MULFORD WINS U23 LONG TRACK CROWN

BELLE Vue and Redcar racer Jake Mulford has become Under-23 Long Track World Champion.

Mulford secured the biggest result of his career at German venue Vechta on Friday.

He won three of his five qualifying races, finishing second in the other two, to book an automatic place in the five-rider Final as joint meeting leader.

The Final was re-started after a heavy crash between Mathias Tresarrieu and Mika Meijer in the first staging, so Mulford had to hold his nerve for the second attempt.

And he did so with win over French rider Steven Labouyrie with Meijer taking third place.

Mulford said: “I still can’t believe it’s actually happened! What a night, and I can’t thank everyone enough for the amount of help to get this.

“Especially my mum and dad, Zach Wajtknecht, Jack Dummett and Paul Dummett for being the best team with me in the pits and finding the right set-ups!”