RACEDAY PREVIEW: 2022 BRITISH FINAL - Ipswich Witches Speedway

By Henry Chard

All the details ahead of the 2022 British Final.

WHEN & WHERE

The 2022 British Final takes place at the National Speedway Stadium on Sunday 18^th September in an individual fixture that starts at 3.00pm, live on Eurosport.

LINE-UP

1. Connor Mountain 2. Leon Flint 3. Chris Harris 4. Steve Worrall 5. Kyle Howarth 6. Dan Bewley 7. Paul Starke 8. Craig Cook9. Charles Wright 10. Lewis Kerr 11. Richard Lawson 12. Richie Worrall 13. Danny King 14. Scott Nicholls 15. Adam Ellis 16. Tom Brennan. Reserves: Jordan Jenkins & Jack Shimelt

REFEREE: W. Jarvis

TICKETS

Tickets are available to buy online and on the gate.

THE STORY

The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches are represented at Sunday’s British Final by Danny King and Paul Starke. The first staging of the Final in August was abandoned after 12 heats due to bad weather with no result declared. Sadly, Danyon Hume is unable to take his place in the restaging due to his collarbone injury.

King won the title at the National Speedway Stadium back in 2016 and is determined to become Britain’s number one for a second time in his career having come close in 2019 when he finished second. Starke has endured an injury-hit season and is currently nursing a sore shoulder, but he has plenty of experience in the event with this year’s appearance his sixth in total. His best performance was also in 2016 where he scored 10 points, finishing seventh in the standings and he is a rider who is capable of a good performance in Manchester.

On this occasion, the winner of this event will not receive a Wild Card for the next British Grand Prix.

The meeting will also feature the Nigel Pearson Award with supporters invited to vote after Heat 20 for their most entertaining rider from a short-list of four, as the sport pays tribute to the much-loved writer and broadcaster who passed away earlier this year.

We wish both ‘Tru Mix’ Witches the best and hope to welcome another British champion back to Suffolk.

FROM THE BOSS

Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives his pre-match thoughts…

“This Sunday we have got the restaging of the British Final. It is another chance for Danny to get a second British title which I’m sure he will be aiming for. He was in a great position in the original staging at the point it was cancelled. I’m sure he will go to Belle Vue focused in his mind on winning the meeting.

“Also, Paul is there, he has had a tough year in many respects with injuries and has taken a lot of knocks. Hopefully, he will be at a good fitness level and will put in a really good showing in the British Final. Having a cracking meeting will boost him for the rest of the season. We all know what he is capable of, and he can certainly go far in the meeting if it clicks for him on the day.

“Danyon is not fit enough yet to take his place in the line-up and he was so proud to be a part of the original meeting and I’m sure he will be disappointed but next year will be there for him and he will be focused on having another great year and getting back there.”

THE CONTENDERS

Adam Ellis will be looking to retain the crown he won in 2021 whilst current Grand Prix rider Bewley is a hot favourite for many to win his first British title at his former home track and you would expect he will be a hard man to beat on the night. Chris Harris has enjoyed a terrific season and will be keen to add to his three titles. Charles Wright is a former champion and a current Belle Vue rider, and he and current British U21 champion Tom Brennan will enjoy the support of their home fans at the National Speedway Stadium. Scott Nicholls and Craig Cook are also former winners of the event and will look to upset the odds and add to their collection.