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Astley & Tyldesley hosted the seventh annual North West Cycle Speedway
Grand Prix event under the Gin Pit floodlights on Saturday evening. On a track
already soft following a full day's rain on Friday, conditions deteriorated
throughout the event as heavy rain fell during the match.
12 riders contested 12 qualifying heats. Stoke's Terry Norman and Astley
& Tyldesley's Przemek Binkowski won all their races to top the qualifying
scores. They were to be joined in the 'A' Final by last year's top two of
Darren Kent and James Carter, both of Heckmondwike. In the 'A' Final, Norman
drew grid 1, Carter grid 2, Kent grid 3 and Binkowski grid 4. Binkowski gated
round the Heckmondwike pair and gave chase to Norman, who made a quick start
from the inside. On the 2nd lap, Norman held off a strong challenge from
Binkowski on the pits bend, and in the melee that ensued, first Kent and then
Carter went past the Pole. Norman pulled away to record his second victory in
this event from Kent, with Binkowski excluded after a clash with Carter on the
last lap. All four 'A' finalists received a trophy and a prize, with Terry
Norman going away with an Alba CD Radio. Congratulations go to all riders on
completing the match in what was the worst track conditions ever encountered for
a match at the Gin Pit circuit.
North West Grand Prix, sponsored by Motor Body Services (Salford) Ltd,
results
Qualifying scorers:
Przemek Binkowski (Astley & Tyldesley) 16, Terry Norman (Stoke) 16,
Darren Kent (Heckmondwike) 11, James Carter (Heckmondwike) 11, Garry Pearce
(Stoke) 10, Paul Dyson (Bury) 10, Chris Cooke (Hull) 9, Fred Rothwell
(Bury) 8, Leighton Bates (Stoke) 7, Chris Eaton (Tameside) 7, Frank Finnigan
(Stoke) 7, Jeff Radcliffe (Astley & Tyldesley) 5.
'C' Final:
1st Chris Eaton; 2nd Frank Finnigan; 3rd Jeff Radcliffe; 4th Leighton Bates.
'B' Final:
1st Garry Pearce; 2nd Fred Rothwell; 3rd Chris Cooke; Paul Dyson n/s.
'A' Final:
1st Terry Norman; 2nd Darren Kent; 3rd James Carter; 4th Przemek Binkowski.
Referee - Mike Hack (Astley & Tyldesley).
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