The final piece of the Kent Speedway 2017 jig-saw was dropped into place this week, as agreement was reached for Manchester-based Ben Hopwood to become a Kent SLYDE Kings rider for the forthcoming National League campaign.
It is widely acknowledged across the sport that the experienced Hopwood’s final average of 2016 was in fact well below what he is capable of. Having had a season of being moved around starting with Eastbourne (where he’d tasted silverware success in 2015) and finally ending at Stoke, it was not surprising that the 25-year-old’s scoring suffered at times.
The twice runner-up in the GB Youth Championship appeared for the Kings as a guest on two occasions last year and performed very well both times. It was at these times that the rider made it clear to Team Manager, Chris Hunt that a link with the SLYDE-backed Kings would be his number one choice and he has followed that up with a strict winter fitness regime plus a big investment in machinery to declare,
“I am determined to make 2017 my best year ever. I want to have a happy healthy season first of all and push my average back up where it should be – my ambition in that regard is to be scoring so well that I’ll be there challenging Luke (Bowen) for the number one race jacket. I’m really looking forward to joining the Kings – it’s a move that I’ve felt could’ve been on the cards for a few seasons but never happened due to the numbers game”.
Those same numbers now play to the Salford-born rider and to his new club’s advantage as the Central Park Stadium team boss, Chris Hunt comments,
Those same numbers now play to the Salford-born rider and to his new club’s advantage as the Central Park Stadium team boss, Chris Hunt comments,
“With such a low average (5.83), it was a no-brainer to me to snap up Ben. And there were any number of other clubs who wanted to sign him up for the same reason. Such figures are two points at least behind what one can expect immediately from such a tried and tested and reliable performer. I am delighted to welcome him to Kent”.
Hopwood is raring to go for a campaign which begins on Good Friday evening with the visit of one of the rider’s former clubs Mildenhall,
“I am over the moon to be with such a professional club and will respond to the pressure being placed on me to produce big scores”.
“I am over the moon to be with such a professional club and will respond to the pressure being placed on me to produce big scores”.
TAGS: Kent Kings