It’s an opportunity for some friendly but fiercely competitive club rivalry on Monday when Kent Speedway stages the annual Invicta Pairs championship at Central Park.
The event which is sponsored by the supporters of the old Crayford Speedway club, sees six of the Kent SLYDE Kings in action in three duos along with invited riders from Rye House Raiders and the popular Kent-based Baseby brothers in a Pairs competition.
The club names represented are the SLYDE Kings themselves of course, the Rye House Raiders (led by former Kings’ skipper Ben Morley, for his first appearance this year at the track he graced for so long) plus three names from Speedway’s past: Crayford, Romford and the Crusaders – a nickname used by two past teams from the county, Canterbury & Sittingbourne.
The club names represented are the SLYDE Kings themselves of course, the Rye House Raiders (led by former Kings’ skipper Ben Morley, for his first appearance this year at the track he graced for so long) plus three names from Speedway’s past: Crayford, Romford and the Crusaders – a nickname used by two past teams from the county, Canterbury & Sittingbourne.
Representing the home side’s club name will be the 1 & 2 in the current squad: the two Lukes – Messrs Bowen & Clifton. Wearing the Crayford Kestrels race jackets will be Danno Verge (who finished runner up riding for the Kestrels club, who were based in north-west Kent in the 1970s and 1980s, in last year’s inaugural event) and the in-form Danny Ayres.
Romford Bombers are sure to make an explosive impact with two hugely talented teens representing the Essex club (which had a brief but memorable time in the Speedway sun in the early 1970s): James Shanes and Jack Thomas.
Outside of the club ranks, the Rye House Raiders are sending a pair along – alongside the hugely popular Morley (a Kent Kings stalwart from 2013 to the end of last season, when he signed off by taking the National Pairs and League Riders Championship ‘double’ ) is Maidstone-based Connor Locke.
Finally, wearing the famous blue & yellow crossed-swords race jacket of the Crusaders will be the Sevenoaks-based brothers, Aaron & Mark Baseby. Aaron rode for the SLYDE Kings in 2014 and ’15 and Mark’s last appearance at his home county track saw him beat all-comers (including Morley of course) in last season’s SilverSki Championship. It’s a particularly appropriate side for the Baseby brothers to represent as the siblings rode for the Iwade-based Sittingbourne Crusaders from 2005 to 2008 when the club based at the Old Gun Site rode in the Conference League.
The event is an opportunity also to remember the greats of Speedway’s past in the county and ex-riders who’ve confirmed they’re attending include Laurie Etheridge (himself a former National League Riders Champion), Alan Sage, Barry Thomas, Alan Mogridge and Les Rumsey – who each represented both Crayford & Canterbury in their distinguished careers.
The action gets underway at Central Park at 6.30pm on Monday 23 May.
Romford Bombers are sure to make an explosive impact with two hugely talented teens representing the Essex club (which had a brief but memorable time in the Speedway sun in the early 1970s): James Shanes and Jack Thomas.
Outside of the club ranks, the Rye House Raiders are sending a pair along – alongside the hugely popular Morley (a Kent Kings stalwart from 2013 to the end of last season, when he signed off by taking the National Pairs and League Riders Championship ‘double’ ) is Maidstone-based Connor Locke.
Finally, wearing the famous blue & yellow crossed-swords race jacket of the Crusaders will be the Sevenoaks-based brothers, Aaron & Mark Baseby. Aaron rode for the SLYDE Kings in 2014 and ’15 and Mark’s last appearance at his home county track saw him beat all-comers (including Morley of course) in last season’s SilverSki Championship. It’s a particularly appropriate side for the Baseby brothers to represent as the siblings rode for the Iwade-based Sittingbourne Crusaders from 2005 to 2008 when the club based at the Old Gun Site rode in the Conference League.
The event is an opportunity also to remember the greats of Speedway’s past in the county and ex-riders who’ve confirmed they’re attending include Laurie Etheridge (himself a former National League Riders Champion), Alan Sage, Barry Thomas, Alan Mogridge and Les Rumsey – who each represented both Crayford & Canterbury in their distinguished careers.
The action gets underway at Central Park at 6.30pm on Monday 23 May.
TAGS: Kent Kings