Grass Track event to switch venue

The top grass track riders in the country will be at the Championships

This year's British Grass Track Championships will be held in North Yorkshire after a late change of venue.

Pickering and District Motor Club will host the event on 4 October after problems with the original track.

Reigning champion Paul Cooper, from York, told BBC Radio York: "We've actually staged this event four or five years ago and it went very well.

"It's a testament to the Pickering and District Club that the Auto-Cycle Union have said 'go ahead and do it'."

Pickering and District Motor Club contacted the ACU and offered to stage the event after circumstances beyond the control of the host club in Kent meant their field would not be available.

Pickering has also staged the 500cc Championship qualifier this year and organisers said the event ran smoothly.

Cooper said this weekend would involve a number of races over three categories.

I'm going to go and give my support but it's going to be tough to watch someone else win it

Reigning champion Paul Cooper

"There's the 250cc Championship, the 350cc Championship and the 500cc left-hand sidecar Championships all on the same day.

"So there'll be the top 20 to 25 riders in every class in the country.

"People coming down to watch aren't going to see some amateurs skidding around at the back.

"It's going to be the top 20 in the country racing out there for the British title."

However Cooper will not be able to defend his title after breaking his foot, ankle, heel and a number of toes in an accident while racing for Sheffield in Speedway.

"It's going to be hard for me to sit there and watch," he said.

"It's a real shame especially as it's now going to be in my own back garden and run by the club that's been so good to me.

"I'm going to go and give my support but it's going to be tough to watch someone else win it.

"But that's the perk of racing speedway and grass track - injuries are part and parcel of racing and unfortunately I'm out."