Third title in Britain: Robert Lambert repeats last year’s success

With his victory in the first heat ahead of 16-year-old Cooper Rushen, Robert Lambert got the racing evening in Manchester off to a commanding start, laying the foundations for a direct place in the final of the British Speedway Championship. Lambert continued his strong form seamlessly in his subsequent heats and remained unbeaten right up to the showdown.

The battle for the second direct place in the final was much closer, with Charles Wright ultimately securing it. The 37-year-old, who rides for AC Landshut in the Polish league, was in fine form with ten points from his first four heats, but then had to hold off his Landshut team-mate Leon Flint in the final heat to secure direct entry to the final – which he managed to do.

Leon Flint, Dan Thompson and Cooper Rushen, each on ten points, had to face Anders Rowe, who had nine points to his name, in the last-chance heat for the final two places in the final. Rushen once again came out on top in this heat, winning ahead of Flint, whilst Thompson and Rowe were eliminated.

Lambert once again dominated the final; the 28-year-old was the only Grand Prix rider in the field to claim the title, ahead of Wright and Flint. Although Rushen had to settle for a disappointing fourth place in the final, the rising star was nonetheless honoured with the ‘Nigel Pearson Award’ as ‘Rider of the Night’.

Dan Bewley, who has won the title three times in the past, missed out on the final due to a broken thigh. The Englishman is expected to make a comeback for the Speedway World Cup final in Warsaw at the end of August, where the 27-year-old could bolster the British squad.

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Results: British Speedway Championship, Manchester/UK: