Bumper week for British Youth Speedway – Race Report

THREE clubs hosted a round of the British Youth Championship last weekend, these taking place at Belle Vue on Friday for the 250cc and 125cc classes, then a standalone round at Leicester on Saturday for all classes, then concluding with the 500cc and 250cc round taking place at Birmingham on Monday.

All credit to everyone involved as these were all successful events and the standard of racing was fantastic across all the classes.

In the 500cc class, William Cairns stretched his lead at the top of the with another two faultless performances, winning both the rounds at Leicester and Birmingham without dropping a point in all his heats.

For the chasing pack behind Cairns it was a mixed weekend with Jamie Etherington claiming the runners-up position at Leicester but failing to make the final at Birmingham, and a similar weekend for current third placed William Hocaniuk who failed to make the final at Leicester but finished on the podium behind Cairns at Birmingham.

Stene Pijper who currently lies in fourth position was unavailable for the round at Leicester but again bounced back with another podium finish at Birmingham with a third place finish.

Other impressive performances over the weekend were from Ryan Ingram who qualified for both finals but just missed out on a podium finish in both, and also Lee Harrison who only competed at the Leicester round where he claimed a third place finish.

The 250cc class, who competed in all three rounds of the weekend’s events, has really opened up the Championship where current series leader Cooper Rushen, although winning both Belle Vue and Leicester rounds, could only manged a third place finish at Birmingham which has enabled the chasing pack of Seth Norman, Archie Rolph and Ollie Binns to all increase the pressure leading up to the last two rounds later this month.

The 250cc finals this season have been particularly breathtaking and all three finals this weekend were no different with Rushen, Norman, Rolph and Binns being involved in all three, with Rushen claiming top spot at Belle Vue and Leicester and Norman at Birmingham.

The 125cc class looks odds on for Oliver Bovingdon to retain his British Championship in 2024, with three riders chasing the remaining two podium positions between Lewis Hague, Rocco Webb and Charlie Luckman.

In the 125cc Support Class Charlie Fletcher, having won the round at Leicester, now leads this class ahead of Jack Scully-Syer and Tia May Brant who were both unavailable for the Leicester round.

The series now moves onto Edinburgh and Glasgow over the weekend of the 14th and 15th September where the 2024 British Youth Championships will be decided.

Current Standings –