World champion Jason Crump has pulled out of tonight's prestigious Elite League Riders' championship at King's Lynn's Norfolk Arena.The former Lynn racer aggravated a knee problem scoring a paid 15-point maximum for Poole in last night's 50-43 league win over Swindon.

World champion Jason Crump has pulled out of tonight's prestigious Elite League Riders' championship at King's Lynn's Norfolk Arena.

The former Lynn racer aggravated a knee problem scoring a paid 15-point maximum for Poole in last night's 50-43 league win over Swindon.

“I rode for Poole but it got worse and worse,” said Crump. “I hate to let the fans down but I feel that if I ride it could lead to bigger problems, I must let it rest.”

Stars' treble winner Troy Batchelor will deputise for his Poole team mate.

“King's Lynn is my former track and I racked up a maximum there earlier in the season,” said the Aussie U21 starlet. “My riding ability has come on even more since then and hopefully I can do my club proud.”

Belle Vue's Joe Screen is also a doubt after riding through the pain barrier with a shoulder injury in his club's 56-37 win over Reading last night.

Stars' skipper Tomas Topinka is on standby to replace Screen. Adam Shields has now been confirmed as a Lakeside Hammers replacement for Niels Krister Iversen.

“As of midday today we have phoned all the riders to confirm they will be here,” said series director Jonathan Chapman. “The only slight doubt is Joe Screen who is still not 100pc fit. If he does pull out then track reserve Tomas Topinka will take his place. All in all it really should be an entertaining meeting for the fans and one that I really am looking forward to.”

(latest confirmed line up): 1 Freddie Lindgren (Wolverhampton), 2 Troy Batchelor (Poole), 3 Chris Harris (Coventry), 4 Davey Watt (Eastbourne), 5 Joe Screen (Belle Vue), 6 Adam Shields (Arena Essex), 7 Rory Schlein (Coventry), 8 Leigh Adams (Swindon), 9 Krzysztof Kasprzak (Arena Essex), 10 Bjarne Pedersen (Poole), 11 Nicki Pedersen (Eastbourne), 12 Chris Louis (Ipswich), 13 Hans Andersen (Peterborough), 14 Scott Nicholls (Coventry), 15 Lee Richardson (Swindon), 16 Travis McGowan (Reading).

Track reserves: Tomas Topinka, Chris Mills.