Never mind Br-exit, this evening (Monday 2/9) at Kent Speedway it’s Br-excitement as the TouchTec Kings take on the GB Young Lions in a Grand Challenge encounter!
The home side’s septet will include the returning from injury Alex Spooner and making a home debut since signing up to the Kings’ cause, David Wallinger. The Yorkshireman will captain the side who frustratingly have to go into action without Jordan Jenkins despite the youngster announcing that he will after all be carrying on this campaign.
Jordan is full of thanks for the support he’s received from everyone at the club. “I would like to start off by thanking everyone for the support I’ve been given throughout the last few weeks. Unfortunately it looks like my ban (for ‘withholding services’) is being upheld and I won’t be able to join the boys on Monday or ride in our last National League [NL] match at Cradley in a week’s time either. I have to face the consequences for my actions, however I do believe that having this break will allow me to gain confidence on the bike and start enjoying my riding just in time for the ban to end and join the boys ready to win the play offs. I can’t thank Chris [Hunt] & Len [Silver] and all the fans enough for the continued support throughout this season from all the injuries and also the good times I’ve had. I will be back being the rider I know I can be.”
That chase for the Play Offs now sees Kent currently in third place but only on race points difference, as they are actually level on 25 points with new leaders Belle Vue Colts and second-placed Leicester Lion Cubs. The Colts went top courtesy of an away win at 5th. place Mildenhall on Sunday and the return fixture between those two play-off rivals is up at Manchester this evening also; whilst Leicester can deal a huge blow to another Play Off chasing side, 6th. place Cradley Heathens on Tuesday,
So, two pivotal days which will go a huge way to deciding who finishes in the top four where Kent sincerely expect to be awaiting them and Chris Hunt’s charges limber up for that challenge by paying host to an Under 23 select brought to Central Park by GB Young Lions boss, Neil Vatcher, starring three top young British internationals Nathan Greaves, Joe Lawlor and Leicester's Danyon Hume.
Unfortunately their selected team mate Danno Verge has had to take a break quite understandably after bravely battling-on after that horror crash suffered last month in the Silver Ski Fours and the Young Lions will utilise Rider Replacement for the missing former Kent man, with young James Laker drafted in for a Young Lions’ debut at no. 8.
Teams [in alphabetical order]:
Kent TouchTec Kings: Jacob Clouting; Dan Gilkes; Drew Kemp; Jake Mulford; Anders Rowe; Alex Spooner; David Wallinger
GB Young Lions U21 Sheldon Davies; Nathan Greaves; Danyon Hume; Connor King; James Laker; Joe Lawlor; Macaulay Leek; R/R for Danno Verge
Gates open at 5pm with tapes up for the Grand Challenge at 6.30pm