Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Speedway: Pirate Darcy's in the 'Oscar' frame
Neil Middleditch compared Darcy Ward's nomination for world motor sport's inaugural Champion of Champions' rookie of the year award with being in the running to win an Oscar.[LNB] Pirates' teenage star is one of five riders battling it out to become the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme's top young gun in 2010.[LNB] The prestigious accolade, being presented for the first time this year, covers riders from all disciplines, including superbike, trial, road-racing, ice-racing and long-track.[LNB] Ward, who captured speedway's world under-21 title for a second successive time last month, is up against junior enduro world champion Lorenzo Santolino, of Spain.[LNB] Junior moto-cross world champions Jake Pinhancos (USA), Henri Jacobi (Germany) and Jordi Tixier (France), who carried off the 65cc, 85cc and 125cc crowns, respectively, are also in the running.[LNB] Poole Castle Cover team manager Neil Middleditch said: The fact Darcy has been nominated means so much in itself. It's like being up for an Oscar (the small gold statuettes awarded annually in the United States for outstanding achievements in films).[LNB] If you're nominated they think pretty highly of you, anyway.[LNB] Winning back-to-back World Championships is some feat at the tender age of just 18.[LNB] Darcy's nomination means people have stood up and taken notice of him.[LNB] He's a great rider who rides way beyond his years, and he's proven this year at international level and for Pirates that he can run with the big boys.[LNB] The scary part is, as good as he is now, he's just going to get better.[LNB] He's a very special rider who has natural ability. I realised that the first day I saw him ride at Poole.[LNB] In fact, he probably doesn't realise how natural he is, himself, at this stage.[LNB] He has enthusiasm both on and off track and will mature as time goes on.[LNB] Middleditch added: Darcy's nomination is also a big shot in the arm for speedway.[LNB] We're already getting world-wide exposure with Sky TV's excellent coverage so it would be great for the sport in general, not just Darcy, if he won the rookie award.[LNB] It shows the world of motor sports that speedway is popular and deserves to be up there with the best, particularly as so often in the past we have been, seemingly, stuck in the backwater.[LNB] Voting closed to the public on Sunday, but the winner of the rookie accolade won't be revealed until Friday, December 3 during an FIM gala ceremony at the Estoril Casino in Portugal.[LNB] The ceremony will be broadcast live on FIM-TV.com from 9pm and be presented by former Sky pits girl Suzi Perry.[LNB] Middleditch said: I know Darcy is flying back to Europe from his winter break in Australia to attend.[LNB] The FIM are sending him first-class and he's taking it very seriously.[LNB] It's a chance for Darcy to meet some of his heroes because all the top motor sports boys will be there.[LNB] I'm sure he'll have a great time and it'll broaden his horizons even more.[LNB]
