It's full steam-er ahead for the Kent TouchTec Kings hitting the high seas on Thursday in pursuit of the two match points needed to clinch their first ever piece of national silverware - Speedway's National Trophy [NT].
Just one point would be enough to overhaul holders Mildenhall at the top of the table, but by a quirk of the fixtures list it's actually currently last placed Isle of Wight who represent the last remaining challenge to Chris Hunt's charges' quest for team glory. They are of course significant outsiders but the Ryde-based Warriors by winning on Thursday would force the Trophy title race into a final match denouncement when the holiday island-based side travel to Central Park on Monday (3/6).
The TouchTec Kings aim to make that academic and clinch the NT with a match to spare and a repeat of one of the two wins they managed from their trips over the Solent last term would do very nicely indeed - with actually a draw only needed.
They'll be no complacency though, not with two riders so well known to Kent fans and riders alike and right at the top of the NL pyramid leading the way for Warriors. Those riders are Georgie Wood and Ben Morley of course.
Maidstone-based Wood has been a thorn in his local club's side over the past four seasons, starring as he did over that period for the club Kings' fans love to hate Eastbourne Eagles. With the Sussex side having moved up to the second tier, 25 year old Wood has kept the south coast as his base moving across to the IOW. There he's paired up with former Kent skipper, the two-times (including reigning) National League Riders' Champion, Ben Morley. Continuing the seaside theme, Morley hails from Southend but it was at Central Park where he really moved up a gear in his career as a first season King going on to take the first of those NLRC titles as well as the National Pairs both in 2015. Still record points scorer and (after two 'Guest' appearances this season already) the only rider to have donned the famous Invicta race jacket in all seven Kent seasons, Morley will be showing no sentiment though, only his deceptively ruthless streak aiming to lead his current team to victory and keep their own NT hopes alive.
There's another ex-Kings' man in the Warriors' septet in Danno Verge and another rider popular with Kings' followers one-time Laurels' rostrum man Chris Widman plus the London-born Kiwi, Ryan Terry-Daley. The side is completed by their newly-assembled reserve pairing of one time Mildenhall junior Connor King and 2019 newcomer, Chad Wirtzfeld.
As in recent away matches where the Kings have had very close battles it could well be at reserve where the match points are decided. With that in mind, the massive confidence boost gained by his first race win for the Kings by Jacob Clouting in Monday's vital NT win over Mildenhall will be significant as the 19 year old continues as stand-in for the injured Dan Gilkes.
The other injury victim Alex Spooner's absence is being covered by Rider Replacement and that puts additional pressure for sure on Clouting's reserve colleague, Nathan Ablitt. Nathan has already had one trip over the Solent this season, reaching the semi final of the GB U21 qualifier held at Smallbrook. Ditto too for Jordan Jenkins whilst another of the titanic teens who form the backbone of the Kings' side Anders Rowe, who went a stage further, finishing third in that national title round.
For Rob Ledwith it's another new experience though - his earlier career with Arena Essex ended in 1995, the year before Speedway opened on the Isle of Wight, so it's another first time visit this term for the Kent skipper. Not so for Drew Kemp, of course, who will have the fondest memories of his first competitive visit to the IOW this time last year when as a Mildenhall Fen Tiger he scored an extraordinary five ride full maximum from the reserve berth. Now a fully-fledged number one and GB U21 world championship rider, Drew will be looking to repeat those heroics and claim a second successive NT title, this time for the Kings.
The action gets underway at 7pm on Thursday 30th. May at Isle of Wight Speedway, Andrew Younie Smallbrook Stadium, Ashey Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 4BH.
For the all-important ferry crossing details (with discounts available for Speedway fans) and the taxi/mini bus arrangements from the Ryde Pierhead to the track go to www.warriors-speedway.com