Flying Flint wins as Freeman signs
WHILE Leon Flint was adding his name to those who have previously been crowned British Under-19 Championship winners, host track Redcar was able to celebrate signing the latest of a growing number of youngsters the Bears hope will take them forward in the future.
Pre-meeting favourite Flint, from Berwick, stormed to a largely untroubled 15-point maximum to take the title, being held at the South Tees Motorsports Park for the second time in four years.
Behind the Scottish borders rider came largely-unheralded East Anglian Jake Mulford with West Yorkshire teenager Harry McGurk defying the pain of a damaged foot to win a three man run-off for third place.
One of the loudest cheers of the evening, however, came with the interval announcement that Archie Freeman, not yet 18, had signed to become the latest Agilia Bears recruit.
Newcastle-born Freeman - a sensation during his schoolboy days - has been racing in the National Development League for the Belle Vue Colts team this season.
He said: “I have struggled a bit through lack of track time as I have only been riding every now and then with Belle Vue.”
The former British 150cc
Champion, for many years the Newcastle Diamonds mascot, added: “When Newcastle closed down this team was the obvious choice.
“Redcar is just down the road and it is a club which wants to progress and which is well known for helping young riders.
“The whole point of going to Belle Vue was to expand my experience.
“I have spent all of my years on tight technical tracks like Newcastle and Edinburgh and you have to learn every craft there is to improve.”
Co-promoter Jamie Swales, for several years co-ordinator of the Northern Junior League which first exposed Freeman to the speedway-going public, said: “The start of the year has not been great for Archie.
“He is not getting the track time at the moment but I have every faith in him going forwards.
“I have worked with him for more than ten years now in the junior league and I think he is going to be a great asset for the club.”
Freeman and Eaglescliffe teenager Elliot Kelly, also short on practice due to taking time out of the sport, finished the Under-19 Championship on two points.
Result: Leon Flint 15, Jake Mulford 14, Harry McGurk 11 (after a run-off), Sam Hagon 11, Nathan Ablitt 11, Joe Thompson 10, Jody Scott 8, Max Perry 7, Freddie Hunter 6, Luke harrison 5, Ace Pijper 5, Max James 4, Sam McGurk 3, Mickey Simpson 3, Archie Freeman 2, Elliot Kelly 2, Jack Simelt (res) 1, Alex Goldbrough (res) 0.