Kent King vs Plymouth Gladiators.

[teaboy279 1,038]

Central Park's opening League fixture comes a week later then expected after the match against Leicester fell foul of the inclement weather but means the visitors are back to full strength. Plymouth arrive with 2 reserves having something of a break through season and both will look to continue thier improvement Monday. Campos and Extance have both had good and bad meetings this year but if they both fire it could be a tough night for the home side. In the heat leader roles you have 2 exciting track specialists and thier never say die attitudes pretty much garuntee some exciting racing. Leading the line after his 15 point maximum on the isle of wight is Ben Wilson, he had a slow start last time out at Kent but then scored 7 from his last 3 rides and will look to carry that form into heat 1 Monday.

For the home side Hope's are high for being able to track a 7 man team for the first time in a number of weeks. At reserve Nathan Ablitt continues to impress, and despite taking a few spectacular knocks has never lost confidence or speed. And partnering him is Jacob Clouting who has continued to improve week on week and you can also see the confidence starting to grow. Rob Ledwith skippers the side and is looking more and more secure and in control, without losing any speed. A real professional both on and off the track. Jordan Jenkins comes back from exams and a coccyx injury looking to continue in the form he was in before his short break when he was beating everyone and anyone. Anders Rowe Continues to impress where ever he rides at both national and championship level whilst also slipping under the radar somewhat. Spearheading the team is young sensation Drew Kemp, who takes all aspects of the sport seriously and his maturity fair outweighs his years. Will be looking to repeat the maximum he secured in the national trophy fixture a month or so ago. But the big news is the potential return to the side of 2018 supporters rider of the season Alex Spooner after his horror smash, assuming he is fit, this meeting is just about taking the points available and getting through the meeting safely. 

I think on paper Kent look favorites on home turf, but I dont see anywhere near the 22 point margin from early this season. The Plymouth top 3 all have the potential to get maxes on thier night, so I can see this going towards a last heat decider with the guests looking to secure a league point.

 

[cityrebel 2,960]

4 hours ago, teaboy279 said:

Central Park's opening League fixture comes a week later then expected after the match against Leicester fell foul of the inclement weather but means the visitors are back to full strength. Plymouth arrive with 2 reserves having something of a break through season and both will look to continue thier improvement Monday. Campos and Extance have both had good and bad meetings this year but if they both fire it could be a tough night for the home side. In the heat leader roles you have 2 exciting track specialists and thier never say die attitudes pretty much garuntee some exciting racing. Leading the line after his 15 point maximum on the isle of wight is Ben Wilson, he had a slow start last time out at Kent but then scored 7 from his last 3 rides and will look to carry that form into heat 1 Monday.

For the home side Hope's are high for being able to track a 7 man team for the first time in a number of weeks. At reserve Nathan Ablitt continues to impress, and despite taking a few spectacular knocks has never lost confidence or speed. And partnering him is Jacob Clouting who has continued to improve week on week and you can also see the confidence starting to grow. Rob Ledwith skippers the side and is looking more and more secure and in control, without losing any speed. A real professional both on and off the track. Jordan Jenkins comes back from exams and a coccyx injury looking to continue in the form he was in before his short break when he was beating everyone and anyone. Anders Rowe Continues to impress where ever he rides at both national and championship level whilst also slipping under the radar somewhat. Spearheading the team is young sensation Drew Kemp, who takes all aspects of the sport seriously and his maturity fair outweighs his years. Will be looking to repeat the maximum he secured in the national trophy fixture a month or so ago. But the big news is the potential return to the side of 2018 supporters rider of the season Alex Spooner after his horror smash, assuming he is fit, this meeting is just about taking the points available and getting through the meeting safely. 

I think on paper Kent look favorites on home turf, but I dont see anywhere near the 22 point margin from early this season. The Plymouth top 3 all have the potential to get maxes on thier night, so I can see this going towards a last heat decider with the guests looking to secure a league point.

 

It's looking dry on monday, hallelujah!

[teaboy279 1,038]

6 hours ago, cityrebel said:

It's looking dry on monday, hallelujah!

Not only dry, but warm also. 

[Sings4Speedway 3,247]

Who was expecting Adam Sheppard to be on a paid max after his first 3 rides? 

Whilst the win was secured there must be a few alarm bells ringing at Kent? The pre season favourites do look like there is a tendency to self destruct a little. Spooner obviously rusty, Jenkins & Ledwith brilliant but inconsistent and Kemp yet to set his season on fire. Fortunately the mature beyond his years Rowe held things together. 

By most debut season Ablitt is having a decent one but with much promise he is being eclipsed by the others stepping into the league and with the Gladiators reserve pairing not being one of the leagues strongest there are signs of weakness in the once dominant Kings side.

[East End Fan 426]

1 hour ago, Sings4Speedway said:

Who was expecting Adam Sheppard to be on a paid max after his first 3 rides? 

Whilst the win was secured there must be a few alarm bells ringing at Kent? The pre season favourites do look like there is a tendency to self destruct a little. Spooner obviously rusty, Jenkins & Ledwith brilliant but inconsistent and Kemp yet to set his season on fire. Fortunately the mature beyond his years Rowe held things together. 

By most debut season Ablitt is having a decent one but with much promise he is being eclipsed by the others stepping into the league and with the Gladiators reserve pairing not being one of the leagues strongest there are signs of weakness in the once dominant Kings side.

As usual, Sings ignores inconvenient facts. He forgets that the Kings are still without the best reserve in the league, bar none, Danny Gilkes. When he is back

( does anybody know when ?), the Kings will look unbeatable again.  But in the meantime it looks as if the Leicester Thomsons are coming good. They had a

surprisingly big win at Cradley.  But Sings is right in that the Kings do themselves no good with lots of falls and other points sapping incidents.  Makes for

closer scores though !

[Sings4Speedway 3,247]

10 minutes ago, East End Fan said:

As usual, Sings ignores inconvenient facts. He forgets that the Kings are still without the best reserve in the league, bar none, Danny Gilkes. When he is back

( does anybody know when ?), the Kings will look unbeatable again.  But in the meantime it looks as if the Leicester Thomsons are coming good. They had a

surprisingly big win at Cradley.  But Sings is right in that the Kings do themselves no good with lots of falls and other points sapping incidents.  Makes for

closer scores though !

No doubt that a fit and race sharp Gilkes returning will make the Kings a much bigger force (at least for the month he spends at reserve) but as ever once he moves into the team his threat will be nullified a bit like the Thompsons / Palin so its down to who fills the positions. Kent are likely to see Spooner at reserve and he could be even more dangerous there whereas Leicester with Ryan Mac & the ever absent Halder not so much.

Are there any update on Gilkes likely return date? Obviously with a promising career it would be foolish to rush back but there must come a cut off point when he will choose to sit out the remainder of the year and maintain his 2.00 average plus im sure there is a signing deadline in July but of course that could have secretly changed?

[blueherb777 571]

20 minutes ago, East End Fan said:

As usual, Sings ignores inconvenient facts. He forgets that the Kings are still without the best reserve in the league, bar none, Danny Gilkes. When he is back

( does anybody know when ?), the Kings will look unbeatable again.  But in the meantime it looks as if the Leicester Thomsons are coming good. They had a

surprisingly big win at Cradley.  But Sings is right in that the Kings do themselves no good with lots of falls and other points sapping incidents.  Makes for

closer scores though !

Sums it up very nicely.Was always going to be closer than earlier meeting with Gladiators....and it was,as Kings only pulled clear late on.

[HGould 2,213]

Kent's biggest problem is their track and the curfew.

If they could get an extention to 3 hours (or at least 2 1/2 hours) and spend a few quid of Len's petty cash on the track, they would find the 5-10 points their ability shows they are missing as everything would be  a little less rushed.

Not Kent's fault as it's a shame they cannot fulfil undoubted potential or consider moving up.

 

[cityrebel 2,960]

Last night was a very slickly run affair. No parade and a short interval contributed to a 8pm finish, perfect!

[hawks 1975 69]

Yes it was slickly run, but why no parade? The parade should be 15 minutes earlier, thereby having everyone ready to start bang on 6.30pm. 

I always feel a parade is the right way to start proceedings. Let the fans see what the riders look like behind the helmets. Give them a chance to cheer for their favourites. If the announcer is clued up/humorous - so much the better. It can set the scene for the match. It's more professional as well. Back in the days of 'Make It a Date, Friday at Eight' at the Wick - in the days when Len was still leaping - he used to do it really well, and there was always the lucky fifty pence piece for the youngsters after the toss. 

Come on Kent - don't forget the parade! 

[HGould 2,213]

6 minutes ago, hawks 1975 said:

Yes it was slickly run, but why no parade? The parade should be 15 minutes earlier, thereby having everyone ready to start bang on 6.30pm. 

I always feel a parade is the right way to start proceedings. Let the fans see what the riders look like behind the helmets. Give them a chance to cheer for their favourites. If the announcer is clued up/humorous - so much the better. It can set the scene for the match. It's more professional as well. Back in the days of 'Make It a Date, Friday at Eight' at the Wick - in the days when Len was still leaping - he used to do it really well, and there was always the lucky fifty pence piece for the youngsters after the toss. 

Come on Kent - don't forget the parade! 

agreed Len was outstanding at Hackney as were a number of Promoters of that era, hard to think of any/many of that quality left who know how to put on a Show. 

[cityrebel 2,960]

9 minutes ago, hawks 1975 said:

Yes it was slickly run, but why no parade? The parade should be 15 minutes earlier, thereby having everyone ready to start bang on 6.30pm. 

I always feel a parade is the right way to start proceedings. Let the fans see what the riders look like behind the helmets. Give them a chance to cheer for their favourites. If the announcer is clued up/humorous - so much the better. It can set the scene for the match. It's more professional as well. Back in the days of 'Make It a Date, Friday at Eight' at the Wick - in the days when Len was still leaping - he used to do it really well, and there was always the lucky fifty pence piece for the youngsters after the toss. 

Come on Kent - don't forget the parade! 

The parade is fine when it's 6.15, but too many times it can be nearer to 6.25. With a two hour curfew it needs to be done and dusted before 6.30.