Kent SLYDE Kings’ awesome foursome of teenagers will be looking to become part of the Magnificent Seven this evening at the re-staging of the GB Under 21 Championship semi-final.
The original staging was due to be at Newcastle 10 days ago but was smack in the middle of the wettest start to a British Speedway in history – fortunately this time though there’s an expected significant upturn in the weather and all seems set fair for the action to go ahead at Birmingham’s Perry Barr Stadium.
For Jack Thomas (who’s been by far the busiest of the Kent riders thanks to a number of outings with his SGB Championship side, Glasgow Tigers) and first timers in this age range competition Alex Spooner, Taylor Hampshire and Anders Rowe know what’s needed; a top seven position to take them through to a May Day in the Borders: the GB U21 Final being up at Berwick on Tuesday May 1st.
Standing in their way are three home-based riders, Layne Cupitt, Callum Walker and already three-times a national champion at youth level, Leon Flint – though the latter two have actually little experience of their home circuit yet, as so far the weather hasn’t been kind in the Second City either. The reigning champions, Belle Vue Colts match Kent’s tally of four competitors: lead by the two pre-meeting favourites Kyle Bickley and returning to the track where he gained a debut season League title in 2016, Jack Smith. And there’s unprecedented experience in Wolves’ Nathan Greaves (the only exclusively top division based rider in the field) who is aiming for an extraordinary fifth GB U-21 Final.
The meeting will be an emotional evening for former Kings’ rider Bradley Andrews – following the sad news that’s rocked the whole sport of the death of his fellow countryman, Ivan Mauger – the legendary six-time World Champion was a close friend of the Andrews’ family (having partnered his grand-father Bob to a World Pairs title in the 1960s) and very much a mentor of the young Kiwi.
The top seven at Perry Barr will join the two seeded riders reigning champion Robert Lambert and National League Riders Champion 2017, Dan Bewley at Berwick; plus the seven qualifiers from the first semi at Eastbourne: former World Youth Champion Zach Wajtknecht; the one time Kent rider who competes in the World Longtrack GP series , James Shanes; competition first-timers the 15 years old duo Jason Edwards and Drew Kemp; Coventry’s Connor Mountain; Mildenhall’s new signing, Josh Bailey; and the very experienced at this level, Max Clegg,
The meeting will also give the four Kent SLYDE Kings teens a valuable insight onto the Birmingham circuit as they’ll be back at Perry Barr in just seven days’ time on April 25th. when their side take on the Brummies in the first leg of a two part challenge.
Riders in DRAW order:
Jack Thomas (Kent SLYDE Kings); Taylor Hampshire (Kent SLYDE Kings); Leon Flint (Birmingham Brummies); Kean Dicken (Belle Vue Colts); Alfie Bowtell (Lakeside Hammers); Anders Rowe (Kent SLYDE KIngs); Ben Woodhull (Belle Vue Colts); Kyle Bickley (Belle Vue Colts); Callum Walker (Birmingham Brummies); Joe Lawlor (Belle Vue Colts); Layne Cupitt (Birmingham Brummies); Kelsey Dugard (Eastbourne Eagles); Alex Spooner (Kent SLYDE Kings); Nathan Greaves (Wolverhampton Wolves); Bradley Andrews (Plymouth Devils); Jack Smith (Belle Vue Colts).