THE FIM Sidecar Track Racing World Championship will take place at the Coventry Speedway Stadium on Saturday August 14th and newly crowned double UK Masters Champion Mark Cossar and his passenger Carl Blythe are the best hopes for British success.
Coventry local Cossar and Blythe have won the prestigious UK Grasstrack Master title for the last two-years on the trot, most recently on 1st August. On top of that they are the British Sidecar Speedway Champions and are on top form.
“It would be brilliant for us and finish the year perfectly if we could win the World Championship,” explained Cossar, who finished sixth last year in the World Championships. “It is not impossible and we certainly have a chance.”
Defending Champions Mick Headland and Paul Waters from Australia will start as firm favourites though, against a field containing 15-British outfits. Their experience on Speedway tracks will stand them in good stead against the more Grasstrack orientated Brits.
“Mick and Paul are excellent on speedway tracks - that is the circuits they race on all the time whereas we do much more Grasstrack,” explained Cossar. “The tracks are different and being at Coventry Speedway Stadium then it is something they are more used to than us; but we are riding well and have a chance.”
The big 1000cc sidecars are some of the most dramatic motorcycles ever to race on Grasstrack or Speedway circuits, with around 200bhp and all-action riders. The bikes can top out at over 100mph on the straights on big tracks.
The sidecars will be supported by solo Grasstrack racing with the super-fast 500cc racers taking to the track -Tim Nobes, David Howe to name two. There will also be a 250cc support class and the ever popular uprights. They will be on track after sidecar practice and the finals of the solos will be interspersed with the sidecar finals – there really will be plenty of action for spectators who will have access to some of the best facilities and food that the stadium has to offer – and there will be a licensed bar.
Practice for the sidecars starts at noon on Saturday 14th August and racing will start at 1800 and go on until around 1000 in the evening, so a full day’s entertainment is guaranteed, with the finals taking place at the climax of the day.
Tickets cost £12 for adults; OAPs and students cost £8; 11-16-year-olds cost £5; under 11-years-of-age are free. For more information visit www.coventrymotorspeedway.com.