Battered and bruised, Kent Iwade Garages’ Jordan Jenkins has reluctantly had to withdraw from what would have been his debut appearance in the GB Under 21 Speedway Championship this Wednesday (21st. October).
The 19 year old from Norwich had picked up troublesome knocks from a coming together at the end of his opening ride in the U-19 national championship last month at Scunthorpe (ironically a crash after the closest of finishes after crossing the finishing line with team mate, Dan Gilkes) and he has reluctantly had to accept that the injuries suffered then to his feet, legs and a finger and the aggravation of an earlier serious back injury, will keep him from taking up his place up at Berwick this coming week.
Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “Jordan is currently receiving treatment for an old back injury, and is still suffering from discomfort from his crash at the British Under-19 Final when he collided with Daniel Gilkes after the end of the race. I feel really sorry for Jordan because I know after putting on a good show at Scunthorpe last month he was looking forward to making his debut in the British Under-21 Final on a circuit that he has not been to before.”
Coming into replace Jenkins is a third rider from Leicester – in this case one of their National League Lion Cubs’ septet: Tom Spencer. Reserves for the meeting at Shielfield Park in the Borders have been confirmed as British Youth Championship bronze medalist. Harry McGurk of Plymouth Gladiators, along with a rider from the NL club north of Hadrian’s Wall, Armadale Devils’ Mason Watson.
REVISED line-up of Riders (in draw order):
1) Alex Spooner (Kent Iwade Garage Royals); 2) Joe Thompson (Leicester Lions); 3) Tom Spencer (Leicester Lion Cubs); 4) Anders Rowe (Rawicz, Polska); 5) Jason Edwards (Eastbourne Eagles); 6) Dan Bewley (Sparta Wroclaw); 7 Joe Lawlor (Redcar Bears); 8 Jack Thomas (Birmingham Brummies); 9) Drew Kemp (Ipswich Witches); 10) Jordan Palin (Scunthorpe Scorpions); 11) Jamie Halder (unattached); 12) Dan Thompson (Leicester Lions); 13) Kyle Bickley (Berwick Bandits); 14) Tom Brennan (Eastbourne Eagles); 15) Leon Flint (Berwick Bandits); 16) Dan Gilkes (Kent TouchTec Kings). Reserves: 17) Harry McGurk (Plymouth Gladiators); 18) Mason Watson (Armadale Devils)