It’s a history-making moment on Friday for the Kent SLYDE Kings when they make their first appearance at the new National Speedway Stadium in Manchester in a Travel Plus National League match against the Belle Vue Colts.
With away matches to follow this trip to the north west, back in that region on Saturday week to take on Stoke and then a West Midlands double versus Coventry & Cradley in September it is on the road that the Sittingbourne-based club’s destiny in terms of their final League position is likely to be shaped.
And it’s a rather unfamiliar looking line-up that will begin this all important run of fixtures up in the Gorton area of Manchester on Friday evening.
And it’s a rather unfamiliar looking line-up that will begin this all important run of fixtures up in the Gorton area of Manchester on Friday evening.
Skipper Luke Bowen is hoping to have a ride out over the weekend with a view to return from his injury lay-off (bruised back and broken/lacerated fingers) on Bank Holiday Monday so remains on the sidelines for the visit to Belle Vue. Coming in as Guest replacement in the number one race jacket will be Rye House Raiders’ Aussie rider Rob Branford.
Also still out on Friday but also hoping to make a return in the home match against his former club Eastbourne is David Mason (concussive and back injuries) and a second Guest is allowable to cover for the experienced rider, with Salford-based Ben Hopwood making what is his shortest journey to go racing as the cover for Mason.
A blow to the SLYDE Kings’ management team was that the authorities ruled that despite Glasgow’s match away at their Scottish rivals Edinburgh being a fixture which was arranged long after the Belle Vue versus Kent TPNL match, Danny Ayres who rides also for the Premier League [PL] Tigers’ side has to turn out for the side from Ashfield rather than the SLYDE Kings. The Rider Replacement facility will be used for the missing Ayres.
For the remaining members of the visitors’ septet, James Shanes (fresh from his third place in Monday’s Laurels), Luke Clifton and the in-form reserve pairing of Danno Verge & Jack Thomas this will be a first ever sight riding-wise of the 347 metres circuit within the splendid new-build National Speedway Stadium [NSS].
The home side have been hit also by the clash with that Edinburgh vs. Glasgow cup tie with their number one, the 16 year old Dan Bewley being a more than useful operator at PL level for the Scottish capital-based Monarchs in this his debut season in the sport as well as being number one for the Colts. The Manchester club use a Guest at number one also then – drafting in King’s Lynn’s four-times former British Youth champion, Nathan Greaves. The other two heat leaders in the Colts’ side are Lee Payne (who scored a totally dominant-looking paid maximum on his last home outing at the NSS) and former Cradley man Matt Williamson. Rob Shuttleworth has a difficult time of late, being thrown out of the Colts’ side in the National Fours after an on track altercation lead to accusations of a fight. It’s unclear if further disciplinary action is to follow for the Cumbrian.
The side is completed by twice former British Junior champion at Short Track (also known as Flattrack), Tom Woolley; another 2016 newcomer (who missed out on the Colts’ recent match at Central Park, Joe Lawlor and the former British Grasstrack champion making a go of it at Speedway with his local club this term, Andy Mellish.
The action gets underway at 7.30pm on Friday 26 August at the National Speedway Stadium,
Kirkmanshulme Lane, [next to the Greyhound Stadium], Gorton, Manchester, M12 4WB.
Kirkmanshulme Lane, [next to the Greyhound Stadium], Gorton, Manchester, M12 4WB.
TAGS: Kent Kings