Chris Hunt, Team Manager of the Kent SLYDE Kings has today announced the completion of negotiations which will bring one of Britain’s most promising young Speedway riders to Central Park for the coming season. 
20 year old Nathan Stoneman, who returned to racing after a three year absence to represent Isle of Wight for the latter part of the 2016 National League season, is expected to continue his rapid rise up the divisional rankings which took everyone by surprise last term.
His 6.98 average places him as the SLYDE-sponsored Kings’ second heat leader after skipper Luke Bowen and, with the new equipment that Nathan is investing in, he is certainly expected to improve on that figure.
His career to date has been dogged by injury, but the Cardiff-born youngster’s early start at just five years old in junior/cadet Grasstrack Racing, then through the British Speedway Youth scene (winning the GB Youth 500cc Championship in 2011, after three previous rostrum positions at 250cc level) has ensured that his enthusiasm has never been dented.
Following his huge success in the youth scene, Stoneman did originally sign for his then home town club Mildenhall Fen Tigers where his unfortunate injury run began. Speedway bikes famously have no brakes but it was breaks of the other type, to femur, collar-bone and ankle which stopped the young protégé’s progress.
But such misfortune never affected his long term ambitions to succeed in the sport and Stoneman’s return to third tier racing in August of 2016 for the Ryde-based Warriors heralded things to come – with stand-out performances including a paid 14 points score at his first ever appearance at the National Speedway Stadium at Belle Vue in Manchester and a headline-making full seven ride 21 points tally at Coventry.
These performances and a host of other eye-catching big scores, brought him to the attention of the Kent SLYDE Kings management – who then learned that the excessive travel times to his then Isle of Wight racing home (a time commitment which actually cost Nathan his full time job last year) would mean that he would be looking for a new club. Stoneman revealed that Kent was his first choice – with his liking for the track (which he first rode representing Mildenhall back in 2013) and the management set-up being cited as the major factors. Stoneman will be able to maintain his job as a tyre fitter (a trade which actually makes him, er, fitter for the exertions of life in the Speedway pits and out on track!), this ensuring that he can invest his Speedway income into his equipment.
20 year old Nathan Stoneman, who returned to racing after a three year absence to represent Isle of Wight for the latter part of the 2016 National League season, is expected to continue his rapid rise up the divisional rankings which took everyone by surprise last term.
His 6.98 average places him as the SLYDE-sponsored Kings’ second heat leader after skipper Luke Bowen and, with the new equipment that Nathan is investing in, he is certainly expected to improve on that figure.
His career to date has been dogged by injury, but the Cardiff-born youngster’s early start at just five years old in junior/cadet Grasstrack Racing, then through the British Speedway Youth scene (winning the GB Youth 500cc Championship in 2011, after three previous rostrum positions at 250cc level) has ensured that his enthusiasm has never been dented.
Following his huge success in the youth scene, Stoneman did originally sign for his then home town club Mildenhall Fen Tigers where his unfortunate injury run began. Speedway bikes famously have no brakes but it was breaks of the other type, to femur, collar-bone and ankle which stopped the young protégé’s progress.
But such misfortune never affected his long term ambitions to succeed in the sport and Stoneman’s return to third tier racing in August of 2016 for the Ryde-based Warriors heralded things to come – with stand-out performances including a paid 14 points score at his first ever appearance at the National Speedway Stadium at Belle Vue in Manchester and a headline-making full seven ride 21 points tally at Coventry.
These performances and a host of other eye-catching big scores, brought him to the attention of the Kent SLYDE Kings management – who then learned that the excessive travel times to his then Isle of Wight racing home (a time commitment which actually cost Nathan his full time job last year) would mean that he would be looking for a new club. Stoneman revealed that Kent was his first choice – with his liking for the track (which he first rode representing Mildenhall back in 2013) and the management set-up being cited as the major factors. Stoneman will be able to maintain his job as a tyre fitter (a trade which actually makes him, er, fitter for the exertions of life in the Speedway pits and out on track!), this ensuring that he can invest his Speedway income into his equipment.
The interest in this rising star of the shale sport coming to the Sittingbourne-based Kings is sure to be great and the youngster is hoping that local sponsors will want to come on board to assist him in this latest chapter of his career.
He commented of the move,”I am determined to please the Kent fans and show that the faith shown in me by Len (Silver) and Chris is not un-warranted. The management and the fans, who I’ve heard are unparalleled in their enthusiasm for the sport, will always get 110% from me in every race”.
Stoneman’s home debut will be at the opening meeting of the 2017 Speedway season at Central Park on Good Friday, April 14th.against one of his former sides, Mildenhall Fen Tigers in the Easter Chase – 6.30pm start time.
Stoneman’s home debut will be at the opening meeting of the 2017 Speedway season at Central Park on Good Friday, April 14th.against one of his former sides, Mildenhall Fen Tigers in the Easter Chase – 6.30pm start time.
TAGS: Kent Kings