MORRIS CROWNED QUEENSLAND CHAMPION

Aussie star Nick Morris clinched the Queensland State Championship at North Brisbane on Saturday.

In a meeting promoted by former FIM Speedway Grand Prix favourite Darcy Ward, former FIM Speedway World Cup finalist Morris got the better of 2021 Wolves team mate Ryan Douglas on the first turn to triumph in the A Final after both men scored 12 points in their heats.

Scunthorpe racer Zaine Kennedy dropped just one point to finish the heats on 14, but he was forced to fight off B Final winner Dave Watt for third place in the opening stages. Despite pushing hard on the run to the line, he was unable to relieve Douglas of second place.

Watt retired from professional racing after the 2017 Australian SGP in Melbourne, but he rolled back the years, scoring 10 points in his heats.

He then won the B Final ahead of former Plymouth rider Zane Keleher, Jacob Hook and Declan Kennedy. Keleher scored 11 points in the heats, falling just short of A Final qualification.

This year’s Aussie state championships have added significance with the Australian Solo Championships and the FIM Oceania Championship cancelled due to the pandemic-related travel restrictions.

State championship meetings offer riders the chance to secure UK visas by finishing in the top four.

But with Morris a British passport holder, Douglas and Kennedy already certain of 2022 team places and Watt no longer competing in Europe, this year’s result will not offer any new stars their chance to race full-time in the UK.

Photo: Taylor Lanning