NEWS: McLaughlin hints at Elite League Sky action
In a press release aimed at the local press about the clubs forthcoming Elite League application, Joe McLaughlin has hinted that the Elite League series may return to TV screens in 2016, should the sports decision makers agree to a deal. The press release reads:
Coventry Cycle Speedway club have announced their application to re-join the Elite League in 2016 in a move which will see major league racing return to Hearsall Common.
Club secretary Pauline Stuart is to submit Coventry’s application to re-join the sport’s top tier of racing to governing body British Cycling. The application, if successful, will see all the sport’s top club sides in action next year at Hearsall Common.
In order to meet the strict Elite League entry criteria, the Coventry club have been working hard at improving facilities at Hearsall Common. In the past month, the club have opened new changing rooms at the track and installed a water supply, equally it is hoped their focus on youth racing will bode well for the Godiva club’s prospects of qualifying for the series.
Scenes like this, featuring Coventry’s Bobby McMillan in Wednesfield colours, could be coming to Coventry and Sky TV once again. Picture Paul Devine.
With a new Sky Sports TV programme of Elite League matches potentially in the pipeline to be broadcast in 2016, it is thought that Coventry’s promotional expertise in staging major events at Hearsall Common will count in their favour in terms of Elite League membership.
On track, Coventry already have several top rated Elite League standard riders, such as Polish dynamo Dominik Rycharski, Australian Test match star Bobby McMillan and home grown Great Britain racer Myke Grimes.
Coventry team manager Lee Marsh has already concluded terms, pending Coventry`s confirmed entry, with two top stars, as the club looks to build a competitive squad for the campaign.
Its signals a remarkable change in fortunes for the pedal sport in the city. Only four years ago, Coventry had been defunct for over three years before an astonishing revival throughout the summer of 2011 led to the club thriving on all fronts.
Not since the boom days of the sport in the early 1960s, when the sport was briefly a national craze – similar to the BMX craze of the mid 1980s – has the sport in Coventry prospered. The Coventry club have record numbers of riders and several excellent backroom volunteers who have steered the club to new heights.
Helped by considerable sponsorship and marketing expertise, the club have worked tirelessly to improve the Hearsall Common facility and have attracted a new generation of Coventry `skid-kids `such as Dan Drewett, Mason Phillips, Sammi Marsh, Charlie Barnett, Ollie Morris and Jake Slatter.
Such is the interest, the Coventry club this year have taken over the nearby track at Bretford, successfully rebranding it `Brandon Bees`, to provide even more racing opportunities for their ever increasing rider portfolio.
Coventry club chairman Dave Foster commented: “We feel the time is right to re-join the Elite League. We have the top line riders, several more nearly there, and at least two top heat leaders ready to sign. The move will put a glittering seal on our renaissance and to be, once again, one of the sports leading clubs”.
Brandon Bees continue their home campaign in the Midland League division 2 at Brandon Road Playing Fields this coming Tuesday (23rd June), when they welcome East Park Wolves. Racing starts at 7.15pm.
For more information on Brandon Bees Cycle Speedway club, please ring: 07400 993999.
For more information on Coventry Cycle Speedway Club, including on how to get involved, you can visit www.coventrycyclespeedway.co.uk or follow the club on Twitter using @CoventryCSC.