It’s a Best of British evening at Central Park Stadium on Monday (1/9) as September opens with the visit of the GB Young Lions.
For the homesters of course there is an array of the best young talent from the UK – with Drew Kemp, GB U19 Champion and U21 World Cup bronze medallist now back in the number one race jacket for the TouchTec Kings joined by the rider third in that recent U19 national championship and his successful partner in winning the National Pairs title, Anders Rowe. Add to that arguably the most in form rider in the National League [NL] currently, another teenager Dan Gilkes and there’s no doubt that visiting Team Manager Neil Vatcher will have plenty of interest in the opposition.
That’s because Vatcher heads up the Young Lions set up and he brings a talented squad of riders racing for the first time under an Under 23 heading. Heading the way for the Young Lions is a pairing which will certainly be able to give Kent’s three young starlets and home debutant since signing up for the Kings’ cause, David Wallinger, a significant run for their money: fourt imes a GB champion at youth level, Redcar’s Nathan Greaves and a Lion in another guise also, Leicester’s Danyon Hume. Joe Lawlor has like Hume been an eye-catching visiting rider to Central Park this term and the Stoke Potter completes a formidable heat leader trio.
With Vatcher’s initial pick of Isle of Wight’s Danno Verge having to withdraw, the Young Lions’ boss will be searching over the weekend for a replacement; but Danno’s Warriors’ team mate, Connor King is in the septet acknowledging what a great season the side from Ryde (coming right up on the rails in the chase for the NL play offs currently) are having. From another side battling manfully fot the top four is Cradley Heath’s Sheldon Davies. Partnering Davies at reserve is former Birmingham & Mildenhall rider, Macauley Leek.
The reserve painting for Kent sees the massively impressive (and surely also on the GB team boss's radar) Jake Mulford back alongside Jacob Clouting and there are still hopes that weekend trials on his troublesome shoulder injury could yet lead to the return to the line up of Alex Spooner.
The action gets underway at 6.30pm at Kent Speedway track, Central Park on Monday 2nd. September.