Post by admin on Feb 22, 2015 15:55:33 GMT
JOSH Bates will defend his British Under-21 Championship title at Coventry on Tuesday April 14.
The Sheffield and Wolverhampton youngster won the Cradley-staged event last season and has now been named as one of seven seeded riders for the Final of this year’s competition.
Bates will be joined at Brandon by 2014 runner-up Adam Ellis along with current and former British Under-19 Champions Oliver Greenwood and Stefan Nielsen.
The seeds also include Kyle Howarth, who rode for Coventry last year, teenage sensation Robert Lambert (subject to confirmation) and Ashley Morris, who missed the second half of last season due to injury.
The remaining nine places will be decided at the semi-final at Mildenhall on Sunday April 5 with a trio of home riders looking to make it through:
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL (Mildenhall, April 5): Connor Coles (Mildenhall), Connor Mountain (Mildenhall), Jack Kingston (Mildenhall), Ben Morley (Kent), James Shanes (Kent), Danno Verge (Kent), Max Clegg (Cradley/Edinburgh), Nathan Greaves (Cradley/Workington), Luke Harris (Cradley), Tom Stokes (King’s Lynn), Josh Bailey (King’s Lynn), Danny Phillips (Stoke), Ryan Terry-Daley (Stoke), Darryl Ritchings (Coventry), Marc Owen (Eastbourne), Adam Kirby (Birmingham)
Fen Tigers regulars Connor Coles, Connor Mountain and Jack Kingston are all assured of plenty of support at West Row, whilst Cradley and Kent both also have three riders in the field and nearby King’s Lynn have two.
The meeting will also feature comeback man Darryl Ritchings, who qualified for last year’s Final only to miss out due to a season-ending head injury – although one youngster who remains on the sidelines is Liam Carr, who hopes to be back racing in May.
GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “The list of seeded riders is very impressive, and they already have no fewer than six British titles between them at Under-21, Under-19 and Youth levels.
“I’m sure the battle to join them will be intense, and one of the most pleasing facts of this semi-final is that all sixteen riders have achieved a National League average, whereas in previous seasons the line-up has included a number of three-point riders.
“I believe this shows that the standard is increasing, and this is sure to be a very competitive meeting to try and qualify for a British Final appearance.
“The Final itself carries plenty of prestige, not only for the opportunity to become British Champion but also for places in the 2015 FIM World Under-21 semi-finals.”
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL (Coventry, April 14) SEEDED RIDERS: Robert Lambert (TBC) (King’s Lynn/Peterborough), Kyle Howarth (Swindon/Workington), Adam Ellis (Lakeside/Birmingham), Stefan Nielsen (Belle Vue/Ipswich), Ashley Morris, Josh Bates (Wolverhampton/Sheffield), Oliver Greenwood (Peterborough).
bspa
The Sheffield and Wolverhampton youngster won the Cradley-staged event last season and has now been named as one of seven seeded riders for the Final of this year’s competition.
Bates will be joined at Brandon by 2014 runner-up Adam Ellis along with current and former British Under-19 Champions Oliver Greenwood and Stefan Nielsen.
The seeds also include Kyle Howarth, who rode for Coventry last year, teenage sensation Robert Lambert (subject to confirmation) and Ashley Morris, who missed the second half of last season due to injury.
The remaining nine places will be decided at the semi-final at Mildenhall on Sunday April 5 with a trio of home riders looking to make it through:
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL (Mildenhall, April 5): Connor Coles (Mildenhall), Connor Mountain (Mildenhall), Jack Kingston (Mildenhall), Ben Morley (Kent), James Shanes (Kent), Danno Verge (Kent), Max Clegg (Cradley/Edinburgh), Nathan Greaves (Cradley/Workington), Luke Harris (Cradley), Tom Stokes (King’s Lynn), Josh Bailey (King’s Lynn), Danny Phillips (Stoke), Ryan Terry-Daley (Stoke), Darryl Ritchings (Coventry), Marc Owen (Eastbourne), Adam Kirby (Birmingham)
Fen Tigers regulars Connor Coles, Connor Mountain and Jack Kingston are all assured of plenty of support at West Row, whilst Cradley and Kent both also have three riders in the field and nearby King’s Lynn have two.
The meeting will also feature comeback man Darryl Ritchings, who qualified for last year’s Final only to miss out due to a season-ending head injury – although one youngster who remains on the sidelines is Liam Carr, who hopes to be back racing in May.
GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “The list of seeded riders is very impressive, and they already have no fewer than six British titles between them at Under-21, Under-19 and Youth levels.
“I’m sure the battle to join them will be intense, and one of the most pleasing facts of this semi-final is that all sixteen riders have achieved a National League average, whereas in previous seasons the line-up has included a number of three-point riders.
“I believe this shows that the standard is increasing, and this is sure to be a very competitive meeting to try and qualify for a British Final appearance.
“The Final itself carries plenty of prestige, not only for the opportunity to become British Champion but also for places in the 2015 FIM World Under-21 semi-finals.”
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL (Coventry, April 14) SEEDED RIDERS: Robert Lambert (TBC) (King’s Lynn/Peterborough), Kyle Howarth (Swindon/Workington), Adam Ellis (Lakeside/Birmingham), Stefan Nielsen (Belle Vue/Ipswich), Ashley Morris, Josh Bates (Wolverhampton/Sheffield), Oliver Greenwood (Peterborough).
bspa