Monmore to host showpiece
Wolverhampton is to stage domestic speedway's showpiece event, the British Final.Wolverhampton is to stage domestic speedway's showpiece event, the British Final. The meeting will take place at Monmore Green on Monday, June 4 when Coventry's Scott Nicholls will attempt to retain his crown. It is the first time that Wolverhampton has ever been granted the final, and the club has never boasted a British champion. The news - announced today at the MCN London Motorcycle Show at ExCel - is a huge boost for the club. The final lost much of its lustre down the years when world championship Grand Prix places were awarded by committee rather than earned on the track. But the recent return of GP qualifiers means that the final is again a major staging post for British riders on the road to a world crown. Read the full story in the Express & Star
The meeting will take place at Monmore Green on Monday, June 4 when Coventry's Scott Nicholls will attempt to retain his crown.
It is the first time that Wolverhampton has ever been granted the final, and the club has never boasted a British champion.
The news - announced today at the MCN London Motorcycle Show at ExCel - is a huge boost for the club. The final lost much of its lustre down the years when world championship Grand Prix places were awarded by committee rather than earned on the track.
But the recent return of GP qualifiers means that the final is again a major staging post for British riders on the road to a world crown.In addition, the sport's promoters are revamping their top meetings this season - and sticking to the staging track's normal race night, which will reduce the risk of top-line competitors missing it to race on the continent.
"I have been asked to stage the British Final before," said Parrys International Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten.
"But I was never interested in moving off my race day to stage it.
"I have felt for some time that we can't continue the approach that Sunday is the best day. There is so much more continental involvement now - whatever date you pick you always seem to be up against another event, or league matches in Poland.
"Once they decided the new policy, I was interested. I'm delighted to have been offered it and accepted without a moment's hesitation."
The field will be set largely by riders' averages, but there will be Monmore slots for the top finishers from the British Under-21 final at Eastbourne - home track of 17-year-old star Lewis Bridger.
The Eagle won the British Under-18 title at Wolverhampton last year and jets round Monmore.
"It's an exciting move," said Van Straaten. "That's exactly the thing we are trying to encourage, to help Great Britain team manager Neil Middleditch now that some of his riders are getting long in the tooth.
"It would be a major surprise if we didn't see Lewis Bridger there."
