Alex Yee admitted that he had never been more fired up going into a race ahead of Saturday’s big showdown at WTCS Montreal.

No wonder then that the British star reflected “that one meant a lot” after he had outsprinted his great rival Hayden Wilde in a thrilling finish in the Canadian city.

Just two weeks ago Wilde admitted he had been at least partly to blame for the crash which saw Yee exit early in front of his home crowd at WTCS Leeds. Wilde would go on to win that day, while Yee was left to get over the mental scars.

Yee on getting over Leeds crash

He said: “Yeah, that one meant a lot. I guess after the crash you lose a bit of belief in yourself – the last couple of weeks it’s been tough for me to just kind of get back on the bike.

“For me I came into this race more fired up than I ever have, and that probably played against me in the first three races. For the last race, when I literally only just made it through, I just stripped it back and said ‘I’m gonna have fun and just do my best’.

“I got to have some great races again with some great guys, and that meant a lot.”

Yee’s trademark fluid run style carried the day on the final sprint with Wilde – who had somehow ridden his way back into contention after a mechanical on the bike. But it was a strength which for most of the weekend the Brit had found to be lacking.

Run strength showed up…in the end

“I just found my flow at the end, I mean honestly I’d been struggling throughout all the rounds on the run – it was almost been the thing that I’d found to be my weakest throughout all of this.

“Then on that last one I came out and I was in the race the whole time. I found a flow state and in that last 100m I felt amazing. The crowd willed me on – it’s been mega here, there’s been so many people out so I’m chuffed.

“It’s great to be back racing with Hayden and Leo, these guys are pushing me to my limits so it’s awesome.”