Cooper Rushen produced a sensational performance at Redcar on Sunday to become the youngest British Under-21 Champion in recent years at just 16 years of age.
The King’s Lynn and Poole prospect delivered when it mattered most in the Final, making a superb start before slicing his way to the front on the opening lap. Once in control, Rushen never looked back as he raced clear of Jody Scott, with Ace Pijper and Will Cairns battling over the remaining podium position.
That contest came to an abrupt end on lap three when contact between Pijper and Cairns saw Pijper fall. With Rushen comfortably clear heading into the final stages, the race was stopped and the result awarded, giving the teenager the biggest title of his young career.
Scott was classified second, whilst Pijper completed the podium in third after Cairns was disqualified from the restart.
Speaking to British Speedway after his victory, an emotional Rushen admitted the result was a world away from the disappointment he experienced in the competition 12 months earlier.
“I think I’m in a dream at the minute,” he said.
“This event last year was kind of haunting me throughout the year. I had a terrible run at the Qualifier and never even made it through to the Final, so to get through this year was a bonus.
“Then to have a Final like that, out there with some of my best mates in speedway, ripping around the boards and enjoying what we’re doing – I’m happy for myself and happy for everyone competing.”
Rushen’s triumph caps a remarkable rise for one of British speedway’s brightest young talents and further underlines why he is regarded as one of the sport’s stars of the future.
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Feature Image courtesy of Colin Poole