HSBC UK ELITE GP: Round one preview

The opening round of the HSBC UK Elite GP comes to the North and Sheffield’s super fast Cookson raceway on Saturday.

Josh Brooke, elite men’s winner from 2017, heads the entries – which is likely to include qualifiers for some of the riders.

British champion and Cookson track record holder Myke Grimes will be the major challenger, along with 2011 World Champion Lukasz Nowacki. Making his Cookson debut is Polish international and European number 2, Dawid Bas.

Other internationals include Ashley Hill, Steve Harris and Adam Watson. There are a few notable absentees from last year’s series, with runner up Ben Mould still playing his trade in Australia, Paul Heard is racing in Poland, while Lewis Osborne has work commitments.

Prize money is awarded to the top 5 racers in the elite men’s class and points this year count for all 4 rounds, instead of three best scores in 2017.

The Junior event has three of 2017’s top four, including champion Pierce Bacon. Home star Ed Morton (runner up in 2017), will be looking to make home track advantage tell.

Under 16 world number 3 (Fraser Garnett) and Girls under 16 World Champion (Macie Schmidt) will make the long journey from Poole. One to watch though will be Cameron Gill. The Coventry Sabres rider was super quick in the Frank Knight memorial Meeting, cutting through the riders with some super passes.

Photo by Andy Whitehouse.