MARK PLUMMER catches up with one of the key men in the chase for Elite League title glory – flying Fast Track star Jason Garrity of Coventry . . .
JASON Garrity was proficiently riding a speedway bike before a lot of kids can even ride a pushbike.
He was just six years of age when taking his first laps aboard a 125cc machine. Four years later he was throwing his leg over a full-sized bike.
And he hasn’t stopped progressing since. Garrity is the proud owner of British Under 15 and British Under 19 titles and now, aged 20, is one of the key riders in the race for Elite League glory.
“My granddad was a big fan of speedway and he got me into it,” recalls Garrity, from Droyslden, a few miles east of Manchester.
“I had always liked bikes since I was little and I loved riding them. I was hooked straight away and knew I wanted to be a speedway rider.
“I can still remember my first skid. I used to crash a fair bit back then although I’ve still been doing that lately!
“I did a bit of swimming and a few other sports when I was younger, but speedway was always the one I loved.
“I’ve always put everything into it that I could and I’m very pleased with where I am now.”
Garrity, a product of the old training track at Sheffield, has shot to attention during the current campaign as one of the stars of the inaugural Fast Track Draft.
He has piled up the points at reserve for Coventry and his display in the second leg of their semi-final showdown at Swindon on Monday is likely to prove crucial to the Bees’ bid to reach the Grand Final.
They will roll into Wiltshire in possession of an eight-point advantage following a 49-41 success in the opening leg earlier this week, but Garrity is only too well aware of what unfolded at the same venue four weeks ago when Coventry were crushed 60-31 by the rampant Robins.
“We got absolutely dismantled the last time we went to Swindon,” added Garrity. “I had a bad night and so did most of the boys in the team.
“We can’t afford for that to happen again because we all really want to make the final. We’ve got an eight-point cushion and I think we can do it if everyone scores the points they should.
“I’ve got a new engine for the play-offs. It cost me a bit of money, but you get out what you put in and it felt good in the home leg.
“It can be hard to make a living in speedway, especially in the Fast Track, but it is all about the opportunity and getting your name out there.”
Garrity - who says his speedway hero is Nicki Pedersen (a ‘great rider and a hard rider too’) - has been doing that for several years. His Under 15 crown was captured in 2008 when he pipped current Coventry reserve partner James Sarjeant to the honours.
He then helped Buxton to a National League treble in the 2010 campaign before the individual accolades flooded in again in 2011.
Garrity scooped the national Under 19 title and the National League Riders’ Championship crown with both successes coming at Rye House. It was perhaps inevitable that he was soon snapped up by the Rockets supremo Len Silver and has spent the last three seasons with the Hertfordshire club.
His 2013 campaign was virtually a write-off thanks to a broken leg sustained in May, but he has returned with a bang this year.
Aside from his top-level exploits with Coventry, he has turned a 5.31 starting Premier League average into a smart 6.75 current figure despite Rye House being rooted to the foot of the standings.
“It’s been a good year,” continued Garrity. “The Premier League is a really tough league now so I’m pleased to have got my average up towards seven.
“I just want to keep improving year after year and progress as far as I can in the sport.
“I’ve not managed to win the British Under 21 title, but I really want to be British champion and I’d love to be world champion one day.
“I think I would have won the Under 21 this year if I hadn’t been excluded in the final, but everything happens for a reason and that just wasn’t my night.
“I had a good night in the British Final and won a couple of races to show people what I could do.”
Garrity’s love for speedway is so clear that he admits he would probably have sought work as a mechanic in the sport if not making the grade as a rider.
But from an early age he was destined to star on the track rather than work off it.
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UPCOMING FIXTURES...
2020 BRITISH SPEEDWAY UPDATE
Friday July 10, 2020
THE board of directors at the British Speedway Promoters Ltd were encouraged by the significant easing of restrictions announced on Thursday.
Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, revealed how grassroots team sports can resume from this weekend. Sports will need to publish specific guidance approved by government officials.
Members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have, in the last two weeks, been working on how our sport can work
safely for competitors, officials and spectators alike. We believe the biggest risk to riders is the natural danger element of racing motorbikes with no brakes.
Clubs have already been planning how social distance measures can be taken for spectators and again we must emphasise speedway venues rarely host capacity attendances.
Grassroots team sports inevitably include a small spectator element and we believe we are within touching distance of our sport being able to start a reduced season.
However, we acknowledge the clock is ticking and if we cannot begin league racing in August there is every chance the season will run out of time.
We thank all British Speedway supporters for their patience and understanding and wish to assure everyone we are doing everything within our power to start the season next month in a safe and enjoyable manner.
We will update more as soon as further information becomes available.
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEASON UPDATE Thursday May 21, 2020 BRITISH Speedway remains united in ‘cautious optimism’ about some league racing this season.
All three leagues have been keeping in touch to measure the impact of no racing so far this season and how it affects business going forward.
And the message is clear – all three leagues are refusing to give up on the 2020 season and are continuing to urge fans to 'do the right thing'.
Rob Godfrey, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd, said: “Things are changing on a rapid basis and we are all encouraged to see it appears people are continuing to do the right thing to give us a chance of racing this year.
“The Premiership clubs had a catch up on Tuesday via video conference call, the Championship clubs are in regular dialogue and Jason Pipe, back as National Development League co-ordinator, is in touch with his clubs.
“There is little doubt in my own mind that some league racing will be possible this year. We can implement social distancing measures in stadia, both inside and outside the venue.
“We realise various club have different circumstances regarding their business, but I really do believe there will be some speedway this year.”
Damien Bates, vice chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd and promoter of Sheffield, said: "We had a very productive catch-up online with all Premiership clubs and it was good for us all to get together to discuss the situation.
"We are a long way from abandoning the season. We still believe there are possibilities, strong possibilities, that our sport can take place this season with the appropriate safety measures in place for everyone in a stadium.
"Naturally we are keeping a close eye on the travel situation because there are several riders who are in Poland right now and we need to see movement allowed without quarantine. It's a fluid situation.
"We are continuing to look at a full quota of fixtures, or perhaps half a season with 12 meetings per club in the Premiership plus play-offs. We are keeping our options open right now, all three leagues are, but in any situation we remain in the hands of the government.
"We believe we need to make another assessment when the government update us on the next phase of recovery from this crisis which will be early in July.
"In the meantime we urge all supporters of every club throughout the country to stay patient and be assured we are doing everything we can to bring some racing to them this year."
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SPEEDWAY PUT FORWARD FOR RESTART TALKS
Thursday April 30, 2020 BRITISH Speedway officials have put the sport forward for discussion at government level regarding how the season can start.
Weekly talks with various sports are set to take place and the government will assess each case individually in terms of how to restart when restrictions are reduced.
Rob Godfrey, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd, made contact with his local MP in Scunthorpe, Helen Mumby-Croft, over the weekend and all clubs have been asked to do the same.
Godfrey has now been told speedway will be considered by government officials taking into account the venues throughout the country and the size of crowds.
“My understanding was that discussions have already taken place with major sports and I felt it appropriate to put speedway up there,” said Godfrey. “I just wanted to get the sport on the table, that’s all, nothing more, nothing less.
“If ever there was a good time not to be a major sport, it is now. It’s one aspect we are working on, of course, with sponsorship, TV and increased digital output but we are where we are.
“We are presenting the facts. Many of us can work with social distancing in our stadia, restricted numbers in parts of a venue won’t be a problem and certainly the pits area can be tightened up in terms of numbers and space between personnel, but again this is very broadly speaking.
“Above and beyond this, we are an outside sport without any confined space.
“We remain absolutely determined and committed to staging a British Speedway season in some format, but of course this won’t be next week or the week after. Yes, I know there are issues with international travel but for every problem we can find a solution.
“If there is time it would be nice to see a gradual reopening with practice sessions, but that all depends if and when we are allowed to do so.
“Whatever happens we are in the hands of the government and we can only start once we are told we can. We have various permutations available to us in terms of the fixture list, even if it means a three month or a two month season.
“In addition we acknowledge many clubs don’t own their stadium and would need full co-operation from their landlords.”
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEASON UPDATE
Tuesday April 21, 2020 BRITISH Speedway bosses remain ‘100% committed’ to staging racing this year.
The board of directors at the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have held a conference call today to discuss the way forward.
And Vice Chairman Damien Bates said: “We had a productive conversation and we all agreed we remain 100% committed to putting on a season this year at the first available opportunity.
“There are absolutely no thoughts of cancelling the season. We all want to stage the season in whatever format that can take.
“We have people working on fixtures covering all eventualities in terms of dates and potential rider availability.
“Naturally nothing can happen until the government allow it to, indeed when the next decision is made on the current lockdown situation we will talk again between us.
“We want to give fans, broadcasters and sponsors what everyone wants and that is live speedway to enjoy.
“If it’s July, August or whenever it may be we are determined to stage racing should the government rules allow us to do so.
“In the meantime, on behalf of every club promoter we extend our very best wishes to British Speedway supporters throughout the country and we urge you all to please follow the government rules. They are not guidelines or advice, they are rules.
“We want you all fit and well and ready to come and enjoy this wonderful sport as soon as it is safe and legal to do so.”
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY STATEMENT
Wednesday March 25, 2020 THE board members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd are continuing to monitor the situation regarding the Coronavirus crisis on a regular basis.
With the latest information from the government stating high risk groups of people should stay at home for 12 weeks, it is unlikely that that there will be any British Speedway events taking place before June 15, at least.
The Board have to consider the public, their members, riders and officials, some of which will be included in the high risk group.
It is the wish of the Board that every effort is made to start the new season at the first available opportunity and we have members of the association continuing to provide alternative fixture dates as the situation evolves.
The British Speedway Promoters Ltd sends their best wishes to everyone at this incredibly difficult time.
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JOINT BSPA/SCB STATEMENT: CORONAVIRUS
Tuesday March 17, 2020 BRITISH Speedway’s new season has been suspended with immediate effect.
The decision has been taken in line with other sports following the latest update from the government on the Coronavirus crisis.
This suspension will be reviewed on April 15 and the situation will be monitored by the British Speedway Promoters’ Association and Speedway Control Bureau on a daily basis between now and then.
LATEST RESULTS...
SUNDAY MARCH 15:
50TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, Peterborough - OFF
SATURDAY MARCH 14:
BEN FUND BONANZA, Scunthorpe 1 Danny King (Ipswich/Poole) 2 Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Poole) 3 Josh Auty (Scunthorpe) 4 Lewis Kerr (King’s Lynn/Eastbourne)
