It's another triumphant homecoming to Central Park Stadium for Kent TouchTec Kings’ Drew Kemp & Anders Rowe (for a second home meeting running) – this time after the teenaged titans won yesterday’s National League [NL] Pairs up at Sheffield.
But Bank Holiday afternoon (4pm start time) is back to the vitally-important business of securing NL points to clinch a place in the play off qualifying top four – with the opponents Mildenhall currently occupying that fourth place and who were the last side to taste victory over second-placed Kent.
The hoped-for return of skipper Rob Ledwith after his broken collar-bone has unfortunately been put on hold again – as the Kent captain explains, “I’m very disappointed to inform everyone that I won’t be riding in Monday’s fixture against Mildenhall. The shoulder has been progressing nicely this week and I have been able to use my arm much more. “The acid test of course is can I ride a Speedway bike which after this weekend’s trial at the Rye House training track I’m happy to say I was able to do.”
Ledwith goes on, “However, riding and racing are very different and whilst I was able to get round the arm doesn’t have the mobility and strength needed to enable me to race. So, I’ve had to make the very difficult decision postpone my return for at least another week. I will be working hard to improve the strength and mobility in the shoulder throughout the coming week and hopefully next week I’ll be cooking with gas!”
With Jordan Jenkins’ decision to withdraw from the action for the rest of the season, the TouchTec Kings have reluctantly had to use Rider Replacement to cover for his absence and now Ledwith is confirmed as still out it’s a ‘Guest’ to cover for him. The choice of ‘Guest’ is sure to be a popular one with the Central Park faithful: 2017 and ’18 Kings’ man, Nathan Stoneman. The Welsh-born, former GB Youth Champion Stoneman was in good form at Sheffield helping his 2019 side Plymouth Gladiators to a somewhat surprise but well-deserved on the day third place in the Pairs.
That was by pipping Mildenhall – though the Suffolk side are more concentrated on getting into the Play Offs to make good what they’ll see as the wrongs of last term when (with Kemp & Jenkins in their ranks) they topped the NL table but suffered defeat in the Grand Final.
Ryan Kinsley from that side is back and though much changed from their visit on another Bank Holiday weekend at Whitsun, Malcom Vasey’s charges are at full current strength and looking to capitalise on their goof record as a visiting side to Central Park.
Teams [in alphabetical order]:
Kent TouchTec Kings: Jacob Clouting; Dan Gilkes; Drew Kemp; Jake Mulford; Anders Rowe; Nathan Stoneman [Guest]; Rider Replacement for Jordan Jenkins; no. 8 tba
Mildenhall Fen Tigers: Henry Atkins; Charlie Brooks; Arran Butcher; Jason Edwards; Elliot Kelly; Ryan Kinsley; Matt Marson
Gates open at 2.30pm with tapes up on heat one at 4pm.