MATCH REPORT: Brooke makes it 2 in a row

After having a year off in 2018 Wednesfield once again hosted the annual season opener, the Dash Trophies Invitational. With some of the countries best riders in attendance it is always a thrilling match, where heavy legs and lack of training make for close racing at this early stage of the season.

Mould and Timms easily won their grid 1’s, before Brooke wore down the returning Mark Carmichael to gain a valuable win from his grid 4.

Zac Payne looked impressive in winning his two grid 1’s lowering the colours of Mould in his second, before Brooke won his own grid 1, home favourite Chris Jewkes winning his only race of the day in heat 8.

Brooke made it 3 from 3 in heat 9, making a pass stick on Jewkes with Mould following through for the 2nd place. Tom Bewick had an impressive showing in heat 10, beating GB captain Paul Heard after Chris Timms had gained the 2nd of his 3 tapes exclusions.

Pollitt won heat 11 before Lukasz Nowacki showed he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon, winning his two grid 1’s in comfortable fashion, lowering the colours of team mate Payne, his first defeat of the day, and Mould in the process.

Brooke made it 4 from 4 when he beat Payne in heat 14, the horspath man running a surprise last place, before Timms won his 2nd race of the day.

Heard won his first grid 1, before losing out to old team mate Mould in heat 18 to leave both tied on 16 points.

Nowacki beat out youngster pollitt in heat 17 to leave the Horspath man on 17 points and guaranteed at least 2nd place depending on the outcome of Brooke’s race. Payne won the penultimate heat to leave himself also on 16 points and a 6th race to decide his final placing.

Heat 20 and with Brooke needing only a 3rd place to take the title home for a 2nd time was gifted the win when Timms inexplicably moved for the 3rd time in the match, leaving the Suffolk man only needing to finish. He wrapped the match up in style however, winning his last ride to go through the card unbeaten and standing on the top step again in a repeat 1-2 of the last meeting, with Nowacki also finishing 2nd in 2017.

The last race of the day and GB internationals Payne (1), Heard (2) and Mould (4) lined up for a leg burning 6th time to decide 3rd place, and that is how they finished. Payne holding off the charge of Heard while Mould was unlucky to fall while challenging for 2nd.

All in all a great match once again, with some good performances and riders showing GB team manager Allan Busby what they are capable of at this early stage of the season.