Trigger strikes gold to win youth title
DELIGHT FOR LEICESTER RIDER ON HIS HOME TRACK
LEICESTER’S Ben Trigger produced a skilful display of riding to clinch the British Youth Championship on his home track, writes Alan Jones.
The 15-year-old, who races for the Lions’ second team, won each of his four qualifying races in the 500cc engine capacity section of the competition to qualify for the final.
The teenager made sure of the gold medal after another impressive four laps ahead of his nearest title rival Max Perry, who finished in front of Alex Goldsbrough.
Meanwhile, Lions club mascot Max James glided through the qualifying stage of the 250cc section, winning three of his four heats to top the leaderboard.
James just missed out on a perfect score when Luke Harrison beat him to the finish line. The afternoon though was to end in disappointment for James in what was a tense finale.
The 14-year-old made a good start along with Harrison but part way into bends one and two the rivals made contact with one another, both fell and the race was stopped.
In the re-run, Harrison held a slight advantage along the back straight but in an attempt to move up into second place there was contact with Jody Scott who fell. The referee deemed the Leicester rider was adjudged to have caused the stoppage and, with the fourth rider Sonny Springer not under power at the time of the incident, the two riders were excluded from the race.
That left two riders in the rerun of the final and Harrison made no mistake by beating Scott by several bike lengths as he reached the chequered flag.