Kent TouchTec Kings’ Drew Kemp makes his World Championship Final bow on Friday (12/7) donning the number three race jacket for the Great Britain side in the Under 21 World Team Cup Final at Belle Vue’s National Speedway Stadium [NSS] in Manchester.
The former British Youth 500cc British Champion makes his debut for Team GB at the ripe old age of 16 and with a great record at the splendid NSS circuit (twice scoring 13 points on his two visits last term with his former club Mildenhall) many experts see Drew as possible ace in the pack for the British quintet – joined as he is by a trio of home-based riders and three-times & reigning British U-21 Champion, fellow East Anglian, Robert Lambert.
Those three Belle Vue riders are 2017 National League Riders’ Champion, Dan Bewley and two of the Manchester club’s current NL Colts side: Leon Flint and twice World Junior Longtrack champion, Kyle Bickley.
Team boss Neil Vatcher pointed out “Drew also competed in this year’s FIM World Under 21 Individual Semi Final in Straslund in Germany and although he did not progress through that round, the experience from that meeting will put him in good stead come Friday evening. Drew is sure to be part of the Under 21 squad for many years to come, and will be hoping to claim a FIM Medal on his first appearance for the GB Team.”
The three nations standing between the British youngsters and World Cup glory for a first-ever time for the hosts are Denmark (the winners last time the competition was held here in the UK), Australia and the 11-times winners Poland. The Poles remarkable record in this competition includes victory in the last five years and there’s no doubt they are the team to beat on Friday.
Team line-ups:
Denmark 1 Frederik Jacobsen 2 Patrick Hansen 3 Mads Hansen 4 Jonas Jeppesen 5 Tim Sorensen
Great Britain 1 Robert Lambert 2 Dan Bewley 3 Drew Kemp 4 Kyle Bickley 5 Leon Flint