With the news yesterday (Tuesday 21st) that they'll be no league Speedway in the UK for the first peacetime year in 90 years, Kent Speedway club have regretfully had to announce that the sport will not be taking place at Central Park Stadium in 2020.
Co-promoter Len Silver updated fans as follows, "Regrettably, I have to tell you that no racing will take place at Central Park this year. With our primary concern being the well-being of both our customers and officials, it was always going to be a difficult call, so when any chance of official competition was ruled out by Speedway's controlling body yesterday, there was little alternative open to us."
This followed a statement the previous day from Rob Godfrey, Chairman of British Speedway Promoters Ltd. the company responsible for administrating the professional sport in the UK which responded to the government setting October as the earliest date when spectators will be allowed back into stadiums to watch sporting events in England.
Mr Godfrey said, "With October having been announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last Friday as the target date for crowds to return to sporting stadia, this does not give enough time for a full season of league racing to be staged. "
He went on, "Promoters up and down the country have worked 24/7 to try and give themselves every opportunity to stage league racing this season and I take my hat off to all those who have shown a positive attitude throughout. We have never given up and it is only the announcement from the PM on Friday that has left us with no choice.
"It is also important for us to thank all the riders who have remained patient throughout all of this, they have been left in an extremely difficult situation and our thoughts are with them all. In addition, the loyal sponsors throughout the country must also be acknowledged, their support is much appreciated by clubs.
And we must also thank all supporters of this wonderful sport in this country. We must now embrace the future and look forward with a positive attitude as we look to grow British Speedway."
The most experienced Speedway promoter in the sport, Kent supremo Mr. Silver has sent out a message of positivity for Kent TouchTec supporters to hold onto looking forward to 2021,
"Like everyone else, we are hoping for a return to normality during the coming Winter and, subject to that, we plan for our opening meeting in 2021 to be at 6.30pm on Tuesday March 30th, followed by Easter Monday April 5th. We are assuming and expecting all our current riders to be available for that new beginning and judging from their performances in a private practice session at King's Lynn on Monday, I think we will all be pleasantly surprised come Easter 2021."