BOMBER SO CLOSE TO BRITISH TITLE NUMBER 4!

One of the best 63 and a half seconds of racing ever seen on a speedway track took place at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester last night, and Chris was a massive part of the action.

On a track that Chris isn't known to excel at, it was a steady performance throughout his 5 qualifying rides, winning heat 1 in good style, before scoring in his next 3 races, including a crucial 3rd place by passing the previously unbeaten Anders Rowe in heat 10, a point that would prove very crucial. A great battle with Danny King secured 2 points in heat 14, meaning a win in his final ride heat 18 would guarantee a place in the last chance qualifier. An outside swoop on Drew Kemp secured the race win and 10 points at the end of the 20 qualifying races and a place in the LCQ.

In typical Bomber fashion, a trademark cut-back to pass Adam Ellis meant that another British Final grand final was secured, and Chris would go up against regular GP boys and reigning champion Dan Bewley, Robert Lambert and another previous British Champion Charles Wright.

What then happened will go down in history. Chris was off gate 2 in blue with Bewley off the inside, Wright off gate 3 and Lambert taking gate 4. Bewley led from the tapes with Chris and Lambert in hot pursuit on lap 1 with Lambert taking the lead and slowing Bewley up in the process, Chris and Wright moving past Bewley and with 2 laps gone Lambert let from Chris, Wright and Bewley now beginning his move from the back.

In half a lap Bewley had managed to move inside all 3 riders to retake the lead from Lambert with Chris now committed to the outside run and Wright plugging away up the inside. However, Lambert and Bewley were again watching each other on bends 3 and 4, and Chris unleased his famous divebomb move to cross the line at the end of lap 3 leading the Grand Final........but with the extra speed gained Chris drifted up to the outside to hit the dirt line to try and propel himself to a 4th British title, however the dirt line was so far out, that by the time his machine had reached it, the other 3 riders had moved to the curb and at this point Charles Wright had now hit the front with half a lap left and Chris was now amazingly at the back!!

A last bend outside move from Robert Lambert saw him regain the crown, with Charles Wright holding on for 2nd, Bewley 3rd, and Chris a very close and unlucky 4th place in the final. A stunning race, one which will go down in history, and although the disappointment in not just missing out on a 4th title, but also a chance to be the GP Wildcard for the 2 Manchester rounds will be there for a while, Chris once again entertained the speedway public....something not many riders in the UK can do.

Qualifying score 10 pts (3,1,1,2,3)

Semi Final Harris, Wright, Ellis, Rowe

Grand Final Lambert, Wright, Bewley, Harris