Ryan Douglas hails Darcy after his winning start
Wolverhampton speedway racer Ryan Douglas has paid tribute to former Grand Prix ace Darcy Ward for his help in making a winning start to 2021.
Douglas was on form again at the weekend as he swept the board with four straight wins before taking victory in the final of the ATPI Mildura Solo Masters in Australia.
Glasgow’s Justin Sedgmen scored 11, triple World Champion Jason Crump 10 and Redcar’s Jordan Steart crept into the final with six.
Douglas got the better of Stewart with Crump third and Sedgmen at the back on a well prepared track.
The win was his second in successive weekends after taking top spot in the Phil Crump Individual.
He said: “It feels great to win this meeting and that’s two on the spin for me right now.
“The track was great and the inside was the fastest line at the end, it worked really well for me in the final. I’m just glad I had gate one and made a perfect start. Things are working really well for me and Darcy Ward’s help over these past few months means everything is starting to pay off.”
Meanwhile British club bosses will meet this Thursday for the AGM ahead of the 2021 season which they are hoping will start in May.
Talks have been continuing over the past week since the original date was put back a week with several issues complicating plans, including rider availability thanks to new Polish restrictions on how many leagues riders can sign for.
European Champion Robert Lambert has confirmed he won’t be allowed to return to King’s Lynn after signing deals in Poland and Sweden – but Wolverhampton are well placed with riders ready and willing to return to Monmore.
Douglas is one who has vowed to return if the season starts and fellow Aussie Sam Masters has remained in the UK this winter, based in Penn, with his young family.
