Suffolk pride is at stake when for the first time in a decade the county’s two Speedway sides go head to head – in a Junior Challenge match at Ipswich’s Foxhall Heath Stadium this evening (Thursday 28th.).

Ipswich have confirmed their quartet to take on Mildenhall (the Fen Tigers being proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery) with Danyon Hume stepping into the no. 1 race jacket for the hosts’ Reserve side.  Hume hails from Bucks and started out with his local track Rye House before launching into a career that has seen him take National Development League winners’ medals with both Birmingham and Leicester.  Partnering Hume will be Josh Warren – for one night only lining up against his 2022 Fen Tigers’ compatriots, Alex Spooner and Sam Bebee.

Jacob Clouting is, like Spooner, a former Kent King and this season has taken a well-trodden path as far as riders from the former Central Park side are concerned, to ride for NDL newcomers Oxford Chargers.  Clouting is Ipswich-born and is the son of the former British Under 21 champion and World Finalist at that level, both achieved when an Ipswich rider in the mid-‘90s, Savalas Clouting. 

The Witches’ four is completed by another rider with a Kentish connection, Sandwich-born James Laker, who this season captains the Iwade-based Midland & Southern Development League side, Sittingbourne Crusaders.

Bebee and Spooner (who must feel like adopting the first name ‘Sam’ for the evening!) are joined in the Fen Tigers Select side managed by Jason Gardner by Sam Hagon and Sam Woolle

The Junior Challenge Match staged over the Development League six heat format is in the second half of the main meeting this evening which sees the hosts Ipswich Witches taking on East Anglian rivals, King’s Lynn Stars in the Premiership League Cup.  The venue is Ipswich Speedway, Foxhall Stadium, Foxhall Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 5TL with action underway at 7.30pm.

Team line-ups:

Ipswich Reserves:
(1) Danyon Hume; (2) Josh Warren; (3) Jacob Clouting; (4) James Laker  
Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

Fen Tigers Select:
(1) Alex Spooner; (2) Sam Bebee; (3) Sam Hagon; (4) Sam Woolley  
Team Manager: Jason Gardner