Mildenhall DJS Fen Tigers - proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery - take their 100% record in this season's National Development League [NDL] to Manchester's National Speedway Stadium on Friday (26/5) to take on the Belle Vue Colts.

Belle Vue Colts have one of the longest unbeaten records in the sport, so to come away from the NSS with a victory would be a huge result for Jason Gardner's charges in what is the side's first away match in the league this season.

There's one enforced change in the Fen men's septet. Skipper Lee Complin is unavailable and so coming in as a 'Guest' is Workington Comets' rider, Sam McGurk. The 17-year-old who hails from Bradford, West Yorkshire has considerable experience of the Belle Vue circuit of course, as he spent two seasons as a member of the Colts side, in fact working his up in a stellar rise to the top, from reserve to become the famous Manchester side's number one for a spell. The reigning 500cc British Youth Champion (he also won the 125cc class twice, in 2017 & '18) has made a flying start to the season scoring 12 and 12+1 at home for Workington and 9 at Berwick securing 8 wins/paid wins from his 14 starts so far this year.

Gardner comments,

"It's obviously a blow to be without Lee with his leadership on and off the track plus the points he contributes being so important to us. But we are very happy to have secured Sam as our Guest - a rider in great form with a proven pedigree around this track. Alfie Bowtell steps in as skipper in Lee's absence as he did on our previous away win, at Kent."

There are three very familiar faces to the travelling Mildenhall fans in the Belle Vue ranks. In-form Sam Hagon was a member of the league title-winning Fen Tigers' side of 2021 - the Essex born racer top scored for the Colts earlier this week on their bonus point winning visit to Oxford. Also impressing in that match was a big favourite of the West Row faithful last term, Luke Muff. The Yorkshireman has moved across the Pennines to ride for Belle Vue this term; where he's joined by a team mate of last season, Aussie Matt Marson. The rider from Perth saw injury ruin his Fen Tigers comeback in 2022 but is fit and keen to get his British career back on track.

There's another Antipodean in the Belle Vue side - riding against Mildenhall for a first time will be 17-year-old James Pearson from Sydney, Australia. Pearson got a full maximum in the Colts' opening home match of the season. Completing the hosts' side are their skipper Jack Smith and teenager Freddie Hodder. Smith has claimed two NDL titles in his eight year career,: with his initial club Birmingham and then swapping the Second City for the Cottonopolis, winning the league with the Colts in 2017. The son of former multi-British Champion Andy Smith had to withdraw from the Colts' last match on Wednesday at Oxford after suffering a couple of heavy falls but is expected to be fit for tonight's big match. Hodder is in his second season with the Manchester side.

The teams line up as follows:

Belle Vue Colts
1. Jack Smith (C)
2, Luke Muff
3. Sam Hagon
4. Matt Marson
5. James Pearson
6. Paul Bowen
7. Freddie Hodder

Mildenhall DJS Fen Tigers
1. Alfie Bowtell (C)
2. Josh Warren
3. Ben Trigger
4. George Congreve
5. Sam McGurk (G)
6. William Richardson
7. Arran Butcher

The venue address is :  National Speedway Stadium, 148, Kirkmanshulme Lane, Gorton, Manchester M12 4WB

Directions:
From A11 join A14 to The Midlands. Join A1 northbound to junction 35, M18. At junction 32 take M1. Junction 35A take A616 to Manchester. Follow signs to M67/A57.