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KENT are to stage the semi-final of next year’s British Under-21 Championship at Central Park on Monday April 11.Home supporters are set to have local interest in the event as Kings star James Shanes is expected to be included in the line-up after an impressive run in the competition in 2015.British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “We are delighted to have a new venue for this prestige event, and with Kent being such a great stadium, I cannot think of a better place to host it.“Kent hosted a successful British Under-19 Final in 2014, and it has always been my intention to go back to Central Park at some point soon.“My thanks must go to both Len Silver, who has always been keen to support British Under-21 events, and Roger Cearns for agreeing to this date.“In recent seasons, the semi-final has been held at Plymouth and Mildenhall, it is an event that we like to share around the country and 2016 is now the turn of Kent.“Our thanks go to the Kent promotion for agreeing to host the event, and the BSPA for supporting it.With 2016 still three weeks away, we’re already counting the days to the new season!”
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BIRMINGHAM have completed the signing of talented youngster Tom Bacon.The 22-year-old impressed during his first full season of competitive racing in the National League and was voted Mildenhall's Rider of the Year, scoring well in his appearances at Perry Barr as a visiting rider.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “There were a number of clubs interested in Tom and to be the club he wanted to join says a lot for Birmingham Speedway.“Tom is the sort of character who is going to go down really well with our supporters - he's a talented, promising speedway rider and on top of that he's a well mannered, polite young man too.“I believe he is going to have a big year for us and I'm confident he'll be a solid, consistent scorer for the team.”
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COVENTRY asset Ryan Terry-Daley will return to the club with the Storm next season.Terry-Daley, who is currently wintering in New Zealand, was part of the team at Brandon which reached the National League Grand Final in 2014 and he was then loaned out to rivals Stoke this year where he averaged 4.72.He said: “I want to increase my average, get a heat-leader spot and keep it, and I would also like to get some Premier League rides as well.“I’m hoping to do my bit to help Coventry win the league. We’ve been close before, but I think 2016 is the year so I can’t wait.”
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CRADLEY have snapped up comeback man James Purchase as their latest signing for next season.Purchase, 28, last rode in 2006 but is set to make his competitive return after taking to the track in practice sessions this winter.Purchase is happy to talk about his dark past which saw him jailed for causing death by dangerous driving.He said: “I cannot change what happened in the past, but what I have done is come back a stronger and better person. I have grown up. I have my own business, my own home with my girlfriend and things are good right now.“I am hugely honoured to join Cradley. I’ve had calls from seven other National League clubs but I took advice from Darcy Ward, a good friend, and he told me to go to Cradley.”
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KENT’S Young Rider of the Year Ben Basford has handed in a transfer request.Basford made several appearances for the Kings last season after being named as their official No.8, but his decision is based on the weekly travel time from his home in Teesside to the Sittingbourne-based Central Park circuit.Kent co-promoter Len Silver said: “This is yet another indication of the difficulty which we suffer at Kent with the damaging 8.30pm curfew and the scramble that exists in our area for locally-based riders. “We have to look further afield, or to look for riders who are more easily able to travel without their families being involved.“However, in spite of these kind of problems I am confident that the team to represent the Kings in 2016 - which will, of course include the high-octane excitement that is Danny Ayres and James Shanes - will be a team that Kent fans can be proud of.”
