Ipswich Witches star Danny King admitted it was ‘a hard pill to swallow’, after the 32-year-old finished runner-up in the British Final at Belle Vue on Monday night.

The Maidstone-born racer topped the scorecharts after all riders had five rides, but could only finish second behind new champion Charles Wright in the winner-takes-all final.

King was British champion in 2016 and was looking for his second title. His Ipswich team-mate Chris Harris finished fourth in Monday's final.

"I'm very disappointed," King said.

"It's not right to say 'I should have won it', because Charles was good. He deserved it. But it's tough to win the meeting then come second in the final.

"But we all know that's the way it is now, so no complaints. But it is a hard pill to swallow."

King was in good form on the fast Manchester stadium and had first choice of gate positions in the final after his table-topping heat rides. He chose gate two.

"It wasn't easy to pick the right gate," he added.

"I struggled a bit off gate one in my final heat and I was never going to choose gate four.

"So it was two or three and I knew if I chose gate three then Cookie (Craig Cook, who finished third) and Charles would have gone inside me which would have been very difficult.

"I just didn't make a good gate and that was that."

King has now finished winner, second, third and fourth in British finals.... "I just needed a second place to complete the sequence," he added.

But despite the disappointment of not winning King knows he has again performed well on the highest of stages.

"I must remember that this time last year I was worrying about ever riding again after my arm injury, so I have to think of that as well and the fact I am still in there chasing major honours," King said.