Mildenhall Fen Tigers – proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery – get an extra opportunity for valuable track time this coming Monday (4th July) when they make the relatively short journey to Peterborough Speedway to take part in a six heat Junior League-format challenge match against the Premiership club’s Thundercats team.
Lining up for the Fen Tigers Select will be Sam Bebee and Luke Muff – both without much action since suffering injuries last month. Joining Sam & Luke in the quartet will be Leicester-based Jacob Fellows who was named as no. 8 in the Mildenhall side which took on his home city side, Leicester Lion Cubs at West Row last Sunday and Arran Butcher, who rides in the NDL for new boys Oxford Chargers.
The home side managed by Jason Pipe feature two riders who were in that victorious Leicester Lion Cubs’ team on Sunday: Tom Spencer and one-time World Youth Long Track Champion, Max Perry. They are joined by Plymouth-based Ben Trigger and a familiar face for Mildenhall fans, Elliot Kelly – the rider from the north-east having made a fairly quick return to the sport after initially ruling himself at the start of this season when originally named again in the Fen Tigers’ squad by joining Armadale Devils.
Plymouth & Armadale are respectively the senior Mildenhall side’s next opponents away and home: the side from West Lothian come to West Row on 17th July, whilst the long journey way out West into Devon is just 24 hours after the challenge match at Peterborough.
Team boss Jason Gardner is happy for the opportunity this latest Junior Challenge gives at least of two his ring-rusty squad,
“We are very grateful to Jason Pipe and the Peterborough club for inviting us to take part in the Junior Match which will form the second half of the meeting following the Peterborough Panthers vs. King’s Lynn Stars match at the East of England Showground on Monday.
“This gives Sam and Luke invaluable track time on the day before the absolutely vital NDL away trip to Plymouth. The Premier Junior League is certainly helpful as our riders are featuring quite heavily - Josh [Warren] and Alex [Spooner] with Ipswich, Sam [Bebee] with the Thundercats and Luke [Muff] for Sheffield.
“Alex is looking about 50/50 for the trip to Plymouth after suffering that dislocated shoulder in a track crash on the Isle of Wight last Thursday. And Jack [Kingston] is spending time working on his bikes in preparation for the match on Tuesday – a match when Jack is moving up into one of the heat leader berths.”
Line ups on Monday are:
Peterborough Thundercats
1. Tom Spencer
2. Ben Trigger
3. Elliot Kelly
4. Max Perry
TM Jason Pipe
Mildenhall Fen Tigers Select
1. Sam Bebee
2. Luke Muff
3.Arran Butcher
4. Jacob Fellows
TM Jason Gardner
The meeting at the East of England Showground gets underway at 7.30pm on Monday 4th.July and is Peterborough Panthers vs. King’s Lynn Stars in the Premiership with Mildenhall taking to the track in the Second Half.