We will all probably be thinking it’s been far too long since we had a right Royal rave up on a Saturday night – well, Kent Speedway fans can think that no longer by following the Iwade Garage-sponsored Royals to their first National League [NL] away match of the season at Eastbourne this Saturday (19/6 – 7.30pm start time).
And John Sampford’s young team can take on the Seagulls in the knowledge that two of the young men of the moment are in their ranks after Dan Gilkes joined team mate Jake Mulford in qualifying for this year’s GB Under 21 Championship Final. Teenager Jake had taken second place in the first semi final up at Mildenhall earlier this month and then yesterday (Thursday) GB Under 19 international Dan went one better still, winning the second semi final held up at Redcar Speedway in the north-east with a 14 points haul.
The two Royals will find a new face alongside them in the septet to take on the ‘old enemy’ across the county border into Sussex on Saturday, as Kelsey Dugard has signed up to the cause and comes into replace Jamie Couzins. A fourth generation rider (his great grandfather Charlie, grandfather Bob and father Martin are all famous names in the sport), Kelsey has plenty of experience and it won’t have escaped anyone’s attention, plenty of incentive to do well at his spiritual home of Arlington as all those esteemed earlier generations rode for Eastbourne! Dugard junior became available when his previous 2021 side Newcastle Gems were reluctantly forced by the circumstances affecting the Tyneside club to withdraw from the NL earlier this week.
The Kent side is otherwise the same as the one which drew 45-45 with the Seagulls at Central Park on Bank Holiday Monday with the Eastbourne side also expected to be unchanged from that thriller and an equally close encounter is expected down at Sussex on the Sea!
As with all Speedway fixtures currently due to continuing Covid-restrictions this is all-ticket and fans can secure a place at this one by going to www,Eastbourne-speedway.com and going to the Online Tickets tab.