PREVIEW: Wednesfield set for the final round of BYJL action

Six weeks after the World titles were decided there, Wednesfield will be the venue for some younger riders seeking to become champions this Saturday, when the 2015 BYJL comes to a close. Thanks to the sponsorship of Ross Mee through his Nixon Mee accountancy practice, the top three overall in each of the six categories will be presented with a trophy to mark their success. In each of the age groups there is still plenty to be decided in this the fourth and final round of the National series.

In the U8’s a fall for Exeter’s JJ Wildman in the A final at Bury and a win for Poole’s Oliver Saunders means that Oliver, second in the recent U10 British Championship, goes into the final round with a 9 point lead over JJ, with Kesgrave’s Tommy Rope in third, after claiming that position in every round so far.

The U10 British champion Oliver Reynolds from Kesgrave is virtually guaranteed  the title, holding a 23 point lead over the U10 Girls British Champion Rosie Tidball, who must have recorded the best ever result for a girl  in the National rounds. Seven points behind her are Connor Steel and Jack Brownell, and even though John White missed the last round he only trails them by 5 points, so it is all to ride for in the battle for second and third.

Lewis Brinkhoff has looked untouchable in the U12s this year , leading second place Tom Whitwam by 17 points. With Jake Vincent only 2 points further back, those two look to be battling it out for the podium places, with Nathan Goulden looking to benefit if they slip up.

Without doubt the closest age group is the U14s where Harrison Bacon finally got the better of James Bunting in the Bury A final – a repeat of that result would see them finish equal  and share the title. The battle for third will be between the Poole duo of Callum Smith (47pts) and Ben Tinsdale (40pts) and Stockport’s U13 British Champion Michael Preston (42pts).

The leader of the U17’s going into round 3,  Poole’s Callum Albin had a day that started with an exclusion and didn’t really improve, whereas Brandon Whetton finally avoided the outside grid and won the A Final. That win puts him into a 9 point lead going into his home track round, which must make him favourite to retain the title to go alongside his U16 British championship. Behind him though there are a number of riders hoping to make the podium – Callum is on 54 pts, Ben Harvey is on 49pts, Reece Pollitt on 46pts and home rider Haydn Rowley is on 45pts. As usually a highly entertaining and competitive  series is expected.

The top two in the girls Lauren Hookway and Krissie Mines look likely to hold on those places, with the real competition being for the third spot with Lizzie Rigley leading Sammi Marsh by one point, who in turn leads Lily Gedge by one point.

In the Club Competition Poole are virtually assured of victory providing they turn up, but behind them Kesgrave, Exeter, Ipswich and Sheffield are within 4 points of each other in the battle for the minor places.

Full details of all the pints and positions can be found at:   https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cyclespeedway/article/cysst-Cycle-Speedway—Latest-Premier-League-Table-0?c=SX

Thanks go to the Midland League for sponsoring the trophies for the top three in this round and the Wednesfield club for providing the medals.

With a far more promising weather forecast than for the last two rounds there are high hopes for a bumper attendance at this round, with the action starting as always at 10.00.