There was frustration at Central Park, Sittingbourne on Monday evening (28 July) when, after seemingly successfully dodging the rain clouds all day, the heavens opened literally as the tapes were due to rise at 6.30pm and the resulting deluge meant a very truncated end to Speedway National Trophy action.
The visitors were first-timers at the Dog Track stadium in Murston, the Leicester Lion Cubs – and the East Midlanders must now be feeling their attempt to get it on at the home of the CTA Fire Kings is jinxed, following the postponement of this fixture also due to rain the first time it was attempted to be staged last month.
At least this time there was action involving all 14 riders on show, before a completely flooded track caused a premature halt to proceedings. Indeed, despite the torrential rain the shale circuit held up remarkably well; as did the riders who bravely defied the odds and the angry weather gods to slip and slide their way round four ever lengthening heats before the inevitable end was declared. The score was 15-9 to the home side by then – with Danny Ayres looking especially at home in the conditions (understandable perhaps considering his moto-crossing background) unbeaten by an opponent after his two rides. However neither that team score nor Ayres’ individual tally will trouble the record books as the match was ended before a result could be declared; and instead, these two sides will need to convene again on a date yet to be arranged to complete this now long drawn-out National Trophy business.
KENT 15: Danny Ayres 5+1, Simon Lambert 3, Aaron Baseby 2, Benji Compton2, Ben Morley 1+1, David Mason 1+1, Jason Garrad 1.
LEICESTER 9: Oliver Greenwood 3, Max Clegg 3, Sam Chapman 2, James Sarjeant 1, Daniel Greenwood 0, Tom Perry 0, Tom Woolley 0.
