Former Isle of Wight Captain Ben Morley is the new Nora British 500cc Speedway Champion after a night of drama at the Smallbrook Stadium.
Persistent rain in the afternoon at one stage look as if it might stop the event taking place, but it stopped early enough for proceedings, in fact it gave the track an even watering and produced probably the best surface and conditions to race on, however with more rain forecast for around 8pm, the normal pre-match parade was forfeited in order to try and get the racing through.
The first heat was won by Morley who made a blistering start and despite Joe Thompson’s effort he couldn’t reel in the Southend rider.
The second heat saw William Cairns at just 15 years of age, show just why he is tipped for the top of this great sport, as he flew to a excellent win over Warriors own Arran Butcher.
Another Essex lad, Rhys Naylor then won the third with relative ease before Morley gained his second win.
Butcher the rode an excellent 5th race to hold off Naylor before a tremendous heat 6 saw Joe Thompson head Cairns for the complete four laps with the Aylesbury teenager breathing right up his exhaust pipe.
Morley meanwhile was going about his business nicely winning heat 7 from Butcher from pillar to post.
Cairns was back to winning ways in the 8th as he roared from the start winning by almost a different postcode, to keep alive his hopes of taking the Silverware home.
The 9th heat saw Thompson gain his second win, this time over Naylor with James Laker falling at the back.
Heat 10 saw Morley come head to head with Cairns, Morley again made a super start, but this time Cairns was with him and swooped around the outside on the first turn and raced to victory.
It was now obvious who were going to the final, Morley, Thompson and Cairns, but there was still one place up for grabs to as who would join them.
German Henning Loof won a incident packed heat 11 after Laker had fallen and Morgan Williams himself back from injury, laid his machine down to avoid him.
With Laker disqualified, Williams came back to the start for the re-run, only for his chain to snap as the tapes rose, leaving Loof to ride alone for the win.
The final qualifying heat saw Thompson hold off Butcher, but Butchers second place was enough to clinch his place in the final.
The threatened rain then showed its ugly head, but the riders were happy to ride on and the B Final saw Rhys Naylor come out on top, leaving just the main title to be decided.
As the riders came to the line, everybody in the stadium held their breath in anticipation of what looked like a superb line up. As the riders sped from the start, they were all pretty even as they hit the turn, with Cairns heading for the dirt at full throttle with his nose in front.
But as he hit the dirt he lost control of his machine and crashed into the safety fence at high speed.
The crowd were stunned into an early silence as the medical crew rush to the stricken rider in was now a heavy downpour, the ambulance was called onto the track and the rider was recovered from the air fence and his machine removed.
At this time it was now becoming obvious to all that track conditions and visibility were deteriorating and with the Paramedics treating Cairns, that racing would not be able to continue.
The title was therefore decided on a count back, Morley was awarded first place as he had beaten Thompson back in the very first heat, with Thompson second and Butcher 3rd, with Cairns having been disqualified from the initial staging he was fourth.
Cairns right arm was strapped up and he told me later that” they didn’t think anything was broken, but I will get it checked once home, it was a shame as I thought I’d made the gate, but that’s racing”
Morley meanwhile whist happy to become on the second winner of this trophy (Jason Edwards has won the first two) was happy to head home to Southend as the new Champion.
Full credit must go to all the staff who managed to get this meeting through, with no less than 18 races in 90 minutes (there was also 5 excellent Flat Track Rcaes) in far from ideal conditions, a achievement acknowledged by Island Promoter s Barry Bishop and Martin Widman.
There is more track action next Thursday when the British upright 500cc Championship takes place. 7pm.
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