Hamill drew fans of defunct Cradley Heath to Monmore for his farewell

Billy Hamill said goodbye to British speedway with a star-studded final meeting at Monmore Green on Sunday.

Jason Crump pipped Peter Karlsson to victory in the event which included big names from the Grand Prix circuit.

Hamill also rode for a team of Cradley Heath veterans who lost 18-12 to ex-Wolves stars in a mini-match.

"It means a lot - I came over to these shores when I was 19-years-old in 1990, I've had a lot of good years racing, I'm very grateful," Hamill said.

"Cradley Heath gave me an opportunity to come here and, actually, British speedway gave me an opportunity to fulfil a dream - that was to win a World Championship."

British speedway gave a young kid from California the chance to live a dream 1996 World Champion Billy Hamill

Hamill, 38, won the world title back in 1996 and became part of Midlands speedway folklore thanks to his hugely popular spells at Cradley, Coventry and Wolves.

"We've won trophies with various teams throughout the Midlands and I'm very grateful for the people taking to me as a racer," the American noted.

"The platform of British speedway gave a young kid from California the chance to live a dream."

The racing lived up to the occasion with Australian Grand Prix star Crump producing a five-race maximum of 15 points, edging Karlsson (14), Freddie Lindgren (13) and Leigh Adams (12).

Hamill's long-term team-mate and fellow American Greg Hancock was in fine form, earning 11 points, while Wolves' teenage talent Tai Woffinden showed his potential with a stunning sixth-placed finish on ten points.

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