Dugard completes Gems’ squad for new season
NEWCASTLE Speedway have completed their seven-man squad who will compete in the National Development League in the colours of the Newcastle Boiler Technical Services Gems with 22-year-old Kelsey Dugard from Hayward’s Heath in Sussex.
Gems’ manager Steve Pate said: “To many Kelsey might be seen as a long-distance signing for the Gems but he’s very much been part of the fixtures and fittings of Newcastle Speedway over the last few years.
“He would have been up on
Tyneside anyway as he’s going to be in the pits as spanner man for Ben Barker in the Championship meetings, so it made perfect sense to sign him up to race for the Gems.
“Kelsey’s been a solid performer in the National League in past seasons before he picked up an injury which kept him out of racing for a while.
“However, I don’t think it will take Kelsey long to be dialled back in and it’s a good thing to see another British lad wanting to make good.”
Club co-promoter Dave Tattum added: “Kelsey’s signing has been agreed with his home club Eastbourne as a full signing and he joins us as a new asset of Newcastle Speedway.
“His arrival continues our policy of expanding our own asset list with young British talent which will stand us in a far better place in years to come.
“He’s been up with the Diamonds’ pit crew for a while and had a family connection to Newcastle as well so has been as keen as anyone could be to get on track with the Gems.
“He wants to repay our belief in him with points in return with interest added, so his signing is definitely a win-win situation for everyone.” Dugard, having started his career in 2015 at his family’s own Eastbourne Eagles (being the son of Eagles’ boss Martin, a former British international and winner of a British Grand Prix at Cardiff as a wild card), moved on in 2016 to Isle of Wight.
He then raced for Eastbourne and Plymouth in 2018 before taking time out to recover from injury.
Dugard becomes the seventh and final Gem for 2021 alongside local lads Archie Freeman, Danny Smith and Josh Embleton as well as Ryan Terry-Daley, Max Clegg and Joe Alcock.