It was a red letter day for Kent supporters when the last name was revealed for their newly-named Royals side to compete in the National League [NL]: and that letter was ‘J’.. Twice!
For Jordan Jenkins (known as ‘JJ’) was announced as returned after impressing in the 2019 side which took the runners up position in the league, not just with his on track performances but by the maturity and team-manship the 18-year-old showed.
Despite his young years, Jenkins is a natural leader having been captain for a spell of his previous club Mildenhall and after his return to the Kent camp after a brief interlude to recharge his batteries towards the close of 2019, he’s raring to go for the forthcoming campaign,“Kent’s Central Park home track is a great one to ride and I’m excited to be back. The Royals’ line up looks good and hopefully we will be up there challenging again. We are a young side but we have experience of what to expect so hopefully we can all improve our averages and push again for another play-off spot.”
The Norfolk-born rider has been boosted too by being included in the Redcar Bears’ side competing in the SGB Championship [SGBC] and being extra busy riding for clubs at opposite ends of the country is only good news for the teenager,“Having the comfort of two leagues to ride in, with extra rides is exactly what I need this season.”
He explains,“I didn’t have two leagues last year and coming back from injury the previous season I wasn’t riding enough. This coupled with the engine problems I had in the early part of the campaign meant at times I really wasn’t enjoying my Speedway.“It’s going to be by far the busiest season I’ve ever had – I have about 55 meetings scheduled even at this stage before we get going and know about any possible extra Cup & later, Play Off matches!”
He gives one example of what a schedule can look like for an ambitious young British Speedway rider,“One week in August I have a Team GB ‘No Limits’ training session on Tuesday, Kent Wednesday, Belle Vue Thursday, Scunthorpe Friday, Redcar Saturday & Newcastle Sunday!”
Jenkins has valued sponsors back on board for the season: Simpson Racing Fuels & Oils, Travelplus, Alltime Alarm Solutions, Hedge Tuning, STS, Motorex Oils, ATPI and Rentruck and thanks to such support hopes to have three complete machines ready for the start of the season,“I’m building them but doing it stage by stage with two already complete and the third well on the way”.
Jenkins has been tipped from the start of his career to be a contender for the major individual titles too and with such preparation and dedication he hopes to have a big say in the destination of both the British Under 19 and Under 21 Championships – with an added bonus being that the latter is to be staged at his SGBC home track at Redcar.
Jenkins gets underway as a Kent Royals’ rider in the NL team opener of the season at Central Park on Easter Monday (13 April) against reigning champs, Leicester Lion Cubs.