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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
The Cycle Speedway British Final races into Leicester this weekend for the first time in over a decade with all the expectations of a classic showpiece extravaganza in the East Midlands.
Now in its 58th year of competition, the British Final is the blue ribband event of the Cycle Speedway racing calendar. Whilst international competition has exploded in the sport over the past 20 years, the British Final remains the highlight of the domestic season.
In a hectic bank holiday weekend, eliminators will be staged this Sunday (30th August) at both Birmingahm and Wednesfield (Wolverhampton) to determine the 16 elite track stars who will battle for the ultimate crown of British champion in the final at Leicester.
The final will be staged at the purpose built Leicester Monarchs raceway in the heart of Leicester. It boasts every conceivable facility and is one of only three dedicated `national centres` of excellence within the sport. In addition to a pacy 77 metre circuit, the impressive venue also contains changing rooms, floodlights, over 200 seats and full catering outlets.
Now named Glover Park, in tribute to lifelong club stalwart Harry Glover, who died in May 2005 after a long battle with throat cancer, the circuit also contains the only covered grandstand in the sport. It too, fittingly, is named `The Harry Glover Stand`, in recognition of the man who did so much to establish the Leicester club as a powerhouse force within the sport.
With financial backing from Leicester City Council and Clements Shopfitters (Leicester), the whole facility will be in pristine condition on Monday. The latest improvement, especially for the British Final, is the relaying of the inner white line boundary of the track.
The on-track action is expected to be fast and furious in what looks like one of the most open finals in years. The field will headed by three times British champion, Lee Aries, of the Wolverhampton based club Wednesfield and by reigning champion, the explosive Gavin Wheeler of Poole.
After several near misses, Aris landed his first championship at Oxford in 2004. He missed out the following year but confirmed his greatness with two further wins in 2006 and 2007. He has again been in outstanding form this year and will be the man they all have to beat.
Wheeler, who enjoys a close friendship with championship rival Aris, first won the British title in 2002 in the colours of his home town club Southampton. He endured six years in the wilderness before a commanding display at Harbourside Park, Poole, last year saw him add a deserved second crown.
Should Aris or Wheeler fail to add to their collection of British championship winners jerseys, there is an array of top racers ready to step forward to stake their claim for British final glory.
Mark Boaler, the mercurial Horspath (Oxford) star, is one such rider. The flawed genius, wayward anti establishment figure one minute, to sublime track skills the next, with stunning passing ability, would be a worthy if somewhat controversial champion.
Northern ace, Terry Norman of Stockport who races for Wednesfield, is now nearing the veteran stage. He was a hugely popular victor four years ago at the Coventry staging, which drew the biggest British final crowd for some 30 years, and narrowly failed in a repeat performance last year at Poole. Only two last lap mistakes at the Dorset final pegged the likable Mancunian back to the silver medal position.
After a period of self reflection, Birmingham wizard Marcus Wadhams has bounced back in recent weeks, leading the second city side on their relentless march to glory across several competitions. After a troubled World championship in Australia last winter, the jet propelled starting Wadhams is back and could well better his podium finish last season.
Lewis Bates of Stoke, a true bulldog racer, full of fear and robust energy, is likely to mount another championship challenge after a string of top scoring Premier League performances in this season. A top club singer in the Potteries, Bates is likely to hit all the high notes at Leicester, a track he always performs well on.
Newly crowned British veterans champion Steve Harris of Horspath (Oxford), a perennial British finalist in the open category, is at the top of his game. Although now 42 years of age, Harris has enjoyed resurgent form in the past two seasons, qualifying for last years World final and this year fronting Horspath`s table topping run in the Premier League.
Home hopes in the Leicester camp will rest with dashing pin-up boy Daniel Pike. Always the ladies choice, the popular Pike has progressed from British junior champion to world class star and a podium position is certainly within reach for the Suffolk based speedster.
The final is sure to be set on fire if a host of younger riders qualify. These include the fearless, if wildly unpredictable, Chris Timms of Birmingham, the 2005 British junior champion Tom Colling of Poole and Birmingham’s Paul Heard, who recently annexed the British under 19s title.
Admission to the 2009 British Final is free to all spectators. You can catch the action this Bank Holiday Monday at Leicester Monarchs Cycle Speedway club, Slater Street, Frog Island, near Leicester City Centre. Post code is: LE3 5AS. Racing starts at 3pm.
The British Final is preceded at 12 midday by the British junior final at the same venue.
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