Huntingdon has a new British champion – speedway star Danny King.
The Stukeley Meadows man fulfilled a career ambition when he swept to glory in the British Final at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester tonight.
King topped the scorechart with 13 points from his five qualifying rides to book his place in the showpiece race.
And once there, the 29 year-old finished the job with a blistering surge around the outside, in conditions made tough by torrential rain, to take the chequered flag.
“I genuinely don’t know what to say,” said King, who rides for Coventry and Ipswich at club level, in the wake of his triumph.
“I don’t really remember anything about the final race – it is all a blur.
“I knew I just had to get out in the dirt and go for it. It was one of those moments that was either going to pay off with the win or end in tears, and thankfully it worked for me.
“I didn’t dare look behind me. I just kept going and it feels great to be British champion.
“I watched it back afterwards and it looked like I was all over the place, but I thought I had it under control!”
King beat Craig Cook, of Belle Vue and Peterborough, into second place with young talent Robert Lambert (King’s Lynn and Newcastle) taking the final place on the rostrum.
King’s triumph carries the reward of a wildcard place in the British Grand Prix at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on July 9.
And he cannot wait to be part of arguably the biggest event on the World Championship calendar in just under a month’s time.
“I’ve been there as a reserve before, but to actually play a full part in the GP will be brilliant,” added King.
“It is something else that I’ve always wanted to do and I can’t wait for it.”
BRITISH FINAL
QUALIFYING SCORES: Danny King 13, Craig Cook 12, Robert Lambert 12, Richard Lawson 10, Steve Worrall 10, Scott Nicholls 10, Paul Starke 10, Josh Auty 8, Richie Worrall 7, Simon Stead 6, Jason Garrity 5, Chris Harris 5, Kyle Howarth 4, Richard Hall 3, Josh Bates 2, Ben Barker 2, Charles Wright (reserve) 1.
SEMI-FINAL: Lambert, S. Worrall, Lawson, Nicholls.
GRAND FINAL: King, Cook, Lambert, S.Worrall.
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