The SGB Championship continues at Central Park on Tuesday (15th. June) with the visit of the Plymouth Gladiators.
The two teams drew 45-45 last month in a thriller down in Devon and all seems set fair for an equally close scrap this time.
Both teams have notable absentees leading to the ‘Guest’ system to be used in both sides – this is where a missing rider is replaced on a single match basis by a equivalent standard (assessed by average) rider.
In the case of the visitorst, they are still without their three times World Champion Jason Crump who has a number of broken ribs and coming in to the Plymouth number one race jacket to cover is former British Champion, Danny King. King is one of the best Speedway products of the county of Kent in modern times, hailing as he does from Maidstone - so it’s a long overdue first appearance at Central Park for such a local hero. The Gladiators are also without one of their reserves and coming in as a Guest in the ‘Rising Star’ berth is a rider extremely familiar with the Central Park track, 2019 Kings’ star and twice GB U19 champion, Drew Kemp.
The runner up to Kemp in 2020 in the U19s and a team mate of his the year before is, of course, Kent’s own ‘Rising Star’ Dan Gilkes and despite being knocked around in the crash which forced him out early doors last Tuesday, the 18 year old is fit to take his place in the TouchTec Kings’ side on Tuesday. Not so, injured shoulder victim Cameron Heeps who remains on the side-lines for one more match at least. A Guest is being drafted in for the Australian and it’s GB international, Steven Worrall. Worrall was a maximum man the last time he guested for the Kings back in 2014 and more of that same again would be very welcome!
The other team update for the hosts is the bombshell news that Tom Bacon has announced his retirement from the sport with immediate effect. This bolt from the blue news was given to Kent management on Wednesday after Bacon took the reluctant but understandable decision to step away from the sport after suffering two broken back injuries in the past two completed seasons. A further nasty crash in his opening ride as a Kings’ rider last month put things in perspective for the University graduate who has a promising career in the world of work ahead of him and he goes with everyone at the club’s best wishes.
Co-promoter Len Silver said, “The crashes he has suffered have brought Tom to the point where he can no longer give of his best, so I sympathise with his decision and wish him all the best for the future.
“We are looking now for a replacement rider but so far no luck and so will cover his slot with the Rider Replacement facility we’ve been granted”
Tickets go back on sale after the weekend from the office at Central Park between 10am & 4pm on both Monday and on the race day Tuesday itself -call 01795 475547.