Nikko

Hi All We will be launching our new website at 7am on Thursday 24th January together with a dedicated site for mobile access on iphones and android phones so you can keep up to date with our news while you are on the move. We will also be announcing our first rider, team manager, and our name. There will also be a press release from our promotion with the latest news, with more in the coming weeks. We thank everyone for their patience, there has been a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes and we wanted to ensure the structure of the club was right before announcing too much. Thanks again to everyone for their comments and we look forward to seeing you in 2013.

Kent Speedway are pleased to confirm that so far 5 sponsors have signed up for the 2013 season.

My pleasure. If there is information that is ready to be released than we will do so. Obviously I cannot comment on all aspects of what is going on, for example I am not at liberty at the moment to publish the riders but we will keep everyone as up to date as we can. I have passed on your suggestion regarding the team name and thanks for the idea. I will be at the stadium this Saturday and we are hoping to take some photos of the track etc. One of my key goals is to promote Kent Speedway to a whole new generation so we are heavily involved in Facebook and Twitter however we will not forget hardcore speedway fans who use this forum. Regards Nikko

Thanks for the posts. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes including work on the track, the setup of the sound barrier and we are due to start soon on the pits. We have started to get sponsors on board and working with local media to decide how we will create interest in the coming months. As we have stated the first meeting will be the first May Bank Holiday Monday. The club nickname will be announced shortly once the promotion have decided which of the names suggested will be chosen. Once agreed we will launch our permanent website. We may announce individual riders, or the team as a whole but this decision is yet to be made. As with all suggestions on the Internet, either from this forum, Facebook or Twitter I do pass them onto the Promotion for discussion. Regards Nikko

Never thought I would see Jon back in a Mildenhall race jacket, but can't wait to welcome him to Central Park as a Fen Tiger. Some of the funniest days at West Row were with Armo and Dipster. Good luck to my old mate.

Further to the above posts Kent Speedway can confirm that we are a new club, and a promotion in our own right, however it would be foolish to set up a new venture without using an experienced promoter to help, and in fact the BSPA demand it. Len has been fantastic, and we couldnt have gotten this far without him, with his knowledge of setting up a new club, track and facilities needed for speedway and also offered Kent Speedway the use of some ex Raiders which was accepted but Kent Speedway is Kent Speedway and must, and will stand on it's own. Len will advise the promotion this season and that will be invaluable. This is NOT the same as when Rye House rode a season at West Row, Mildenhall as Rye House years ago. This is Kent Speedway.

Merry Xmas from all at Kent Speedway, we look forward to seeing you all in 2013

Kent Speedway now on Twitter. Please follow us at @kentspeedway

Team building is progressing nicely and the Promotion are working on completing the team. Riders will be announced on our website.

Hi everyone We are really pleased that we have been able to make the announcement now, and to have had so much interest already in our new venture. We will be spending the next couple of weeks (and months) working at the track and continuing to set up the infrastucture needed to ensure that this is a success for many years to come. This will include a brand new and exciting website which will be launced in December but in the meantime you can keep up to date with our temporary site the link is in my signature and will also be on the BSPA website by tomorrow. For the moment we will be known as Kent Speedway until we decide, through our competition, what the nickname for the club will be. We are already securing sponsors and I will be spending the Xmas period and January/February working on this. More details to follow. I am always happy to receive ideas and will be working with local schools, companies and fans on some new and exciting initatives. Look out for some more major announcements in the coming weeks. Thanks for everyones support. Neil "Nikko" Day Commercial Manager - Kent Speedway

Would it be possible to change the title of this thread to Kent Speedway 2013 as this venture does not own the name Sittingbourne as this is owned by the setup at Iwade and it's unfair on them. I have known the guys at Iwade for years and the great work they do for the sport but Kent is a new venture and to avoid confusion should be referred to as Kent. If you have ideas for a nickname for the new club, let us know.

Great that the news is now out and I am sure more details will come out over the coming days/weeks including why the team will be known as Kent (nickname to be announced) etc. I appreciate people will see possible problems with start time and curfew but it was part of the planning permission and I'm sure it can be turned to an advantage if marketed correctly ie use the early finish as a positive to get families and kids there. Neil "Nikko" Day Be great to see you and some of the other great Fen Tigers fans there mate

An official complaint must be logged with the referee before the meeting and both Team Managers and promotions must be informed that this is the case. All referees have the contact number of Mr Morrish and at least one other member of the Management team to check any queries. If Dudley did not log an official complaint before the meeting and ride under protest, which Mildenhall must have known, then I cannot see this being changed. Unfortunately the NL is not run to a fix set of rules but by the decisions of one man which is something I have not agreed with for years. The SCB and BSPA take very little, or no, interest in the NL and leave it up to the NL Chairman. On another point, it seems such a shame that the two current big clubs in the NL seem to be continually at each other. From what I can see from the outside neither promotion have conducted themselves well this season which is a shame for the fans of two great clubs.

Surely the BSPA should take action against Sargeant? You cannot go around head butting someone and Aaron is one of the fairest riders out there.

Sorry for the delay in posting the Peterborough v Kings Lynn result. Peterborough Thundercats 7 - Kings Lynn Lightning 17 Thundercats Adam Portwood 2,1 Simon Pearce 0,0 Adam Kirby 0,2 Ben Holloway 2,0 Lightning Andy Mountain 3,3 Jake Williams 1,2* Tom Stokes 3,3 Lewis Rose 1,1 Heat 1 66.7 Mountain, Portwood, Williams, Pearce 2-4, 2-4 Heat 2 65.7 Stokes, Holloway, Rose, Kirby 2-4, 4-8 Heat 3 66.1 Stokes, Williams, Portwood, Holloway 1-5, 5-13 Heat 4 67.2 Mountain, Kirby, Rose, Pearce 2-4, 7-17 Curfew time reached: result stands

The Thundercats return to the EOES on Thursday night for an AJL meeting against the KL Lightning hoping for another home win. The Thundercats will be looking to bounce back after defeat away to Rye House on Saturday. Captain Ben Holloway comes back into the team replacing Conor Dwyer. Teams for Thursday. Peterborough Thundercats 1. Adam Portwood 2. Simon Pearce 3. Adam Kirby 4. Ben Holloway Team Manager Neil "Nikko" Day Kings Lynn Lightning 1. Andy Mountain 2. Jake Williams 3. Tom Stokes 4. Lewis Rose Team Manager Wayne Dunworth

Result from last night. Rye House Pocket Rockets 20 Peterborough Thundercats 16 More details to follow

Late change to the Thundercats at Rye House tomorrow. Conor Dwyer replaces Ben Holloway for the meeting.

On Saturday the Thundercats take on the Pocket Rockets. Teams in riding order. Rye House Pocket Rockets 1. Nick Lee 2. Danno Verge 3. Joe Graver 4. Joe Exley Peterborough Thundercats 1. Adam Portwood 2. Simon Pearce 3. Adam Kirby 4. Ben Holloway

Peterborough Thundercats 17 = Ipswich Junior Witches 7 Meeting finished after Heat 4 due to curfew – Result Stands. Peterborough Thundercats 17 Adam Portwood 3,1 = 4 Simon Pearce 0,2=2 Adam Kirby 2’,3 = 5+1 Ben Holloway © 3,3 =6 Ipswich Junior Witches 7 Niall Strudwick © 2,1=3 Martin Pearce 1,2 =3 Sam Woods F,0 = 0 Sean Philips 1, F=1 Heat 1: 69.6 Portwood, Strudwick, M.Pearce, S.Pearce 3-3 3-3 Heat 2: 70.7 Holloway, Kirby, Philips, Woods (fell) 5-1 8-4 Heat 3: 68.9 Holloway, M.Pearce, Portwood, Woods 4 -2 12-6 Heat 4: 69.5 Kirby, S.Pearce, Strudwick. Phillips (fell) 5-1 17-7 For press release and comments please go to the Academy page on the official Panthers website.

AJL Meeting 21st May Peterborough Thundercats 17 v Ipswich Junior Witches 7 Meeting finished after Heat 4 due to curfew – Result Stands. Peterborough Thundercats 17 Adam Portwood 3,1 = 4 Simon Pearce 0,2=2 Adam Kirby 2’,3 = 5+1 Ben Holloway © 3,3 =6 Ipswich Junior Witches 7 Niall Strudwick © 2,1=3 Martin Pearce 1,2 =3 Sam Woods F,0 = 0 Sean Philips 1, F=1 Heat 1: 69.6 Portwood, Strudwick, M.Pearce, S.Pearce 3-3 3-3 Heat 2: 70.7 Holloway, Kirby, Philips, Woods (fell) 5-1 8-4 Heat 3: 68.9 Holloway, M.Pearce, Portwood, Woods 4 -2 12-6 Heat 4: 69.5 Kirby, S.Pearce, Strudwick. Phillips (fell) 5-1 17-7 Thundercats go second in the league.

Ipswich Witches = 16 1. Joe Graver - X, 3, 1*, 3 = 7+1 2. Niall Strudwick - 1, 3, 2, 2 = 8 3. Martin Knuckey R/R (NS 3) (SP R) (JG) 4. Sean Phillips - 0, 1, R, 0 = 1 Peterborough Thundercats = 20 1. Adam Portwood - 3, 3, 2 = 8 2. Martin Pearce - 2*, 2, 0 = 4+1 3. Adam Kirby - 2, X, 3 = 5 4. Simon Pearce - 1*, 1, 1* = 3+2 Hopefully last nights win will please you.

Well it was third time lucky on the road as the Thundercats won their first AJL meeting at Ipswich last night. In a closely fought meeting the Thundercats really showed what they are capable of by beating a strong Ipswich team who used R/R for Martin Knuckey who didnt show. It was a strong performance all round with many highlights, the best of which was Adam Kirbys come from behind victory against Niall Strudwick. Full review will be on the Panthers official website over the weekend. SCORES: Ipswich Witches = 16 1. Joe Graver - X, 3, 1*, 3 = 7+1 2. Niall Strudwick - 1, 3, 2, 2 = 8 3. Martin Knuckley R/R (NS 3) (SP R) (JG) 4. Sean Phillips - 0, 1, R, 0 = 1 Peterborough Thundercats = 20 1. Adam Portwood - 3, 3, 2 = 8 2. Martin Pearce - 2*, 2, 0 = 4+1 3. Adam Kirby - 2, X, 3 = 5 4. Simon Pearce - 1*, 1, 1* = 3+2

Changes to the Thundercats squad. The Thundercats have been forced into a change and have made some additions to their AJL squad. Firstly Jamie Collins has quit speedway following a difficult start to the season. Thundercats Team Manager Neil "Nikko" Day confirmed that he had been contacted by Jamies father on Monday and that after crashing a couple of times on Friday at Lakeside and a couple of times at Stoke on Sunday Jamie had decided enough was enough. Speaking on Tuesday, Day said "it's disappointing that Jamie has decided speedway is not for him as I truly believe he had a future in the sport. Jamie had found it tough going in our early away matches and had had a number of crashes but it's all part of the learning curve and I urged him to consider taking a break from AJL meetings but to continue practising with us at Peterborough. Unfortunately at the moment Jamie just doesn't to be on a speedway bike and I respect that. He will always be welcome at Peterborough if he reconsiders or wants to come for a chat". Following on from the loss of one rider, and with meetings upcoming, Day spent Monday calling his contacts and confirmed today the following additions to the Thundercats squad. Simon Pearce - Simon rides at Lakeside but has already ridden for the Thundercats this season and will ride again for the Thundercats at Ipswich on Thursday night. Chris Widman - Chris has been cleared to ride in the AJL and joins the Thundercats from June as cover for other riders when they are unavailable. Liam Rumsey - Liam joins the Thundercats squad, again as cover for unavailable riders. Speaking about the new additions Day confirmed "We were very pleased with Simon when he rode for us at short notice last Friday at Lakeside and we had already agreed with him that he would ride this week at Ipswich as Ben is unavailable due to work commitments. When I received the news about Jamie I asked Simon if he would like to ride for us more often as long as the Lakeside promotion were ok with it and I would like to thank them for agreeing that Simon could race for us. I then discussed the situation with our captain Ben Holloway who suggested Chris and Liam and they soon agreed to join us. Along with the fact that Tim Nobes is now available and Conor Dwyer will also be available to us from June I am really pleased with the squad. As we have found recently, due to work commitments, riders cannot make all the meetings and so we need a bigger squad to choose from." Due to the short notice Tim, Chris and Liam cannot can make Ipswich on Thursday so the Thundercats will use Martin Pearce alongside his brother Simon, Adam Portwood and Adam Kirby. Finally Day commented on the weekends events "to be honest I didn't really want to spend anytime on Monday working on speedway after the events in Poland on Sunday but somehow we need to continue and so with a heavy heart I made the calls. As with the whole speedway community my thoughts are with Lee Richardsons family and friends. The sport has lost a true gentleman".

Bumped into Azbo (and Mark) at Lakeside last night and was really pleased to hear the news. As ADZ says Azbo had a very impressive season with the Fen Tigers last year where he was Mr Consistency and also raked up the most bonus points. Was gutted Mildenhall couldn't fit him into their team but glad he now has his chance, although shame it's due to another's injury and hope Marc Owen is ok. Give Azbo a couple of meetings to get back up to speed and he will not disappoint. PS such a shame to see Mark watching speedway instead of racing speedway.