FIM LATVIAN GRAND PRIX - DAUGAVPILS

GREG Hancock roared to his first Grand Prix victory since Cardiff last year with a ride of great intelligence to upstage Antonio Lindback in the Final of the inaugural event at Daugavpils. The veteran American trailed Lindback for over two laps in a re-run - Lindback having made the start on both occasions - but after trying the outside in the early stages, Hancock switched to the inside and motored through going into turn three. Hancock's 25 points moves him on to 124 in total, 15 clear of third-place finisher Nicki Pedersen, and therefore strongly in command in the battle for the silver medal overall. For Lindback, it was an unfortunate case of history repeating as he held a commanding lead in the initial stages of the Final until Pedersen fell under the challenge of Andreas Jonsson exiting turn four. It was one of the most difficult refereeing calls of the season, but Jonsson was excluded and had to be content with 16 points. Lindback, meanwhile, had lost the World Under-21 Final in similar circumstances last week but could still be proud of his efforts on the night. Hancock said: "We've been working so hard all year and we've made a few silly mistakes and had some bad luck, but it all came together on the night. "I've been struggling a little recently, but it looks like we've solved our motor problems and it's a great result for me. "The silver medal is what I have to go for at the moment, but the World Championship itself is what it's all about and I still feel I have another one in me!" Lindback's second place moves him into the top eight overall, the battle for automatic qualifying places for the 2007 series set to move on to the final round of the season at Bydgoszcz in a fortnight; Pedersen and Jonsson, meanwhile, both have an interest in overhauling Hancock for second place, with Leigh Adams still having a shot at retaining his bronze medal. GB captain Scott Nicholls made the semi-finals on his return to action following his broken collarbone, but Lee Richardson was forced to withdraw after three outings having blown all three of his engines. Hans Andersen missed out on a place in the Final for the first time since returning to the series, despite winning his first ride, and there was also an all-action showing from Wild Card Kjastas Puodzhuks.

RESULT: Greg Hancock (USA) 25, Antonio Lindback (Swe) 20, Nicki Pedersen (Den) 18, Andreas Jonsson (Swe) 16, Jason Crump (Aus) 11, Matej Zagar (Slov) 11, Scott Nicholls (GB) 9, Leigh Adams (Aus) 8, Bjarne Pedersen (Den) 7, Jarek Hampel (Pol) 7, Piotr Protasiewicz (Pol) 4, Hans Andersen (Den) 4, Tomasz Gollob (Pol) 4, Kjastas Puodzhuks (Lat) 4, Niels-Kristian Iversen (Den) 4, Lee Richardson (GB) 0, Grigorijis Laguta (Lat, res) 0, Andrejs Korolovs (Lat, res) 0.

STANDINGS after Round 9 of 10: Jason Crump 181, Greg Hancock 124, Nicki Pedersen 109, Andreas Jonsson 107, Leigh Adams 100, Hans Andersen 92, Matej Zagar 89, Antonio Lindback 86, Jarek Hampel 85, Scott Nicholls 76, Tomasz Gollob 76, Bjarne Pedersen 75, Niels-Kristian Iversen 48, Tony Rickardsson 41, Lee Richardson 38, Piotr Protasiewicz 27.