With the CTA Fire Kings moving up into the top four of Speedway’s National League following last Monday’s emphatic home win over Devon, the Kent management have taken a bold step of making a change at reserve, bringing in Jason Garrad to replace 15-year-old Luke Harris.
Garrad, in his mid-20s, is another – like Danny Ayres – who has graduated to Speedway from Motocross via the training schools held regularly at the Rye House circuit in Hertfordshire.
Hailing from Thame in Oxfordshire, Garrad has been a recent fixture in the Rye House Raiders side competing in the Midland Development League, returning some handy scores and establishing an unofficial average (see below) of over 9.75 points.
The plucky and gritty performances have convinced the Kent Kings’ management that the time is ripe to try Garrad out at the higher National League level.
Team boss John Sampford explains, “We have been concerned that despite Luke Harris’ undoubted talent and potential, insufficient direct progress has been made in the dozen or so matches he’s ridden in the Kings’ side and feel it’s best that he is given a spell away from the pressure of having to contribute in the number six race jacket.”
“We wish Luke well in his racing and especially in his pursuit of the GB Youth title where he’s next in action at the weekend up at Northside.
“The National League is all about giving riders who show potential, a chance to step up to the mark and progress and we feel from what we’ve seen at close quarters of Jason Garrad that he has that potential and a steely determination to succeed.”
“We know he’s coming in for what will be his senior competitive debut, in a highly pressurised and very important match on Monday (vs. Stoke in the Cup quarters) but it’s a big challenge we feel both Jason and the club can benefit from.”
The match vs. Stoke in the KOC quarter final first leg is on Monday (23/6) at Central Park, Sittingbourne – start time6.30pm.
Jason Garrad’s MDL record this season so far is:
Matches 4
Rides: 9
Points: 19
Bonus pts: 3
Total: 22
Unofficial average: 9.78
[All matches excluding Challenge up to and including the 14 June 2014]
(statistics courtesy of UNOFFICIAL MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE AVERAGES 2014 [Compiled by Mike Moseley])
Rides: 9
Points: 19
Bonus pts: 3
Total: 22
Unofficial average: 9.78
[All matches excluding Challenge up to and including the 14 June 2014]
(statistics courtesy of UNOFFICIAL MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE AVERAGES 2014 [Compiled by Mike Moseley])
Pictures supplied by Ian Bush.