Preview - British Finals.

This coming Saturday sees the staging of the 2001 British Final of the World Championship at Coventry, and hot competition is in prospect.

The seeded riders are joined by the qualifiers from the recent semi-final in Newport to race. not only for the title of British champion, but also to gain a high enough placing to go forward to next month's Overseas Final at Poole on 17 June and move a step closer to grand prix racing in 2002.

22 May 2001

This coming Saturday sees the staging of the 2001 British Final of the World Championship at Coventry, and hot competition is in prospect.

Crash.Net will feature a full report on the meeting next week, but in the meantime here is a preview to whet your appetite.

Reigning British champion Chris Louis defends his title against tough opposition - including current world champion Mark Loram and Eastbourne's Martin Dugard, who won last year's British Grand Prix on the very same Coventry track.

Loram, along with Louis, former triple British champion Andy Smith and Carl Stonehewer are not chasing Overseas Final qualification as, being current grand prix riders, they are spared that pressure. It does give the rest of the field a greater chance of progression, however.

Sheffield's Sean Wilson is the leading Premier League contender, and is said to be 'desperate' to join his big rival Stonehewer in the showpiece grand prix series and after just missing out over the last two seasons. One has to feel that the other qualifiers from Newport (Paul Fry, Ray Morton Alan Moggridge and Stuart Robson) might find things a little too tough against this class of opposition and will not be in the equation for Poole.

Gary Havelock won the world title back in 1992, and will fancy his chances after showing good form for Elite League leaders Poole so far this year. Eastbourne can boast three of the field as the previously mentioned Martin Dugard is joined by team mates David Norris and Dean Barker - but the question remains as to whether they will be as effective on the large Coventry circuit as they are on their somewhat smaller home raceway.

Coventry's own former World Under-21 champion Lee Richardson will fancy his chances on home shale but he has been laid low with illness recently, so question marks about his fitness could affect his ability to perform to full potential. A dark horse is Wolverhampton's Paul Hurry, who quietly goes about his business and is more than capable of beating the best on his day. Hurry will be one to watch against the rest.

"The British Final has always been a very prestigious event, and I feel sure this will be a superb meeting," commented Team Great Britain manager Neil Middleditch, "It's another chance for the riders to show me what they can do on the big stage, and I'll be keeping a close watch on how the meeting goes.

"I feel sure riders like Mark and Martin will be keen to take the title off Chris, and other guys like Scotty Nicholls and Lee Richardson will be up there with them."

The British Final takes place at the Brandon Stadium in Coventry, just off the A46 (A428). The gates open at 5.30pm and admission prices are ?12.50 (adults) and ?5.00 (children and OAP).

British Final - line-up:

1. David Norris (Eastbourne)
2. Andy Smith (Belle Vue)
3. Sean Wilson (Sheffield)
4. Gary Havelock (Poole)
5. Lee Richardson (Coventry)
6. Ray Morton (Isle of Wight)
7. Chris Louis (Ipswich)
8. Mark Loram (Peterborough)
9. Dean Barker (Eastbourne)
10. Carl Stonehewer (Workington)
11. Scott Nicholls (Ipswich)
12. Paul Fry (Swindon)
13. Alan Moggridge (Swindon)
14. Stuart Robson (Coventry)
15. Martin Dugard (Eastbourne)
16. Paul Hurry (Wolverhampton)