LEICESTER’S Drew Kemp is through to the British Final after safely negotiating Sunday’s semi at the Hydroscand Arena.
Kemp finished fourth in the meeting on 11 points, having been put under a little pressure by a last place in his third outing after wins in his opening two rides.
But he quickly recovered from that and officially sealed his qualification with a win in Heat 18.
Sheffield’s Anders Rowe won the meeting, finishing on 13 points with a win in Heat 19 and then seeing the previously unbeaten Jason Edwards run a surprise last place in Heat 20.
Edwards had by then already done more than enough to go through, along with Craig Cook also on 12, whilst Jody Scott impressed with his racing moves as he finished on ten.
The final qualification place went to a run-off and it was taken by Will Cairns over Jake Mulford after both riders finished on nine points.
Elsewhere, Joe Thompson missed the cut on six, whilst Lion Cubs duo Freddy Hodder and Ryan Ingram gained excellent experience at this level with five and three respectively.
Unluckiest rider of the day was Jordan Jenkins who won a re-started Heat 1 after he had been brought down by Mulford, and he then fell on his own in his second ride before looping at the start of Heat 10 due to clutch cable failure, and was then withdrawn from the meeting.
The six qualifiers progress to the British Final at Belle Vue on Saturday August 15.
SCORES: Anders Rowe 13, Jason Edwards 12, Craig Cook 12, Drew Kemp 11, Jody Scott 10, Will Cairns 9 (all qualify for British Final), Jake Mulford 9, Dan Gilkes 8, Ace Pijper 7, Joe Thompson 6, Luke Killeen 5, Freddy Hodder 5, Luke Harrison 5, Jordan Jenkins 3, Ryan Ingram 3, Sam Hagon 2, Eli Meadows (res) 0.
