Havvy's Farewell

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DOUBLE World Champion, Greg Hancock will be flying into Britain to take part in Gary Havelock’s Farewell meeting at Poole on Friday 21st March

The American legend, who teamed up with Poole mid-way through last season to help capture the league title, has agreed to make a one-off appearance at Wimborne Road in support of Pirates’ former captain who is delighted to be able to include him.

“I have been talking to Greg for some time and he has always assured me that there was a ninety percent chance that he would be able to come, but he needed to wait to make sure he could accommodate us in his busy schedule. As he is coming specifically for us, he needed flights for him and his mechanic, who he has also booked for the occasion. We are very grateful to Karen, Andy and Bo at County Crest Pallets who have agreed to sponsor him on the night which has helped us to make that possible”.

Now Havvy is only one rider short of completing his line-up and is hoping to be able to announce the final part of the jigsaw very soon. “The final preparations are about to go into overdrive” says Havvy, as the auction to become an assistant to Tony Rickardsson or Mark Loram finishes on EBay at midday tomorrow.

One thing is certain; the night is already shaping up to be a night to remember and one that will be a fitting tribute to one of Britain’s finest!

Confirmed Riders: Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Greg Hancock, Freddie Lindgren, Scott Nicholls, Maciej Janowski, Chris Harris, Bjarne Pedersen, Craig Cook, Davey Watt, Vaclav Millik, Ty Proctor, Richie Worrall.
 

Havvy is delighted to confirm that the line-up for his spectacular farewell meeting at Poole on Friday March 21st is almost complete.

The meeting, which is set to pitch Poole’s “Turbo Twins” of Chris Holder and Darcy Ward into battle as opposing number ones, has amassed a mouth-watering field of riders including SGP regulars, Freddie Lindgren and Chris Harris as well as former stars of the GPs Scott Nicholls and Bjarne Pedersen, not to mention the two Team Managers Tony Rickardsson and Mark Loram who have 7 World titles between them!

The 2014 Pirates will be well represented too, with Maciej Janowski, and Vaclav Millik also being named.

“We have 12 of the 14 riders all confirmed and ready to go” says a jubilant Havvy.

“We plan some great things to coincide with the event, as well, some of which we have been keeping secret; I am just so grateful to all the riders, sponsors, supporters and friends who have rallied to make the event into something really special, I can’t wait for 21^st March. We have a couple of names still to announce so watch this space for some more news very soon”.

The event will include a tribute to some of Havvy’s former colleagues on the track and invitations are going out to many famous names in the hope that they can join in with the “Farewell to Britain’s Finest”

The Line up so Far: Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Freddie Lindgren, Scott Nicholls, Maciej Janowski, Chris Harris, Bjarne Pedersen, Craig Cook, Davey Watt, Vaclav Millik, Ty Proctor, Richie Worrall.

IN a stunning salute to one of their old team-mates, Pirate speedway legends and world champions, Tony Rickardsson and Mark Loram have agreed to take charge of opposing teams at Gary Havelock’s Farewell Meeting at Poole on Friday, March 21.
With eight world titles between Havvy, T-Rick and Loramski, the 1992 world champ is delighted to have the two Dorset track giants on parade in charge of the teams.
Havvy admitted: “I had five wonderful years riding for Poole and during that time Mark and Tony were at the club at different spells and were absolutely adored by Pirates fans – winning races for fun.”
“This was one of the major surprises we had up our sleeve, that Tony and Mark had agreed to come to my last meeting and act as team bosses for opposing sides.
“For Tony, this is a huge commitment. It’s all arranged and he is bringing along his family too.
“The same goes for Mark who has organised his diary to attend.
“It was one of the reasons why it was important that the date was set in stone.”
And in an extra treat for speed fans, the two speedway legends have agreed to allow an opportunity for supporters to bid in an auction to be their assistants at the meeting - a chance of a lifetime and a massive boost for Gary’s fundraising hopes.
Also, as a subtitle to the meeting of ‘farewell to Britain’s finest’, Gary has invited several of his former team mates to join in the evening including greats such as Joe Screen, Andy Smith, Dean Barker and David Norris. He hopes to get them on a bike again for a final lap and allow fans to salute many of the country’s great servants of the shale.
There was unanimous approval for Havelock’s announcement as Pirates’ fans, along with the majority of his fans in Britain, had taken to social media blasting the decision to move the Elite Riders Championship to the same day.
In a message to speedway and sports fans following the response, Havelock added: “I am overwhelmed with the support I have received in the last few days.
“To all the fans, up and down the country, my friends and also the riders who have pledged their support, I can’t thank you all enough for sticking by me.
“Without your incredible backing I wouldn’t have been able to do this – and I am hugely proud that on Friday, March 21 I will be able to share a special day with my family (my wife and two girls) and my extended family (speedway).
“I am finally able to name Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Freddie Lindgren, Martin Vaculik, Chris Harris, Ty Proctor, Bjarne Pedersen, Craig Cook and Richie Worrall as starters.
“I have some other names also up my sleeve, but more will be revealed about them later and it won’t stop there. I have other surprises in store”.
It just remains for Havvy to have a break in the weather – with a request for dry conditions on March 21 and to allow the sun to set on one of speedway’s all-time greats.
 

Martin Neale – Middlesbrough

RETIRED former Redcar Bears skipper Gary Havelock has been appointed manager of Elite League big guns Coventry Bees.
And the Eaglescliffe-born former world champion hopes to go on and manage the Great Britain international team.
Former Test, World Cup and Grand Prix star Havvy, 44, announced last week the injuries he sustained in a horror crash nearly a year ago would prevent him from riding again.
He still has no use in much of his left arm as he recovers from nerve damage, but he’s wasted no time in starting the next chapter of his speedway career.
Havelock has wealth of experience in the sport to bring to his new job, having ridden professionally since he was 16.
The Bees begin their season with the Brandonapolis individual meeting on Friday, March 15 before visiting Leicester in a challenge the following night.
That puts him up against opposite number Glyn Taylor who famously sacked him while Bears promoter in 2008, though the Redcar skipper remained in the side after taking a pay cut, topped up with donations from fans.
“I was contacted by Mick Horton, the club owner, who was in charge for Peterborough when I rode there so I know him pretty well,” explained Havelock.
“He asked what I was up to now that I wasn’t riding, and did I want to be team manager.
“It wasn’t really something I had thought of, to be perfectly honest.
“But the more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a good idea.”
Havelock replaces Blayne Scroggins, who will assist him.
And he has the task of reviving the Bees fortunes after they finished a disappointing eighth in the 10-team league last year.
“At the end of the day it’s not my team, it’s the owner’s,” said Havelock, who was a key figure in the South Tees Motorsports Park pits alongside Bears manager Jitendra Duffill last year once he had recovered sufficiently from his injuries.
“But it’s my job to get the best out of them on race day and I believe I can do that.
“It’s a good looking team and obviously I want to win the league.
“I’d like to think I can bring my experience to the team and help them achieve that.
“I’ve never done it before, but I think I can bring my personal style to the job.
“I’ve never been one to scream and shout and I know it’s important to assess each situation before you deal with it won’t be the same as the last one.”
Havvy will find some familiar faces in the Coventry team.
His former Great Britain team-mate Scott Nicholls is the skipper while the doubling up riders are current Bears skipper Aaron Summers and former Redcar favourite Adam Roynon, both of whom he rode with at South Tees Motorsports Park.
There are also four Poles in the septet and he quipped: “My Polish isn’t exactly fluent, so I hope we don’t have any language issues!”
On a personal level, Havelock hopes he can do enough in the Coventry hot seat to put him in the frame to manage the national side.
“I have hopes of being Team Great Britain manager,” he revealed. “That would complete the full set. I’ve ridden Great Britain and captained the team, so I’d love to manage the team as well.
“Hopefully I can make my mark with Coventry and go on to achieve that aim.”

David Roe – Coventry

COVENTRY Speedway are delighted to announce the appointment of 1992 World Champion GARY HAVELOCK as manager of their Elite League team.
Havelock joins the Buildbase Bees having recently announced his retirement from racing due to arm injuries suffered in a crash at Redcar last March.
The 44-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful career in the sport, dating back to his early days at Middlesbrough in 1985, and he captained Bradford to the Elite League title in 1997.
After the closure of the Odsal club, he had spells with Eastbourne, Poole, Peterborough and Arena-Essex (Lakeside) before switching to the Premier League with Redcar in 2006.
Individually, he first served notice of his potential by becoming British Under-21 Champion in 1986, and he then added back-to-back senior British titles at Coventry in 1991 and 1992.
The latter season turned out to be a triumphant one as he secured victory in the Overseas Final, also at Brandon, and then became World Champion on a dramatic night in Wroclaw, Poland.
Havelock went on to compete in seven Grand Prix meetings on the inception of the series in 1995, and rode in eight World Cup events for Great Britain.
Coventry will be his first job in team management but he is already familiar with several of the Bees riders, having raced in the same Redcar team as Aaron Summers and Adam Roynon in 2011, and also having worked with skipper Scott Nicholls in the Grand Prix.
Havelock said: “It all came out of the blue really, Mick (Horton) enquired about how I was and when I told him I wasn’t riding he asked if I fancied being a team manager.
“Obviously I worked with Mick before when I rode for him at Peterborough and he was promoter, and we always got on fine, so after thinking about it for a bit I decided to go for it.
“Mick has picked the riders, and my job is to work with those riders and get the most out of them on race-nights. I’ve got a heads-up on three of them already, and I know Krzysztof Kasprzak as well. I don’t know the other three guys at all, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
“We need to get a good team spirit going, and I think that’s one of the main things. The guys need to be talking to get their set-ups right, and we also need to sit down with the boys and decide how they want the track.
“I’ve always felt that to be successful you’ve got to make your home track a fortress, and try to make it a place that other teams dread coming to.”
Bees owner Horton is delighted to bring Havelock into the club and says he has much to offer in his new position.
He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to bits to bring in such a big name in the sport. He’s been there, he’s done it, he’s full of experience and riders and promoters alike have full respect for him.
“Someone with that sort of experience and personality must never be lost to the sport, and it’s brilliant that we’ve agreed a deal to bring him in as our team manager.
“Gary is a bubbly character and he will bring a great team spirit and also a riders’ mentality. We now get the benefit of his experience on a rider-to-rider level and it’s great news for the club.”
Havelock will be assisted by last year’s boss Blayne Scroggins, who will provide administrative support both on race-nights and during the week as well as being in charge of Coventry Storm in the National League, whilst the Buildbase Bees are also pleased to retain the services of mechanical expert Chris Anderson as technical director.