Good news for the Kent SLYDE Kings ahead of today’s National Trophy match versus Eastbourne Eagles is that summer signing Jacob Clouting is fit to resume his so far truncated career with the Central Park Stadium-based side.
In fact this will be the 19-year-old Clouting’s second only appearance at Central Park – the first back on May Day Holiday weekend lasted less than one lap before a very unfortunate racing incident saw the rider from Suffolk suffer two breaks to his foot.
Clouting came through a behind closed doors at the Iwade training track in Swale on Saturday (9/6) morning, was looking very impressive by the early afternoon and happily at the close of proceedings reported no adverse reaction from his injured foot.
Clouting’s much anticipated return is Kent’s only change – reutming back into the reserve berth.
Ironically. the Eastbourne-born rider who’s been covering for Clouting in recent matches, Nick Laurence finds himself included in his home town’s side this time. Five-days short of his 28th. birthday, Laurence staked a claim for a more permanent slot by taking the first individual title of his stop-start career on Saturday at Arlington, the Reading Speedway Bob Radford Memorial. Charlie Brooks is the incumbent though has school exam commitments preventing him from making a first competitive appearance at Central Park.
Also missing is Charley Powell – though the Orpington-born racer rode in the relatively narrow victory over Plymouth Devils (also in the NT Southern Group) on Saturday, the recent collar bone break victim steps out of the firing line this time – with Eagles’ team boss Connor Dugard utilising the Rider Replacement facility for the second string.
Teams [in alphabetical order]:
Kent SLYDE Kings:
Luke Bowen; Jacob Clouting; Taylor Hampshire]; Anders Rowe; Alex Spooner; Nathan Stoneman; Jack Thomas
Eastbourne Eagles:
Mark Baseby; Tom Brennan; Kelsey Dugard; Jason Edwards; Nick Laurence; Georgie Wood. R/R for Charley Powell; no. 8 TBA
The action gets underway at 6.30pm at Central Park Stadium on Monday 11th.
Pictures supplied by Elizabeth Leslie.