It’s “Kings ready! Gladiators Ready!” for the new look Kent TouchTec Kings today (Good Friday April 19th.) taking on Plymouth in their opening away match of the 2019 Speedway season.
The National Trophy [NT] match-up between Chris Hunt’s charges and the team from deepest Devon will see debuts for no fewer than four Kent riders: indeed in the case of Nathan Ablitt & Dan Gilkes (the two reserves in the TouchTec Kings’ line up) it’s debut senior appearances in official team competition.
For Gilkes it’ll be right rides around the St. Boniface Arena (redubbed The Colosseum this term) and he commented on the eve of this big day for the 16-year-old,
“‘I’m really looking forward to finally start racing and start learning a new track. It has been a long winter and I can’t wait to finally race with the Kings race jacket on!”
They’ll be additional pressure on the long-travelling Kings as they go into this opening NT fixture without one of their number – specifically without number one at this season-opening, Drew Kemp. By utilising Rider Replacement for the absent GB U21 seeded finalist, his rides will be covered by a choice by Hunt out of the Kings’ remaining septet.
There are two former Kings’ riders in the Gladiators’ ranks: Surrey-based Adam Sheppard and the hugely exciting racer (a modern-day Gladiator in style for sure), Nathan Stoneman.
Teams [in alphabetical order]:
Plymouth Gladiators: Richard Andrews; Jamie Bursill; Scott Campos; Adam Extance; Adam Sheppard; Nathan Stoneman; Ben Wilson
Kent TouchTec Kings: Nathan Abitt; Dan Gilkes; Jordan Jenkins; Rob Ledwith; Anders Rowe; Alex Spooner
.The action gets underway at the St. Boniface Arena, Coypool Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon PL7 4NW with gates open at 5.45pm and tapes up at 7.15pm.
TAGS: Kent Kings