Large crowd see Matt say Farewell.

A large crowd turned out at Somerset's Oak Tree Arena last night, to bid farewell to one of Speedway's favourite sons, Matt Read, or "Readie" as he is known to his huge army of fans.

Matt's blossoming riding career was brought to a sudden, and tragic end two years ago, in an horrific high speed crash at the Morizes round of the World Longtrack Championship. Matt's subsequent recovery has been nothing short of miraculous considering the extent of his injuries, and it is a testament to his bravery and determination, which was apparent to all in his illustrious riding career, that he has recovered to the degree that he has, and all done with that famous, flashing, "Readie" smile on his face.

It was typical of Matt, that when organising this meeting he had the fans entertainment at heart, and decided to give them a team match with a difference, and organised a top field to take part. Add to this an exciting "Freestyle" Motor-x display, and three heats of Sidecar Speedway, featuring Matt's father-in-law, John Hiscock, with Gareth Bemister in the chair, pitted against three other top combo's. Hiscock's night did not go well, after finishing second in the opening heat, he took no further part after blowing the engine. The event was won by Matt Tyrell and Shaun Yates, who ended the night unbeaten.

The main event itself was in the format of a normal 15 heat match, but the twist was that the first fourteen heats would constitute the match, with the two top scoring riders from each side contesting Heat 15 as a one off Grand Final, with the winner taking the top prize. The two teams, "Matt's Masters" and "Readie's Racers", featured a mixture of the riders from both of the top leagues.

The "Masters" suffered an early blow with the withdrawal of Glenn Cunningham, who is still suffering the effects of the virus that has dogged him for several weeks, but he was on hand to lend his support. Danny Bird who was stuck in the traffic problems that seemed to effect the country on Friday, and never got to the Highbridge circuit. Even Zorro was held up, and eventually arrived just before the start. Finally Craig Boyce, snapped off the key in the door of his van, and consequently was unable to attend. Their places were taken by Jason King (Cunningham), Simon Walker (Boyce), and meeting reserve Ben Barker (Bird), the other meeting reserve was Matt Bates.

"Readie's Racers" took the lead right from the start, and never relinquished it, despite a very liberal interpretation of the "Tactical Ride" rules, by the "Masters" team manager Mick Bell, more of that later. Despite this being a benefit match the racing was a full on affair, with everyone going for it from the off. Stephan Katt made an electrifying start in Heat 1 to head Sean Wilson, making a rare appearance on a British Speedway track since losing his place in the Sheffield Tigers line up. Mark Lemmon took the minor place.

Steve Boxall took the first of his three wins in the reserves race, with an easy all the way win over his Rye House team-mate Chris Neath, showing how much he has improved on last season. He was to go on to take the scalps of Magnus Zetterstrom, Chris Harris, and Sean Wilson in his next two races, before running a third spot at the hands of Simon Stead, and "Bomber" in his final outing before the final. Davy Watt, and Simon Stead increased the lead to 6-points with a 5-1 over Chris Harris, and Ben Barker, who's machine expired as they left the line. Magnus Zetterstrom, unusually wearing the green helmet on his home track, took the next with a win over Chris Mills and Simon Walker. In Heat 5 Chris Harris made amends for his tardy start in his previous race, with a smart getaway alongside Stephan Katt. Harris made the best of the first two bends to lead onto the back straight. Mark Lemon took up the chase on the home straight leaving his partner Katt with the minor place.

Steve Boxall and Zorro increased the lead further by taking another 5-1 in heat 6. the overtaking was confined to their opponents, as King and Wilson passed and re-passed each other, with King prevailing. The lead was now 10-points in favour of the "Racers", and Mick Bell dug out the "Black & White in an attempt to claw back some of the deficit. An untidy start saw Simon Stead lead out of the first bend with Chris Neath, on the tactical, and Davy Watt contesting a tight opening lap, before Neath cut inside bend two next time round to grab the place, producing a 4-4 share of the points.

Bell was quick to send out Chris Mills in the next for another tactical. Although he didn't win, the "Masters" took the advantage 5-2, after a power packed start from Jason King saw him win from Stephan Katt, who got the better of Mills at the end of the opening lap.

It was the return of the Boxall - Zorro show in the next as they again banged in a 5-1 over Cornish duo, Harris and Barker. In the spirit of the evening Mick Bell re-wrote the rule book by introducing a third tactical ride in a programmed ride, but not content with that he sent out BOTH his riders in "Black and White". His riders looked as though they would bring home the points as Wilson shot from the start, only for his bike to give up the ghost whilst in a good lead at the end of the opening lap, leaving the race to Davy Watt and Simon Stead. Referee Robbie Perks entered into the spirit by turning the clock back 12 months, and awarding double points to Jason King despite him not beating an opponent.

Taking this a cue, Mick Bell repeated the dose in the next two heats, by which time Robbie Perks was becoming thoroughly confused, and ordered that the two riders must wear different helmet colours, so he ruled that one should wear the "Black and White" helmet, whilst his partner should wear the "White and Black" to avoid confusion. Bell even asked if he could field a third rider off 15 meters, but Robbie Perks wasn't having any of that, now that would have been imaginative use of the tactical rule. The tacticals produced two more shared heats 4-4. The first of these two heats produced a tremendous race between Mark Lemon, and Chris Neath, as they battled it out over the opening laps, passing and re-passing each other four times before Lemon made his final move stick to take the win. If anyone thought that they would take it easy because this was a benefit meeting , then this race alone dispelled that notion, fantastic stuff.

The next heat underlined the point as Simon Stead took the win over Chris Harris, but not before he had to use a very hard move in the opening bends to hold the Cornishman at bay. Behind them Steve Boxall clinched his place in the final by producing a tremendous "round the boards" run to grab third spot in the closing stages of the race. Magnus Zetterstrom was again part of a 5-1 in Heat 13, but his second spot, to Mark Lemon, meant that he could not now reach the final, ending up 1-point short of the reckoning. Chris Neath made sure of his spot in Heat 15, by taking the next race from Davy Watt, who also needed the win to put him in with a chance of the final. The match phase of the meeting ended with "Readie's Racers" running out convincing winners 37-55.

The line up for the final was, Steve Boxall (Red), Simon Stead (Blue), Chris Neath (Green), and Chris Harris (Yellow). It was fitting that these particular four riders contested the final, as all had come through the ranks of Grasstrack and Speedway, and in particular Junior Grasstrack alongside Matt, with their paths crossing on many occasions since then. As the tapes rose the field made a level break, with Harris on the outside. Bomber stuck the back wheel in the dirt tight against the fence, and produced a supersonic blast around Stead and Neath, with Boxall just in behind. He never moved more than a few inches off the fence, and the speed he generated carried him away from the remainder, in the fastest time of the night, 57.33, with Stead 2nd, and Neath 3rd. A measure of the speed Harris showed, is reflected in the fact that the time was over two and a half seconds faster that Neath's winning time in the heat before.

The top prize in the raffle, a mini "Chopper" motorbike, was won by a lucky West Midlands fan, Mark Sandford of Solihull. The evening concluded with an auction of race jackets, and various other items, including the top lot, a Chromed Helmet, which had been signed by the World Speedway and Longtrack Champions from the last ten years. a large crowd stayed behind, and the lots sold well, adding a nice amount to the pot. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening all round, and hopefully a highly successful night for one of the nicest, and most well loved guys ever to throw his leg over a speedway bike.