Coventry Cycle Speedway club look set to join the sports top league in 2016 – setting the seal on a remarkable recovery in fortunes by the Hearsall Common based club.
Coventry`s application for Elite League status, which included financial matters, club management structure, development and facilities, was officially lodged with the sport’s governing body, British Cycling, this week.
British Cycling`s Cycle Speedway Commission are to consider Elite League applications at a meeting this weekend and hopes are high that Coventry`s comprehensive bid will be approved.
If successful, it will mean Cycle Speedway glamour clubs such as Poole, Horspath (Oxford) and newly crowned Elite League champions Wednesfield Aces will be in top tier League action at Hearsall Common next season.
Coventry`s possible Elite League elevation will mean the wheel will have turned full circle for the Earlsdon speedsters. There was no racing at Hearsall Common for four years until May 2011, when a truly astonishing revival took place.
The club returned to competitive action by joining the Midland League in 2012 a the revival was consolidated by a showpiece staging of the 2013 British Final, which was broadcast on Sky Sports and shown in 32 countries worldwide.
A magnificent presentation of the Great Britain V Australia Test match in August this year confirmed Coventry`s re-emergence as one of the sports major clubs. It is thought Coventry`s promotional prowess will aid their Elite League bid as the sport attempts to attract the attention of TV broadcasters.
Formed in 1978, the club is now thriving on all fronts. They have record numbers of both riders and officials. Only this week, the club signed on another eight new riders following a hugely successful junior meeting at the Hearsall Common track.
Club spokesman Lee Marsh said: “I can confirm that Coventry have this week officially applied to run Elite League racing in the city next year. It will be a major challenge for us but I am confident, if we are accepted, we can meet that challenge”.
It is thought Coventry, who have been approached by numerous Elite League standard riders, both in the UK and abroad, have narrowed their potential acquisitions down to a handful. These include two world class riders.
Club assets including world number 4 Bobby McMillan, multi British finalist Myke Grimes and Coventry based Polish star Dominik Rycharski will form the basis of any Elite League team for 2016.
Local home grown youngsters Mason Phillips, Dan Drewett, Matt Hambidge, Ollie Morris, Josh Marsh, Jake Slatter and Kyle Roberts are all expected to be given an opportunity at Elite League level.
CITY WHIZZ-KIDS TITLE HOPES DASHED
In one of the best matches ever seen at Hearsall Common last Sunday afternoon, Coventry`s junior whizz-kids fell just short at the final hurdle in their race to win the newly formed Midland Junior League (restricted to under 14s).
In the final match of the season, Coventry beat title rivals Birmingham in a superb encounter by 72-57 but lost out on winning the title to their Brummies rivals, who had a better race points difference over the season.
Ben Wells, one of Coventry`s biggest finds in recent seasons, got the home youngsters off to a flying start by easily winning heat 1, taking the chequered flag after dominating the race.
Birmingham hit back, taking full points from heat 2 before Coventry`s strongest paring – Bailie Phillips and Jimmy Wassall – scored maximum points in heat 3 to level the match, with Wassall displaying some fine team riding.
Two drawn heats followed before further wins to the speedy Wells, who was winning his races by a quarter of a lap, and Phillips, put Coventry on the road to victory.
Three successive 6-4 heat advantages to Coventry late on sealed the league points – inflicting Birmingham`s only Midland Junior League defeat of the season.
Wells went on to record an immaculate full 20 point maximum in a brilliant performance, whilst Wassall raced unbeaten by a visiting rider. Girl racer Phillips, the British number 2 ranked under 13 female, supported well in a fine Coventry team display.
Coventry points scorers:
Ben Wells 20, Jimmy Wassall 17, Bailie Phillips 12, Jack Bayliss 9, Jack Reynolds 6, Sam Slatter 5, Ronni Wassall 2 and James Morris 1.
COVENTRY SENIORS CRASH TO DEFEAT
Coventry crashed to a 105 – 73 home defeat in a bruising encounter against powerful Birmingham in their final Midland League match of the season last Sunday at Hearsall Common.
The final score line failed to illustrate fairly the hotly contested match, which saw the better tactically astute and more physically powerful Birmingham riders time and again win bone-jarring physical tussles with the home side.
Even robust Australian Bobby McMillan came off worse, lifting and crashing alarmingly after battling for the lead on the final bend in heat 7. He later reappeared to complete his races.
Myke Grimes and Dominik Rycharski and McMillan led the Coventry challenge but youngsters Mason Phillips, Dan Drewett, Matt Hambidge and Ollie Morris were always second best in the physical exchanges.
Coventry point scorers:
Myke Grimes 17, Dominik Rycharski 14, Bobby McMillan 13, Mason Phillips 8, Matt Hambidge 7, Dan Drewett 5, Ollie Morris 5 and Joe McLaughlin 4.
For more information on Coventry Cycle Speedway team, please go to: www.coventrycyclespeedway.co.uk