OUTGOING champion Jason Crump has admitted Nicki Pedersen "fully deserved" his runaway world title victory this year.

But at the same time the Pirates star has stressed he is "hungry" to regain the crown he relinquished to the Dane during the Slovenian Grand Prix.

Pedersen cantered to his fourth GP triumph of the series in Krsko, where Crump finished fourth behind runner-up Scott Nicholls and Rune Holta.

Leigh Adams, the only rider who could have prised the title away from Pedersen before the meeting, bravely returned from a dislocated shoulder injury in Slovenia on Saturday.

But he had lost his outside chance of overall success before he bowed out in the semi-finals as Pedersen's heat 20 win meant the 2007 title was already his with one round to spare.

Crump, who looks on course to finish third overall, said: "I would like to congratulate Nicki on winning the title this year.

"He has done a very, very good job and fully deserves the championship.

"But I'm not finished yet on the world scene and I intend to come back fitter and better, and hungry to regain that title."

Crump, who had lifted the crown in 2004 as well as 2006, is currently third overall, eight points in front of Tomasz Gollob and 11 ahead of Hans Andersen.

The Australian, seeking a seventh-successive podium finish, reached his first final of the year in Slovenia.

However, he was forced wide on the first bend allowing Nicholls and Holta to dive under him and follow Pedersen home.

Crump said: "I messed up in the final a bit but had a couple of good races before that. At the end of the day, though, it has put me in a bit better position than before the meeting.

"It would have been nice to have got a few more points over Tomasz, but I guess that unless Hans goes out and wins the last GP in Germany next month it's going to be a straight race between me and Tomasz for third.

"With Leigh in second at the moment, it would be nice if it could finish as an Australian two and three."

Crump's Poole team-mate Bjarne Pedersen had qualified for the 2008 series seven days earlier when he finished third in the GP Qualifying Final in Denmark.

But, without the pressure of trying to improve on his 13th place overall, Pirates' captain took advantage of the better inside gates late in the meeting to reach the semi-finals in Krsko.

Bjarne said: "I got a bad start with two zeros so I was pretty pleased that I was able to turn things around in my other three heats and score eight points after changing bikes."

"We also seemed to get the set-up right by then too."

Bjarne, pipped by Holta to a place in the final for the first time in 16 rounds by less than a tyre's width, said: "Of course I was disappointed to lose second place in the semi-final.

"But that was close racing and full credit to Holta."

Bjarne added: "I always want to do my best and get as close to winning as I can.

"That will be the same at Gelsinkirchen on October 13, and we know that is going to be extra tough because we could all do with the $100,000 on offer to the winner of the GP that night!"

  • Additional reporting by Steve Allen