BEN Trigger emerged from a competitive field to win the Poultec Young Stars Pride of the East after a successful night of racing at the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday.
Trigger, who rides for Leicester and Plymouth in the Development leagues and also has significant Championship experience, came through the first semi-final and then pulled off a great ride to win the Final.
That spelt frustration for Young Stars favourite Cooper Rushen, who eased to a perfect 15-point maximum in the qualifying races to earn one of the two automatic places in the Final.
The other of those went to fellow youngster Will Cairns, who won three of his five rides to score 12, leaving the likes of Trigger, Dayle Wood, James Shanes and Jack Smith in the semi-finals despite scoring double figures.
Trigger’s win in the first semi spelt elimination for Darryl Ritchings, Shanes and Jordy Loftus, whilst Wood won the second at the expense of Smith, Ryan Ingram and Ollie Binns – the latter having made an excellent debut in 500cc competition with a solid six points.
The Final saw Wood make a good start but Trigger used the outside to good effect as he hit the front, and whilst Rushen moved into second place there was no stopping Trigger, with Cairns completing the rostrum places.
Young Stars manager Jason Pipe said: "It was a great way to end the season. All the riders enjoyed themselves and we had a great crowd there to support them. I’m sure everyone will have gone home last night happy after witnessing that meeting.
"Huge congratulations to Ben claiming the title. I’m so pleased for him. He really deserved that win and it was something that he really needed to happen for him. He works so hard on his racing and that was one of rewards last night. I was so pleased to see that smile on his face and even the happy tears! I bet he’s woken up this morning still smiling!
"Congratulations also to Cooper and Will on their second and third places. They both put on a great show and it’s a shame there couldn’t have been more than one winner. But Speedway was the winner at the end of the night, and all the riders played a part in that.
"It was also good to see riders like Kenzie Cossey and Dylan Huthwaite ride in a meeting of this standard. I was pleased I was able to give them the opportunity in the end. These two lads are not that far away now from being regulars in the National Development League/s. I was impressed with how well they rode our track last night. Two lads to look out for and both pretty local to King’s Lynn!
"I was also very impressed with how Ollie Binns rode. This was Ollie’s debut at this level of racing on a 500cc engine and his first time around the Adrian Flux Arena on a 500. He was like a duck to water. The track didn’t faze him and he really enjoyed himself. His aim was to gain some points and it was a bonus for him when he got into the Semi’s. Ollie will have learnt a lot from last night and he’s gone away having enjoyed his racing.
"I’m so pleased for Buster (Keith Chapman) and the club, because Buster took a gamble on letting us put this meeting on and thankfully that gamble paid off. A great crowd and some really good racing. Buster has been on the phone to me this morning and he’s very happy, like I am, at how last night went. Let’s hope we can do it again next season and make even better again!
"I’d like to thank all the Sponsors, every volunteer, the riders and also our great supporters, in making last night a great success."
YOUNG STARS PRIDE OF THE EAST, King’s Lynn QUALIFYING SCORES: Cooper Rushen 15, Will Cairns 12, James Shanes 12, Dayle Wood 11, Jack Smith 11, Ben Trigger 11, Ryan Ingram 9, Darryl Ritchings 9, Jordy Loftus 8, Ollie Binns 6, Ben Morley 5, Kenzie Cossey 4, Jason Garrad 3, Dylan Huthwaite 1, Sam Woods 1, Kai Ward 0. SEMI-FINAL 1: Trigger, Ritchings, Shanes, Loftus. SEMI-FINAL 2: Wood, Smith, Ingram Binns. GRAND FINAL: Trigger, Rushen, Cairns, Wood.
