Jenkins: We can go there and win!
Redcar’s Jordan Jenkins believes his side can remain undefeated in 2022 as the Redcar “Agilia” Bears make their first ever visit to Sandy Lane to take on the Oxford Cheetahs in the first round of the KO Cup tonight, (19:30 start).
The 20 year old believes the Bears can come away from Oxford with the win, “ We can go there and win and that is the ambition of everyone at this club, to go to every meeting and try and win. Our boys, from 1-7, are all determined to win and I know we can do it!”
Jenkins, a 2021 National League champion believes it’s all starting to come together for him, “I’m feeling confident, my gating is feeling much better, I have a Polish meeting on Tuesday so I am hoping that goes well. I’m ready to go and score some points for the Bears”
The Brit believes the KO Cup draw suits the Bears, “Oxford is a real racers track and we have a 1-7 full of racers. I think our side will go there and love the track as it is a great track!”
Despite being one of the youngest members of the Bears side Jenkins is one of only a handful of riders who has recent experience of the Sandy Lane circuit. The Redcar reserve rides for Oxford’s National League team the Oxford Chargers.
Both sides will be without their full strength septets ahead of the meeting. For Redcar, Kasper Andersen has a prior league commitment in his native Denmark, the Bears will use rider replacement in his absence.
Meanwhile, Oxford are without broken leg victim Josh MacDonald. He is replaced by exciting young talent Dan Gilkes. The Cheetahs also welcome back Cameron Heeps from illness as the Australian has missed the last 3 fixtures with illness.
Oxford have a strong side, they are led by their skipper, Scott Nicholls who is joined by another former Grand Prix star in Troy Batchelor. The SGB Championship newcomers also track solid British riders Kyle Newman and Jack Thomas who has started the season in fine form.
Oxford “Monarch” Cheetahs
1 Troy Batchlor 9.11
2 Kyle Newman 5.16
3 Jack Thomas 4.91
4 Cameron Heeps 5.05
5 Scott Nicholls 9.07 (C)
6 Dillon Rumel 4.00
7 Dan Gilkes (g) 4.00
TM Jason Crump/ Peter Schroeck
Redcar “Agilia” Bears
1 Charles Wright 8.37 (C)
2 Adam Roynon 5.08
3 Lewis Kerr 7.47
4 Rider Replacement for Kasper Andersen 5.87
5 Erik Riss 7.84
6 Jason Edwards 2.16
7 Jordan Jenkins 3.61
8 Tom Woolley
TM Jade Mudgway