The in-form Kent CTA Fire Kings journey to Coventry on Sunday to compete in one of the Speedway National League’s biggest days of the year, the National Fours.

Eight of the nine sides in the division (with just the currently bottom side Scunthorpe missing out) compete in two groups of four with the top two from each group meeting in the Final.

In the Fours last year the then newly-formed Kent side narrowly missed out on the title up at Stoke, taking the winners Dudley to a last race decider and picking up the silver medals.

The quartet looking to go one better from last year’s runners up berth is led by captain, David Mason and comprises Ben Morley, Aaron Baseby and Benji Compton.

The CTA Fire Kings line up in Group ‘A’ alongside the holders Cradley Heathens (the Black Country side having changed their name this year), the hosts Coventry Storm and the side from Derbyshire who are actually the only team Kent have yet to face in the League proper this year so far, the Buxton Hitmen.

Cradley have a formidable line up of current average-topping Steve Worrall plus Paul Starke, Tom Perry and Max Clegg and go into the meeting as favourites.  The presence of the Heathens and the host side Coventry too, makes the challenge of progressing through their Group a significant one indeed but cheered on by a coach load of fans making the journey from Sittingbourne and buoyed after a splendid performance on Monday to beat Stoke and climb into third place in the division, the CTA Fire Kings foursome should fear no-one right now.

David Mason has pedigree in the competition having been a winner when riding for Weymouth back in 2005; whilst Aaron Baseby (who comes in for the injured Simon Lambert) rode in the Iwade-based Sittingbourne Crusaders team which came a surprise third in the 2008 Fours competition.

Benji Compton has had his best week since his comeback last season after a spell out – with a hugely impressive 15 points return in the win over Stoke followed by being called up for the first time in his career into the declared squad of an Elite League side: joining none other than reigning EL champs, the Poole Pirates as their Fast Track reserve. The Yorkshireman scored three points on his debut for the south coast giants on Wednesday versus Swindon at Poole Stadium.

In Group B, last year’s third placed side Mildenhall go in as favourites to progress finding themselves up against their local rivals King’s Lynn (who include Central Park’s favourite visiting rider Marc Owen in their quartet), Stoke and Devon.  The side from Plymouth include former CTA Fire Kings’ rider Luke Chessell but have been hit by the non-availability through injury of their exciting young speedster, James Shanes.

The action at the iconic Brandon Stadium which has been the home of Coventry Speedway since 1928 gets underway at 2.30pm. The meeting is sponsored by Buildbase.