LEICESTER’S Rising Star Sam Hagon was crowned British Under-21 Champion with a sensational performance at Glasgow on Sunday.
Hagon, who came through the Qualifier at Plymouth earlier in the season, rode a perfect race in the Final to hold his nerve against Leon Flint, Ashton Boughen and Joe Thompson.
He scored 13 points in his five regular races, only missing out in Heat 1 when he finished third behind Boughen and Ben Trigger, but he then reeled off four straight wins including victory over Flint in Heat 12.
Flint went straight to the Final on 14, whilst Hagon’s 13 points were enough to finish ahead of Boughen, who came through the semi after finishing third.
Hagon selected gate two for the Final and crucially made the jump on Flint, who had taken the inside, and the first lap produced a terrific battle with Boughen bouncing off the air fence on the fourth bend before Flint re-took second place.
But neither could catch a delighted Hagon, who said: “I’m a bit speechless, but I knew I was quick enough after beating Leon, who was the best one and was unbeaten apart from that.
“Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me and helped me, I’m just over the moon. I wanted it so badly, and I got it.”
Thompson finished fourth after a solid afternoon as he came through the semi-final having scored ten points, whilst his brother Dan had to withdraw due to illness after two rides.
But surprise package of the day was Lion Cubs youngster Vinnie Foord, who produced a number of brilliant overtaking moves on his way to 11 points and another career highlight.
Foord went from last to first in Heat 3, passing Jake Mulford for the win, before making up ground to catch Nathan Ablitt for second place in Heat 5, and then he shocked Ace Pijper with a late pass off the final bend to win Heat 11.
The Leicester rider added three more points in his last two rides to comfortably qualify for the semi-final, but on that occasion he was unable to land a blow on the riders ahead after a slow start.
Meanwhile Max James was unable to take his place in the meeting after suffering a shoulder injury in a crash at Edinburgh on Friday.
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL, Glasgow
SCORES: Leon Flint 14, Sam Hagon 13, Ashton Boughen 12, Vinnie Foord 11, Joe Thompson 10, Luke Killeen 9, Nathan Ablitt 8, Jody Scott 7, Jake Mulford 7, Ben Trigger 6, Ace Pijper 6, Luke Harrison 5, Freddy Hodder 4, Dan Thompson 4, Stene Pijper 3, Mark Parker (res) 1, Mickie Simpson 0, Laylen Richardson (res) 0.
SEMI-FINAL: Boughen, J.Thompson, Killeen, Foord.
FINAL: Hagon, Flint, Boughen, J.Thompson
