The stars of the future converge at Beaumont Park on Sunday for Round 5 of the British Youth Championships. Thirty-seven riders will be competing in four categories of engine sizes; 125cc, 150cc, 250cc and 500cc.
In the 125cc section Leicester’s two mascots, Dan and Joe Thompson will be racing against one another. The twelve year olds have reached three of the previous four finals with Joe winning the last round at Rye House ahead of his twin brother.
“If the previous four rounds this season at Glasgow, Scunthorpe, King’s Lynn and Rye House are an indication of what is to come then we are in for a feast of track action that is not to be missed. We have reduced our normal admission prices for this event and hope that fans will turn out in numbers to cheer on the budding British stars of tomorrow” explained club owner David Hemsley.
The meeting, which consists of thirty-seven heats and four finals, starts at 3.00pm. The ticket office will be open from 1.30pm with admission prices set at £10 (adults) and £3.00 (children between the ages of ten to under eighteen).
“The cost works out at 24 pence a race which is exceptional value when you do the maths and children under ten are admitted free. You cannot be anything other than impressed at the skill levels of these young riders who are very competitive as they all want to win. They put a great deal of effort into each race and it is gratifying to follow their careers as many of them develop into professional riders as time goes on” added Hemsley.
It will be the fifth year that Leicester has hosted an event in the competition and during that time there has been a throughput of youngsters who have progressed to higher levels of racing.
The first meeting was staged at Leicester in 2012 and many of the junior riders competing that day have forges a career out of speedway. The 500cc class four years ago featured Max Clegg and Josh Bates, both of whom have progresses through the lower leagues before securing team places in the Elite League. Clegg and Bates rode together for the Lions in the club’s first season in the top tier whilst still teenagers which formed the youngest reserve partnership of all eight clubs. Clegg now rides for Wolverhampton and Bates, who won his second British Under-21 Championship title earlier this season, is with Coventry.
