Coventry Cycle Speedway team raced to one of their best ever victories in their history by beating south coast glamour club Poole 106-92 in a thrilling Elite League encounter last Sunday in Dorset.
It was Coventry`s first ever Elite League away win, their first ever win at Poole in forty years and the victory sees Coventry top the early season Elite League table with two wins from two.
In fine sunny weather, a large seaside crowd assembled at the superbly appointed Poole venue. The early heats were fraught with tension, with both sides riding tactically in the early exchanges.
The home side, strengthened with the late addition of two world class Polish stars, provided the first man home in the opening three heats. Australian Bobby McMillan was Coventry`s first heat winner in heat 4.
Teenage whiz kid Mason Phillips, showing a new found gating prowess, powered to the front in heat 5 for Coventry but teammate Ben Higham, despite four laps of intense pressure was shut out at the back. Skipper Myke Grimes took heat 6 for Coventry.
Two points down entering heat 7, Coventry`s Polish world junior number two Michal Sassek brilliantly executed a wonder pass on the Poole number 1, and took teammate Jake Read with him, as Coventry took the lead for the first time.
Controversy reigned in heat 10 – the half way point – when Phillips and Grimes were set for maximum points when a power charge overtaking maneuver by a Poole opponent sent all three riders crashing down.
It had appeared that the Coventry pairing had been brought down but the referee – who had an excellent match – ruled against the Coventry protests.
This seemed to galvanize Coventry after the break and big guns Sassek, Grimes and McMillan won the next three heats. Aided by tape exclusions to the home side, Coventry were soon asserting dominance.
Michael Baldock won his first ever heat for Coventry in heat 15 and with partner Read taking second, Coventry were 80-69 ahead with four heats to race.
McMillan, enjoying a purple patch, and Grimes then took heat 16. The Hearsall Common men wrapped up the Elite League points with another maximum from the Sassek and Higham pairing in heat 18.
It was an outstanding day for Coventry but team manager Lee Marsh warned of tougher battles ahead. He said: “We were terrific today, especially without our top rider, Andy Angell. All the team played their part and we must thank the Poole club for such an enjoyable day.
“We face tough challenges ahead but we are on course with our objective to provide a competitive Coventry Elite League side. The season has started brightly for us but we have yet to face top teams like Horspath (Oxford) and the mighty Wednesfield Aces”.
Coventry point scores:
Bobby McMillan 23, Michal Sassek 18, Myke Grimes 15, Mason Phillips 11, Jake Read 10, Ben Higham 10, Chris Parish 9, Mike Baldock 9 and Dan Drewett 1.
Coventry`s next Elite League match is away at Wednesfield Aces on Sunday 15th May.
BRITISH CYCLING AWARD COVENTRY BRITISH INDOOR FINALS 2016
Coventry Cycle Speedway club have been awarded the British Indoor Finals by British Cycling for the second successive year.
It means this winter’s British Indoor Finals will be staged on Saturday 7th January and Sunday 8th January 2017. The all-important track set-up will take place on Friday 6th January 2017, from 7pm.
Once again, the host venue will be the Sports Connexion, Leamington Road, Ryton On Dunsmore, on the outer fringes of Coventry. The Sports Connexion has become the leading hub of indoor racing in recent years – also hosting very popular Sunday night practice sessions.
The early allocation of the event, which will be staged away from the Christmas and New Year holiday period for the first time for several years, will come as a welcome relief to riders, club management, officials and parents.
Recent British Indoor finals have been hampered by the lack of suitable venues, last minute staging announcements and the finals being held too close to the New Year holidays.
The Coventry club will be announcing plans for this year’s Finals in due course. They have already confirmed the now mandatory Speedway air fence will be in position. They will be announcing a list of sponsors as soon as the current outdoor season finishes.
An official championship hotel headquarters is also being sought and will be announced by the end of May 2016. Officials have confirmed all team and individual categories shall be raced for.
Event manager Lee Marsh, of the Coventry club, commented: “We staged an impressive promotion of the finals last year, which was a great success. With the early announcement of this year’s finals, coupled with it being held away from the New Year break, we look forward to an even more popular staging this winter”.
Enter the British Indoor Finals in Coventry in January 2017, by going to: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/uac/connect?success_url=%2Fevents%2Fdetails%2F145043%2F2016-British-Indoor-Championships%26source%3Dwebsite-ems
BRANDON BEES STAGE COVENTRY SPRING JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Brandon Bees stage their second meeting of the season next Sunday afternoon (1st May) with the staging of the Coventry Spring Junior Championship at Bretford Playing Fields, commencing at 2pm.
The club have issued invitations to: Autumn Smith, George Walters, Jude Willcockson, Liam Jones, Mason Bowen, Jacob Slezak, Charlie Smith, James Morris, Wyatt Jacobs, Dan Smith, Jack Reynolds, Ethan Read, Sam Slatter, Nathan Read, Finley Yousen and Liam Jones.