The Kent CTA Fire Kings are ready to get their 2014 season underway this Easter Monday against the Kings Lynn Young Stars.

Both teams will be competing for the Easter Trophy when the tapes go up at 3pm, and Kings Lynn will be tough opposition as they were runners-up in the National League last season.

At this Monday’s Press Day and Fans Forum, the Kent management revealed that the final remaining place in the line-up will be ‘job-shared’ over the next four matches between reigning GB Grass Track junior champion, Luke Harris and a newcomer to the sport this year, a convertee from Motocross, Danny Ayres.

15-year-old Harris who hails from Northolt has already made an impression in the CTA Fire Kings’ colours in away matches down in Plymouth (where he actually won his first ever competitive race in the win over the Devon Demons) and at Leicester. 

Danny Ayres was also to impress in the trip to the Beaumont Park track in Leicester, winning two races for the Rye House junior side in the Midland Development League prompting team bosses John Sampford and Chris Hunt to decide his efforts warranted a longer look.  With both prospects looking lively on their first outings around the Central Park circuit, the decision was made to split the next four matches between the two riders and see who most rises to the challenge.

On Easter Monday it will be Harris who will wear the new-look number six race jacket; with the Newmarket-based Ayres expected to feature in the match after that and so on until the management are expected to decide on a more fixed position.

For the visitors they’ve had to make an early change too with Darryl Ritchings seriously injured in a track crash in Swindon – Sussex-based, GB Under 21 finalist Marc Owen has stepped into the Young Stars line-up.  With Owen a notable graduate of the nearby training set-up in Iwade, they’ll be plenty of local interest in how the popular 19-year-old fares.

The King’s Lynn septet has a solid spine of experience with Darren Mallett, the current appearance-record holder of those riding in the division and James Cockle – who once partnered Kent’s new number one Simon Lambert to Conference League Pairs glory.

Kyle Hughes has excelled in this decision for a number of years now though only latterly in the winter opting to give Speedway another go after originally announcing he was to change disciplines and turn to Road Racing.  For Scott Campos it’s a case of déjà vu – the USA-passport holder having figured in the history-making first-ever meeting at Central Park last May riding for the America Internationals select.

For Lewis Rose the Kent home circuit will bring back good memories – his paid 18 in what was the first-ever NL match held at the track last term was really the youngster’s breakthrough: the Fast Track rider is sure to be a real thorn in the hosts’ side again this time around.

Talking of Fast Track, the Kent management were at pains at the Fans Forum to emphasise the limited nature of the impact  having Ben Morley and skipper Lambert hooked up also with Elite League sides will have – co-promoter Len Silver explained how home fixtures arranged on dates when it was known from the outset Morley & Lambert were likely to be on EL duty were in the main challenges and Individual championships aimed to ensure the Kent side don’t have to go into vital matches in the League, Cup & Trophy without one or both of their Fast Track draft riders.

Completing the Young Stars line-up is a first-time visitor, Josh Bailey –the youngster from Ipswich will be looking to use all the knowledge imparted to him by his mentor, former Crayford rider George Barclay.

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