The Wright stuff from Charles
BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires’ No 1 Charles Wright scored five and three points respectively in the two British Grand Prix rounds at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester over the weekend on Friday and Saturday – playing his part in two absorbing and exciting meetings.
The 36-year-old from Stockport was the wildcard rider for both events, gaining his place after finishing second in the British Final in May. He had previously been wildcard at the British Grand Prix at Cardiff in 2019, after winning the British Championship that season.
In the Friday meeting, Wright was just one point away from reaching the Last Chance Qualifiers.
After two last places, he surged back past Danish star Mikkel Michelsen to win Heat 9. Wright lives just 15 minutes down the road from the National Speedway Stadium, and his race victory delighted both the travelling Spires’ fans and the local support.
Wright finished third after he just lost out in a duel for second place to Jan Kvech in Heat 16. After a further third place in Heat 19, Wright finished on five points and was classified 11th. Kvech was 10th on six points and therefore the result of Heat 16 had proven decisive.
On Saturday, Wright battled to a further three points against the best speedway riders in the world, including claiming the scalp of 2017 World Champion Jason Doyle for a second successive evening. Wright was classified in 16th and final position in the meeting.
The two Grand Prix rounds were won by Dan Bewley of Great Britain on Friday and Bartosz Zmarzlik of Poland on Saturday. The Friday event, in particular, was a classic speedway meeting.
Reigning champion Zmarzlik now leads Brady Kurtz by 11 points in the overall standings, as he seeks a record-equalling sixth World Championship.
RESULTS:
FRIDAY – ROUND 4
Qualifying scores: Bartosz Zmarzlik 12, Brady Kurtz 12, Max Fricke 12, Jack Holder 11, Dan Bewley 11, Martin Vaculik 10, Fredrik Lindgren 8, Mikkel Michelsen 8, Robert Lambert 7, Jan Kvech 6, Charles Wright 5, Kai Huckenbeck 5, Dominik Kubera 5, Jason Doyle 4, Anders Thomsen 3, Andzejs Lebedevs 1.
FINAL: Bewley, Zmarzlik, Kurtz, Lindgren.
SATURDAY – ROUND 5
Qualifying scores: Bartosz Zmarzlik 13, Brady Kurtz 11, Kai Huckenbeck 11, Fredrik Lindgren 10, Max Fricke 9, Jack Holder 9, Mikkel Michelsen 9, Martin Vaculik 7, Dominik Kubera 6, Dan Bewley 6, Anders Thomsen 6, Robert Lambert 6, Andzejs Lebedevs 6, Jan Kvech 5, Jason Doyle 3, Charles Wright 3.
FINAL: Zmarzlik, Kurtz, Lindgren, Holder.
PHOTO: Charles Wright after winning Heat 9 on Friday (pic: Ian Charles)