13/07/2019

STARKE RETURNS ON FORM

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   Second place in the Nice Challenge on the Island followed by a 15 point paid maximum at Glasgow wrapped up a successful couple of days racing for Paul Starke at either ends of the county.

 

   Thursday night saw Starke Racing travel South and over the water to the Isle of Wight, competing in the eagerly anticipated Nice Challenge individual meeting.  Having last ridden the Smallbrook shale back in 2012 whilst riding for the Islanders, Paul produced an awesome display of speed, skill and effort to entertain the crowd and stand proud on the podium, clutching the Silver trophy after missing out in the final to Steve Worrall.

 

   A 2nd place in his first ride off of a 15 meter handicap due to a tapes infringement, followed by 4 dominant wins including the race of the night in heat 11 saw Paul take his place in the final.  Despite making a fast start and using every inch of the Smallbrook circuit, he couldn’t catch Steve Worrall who went on to win the meeting.

 

   Speaking directly after the event, Paul said “It was a great night for all involved, a new challenge for speedway and it was awesome to be competing in the event.  It was a meeting that appealed to me and I have enjoyed returning to the Island again.  Barry and Martin are putting in so much hard work and effort over here and it is really paying off, I wish them all the success going forward.  I made a couple of close passes which maybe I shouldn’t have gone for but that’s what the game is about.  Steve got the jump on me in the final and although I had good speed, I wasn’t able to catch him.”

 

   “Riding the Jawa engine was great, it didn’t quite have the pull that I am used to but once we got dialled in it was NICE to race on.  Speaking of which, to have such a big sponsor of Polish speedway come over to the UK and support the meeting is phenomenal, so a big thank you to the guys at NICE for putting on the meeting.  I believe they have two further rounds overseas, id love to have another crack at this if the need a rider!”

 

   Moving up North the following night, Paul’s good form continued as he raced to a paid maximum for Glasgow against Birmingham in the Championship.

 

   “It was a great night for myself and the team, a 15 point maximum is always a good nights racing.  I now have a solid platform form wise to build on as we look ahead to a busy spell starting next week with the Tigers and of course the British Final is coming up, so I am focussed to continue putting some serious points on the board in the meetings ahead.”

 

Image courtesy of Sportography