Luke Killeen wins British Under-21 semi-final at Plymouth

LUKE KILLEEN, who rides for both the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires and the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies, was the winner of the British Under-21 Semi-Final at Plymouth last night (Tuesday), after topping the scorechart on 14 points.

Killeen won three out of his opening four outings, while he took second place in Heat 7 behind hometown rider Ben Trigger.

Killeen’s final race in Heat 19 had to be started four times. He twice clashed with Cooper Rushen on the tight first bend around the Coliseum. At the third time of asking, Killeen was leading, when reserve Harry Fletcher fell and remounted. Confusion reigned as a track marshal held out a red flag, despite the fact the referee hadn’t stopped the race. That led to the fourth and final attempt, where Killeen fended off Sam McGurk to win the meeting.

There were eight qualifying places on offer for the final at Glasgow on May 18. Jody Scott, the skipper of the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs, also qualified on nine points, after taking a win and a second in his final two outings when the pressure was on.

Senna Summers – a reserve for Chargers – put in a tremendous performance and scored eight points. The meeting ended in strange fashion, when the run-off between Summers and Freddy Hodder for the eighth and final qualifying place did not take place, after an error by the referee. The Speedway Control Bureau will resolve the issue in due course.

A third Charger, Ashton Vale, won Heat 8 in fine style, but withdrew from the meeting after crashing out of Heat 13, while second to Scott. Vale was fine, but he sustained damage to his machinery.

Killeen said: “We had a few goes in that final race, but it paid off for me in the end. I felt I had to win that race, because Will (Cairns) was flying by the end of the meeting and I’m not sure if I could have beaten him in a run-off for first place.

“It’s always good to win a meeting, but the focus now shifts to the final at Glasgow next month.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies take on Plymouth Gladiators in the BSN Series tonight (Wednesday, April 30) at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

RESULT: Luke Killeen 14, William Cairns 13, Ben Trigger 11, Ace Pijper 10, Sam McGurk 10, Jody Scott 9, Max Perry 9, Freddy Hodder 8, Senna Summers 8, Stene Pijper 7, Mickie Simpson 7, Cooper Rushen 4, Ashton Vale 3, Ryan Ingram 2, Jack Shimelt 2, Jamie Etherington 2, Charlie Southwick (res) 1, Harry Fletcher (res) 0.

PHOTO: Meeting winner Luke Killeen (pic: Ian Wagstaff)