Danny King looks back at the British Final, Speedway Cup of Nations and why points mean prizes!
Well, the British Final didn’t go quite the way I’d hoped.
A couple of wins and a couple of thirds and a last place about summed up a frustrating night for yours truly.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy.
My arm is no excuse and I would never use it as such, but obviously my full fitness is still coming. So, I was pleased with the wins and take the positives out of that.
I had a fall in my second ride which I know a lot of people thought Josh Auty should have been put out for.
But I think Josh just picked up a bit of drive and straightened up. It was a racing incident, simple as that.
I’ve raced with Josh for years and he’s not a dirty rider. I get on well with him, it was one of those things.
Anyhow, I won the re-run and my arm wasn’t too badly hurt in the crash.
Certainly it is no worse.
There was a big crowd at Belle Vue and I really would have liked to at least got into the semi-final. I’m disappointed, even though I know I shouldn’t be.
It was good to have Chris Louis alongside me offering a bit of advice. I appreciated that.
In the end Robert Lambert was the deserved winner.
He went through the card, although he must have been worried going into the grand final that all his hard work in the heats was going to be for nothing.
That didn’t happen however and it capped a great week for young Robert.
Did you see the Speedway Cup of Nations?
Well, if you saw the qualifying rounds earlier last week you may have wondered what on earth it was all about. It wasn’t great.
But the final, held over two days on Friday and Saturday last weekend, was cracking.
If ever the phrase ‘speedway was the winner’ was true, then that describes the two-day final.
It was a pairs event that had whittled down to seven teams, all of who were hugely competitive.
Great Britain were in great form throughout and, after two nights and 42 races, led the field by a point.
However after a semi-final between Poland and Russia (who finished second and third behind GB), that Russia won, the final saw Britain lose in the most unfortunate way. Tai Woffinden won the grand final, but Lambert was at the back.
The rules state that if a team finishes first and last, that is not better than the team who packs the minor placings (second and third).
So Russia were crowned victors.
It was a shame and spoiled the night for many, not just GB fans.
The format was not right.
I mean, for goodness sake, there had been 42 races. Why did you need another race after all that lot to determine the winners.
OK, so Russia finished just a point behind GB after two days. But it could have been Poland who got to the final had they beaten Russia – and then Poland who went on to win. Yet after 42 races, Poland were ten points behind GB!
So, more positives than negatives, but a tinker to the format next season is in order I think.
I thought we, the Witches, were excellent last week against Sheffield.
A good win, three points and a fine all-round performance.
It was just what we needed and bearing in mind both me and Connor Mountain suffered engine failures when in scoring positions and Cameron Heeps was not 100% fit, suffering from a bad back, the result could have been even more convincing.
And what about Nico Covatti?
It was great to have him back and showing the sort of form we were enjoying last season before his injury.
He was much more like his old self and his heat nine win when taking Charles Wright from the back was fantastic.
MORE: Witches win and Hawkins is delighted
Sadly and annoyingly there is no meeting at Foxhall again on Thursday night! GRRRR!
But we travel to Peterborough in a Championship Shield clash on Sunday and we’ll be looking for the win.
It’s a dead rubber for us but scoring points on the speedway track is our living. If we go to Peterborough and don’t care less and score few points, we don’t get paid much! Simple as that. Points mean pounds for us.
MORE: ‘We will fight tooth and nail’, says Louis
Just to finish, Logan has got chicken pox now.
Little Casey had it a few weeks back and now Logan, his older brother has it.
The fun of family life.... But I wouldn’t swap it for the world.
DANNY
AS TOLD TO MIKE BACON
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