Mildenhall DJS Fen Tigers – proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery – seek to keep their 100% start to the season going and clinch a place in Speedway’s National Development League Knock-Out Cup Final when they take on the Kent Royals at West Row on Sunday 16th. April (4pm start time).
Holding a crucial two points lead from the first leg which ended 46-44 to the Suffolk side on Easter Sunday, the Fen Tigers welcome back skipper Lee Complin who’ll combine with the most in-form rider of British Speedway’s third tier season so far, Alfie Bowtell. The Chelmsford-born Bowtell having won his last nine races in a row.
Also in excellent form in the first month of this season is a rider, like Bowtell returning for a second spell with the Mildenhall club in 2023, Arran Butcher – with a decisive paid 11 points score in the first leg down at Kent last weekend.
The Royals (who are based at a track in Iwade in the Swale district of Kent) hope to be at full strength as their former Mildenhall rider, twice GB Youth champion Nathan Ablitt is well again after missing the league match between the two sides earlier this month. Ablitt was a member of the Fen Tigers’ 2021 title-winning squad but his missed both of his subsequent NDL sides’ visits to West Row, so will be keen to make amends and capitalise on Kent’s behalf on his track knowledge. A rider who has visited West Row more than any other opposition rider in the circuit’s close to 50 years history is the Royals’ number one, Ben Morley. Twice a League Riders’ Individual Championship winner, Morley is the only rider so far this term to have beaten Bowtell and remains an ever dangerous opponent.
Last year’s semi final clash between these same two rival clubs went right down to the wire and this time with the second leg being at their home track having already done the hard work of an away win, Mildenhall’s team boss Jason Gardner is optimistic the job can be completed,
“We can expect Kent to be stronger than their last visit and so aren’t taking anything for granted. Our riders have all cause to be satisfied by how their season has started and we expect to kick on from our impressive performances so far and with the backing again of a large and enthusiastic West Row crowd we aim to get the job done.”
The gates open to let in those Speedway fans at 2.30pm, with the pre-meeting parade at 3.40pm and Tapes Up on heat one of this KOC semi-final is at 4pm – this Sunday 16th. April.