Kent TouchTec Kings will face the Lions’ roar in a Grand Challenge fixture on 2nd. September when an official GB Young Lions side visit Central Park.
With a youthful side itself bristling with young GB talent (including GB U21 World Cup rider and Drew Kemp and the rider who came third behind winner Kemp in the GB U19 championship, Anders Rowe), the Kings will be facing up to a select side put together by Speedway Great Britain’s Young Lions boss, Neil Vatcher in a match that will be the perfect limbering-up for the huge fixtures to follow as the 2019 National League [NL] Speedway season reaches the business end.
Heading the Young Lions’ line up is a four-times former GB Youth Champion who now rides in the SGB Championship, Nathan Greaves. Joining the former Cradley man as heat leaders are Joe Lawlor & Danyon Hume. Lawlor rides this season for Stoke in the NL and has twice in recent weeks impressed as a ‘Guest’ for the Kings. Hume meanwhile has been one of the best performers among visiting riders to Central Park this term – he’ll quickly be renewing acquaintances with Chris Hunt’s men as his NL side Leicester Lion Cubs are Kent's destination two days earlier for a Saturday night top of the table clash up in the East Midlands.
There’s a a very familiar face in the Young Lions’ ranks in the form of former Kings’ man Danno Verge – the popular rider from Shorne getting well-deserved recognition of the best season of his career. His Isle of Wight team mate Connor King is also selected alongside Cradley’s Sheldon Davies and a rider who has chalked up a few Kent appearances, Macaulay Leek.
Neil Vatcher commented, “I’m delighted to have been asked to bring a Young Lions side along to Central Park to face the Kent Kings. We’ve done a number of challenges this year and it’s an important part of the development of the Young Lions set up. This is an U23 side allowing the likes of Nathan, Danyon & Danno opportunities to be part of the GB set up”.
The fixture is on Monday 2nd September at Central Park Stadium, 6.30pm start time.