MATCH REPORT: Smith on top in Christine Ellis Memorial
Matt Smith deservedly took the Christine Ellis Memorial title, with a fine victory over Coventry’s Dominik Rycharski in second and Wednesfield’s Paul Heard in third.
In an error strewn 20 heats, which saw favourites dropping points left right and centre on the greasy circuit, Matt Smith rode a near flawless meeting, with lightning gates from the tapes on his way to victory.
Chris Timms did well to make it into the semis after a difficult start, he along with Bobby McMillan missed out on the final as Smith and Rycharski made no mistake off the inside grids one and two in semi final one.
Pawel Idziorek, also in good form throughout, will rue a grid one tape exclusion in the second semi, which saw Paul Heard and Ben Mould safely through with Myke Grimes stuck out on grid 4 against the Wednesfield pair.
Ben Mould found himself at the front in the final and was unlucky to be excluded after seemingly accidentally legging off Heard on lap one and subsequently being sent back to the pits. Smith made no mistake from the restart, forcing himself over Heard from grid two. Rycharski put on the pressure for four laps but couldn’t get in a position to mount a real challenge, leaving Smith to take the title.
Final result:
1st Matt Smith
2nd Dominik Rycharski
3rd Paul Heard
4th Ben Mould