Charles Wright qualifies as wildcard for British Grand Prix weekend

CHARLES WRIGHT, one of the leading riders for the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires, will ride in both British Grand Prix rounds at the National Speedway Stadium at Belle Vue, Manchester on June 13 and 14, after finishing second in the Attis Insurance British Final at the same venue last night (Monday).

Wright scored 11 points in the qualifying heats, finished second in the semi-final and then second in the Grand Final. Fellow Spire Craig Cook was also highly competitive and scored seven points.

The British Grand Prix wildcard – who joins the 15 Grand Prix series regulars – is awarded to the highest finishing non-Grand Prix regular in the British Final. With both World No 2 Robert Lambert and World No 4 Dan Bewley in the final race last night, it meant either Wright or former Spire Chris Harris would get the nod.

While much of the racing earlier in the night had been terrific, the final was simply out of this world – all four riders led the race at one point.

Bewley – aiming for a record-equalling fourth successive British Championship – was the early leader, but ended up at the back. He worked his way back to the front, but Lambert pushed him wide on the final bend of the third lap. That allowed Harris into the lead at the start of the fourth and final lap, before Wright pounced and took over at the front down the back straight. But Lambert was steaming back around and swept past Wright, who then concentrated in hugging the inside and making sure Harris didn’t have a way back past. Bewley snatched third from Harris on the line.

It was a spell-binding race as Lambert won his second British Championship, to add to his 2018 triumph.

Wright – the 2019 British Champion – was delighted with second place and punched the air with delight as he crossed the line. This season, the British Grand Prix has moved from Cardiff to Manchester. Furthermore, the number of rounds has doubled to two. Stockport-born Wright will add local interest to the events, as well as giving travelling Oxford Spires’ fans a rider to support for British Speedway’s biggest weekend of the season.

Wright said: “I didn’t expect anything, I just came with an open mind to take a race at a time, get to the semi and then go from there.

“It was a bit of a hectic final. I think I was in first at one point, then back to the back, then second and third, it was a crazy race.

“I went into the last corner and thought ‘I’ve got this’ and then Robert must have just done the wall of death around me and snatched it.

“But I’m happy, and I get to go to the Grand Prix at my local track, so I can’t ask for anything better than that.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires entertain reigning champions Belle Vue Aces in ROWE Motor Oil Premiership action on Thursday (May 15) at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

ATTIS INSURANCE SPORTS DIVISION BRITISH FINAL, Belle Vue
QUALIFYING SCORES: Dan Bewley 14, Robert Lambert 14, Charles Wright 11, Adam Ellis 10, Chris Harris 10, Anders Rowe 9, Dan Thompson 9, Danny King 8, Craig Cook 7, Leon Flint 6, Tom Brennan 6, Steve Worrall 6, Connor Mountain 5, Jason Edwards 3, Drew Kemp 2, Vinnie Foord 0.
SEMI-FINAL: Harris, Wright, Ellis, Rowe.
GRAND FINAL: Lambert, Wright, Bewley, Harris.

PHOTO: Charles Wright (left) along with meeting winner Robert Lambert and third-placed Dan Bewley (pic: Ian Charles)