Runner Up Spot For Leader In 2017 After Harewood 3rd

Aug 20, 2017
3 min read

Ian Round, IR Rat Racing, has been crowned the 2017 British Gravity Bike Champion after a phenomenal season finale at Harewood Hill Climb in Yorkshire, making him a now 4-time British Gravity Bike Champion. Closest rival to Round, Zack Leader of Gridline Ellison Gearbolt Racing, took the 2017 Runner Up after a hard fought title campaign. Team mate to Round, Justin Greaves, claimed 3rd in the 2017 Championship after a fantastically fought title fight.

Harewood saw the riders compete head-to-head for the first and only time in the 2017 Championships. The racing was electrifying and saw incredibly close and tight battles being fought over 5 races on Harewood's hallowed racing track.

Ian Round claimed 4 wins out of the 5 races at Harewood, clinching him the title in the 5th and final race of the day, which saw him riding faultlessly despite having mechanical worries early on. Stef Cree took his second podium of the season with a 2nd place at Harewood after a judicial decision bumped 18-year-old Zack Leader down to 3rd. Cree won Race 2 which secured him 2nd in the overall race results and being tied on race points with Leader. The 43-year-old from Leamington Spa took 4th in the 2017 Championship which he secured last time out at Worlaby, and claimed the 2017 Rookie Of The Year this season, a fantastic debut season.

Stef Cree

Zack Leader took 3rd in the race at Harewood after being bumped down to 3rd after a judicial decision regarding an incident in Race 2, which saw him take to the grass, after Justin Greaves fell behind him, shortly before the finish line and was concluded that he did not go over the finish gate, he went around it. The result still meant the Leader claimed the Runner Up spot in the Championship, a spot he's now claimed for the past 2 seasons. Leader rode incredibly well and fought hard, after leading several of the races at Harewood for the long periods and finishing 2nd to Ian Round on 3 occasions. The Kirton Lindsey kid put in stunning efforts including coming through from 5th to 2nd after being put onto the grass early on in Race 4, and overtaking 3 riders in one corner in Race 3.

Zack Leader Lead Race 1

Justin Greaves had a difficult end to the 2017 season at Harewood Hill Climb. The IR Rat Racing rider narrowly took 4th in Race 1, and then took a heavy tumble at the final corner in Race 2 which resulted in a dislocated shoulder, in which Greaves popped back into place himself. After being cleared to race again, Greaves gave his absolute best to fight on but desperately struggled with strength in his shoulder and fought just to hold onto the bike, which lead a few mistakes on track. Come Race 5, Greaves fought one last time and managed to take his best result of the day, taking 3rd. Greaves takes 3rd in the 2017 Championship after a strong title campaign.

Luckless Justin Greaves

Danny Floyde has been getting faster all season and showed incredible form at Harewood, sticking with the front men throughout the 5 races and only just missing out of 4th due to countback. Floyde is certainly one to look out for in the future and will be a real contender in 2018. His impressive riding at Harewood showed his true potential and how fast he really is.