Motourage

On December 27, Speedway Star Edward Kennett took the top step on the podium to become the first ever winner of an indoor Shorttrack meeting at the Braintree Bonanza at Towerlands Arena. With the arena full to capacity and the fantastic field of 28 riders all lined up on parade, it was one of UK shorttrack’s finest moments so far. The heat races featured some of the toughest racing ever seen in the UK, with many tough passing maneuvers being made, riders banging elbows and bouncing off the fence. Ade Collins on the BVS Honda was looking the master of the Towerlands track with three straight wins including passing works CCM rider Tom Woolley in heat 8 on the last lap. Edward Kennett was also looking good with two wins and a 4th. The heat races were so competitive that shorttrack. The heat races proved brutally competitive, as main event regulars Pete Boast, Tim Greig, Geoff Baldock and Victor Bull were all eliminated.

Eddy Kennett opens the throttle out of Turn 4

Semi 1 was stopped after lap 1 when Paul Hurry had a massive high side in turn three.  Henry shook of the crash and was able to make the restart. Ade Collins made the hole shot followed by Glyn Pocklington. As the laps wound down, riders traded places in mid pack, but Collins was away with Pockington and Derek Brindley battling for second. It was Collins who took the win from Pocklington and Brindley, both of whom transferred to the final. Rusty Hodgson, finishing 4^th, was forced to take the last chance route to the final.

Semi 2 saw Eddy Kennett lead from start to finish for the win. It was the battle for second where the action was with Marco Belli on his first outing on the new Zaeta and Paul Cooper riding the FT Experience 450 CCM. Cooper held off Belli for four laps but the three-time UK Champ made his move and took second spot from Cooper who held on to take his transfer spot to the final.

The LCQ race was a six-lap dash with eight riders and only two places left for the final. It was Dynomax rider Rusty Hodgeson who took the win, with a fantastic ride from road racer Gary Johnson taking second place, and just missing out on the final in third was TT superstar Steve Plater.

Collins (90), Pocklington (71) and Kennett (8) battle for victory in the Grand Final

The 12-lap Grand Final had Collins on pole, with Kennett and Pocklington completing the front row. At the lights, Kennett made an electric start with Pocklington trying to pass him on the outside. Through lap 1 it was Kennett, Pocklington, Collins and Belli. On lap 3, Collins wheelied out of turn four and managed to hold it together to pass Pocklington. Meanwhile, Marco Belli was coming under pressure from Paul Cooper. By lap 7 Collins looked like he was closing the gap on Kennett, but by lap 10 Kennett had pulled away from him. Pockington was now getting some pressure from Belli and Cooper, but the England Speedway star had it all under control and took his first Shorttrack Grand final win from Collins and Pocklington.

For more information, visit www.shorttrackuk.com.