Kent TouchTec Kings rider Drew Kemp overcame a tough start to finish equal fifth in the European Under-19 Final in Zarnovica, Slovakia this afternoon (11/8).
On Friday night (9/8), Drew came through his Semi Final in Gustrow Germany winning the event with a stunning 15 point maximum to book, his place in the Zarnovica final, an occasion which fell on young Kemp’s 17th Birthday! Drew lined up against some very stiff opposition including fellow Great Britain representative, and a go to man as a guest for the Kings recently Jason Edwards.
Drew was out in the very first race in what was a heavily watered track, and after missing the start found it was too much to do to get back into contention and finished in last place. Drew was next out in Heat 7, the original staging of the race failed to get off the line, as eventual bronze medalist Mads Hansen of Denmark moved at the start and caused Russia’s Alexander Kajbusev to hit the starting tapes. The re-run, then saw a terrific race developing between, Hansen and Poland’s Mateusz Ciernak, as Kemp got inside Russian track reserve Marko Levishyn before falling on the first bend of the second lap.
That opening, left Drew in a very difficult position to make up ground on the leaders after failing to score from his opening two rides. However, he bounced back with a stylish tapes to flag victory in Heat 11 over the Danish duo of Emil Portner and Christian Thaysen with Edwards finishing at the back.
Drew then followed up his victory with a second place in Heat 15, before another stunning tapes to flag victory in his final race in Heat 19, over Czech Republic’s Petr Chlupac, Poland’s Karol Zupinski and Sweden’s Philip Hellstrom.
The meeting run under the old World Final was decided by a run off after the top two tied on 14 points, and in the run off Czech Speedway of Nations racer Jan Kvech beat Russia’s Jevgenijs Sajdulin to take the crown.
Despite 6th place being very respectable in his first effort at this level, Drew will be hoping to land the British Under 19 title on Thursday (15/8) at Redcar, with potentially two more attempts at the European U19 crown to come, his moment will surely arrive.
Everyone at Kent Speedway, congratulates Drew on his efforts over this weekend.