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16 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012 Speeding his way to the top Young racer already has ambitions of professional career By Ryan Glassman SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER PHOTO SUBMITTED FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS: Sixteen-year-old speedway racer Tommy Hensby, the youngest competitor on the Canadian Speedway Racing Association circuit, recently won the Division 2 Canadian Speedway Championship. The White Oaks student hopes to race professionally in England as early as next year. Tommy Hensby has had rough days on the speedway track before. But even the 16-year-old Oakville-born rider couldn't believe how quickly his practice session ended for a half-mile Belleville race at Quinte Raceway earlier this month. Coming out of Turn 2 on the third lap, Hensby hit a rut and his foot slipped under the footrest of his bike just two minutes in. The track medical staff recommended a hospital visit, believing he suffered a fractured ankle. "Everybody before is saying `C'mon, you can do this, you can win this,'" Hensby said. "We drove three hours to get there, I'm going out for practice, it ends in two minutes and we drive back another three hours to go to the hospital." X-rays taken revealed an ankle sprain, and Hensby had to withdraw. But, as Hensby has proven this season, if he falls, he doesn't stay down long. During the first race of the Canadian Speedway Racing Association (CSRA) season, held at Paris Speedway on May 25, Hensby crashed and had mechanical problems with his electrical system, resulting in a withdrawal. "It brought my confidence down to zero," he said. But when Hensby, the youngest on the CRSA circuit, began racing at the Welland Speedway in June, he quickly tasted success. He won his first race June 16 and was victorious in two of the next three as well. "The track (at Welland) is bigger. I started getting faster, riding a lot better and my confidence started growing," Hensby said. On July 21, Hensby capped off his impressive run by winning the Division 2 Canadian Speedway Championship. In the final event, all four riders -- including Hensby -- crashed on Turn 2 and the race had to be rerun. When it started again, he managed to pull away quickly and take the checkered flag. During his victory lap, Hensby couldn't hold back his tears thinking of longtime mentor and coach Graham Wale, a former speedway rider, who passed away last year. "There were so many emotions going through me," Hensby said. "Thinking of Graham and my entire family who have helped me take the next step, and all the hard work that's been put in to get to here." Since he began riding at the age of 12, Hensby has been coached by his father, David, who is the president of the CSRA. The elder Hensby believes this campaign has been a breakthrough one for his son. "Tommy has a natural talent for speedway racing," David said. "It's not the easiest sport to compete in but he continues to progress and the season he's had has been phenomenal." Tommy's goal for the remainder of the year is a top-three finish in the season standings. In a few weeks, he'll begin his Grade 12 year at White Oaks Secondary School. After he graduates, he hopes to race for England's Sheffield Tigers speedway team, perhaps as early as next year. "I want to keep pushing myself to the limit," Hensby said. "I have the drive, I have the right attitude and I want to get better." U13 team wins UK tourney The Oakville-based RVDL Soccer Academy's under-13 team surprised their British hosts and many other squads by winning the Pro Academy division at the recent Keele International Cup tournament. The Lions finished first in group play with three wins and a draw in their first four games, then downed Wales' The New Saints in the semis before edging local favourite Crewe Alexandra FC 2-1 in the championship game. Crewe's youth academy teams play in the UK's Premier Academy League against teams such as Liverpool and Manchester United. Members of the RVDL team (pictured, right) are Alexander Greyvenstein, Matthew Rosolen, Kaitlyn Howitt, Michael Thornton, Sebastian Gomez, Carter Bowie, Luke Rankin, Cameron Nelson, Dylan Serpa, Tommy van der Laan, Nik Blaskovic, Ryan Hardy, Janko Delisimunovic, Jack van der Laan, Gregory Moulopoulos, Jeroni Mestres and Aaron Nugent. Former English Premiership captain Robin van der Laan coaches the team, which plays up in the U14 age group in Ontario's Soccer Academy Alliance Canada league. The Keele International Cup is Britain's largest soccer tournament, with more than 300 teams from 22 nations attending this year's event. The tournament features a Youth Club division and a Pro Academy division.