The returning Kent CTA Fire Kings rider Daniel Blake has announced his immediate retirement from the sport of Speedway.

In an unexpected ‘phone call to the Central Park-based side’s Team Manager, John Sampford on Saturday evening, the Harlow-born racer, who had returned to the National League this campaign after over three and a half years away, admitted he was finding the going too tough with the modest means at his disposal.

With difficulty finding the necessary time to devote to the sport, struggling with finances and having looked badly off the pace with his current machinery up at Leicester last weekend, the former Sittingbourne Crusader has decided he is going to walk away from the sport.

A disappointed Sampford said: “It will give us the opportunity to blood a newcomer and we have one or two good prospects to pick from. A decision will be made for our opening meeting after our Press Day on Monday”.

The chase to fill the much-coveted second reserve berth at the ambitious club adds extra spice to the Press Day event which sees riders taking to the track at Central Park from 6pm today (Monday 14^th. April) with the public admitted free of charge from 5.30pm. A Fans Forum follows in the Central Bar from 8pm.

Picture supplied by Alex Summerfield.