It’s ‘Home James’ as far as Kent SLYDE Kings Speedway club is concerned – with the news that the Sittingbourne-based side’s World & British title winner from 2015, James Shanes will be carrying on in the famous red and white Invicta race jacket next season!
The Dorset-based Shanes established himself as unquestionably the hottest teenaged talent in British and European motorcycling this year by taking the British Masters Grasstrack title, the British championship at Sand Racing and when a member of the Team Great Britain foursome, triumphant in the Longtrack World Team Cup. As far as the assembled masses at Central Park who watch Shanes in his breathtaking all-action style are primarily concerned, it’s the youngster’s talent at Speedway which they’ll focus on; and there was plenty of that on show in his first season riding as a Kent SLYDE King!
Nicknamed the ‘Boy Wizard of Balance’ (in homage to his amazing gravity defying riding – the closest many have said, in style to the twice English World Champ of the past, the original ‘Wizard of Balance’ Peter Craven; and to the diminutive James’ physical resemblance to another ‘Boy Wizard’, Harry Potter!) – Shanes won the hearts of the Kent public in 2015 with some breathtaking performances.
The fastest home rider in terms of a season’s best time around Central Park and upping his average to 7.85 points, marked Shanes down as a rider the Sittingbourne Greyhound Stadium-based Speedway club’s promoters could not afford to let go and the management have moved swiftly to ensure the 18-year-old remains on board for next term.
“There’s a great group of people at Kent and I simply couldn’t be happier to be back as a SLYDE King again for 2016. I’d like to up my average still more and to establish myself as a number one rider in the City Gearboxes National League [CGNL].”
And with his Continental sights set on those other disciplines in which he dominated in 2015, Shanes comments,
“And on the Grass? Well, I want to win everything! And certainly make the World Longtrack Grand Prix series and ride for Team GB again as we defend our World title!”
As far as his Speedway commitments for 2016 are concerned Shanes will first see action along with his Kent SLYDE Kings colleagues in a quick fire away and home ‘double’ versus National Trophy holders Eastbourne Eagles on Good Friday (March 25th.).