Kent SLYDE Kings’ talented teenager Jack Thomas gets another opportunity to pitch up against the best in his age range in the country on Thursday July 6th. after being selected for a second year running to compete in the GB Under 19s Championship being held at the St. Boniface Arena home of Plymouth Speedway.
Last year Jack scored seven points (and his tally was hampered by a final race fall) in his debut in the competition, finishing in ninth position. The one and two from that meeting (Max Clegg & Ellis Perks) have both gone past the age threshold and so a new champion is assured for this term.
Heading the line-up are SGB Premiership [SGBP] riders Dan Bewley and Jack Smith (who both also ride in the Manchester club’s table-topping Travel Plus National League [TPNL] side) and Lakeside Hammers’ number one, Zach Wajtknecht. Smith who last season was a home track competitor as the meeting was staged at his then club, Birmingham was third in the 2016 event. Another SGBP rider in the field is Nathan Greaves – who is the only ‘survivor’ from when the championship was staged at Kent’s Central Park Stadium home in 2015.
Heading the line-up are SGB Premiership [SGBP] riders Dan Bewley and Jack Smith (who both also ride in the Manchester club’s table-topping Travel Plus National League [TPNL] side) and Lakeside Hammers’ number one, Zach Wajtknecht. Smith who last season was a home track competitor as the meeting was staged at his then club, Birmingham was third in the 2016 event. Another SGBP rider in the field is Nathan Greaves – who is the only ‘survivor’ from when the championship was staged at Kent’s Central Park Stadium home in 2015.
Talented youngsters Kyle Bickley (Belle Vue), Tom Brennan (Eastbourne) and Jordan Jenkins (Mildenhall), who have all made a significant impression as full-time TPNL newcomers this season are also included – as well as the home club’s 16-year-old rising star Henry Atkins and in-form team-mate Callum Walker.
British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “In the early years of this competition we struggled to find a venue, but in the last four years (starting at Kent in 2014) clubs have now applied to host the event, as the quality of these young British riders is reaching a much higher standard.
“With the 2016 Under-19 Champion Max Clegg now being ineligible, there will be a new British Champion crowned on the night. As with all Under-21 competitions, each and every year the line-ups for these Finals seem to get stronger and stronger and with this Under-19 Final it is no different.
“Some of the early favourites will be the likes of Bewley, Greaves and Wajtknecht, also not forgetting 2016 Under-19 third placed rider Jack Smith plus 16-year-old sensation Jack Parkinson-Blackburn.
“The home supporters will also have plenty to cheer with both Walker and Atkins in the sixteen. The talent we have coming through really does excite me, and this Final is such a strong line-up, with riders who ride in all three leagues across the country, as well as some very talented 15 and 16-year-olds.”
The meeting organisers are looking for a sponsor who can help out each of the riders with a tyre if possible. That sponsor’s logo would go across the front of the Race Jacket for this event, as well as an advert in the programme. Anyone interested should e-mail [email protected]
LINE-UP (in alphabetical order): Henry Atkins (Plymouth), Dan Bewley (Belle Vue), Kyle Bickley (Belle Vue), Tom Brennan (Eastbourne), Kelsey Dugard (Isle of Wight), Nathan Greaves (Wolverhampton), Jamie Halder (unattached), Luke Harris (Cradley), Jordan Jenkins (Mildenhall), Joe Lawlor (Cradley), Jack Parkinson-Blackburn (Birmingham), Luke Ruddick (Mildenhall), Jack Smith (Belle Vue), Jack Thomas (Kent SLYDE Kings), Zach Wajtknecht (Lakeside), Callum Walker (Plymouth).
PLEASE NOTE: The National League Fours which had previously been announced to be held on Sunday (July 9th.) at Swindon Speedway has been cancelled. No restaging date is yet available.