Crump: I'm still in with a show.

Jason Crump has labelled this weekend's Scandinavian Speedway Grand Prix in Sweden a "make or break" event, as he continues his offensive to become Australia's first world champion in 50 years.

The reigning world number two, who turned 28 on August 6, is currently fourth in this year's nine-round title on 72pts, but will have to call upon his full repertoire at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg if he is to close the gap on joint championship leaders Tony Rickardsson and Nicki Pedersen (89 apiece), and countryman Leigh Adams (78).

However, the seven-time GP winner is prepared for a round six ambush, encouraged not only by his on-going domination of league competition in the UK, Poland, and Sweden, but his form in the grands prix before the five-week mid-season break.

"I'm certainly riding a lot better at this stage of the year than I was in 2002," said the Jawa-riding Aussie. "I reckon I'm closing in on the type of form I showed in the latter stages of 2001."

Crump won the final two GPs in a stellar finale to the 2001 season -- and he was also chasing rare back-to-back victories in round five of this year's title in Slovenia on July 12 when his bike ran out of fuel in the opening semi-final.

"The disappointing thing about all that (running out of fuel) was that I was fourth into turn one and had worked my way though to second by the final lap," recalled Crump, the 1995 under 21 world champion. "Then I started to go easy on the throttle when I knew it was running out of fuel, but to no avail. I was shattered."

To exacerbate Crump's anguish, his 'position' in the Slovenian final was then taken by Pedersen, who went on to finish second behind Adams - the fifth winner in as many rounds. The other 2003 winners have been five-time world champion Rickardsson (round one), Australian Ryan Sullivan (two), Pedersen (three) and Crump (round four).

"Despite all that's gone on, I'm still in with a show," said Crump. "My attitude is great at the moment and I'm certainly riding well, so I hope everything takes care of itself."

As well as Adams and Sullivan, Crump will also be joined by compatriots Todd Wiltshire and Jason Lyons at the famed 43,000-seat Ullevi Stadium, which will be transformed from a football and athletics track to a purpose-built racetrack for round six. Ullevi hosted its inaugural grand prix in 2002, with Adams winning from Rickardsson, Lukas Dryml and American Greg Hancock. Crump was fifth.