Young Diamonds’ futures a big deal
DELIGHT AS DUO ARE SIGNED UP
RISING speedway stars Archie Freeman and Danny Smith have got on their bikes - and signed their first full contracts with Newcastle Diamonds, writes TONY HODGSON.
Freeman, 16, from Newcastle, was the holder of Briitsh youth titles at lower cc classes two years ago and last year competed at 500cc level.
Smith, also 16, has been shifting the Brough Park shale during junior and second-team events for a good number of seasons.
Now the Newcasle Gems regulars hope the tapes will soon go up on their senior careers after agreeing deals with the Bykerbased club.
Freeman said: “I am over the moon to be riding for Newcastle.
“This has been my ambition ever since I first sat on a bike at Newcastle Speedway and for it to become reality right now is amazing.
“This year I aim to move up into the main body of the team and to consistently score and hopefully to attract more sponsors.”
Club co-promoter Dave Tattum said: “This is a key moment for the Diamonds, signing a superbly talented, locally-sourced prospect.
“Our aim to cultivate a vibrant squad of young up-and-coming British riders and as Archie is a Geordie it makes it all the sweeter.
“Archie has made excellent progress, maturing into a fine speedway rider with bags of potential and we cannot wait for the winter to pass to get him on track next season.”
Team manager Darren Hartley added: “It is brilliant for Newcastle to have this strong young local lad in our squad.
“While initially Archie will be in our National League side, once he has more and more racing under his belt we will be looking at introducing him into the Championship squad to continue his impressive progress.
“We have massive belief in Archie’s ability and his future progress, which we were always desperate to make sure took place with us.”
On Smith, Hartley added: “Danny was always on the cards to be signed into our set -up once he turned 16.
“He perfectly fits the bill of exceptional young talent, homegrown in the North East.”
Newcastle Gems’ manager Steve Pate added: “Both Archie and Danny have been honing their skills on the 500cc engines over the last two seasons.
“Last year Danny too took part in pretty much the only full-scale 2020 competition on UK tracks, the British Youth Championships, and will join Archie at first in the ranks of the Newcastle Gems’ NDL side.
“He will gain more experience with the aim of joining the full-time Diamonds in the Championship at some point in the future.
“We are really getting a bubbling youth scene going at Newcastle and just at the right time for the lads and the club.”