BANTER’S GUIDE TO GRASSTRACK’S SPEEDWAY SUPERSTARS

 For many years, Grasstrack and Speedway have shared a wealth of talent between the two sports and 2017 will be no different. Although over the years many excellent Grasstrack racers have been lost to the more lucrative sister sport, many grassers never forget their grassroots and make the odd return.

Here is Grasstrack Banter’s guide to Grasstrackers on Speedway for the 2017 season. We wish all of our Grasstrack family members the very best of luck with their speedway endeavours...but don’t forget your roots. Like any fledged family members, you’ll always be welcomed back with opened arms!

The SCB Premiership

The new-look speedway Premiership is fairly light on Grasstrack racers as foreign riders continue to dominate the upper echelons of the sport. However, a few current and former grassers do find themselves with team spots in the top of the sport for 2017.

Current European and British Masters champion James Shanes is the most notable newcomer to the Premier League, earning himself a spot at reserve for Poole Pirates. Shanes will no doubt have lots of Grasstrack fixtures as European champion throughout 2017, so a local Wednesday night ride is perfect for him. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly Shanes gets to grips with speedway in the upper league, having only had previous experience in the National and Premier league. Another young Grasstrack protégé, Zach Wajtknecht lines up at reserve for Swindon Robins in the Premier League and will double up with Lakeside in the National League. Hopefully Zach will find some time to fit some Grasstracks into his calendar, but he is a hot prospect for speedway’s future so his Grass time will be limited. 

Other more established Grasstrackers holding their places in the Premier League are Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris and Edward Kennett. Cornishman Harris returned to Grasstrack in 2015 and is a full time member of the World Longtrack Championship circus in 2017.

Let’s hope we see plenty of the 2003 British Under 21 Champion on British Grasstrack. And Kennett turned his attention to Grasstrack several times in 2016, most notably putting in a stunning performance at the British Masters to take 2^nd place behind Shanes. Hopefully we will see lots of Kennett across the country on Grass too in 2017.

As well as these current Grasstrackers, we must tip our hat to former Grasstrack racers who find themselves competing in the Premiership in 2017. Former Youth racer Danny King rose to prominence on the Grass before switching full time to speedway when adulthood arrived. It would be great to see Danny (and perhaps even brother Jason who spent a little longer racing on Grass) back on our circuits. Danny is a British speedway superstar having featured in the British Grand Prix in 2016 as British champion. It was on Britain’s Grasstrack’s that he cut his teeth.

In a similar bracket to King, having cut their teeth on Grass before moving to speedway are Robert Lambert, who lines up for Kings Lynn and for Rye House, Ellis Perks. Ellis rode youth Grasstrack at a very young age before emigrating with his family. It would be great to see Ellis come back to his roots at some point, but for now we wish him well as his speedway career gathers momentum. As well as Rye House, Ellis lines up for Redcar in the Championship, so will be a busy lad!

Another rider in the Rye House setup with Grasstrack roots is Scott Nicholls. It was great to see Scott back on the grass in 2016 at the British Masters, although lack of

experience left him struggling for setup. Perhaps the 7 time British Champion will make more appearances in 2017, and could add a Masters title given a little more track time.

Adam Ellis’ racing career began on the French Grasstrack circuits, with former sidecar passenger Dad Jon having moved their when Adam was young. Now Ellis is an established speedway rider and Grasstrack appearances are rare and British Grasstrack run-outs even rarer. Perhaps we will see a little more of Adam in the future, but this season he will be very busy, having earned himself team a slot at Swindon in the Premier League as well as foreign engagements.

Another French former Grasstrack rider finding his way into the league is David Bellego. Along with Adam, he lines up for Swindon Robins, whilst German Grasstrack star Kai Huckenbeck’s speedway career also goes from strength to strength. He joins Kings Lynn for 2017.

 

Finally, a rider to have had fairly limited Grasstrack racing experience, particularly in adult classes, but definitely worthy of a Grass connection mention is Paul Starke. Son of former solo and sidecar racer Tony, Paul races for Somerset Rebels in their maiden season in the top league, as well as turning out for Peterborough in the Championship.

 We wish Paul, and indeed all of our former and current Grasstrack stars, the very best of luck competing in the inaugural year of racing in the SCB Premiership and hope to see them back on the grass  at some point.

Full List of Premiership Grasstrackers

Danny King (Kings Lynn)

Kai Huckenbeck (Kings Lynn)

James Shanes (Poole)

Edward Kennett (Rye House)

Scott Nicholls (Rye House)

Chris Harris (Rye House)

Robert Branford (Rye House)

Ellis Perks (Rye House)

Paul Starke (Somerset)

Adam Ellis (Swindon)

David Bellego (Swindon)

Zach Wajtknecht (Swindon)

More news to come from the SCB Championship soon. 

Special thanks to Methanol Moments Photography and Lawrence Hammonds Photography, both of which can be found easily on Facebook.