SUPER COOPER STARS IN FINAL

KING’S Lynn and Poole racer Cooper Rushen became one of the big headline stories from the Cab Direct British Final with a remarkable display on his debut.

The 16-year-old, who had been handed a Wild Card entry for the meeting, scored 10 points from his qualifying races and then made it into the Final with one of the moves of the night as he made it to the front in the semi-final.

He was denied a dream podium finish in the Final but he still more than made his mark, and even before the semi-final he had won the fans’ vote for the Nigel Pearson Award.

Celebrating the legendary broadcaster, the Award is presented to the rider judged to have provided the most entertainment, and Rushen collected an overwhelming 68 per cent of the vote.

He said: “If you had offered me fourth place before tonight I would have taken it, but once you get yourself into the Final then of course you want to get something out of it.

“But given the way I have been scoring lately, and I just don’t know why, this was a very big confidence boost for me.

“I didn’t really clutch well in the semi-final and so knew I had to just send it. Then I saw Leon (Flint) move off the line and I went for it and made it pay off. So yes, a good night for me and it was a lot of fun out there.”

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Photo credit: IAN CHARLES