BRITISH SPEEDWAY JULY 16, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BELLE VUE SIGN PROSPECT

BELLE Vue have won the race to sign hot prospect William Cairns, who has joined the Colts on a two-year deal.
Cairns, who recently turned 15, will race for the Manchester club in the WSRA National Development League with his place already confirmed for next season.

Having impressed in the junior categories, Cairns racked up 19 points in his first league match on Sunday when he guested for Scunthorpe at Oxford.
Colts co-boss Steve Williams said: “William has been on our radar for some time and we knew that with his skill, and his turning 15, it would only be a matter of time before he was snapped up.

“It was an opportunity we didn’t want to miss and we’re thrilled to have him on board with us at Belle Vue. He’s an amazing talent and we’re very much looking forward to seeing him in action.
“Wherever he has been, he has turned heads and he’s done amazingly well in some very significant meetings all across the world so this is a big coup for us.”
Cairns replaces Jack Shimelt in the Colts’ line-up, with the latter still remaining as part of the club.

(SPEEDWAY 2)

FORMER British Under-21 Champion Connor Bailey is to step down for the remainder of the season after being signed off due to mental exhaustion.
The Belle Vue and Redcar rider took two rides in Sunday’s Ben Fund Bonanza at Workington but after falling in his second outing he was withdrawn from the meeting, and he has now confirmed his decision.

Bailey said: “After extensive consideration over the last couple of weeks, I have reached the regretful decision to sit the rest of the season out from speedway, as I am not in the right headspace to perform at my peak, or safely attack tracks.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision to make, but one I believe pertinent to my overall wellbeing, as I know I cannot continue in this way.

“This is something that has been building for a while, it has affected my mental focus no end, and reached a stage where I can’t keep trying to push through it.
“I can only apologise to my respective teams, fans and sponsors, and wish them all the best as the season continues.”

(FIXTURES)

WEDNESDAY JULY 17:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Plymouth 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 18:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Leicester v Ipswich 7.30, Oxford v Belle Vue 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 19:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (29) v Workington (61) 7.30, Redcar (43) v Poole (47) 7.30, Glasgow (35) v Scunthorpe (55) 7.30