National League
Rye House Speedway: Meet the 2010 Kart Raceway Cobras.
By Admin
Mar 5, 2010, 14:31

Jamie Smith

The 2003 World U-21 Finalist will be aiming to make up for lost time as he heads up the Cobras’ strike-force for 2010. Held back by a dreadful run of injuries these last few years – most infamously at King’s Lynn (a broken leg after a collision with the track grader) and Mildenhall (a broken ankle after clearing the 12 foot high stock car fence) – a measure of his continued potential and determination came in yet another injury-shortened campaign last term. Representing the King’s Lynn Barracudas, his average for the season of 10.34 was bettered only by Scunthorpe’s Simon Lambert…. on 10.35.

That record included a paid 14 haul from 5 starts at Rye last April.

A treble winner with Hull in 2004, he has also ridden for Reading, Stoke, Somerset, Swindon, Newcastle and Peterborough’s Conference League Pumas.

Kyle Hughes

See main profile in the “Meet the Silver Ski Rockets” section.

David Mason

Named as captain for the new-look Cobras, the 2001 Conference League Riders Champion is now firmly back where he belongs after rejoining Rye last August following a frustrating comeback stint at Mildenhall in which he struggled to shrug off the race rust that had accumulated during his absence from the sport. The Rockets’ captain across 2001-2003, his other clubs include Weymouth, Stoke, Plymouth Swindon and the London Lions.

In addition to his CLRC crown, he is a former 3-time British U-21 Finalist and World Semi-Final reserve.

Lee Strudwick

Although initial suggestions were that the former Wimbledon Don might be heading away from Hertfordshire for 2010, the good news is that the British U-21 international will now be returning to Hoddesdon for a fourth term – and determined to build on what was a strong second half to 2009. He will have a starting average (excluding bonus points) of 6.26, with plenty of scope to get back to – and surpass – 2008’s 6.74 mark.

Last year’s personal highlight? Quite possibly a joint-top scoring paid 14 for Great Britain in the third U-21 Test against Australasia at the Isle of Wight.

A British U-21 Finalist in 2008.

Ben Morley

Turning 16 just ahead of the new season, the then-15 year old turned more than a few heads in his freshman season in the sport in 2009. Highlights included blasting Plymouth for a monster paid 16 and the Isle of Wight for 10, as well as producing a critical 9 in the Cobras’ win at Newport and the same score at King’s Lynn.

The Southend-based racer more than deserved his reward of a place in the British U-18 Championship at Scunthorpe last September.

Marc Owen

Exciting prospect and former Hoddesdon second-halfer Owen spent the tail-end of last season with the Newport Hornets on passing his 15th birthday in August. After one race as a No.8 (scoring 2 points), his full debut came in an 8 point haul…. at Rye House.  

A key factor in the youngster's decision to sign Rye House forms for 2010 has been the availability of several experienced tutors at Hoddesdon, not least former World Champion Michael Lee and Alan Mogridge.

Owen finished 5th in the British U-18 Championship. He had previously placed 5th in the 2008 British U-15 series.

Shane Hazelden

Teenager Hazelden is already familiar to Rye supporters from his second half appearances. Previously 6th in the 2007 British U-15 Championship and winner of the U-15 250cc race at the Cardiff Grand Prix that same year, he made two late season National League appearances for Newport last term, debuting at this level with an impressive paid 10 at King’s Lynn and then delivering an equally excellent paid 8 for the Hornets in the return against the Barracudas in Wales.

He had an operation in October 2009 to remove the metalwork from a previous leg break and is now gearing up to his first full season of League racing.


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