrawn from the annual showpiece while he undergoes further surgery on his injured left armJason Crump has withdrawn from the Australian team for this year's Speedway World Cup (SWC), which starts in Poland on July 24.
Crump -- alongside compatriot Leigh Adams -- has been a SWC staple for Australia since the event began in 2001, but has decided to sit out 2010 while he undergoes further surgery on his injured left arm in an attempt to regain strength and movement.
"It was a tough call for me to make as I have been in the team every year since it started and representing my country means a lot to me," Crump explained.
"On top of that, with Leigh (Adams) retiring from international competition (at the end of 2009), the last thing I wanted to do was destabilise the team, but it was imperative that we try to get this arm right.
"The reality is that my arm should have been a little further along in its recovery process by now. My preference was to wait until the end of the season, but my doctors would prefer to check and see if there is an issue sooner rather than later.
"The support from the Australian team and our team manager Craig Boyce has been humbling. I really hope they can go one better than we did last year and bring the cup home for Australia."
Crump suffered severe damage to his bicep in crash last and, despite the injury, claimed his third world title a month later.
He's currently third in this year's championship after the latest round in Cardiff, won by his compatriot Chris Holder.
Holder has been named in Australia's SWC team alongside the captain Dave Watt, Troy Batchelor, Rory Schlein and reigning under 21 world champion Darcy Ward.
Watt, Batchelor and Holder also competed in 2009, when Australia finished second behind Poland.
Australia's qualifying round for the SWC will be held in the UK on July 26, where it will be looking to clear a path straight to the final in Denmark on July 31.
Otherwise, it will have a second chance to make it through to the final in a race-off in Denmark on July 29.
Australia won the SWC in 2001-2002, and has finished in the top three on three other occasions.
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