MATCH REPORT: Coventry Cycle Speedway Back at the races

(Report by Myke Grimes)

Coventry XL Motors Cycle Speedway enjoyed a return to racing on Sunday, with 30 riders taking to the track across two matches after British Cycling moved up to Level 4 in their pandemic response plan, which enabled racing for the first time from 1 August.

It was the first racing to take place at Hearsall Common in 2020, a lot later than the usual March starting date due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and safety was paramount.

With a host of new restrictions, including socially distant pits boxes and spectator areas, face masks (where possible) and temperature checking for all, the club enjoyed two hotly contested matches between its members.

Firstly the junior match threw up some great racing with two even teams, often providing two races in one, featuring the older juniors battling out front and the younger juniors contesting third and fourth place spots. It produced a close match which ended in a 2 point victory for Brandon over Coventry.

The senior match was also evenly contested, but not without a few spills, most notably Coventry’s former British Champion, Myke Grimes and x2 British Finalist, Adam Watson tangled in a dramatic high speed Heat 17 crash on the pits bend, which thankfully both riders emerged from with just cuts and bruises.

Whitley emerged victorious in the match as they turned the screw against Coventry towards the end, but in the end, the two results were immaterial with the riders just being grateful to be racing again.