The 2009 Kart Raceway Cobras

The third tier of British Speedway takes on a new look in 2009, with tighter, more structured regulation to mirror that of its Elite and Premier counterparts. Rebranded from the Conference League to the National League, the 2009 competition will see 9 entrants, including the Kart Raceway Cobras.

While the prime focus will remain on developing new British talent, the Cobras certainly have the potential to move up on last season’s disappointing 7th of 8 Conference finish.

Three riders return from 2008’s roster: Danny Halsey, Lee Strudwick and Rob Smith. Halsey led the Cobras’ averages last year, at just a shade under 9, a display that warranted the Mr Cobra rider of the year award and ran alongside 4th place in the Conference League Riders Championship and a British U-21 Final appearance. He also learned plenty when given a shot at the Premier League Rockets following Danny Betson’s retirement, as a more than respectable near 4 point average demonstrates. He has been handed the Cobras’ captaincy in 2009.

Strudwick, meanwhile, finished 2nd in the Cobras’ averages at 8.23, and also did well to battle back from separate shoulder and back injuries. Like Halsey, he is still just 20 and was also a British U-21 Finalist in 2008. Smith is just a year older, and finished last year with a 6 ½ point record and 7th place in the CLRC.  

There are four new faces in the side. The biggest is Rye House asset Jamie Courtney, whose Premier League ambitions with the Rockets in 2006 ended in untimely injury.

20 year old Daniel Blake featured in second half races at Rye in 2008, and brings with him Conference League experience with Oxford, Plymouth and Mildenhall. He will be “the local boy” of the team, heading in from just across the county border in Harlow. 

Kent-based Michael Bovis represented parent club Eastbourne in the Academy League in the Conference last year, while Ben Morley will be the youngest member of the team, reaching his 15th birthday on the eve of the new season. The Southender competed in the 250cc rounds of the British U-15 Championship last term. 

While a full fixture list is not yet finalised, the 2009 Cobras are slated to take to the track for the first time at home on Saturday, April 11th, against opposition to be confirmed in the near future.