Wright is British Champion!
The current British Champion rides for Redcar! How good does that sound?!
The Bears skipper Charles Wright continued his excellent form this season by winning the showpiece event at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday night in fine style. Wright went into the meeting as a bit of an underdog, but anyone who has watched him for Redcar or Peterborough this season knows what he is capable of.
Supported by a good number of Redcar fans, Charles started the meeting well with a win in heat 1 and a solid second behind former champion Danny King in his second heat. He returned to winning ways in his third ride with a win over another former champion Scott Nicholls. There was controversy in his fourth ride however as Wright was excluded after a clash with Glasgow rider Paul Starke on the back straight. TV replays showed that Wright was ahead at the time of the clash and on the racing line – with many thinking the exclusion was very harsh.
Wright did not let that affect him however, and with the pressure on he won his final heat, defeating ex-Champion and Team GB star Craig Cook in the process to book his place in the Semi Final. In that Semi Final Wright again made a good gate and headed wide in search of grip. This briefly allowed Chris Harris and Steve Worrall to pass him, but a superb move around the outside of Harris and the inside of Worrall down the back straight and into the third bend saw Wright out in front and he never looked back to seal his place in the final.
Up against three former champions in the final in Cook, Harris and King the Bears skipper again made an electric start and headed for the outside around bends 1 and 2. Cook snuck round the inside to take the lead but left just enough room for a hard charging Wright to go around the outside down the back straight to take the lead. Once out in front he looked superbly quick and never looked like being caught!
It was a superb night for Charles – and all of us at Redcar Speedway are incredibly proud of him. As well as the honour of being British Champion, he of course will now also take his place at the British Grand Prix in Cardiff in front of 40,000 fans!