Hans Andersen determined to do better next yearHANS Andersen revealed he is more determined than ever to fulfill his ambition of making the World Championship rostrum.
The city-based Danish ace reiterated his dream just hours after failing to turn it into reality this year at the 'Final Grand Prix' of 2008 at Bydgoszcz. The meeting was staged in the Polish city after the German GP had been postponed the previous weekend.
Andersen was one of three riders who held a realistic chance of grabbing the final spot on the rostrum but despite claiming a highyl creditable second place on the night, he was unable to improve on his fifth place.
Polish legend Tomasz Gollob made the most of home advantage to take third after roaring to victory in the meeting and then earning a whopping $120,000 pay day by powering to glory in the Super Prix race that brought the curtain down on the series.
Greg Hancock dropped from third to fourth in the overall standings with Andersen coming in next, but the former Panthers hero was still upbeat after signing off in good style.
He admitted: "It was always going to be tough to on the rostrum when going up against Tomasz in his own country, but I gave it a good go.
"I feel sure it would have been a different story had the meeting gone ahead in Germany the previous weekend, but it didn't and I could only do my best at Bydgoszcz.
"I'm obviously frustrated not to get on the rostrum but I can look back in the knowledge that it has been a good year.
"I made a lot of mechanical changes early in the year and feel I have gone from strength to strength since then. It was nice to get my first GP win for a couple of years in Italy and hopefully there will be a few more in the future.
"Bring on next season." You'd have thought Plummer might of asked if that will be in the EL and at which club? Local journos
Nicki Pedersen comfortably claimed his third world title as expected by winning his opening two races, with Jason Crump the runner-up.
Hancock and Leigh Adams were third and fourth in the final behind the triumphant Gollob and Andersen (left).
Gollob then went on to beat Crump and Holta in the Super Prix cash dash with Pedersen excluded after touching the tapes at the start.
Panthers man Lukas Dryml produced one of his best GP displays of their season with eight points. The Czech charger finished bottom of the overall standings with 47 points.
Where they finished
'Final Grand Prix' results: Tomasz Gollob 21pts, Hans Andersen 17, Greg Hancock 15, Leigh Adams 15, Nicki Pedersen 13, Andreas Jonsson 12, Freddie Lindgren 9, Lukas Dryml 8, Rune Holta 7, Scott Nicholls 7, Jason Crump 7, Krzysztof Kasprzak 5, Chris Harris 4, Bjarne Pedersen 3, Maciej Janowski 1, Martin Smolinski 0.
Final World Championship standings: Nicki Pedersen 174pts, Jason Crump 152, Tomasz Gollob 148, Greg Hancock 144, Hans Andersen 140, Leigh Adams 125, Andreas Jonsson 100, Rune Holta 80 (all qualify automatically for 2009), Scott Nicholls 77, Freddie Lindgren 73, Bjarne Pedersen 69, Niels Kristian Iversen 59, Chris Harris 58, Krzysztof Kasprzak 57, Lukas Dryml 47.
Source: Peterborough ET