Scunthorpe Speedway

19.09.09: Morris and Howarth claim a national U15 one-two

British U-15 Champion Ashley Morris and 2nd place Kyle Howarth

Jotun Paints Scunthorpe Saints rider Ashley Morris was crowned British Under-15 Champion yesterday after the final round at Workington yesterday whilst team-mate Kyle Howarth won the round and finished just four points back in second place overall. The destiny of the title went to the last race of the seventh round with both Saints riders capable of claiming the title along with Plymouth’s Josh Dingle. Morris only needed second place to claim the title and after two re-starts he achieved just that to follow in the footsteps of former Scorpions Josh Auty and Joe Haines as national champion.

In the 250cc class Scunthorpe Scorpions’ mascot Reece Downes, who was the youngest rider in the competition, looked well set for a podium place but fell whilst leading the semi-final. Brandon Freemantle went on to claim the national title in after a race-off with round winner Robert Lambert whilst there was consolation for the disappointed Downes, who turns 11 today, as he climbed two places in the championship to finish fourth overall in his first season.

After the meeting Saints Team Manager Malcolm Vasey, who was at Workington, praised his riders “Ashley and Kyle are two outstanding young riders. They are very talented and it has been an absolute pleasure watching them progress whilst riding for the Saints this season. They have a bright future in the sport and there were others here today who also have great potential. Young Reece is undoubtedly one of those but the disappointing aspect of junior speedway is the number of young riders involved. Quite simply we need to attract a lot more youngsters into the sport. At Scunthorpe we have our mini-track and I understand numbers are really increasing on that this year so hopefully that trend will continue and eventually we can see something akin to the 80cc scene that is so successful in Denmark and Sweden develop.”

Ashley Morris and Kyle Howarth are next in action on Friday night, 25th September, at the Eddie Wright Raceway in the British Under-18 Final. They are joined by Saints’ team-mates Richard Franklin, James Sarjeant and Adam Wrathall along with Scunthorpe Scorpions’ Premier League rider Jerran Hart. Racing starts at 7.30pm.

Results

500cc:
Final: Morris, Howarth, Dingle, Sibson, Kirby
Semi-final: Dingle, Kirby, Hoskins

Final Championship Standings (unofficial): Ashley Morris 100, Kyle Howarth 96, Josh Dingle 94, Daniel I’Anson 68, Darryl Ritchings 62, Adam Kirby 61, Cameron Hoskins 56, Tom Stokes 49, Jack Butler 44, Lloyd Barrett 16, Adam Portwood 13.

250cc:
Final: Lambert, Stoneman, Sibson, Freemantle
Semi-final: Stoneman, Sibson, Archer, Downes (fell)

Final Championship Standings (unofficial): Brandon Freemantle 98, Robert Lambert 98 (after title race-off), Nathan Stoneman 90, Reece Downes 73, Jack Cornes 67, Adam Portwood 65, Daniel Sibson 60, Steven Archer 52, Tyler Govier 45, Jack Jones 45.

250cc class winners: National Champion Brandon Freemantle is flanked by Robert Lambert (left) and Nathan Stoneman plus Graham Reeve (Speedway Control Bureau), Rob Lyon (GB Team Manager) and Graham Jones (GB Coach)

500c National Champion Ashley Morris is flanked by Kyle Howarth (left) and Josh Dingle.