SIMON LAMBERT returns to King’s Lynn but this time he’s the man making the big calls.
Boston-born Lambert spent nine years with the Stars in seven spells as a rider but for tonight’s ROWE Motor Oil clash with Oxford he is standing in as team manager.
With regular Adrian Flux Arena boss Rob Lyon abroad Lambert, who rides for Scunthorpe in the Cab Direct Championship and is cutting his managerial teeth with the combined Scunthorpe and Sheffield National Development League side steps in.
Tom Brennan guests for the injured Ben Cook in what will be Chris Harris’ last meeting before moving into the main body of the team after a productive spell at reserve.
The Spires are still looking to open their account for 2025 and lost home and away to the Stars in the season-launching Knockout Cup clash.
Rohan Tungate showed signs of shaking off his poor start to the British season during their latest defeat, at Sheffield, while ex-Star Erik Riss will end the week as wildcard in the German Grand Prix at Landshut.
Lambert is looking forward to both the meeting and his role in it.
He said: “It’s weird when you think Niels Kristian Iversen rode in my Testimonial and now I’m managing him, but it’s another tick on the bucket list and another thing to go on the CV.
“I am speedway through and through, it’s the best sport in the world, and this is something I want to do well because when I hang my kevlars up it’s the next step – I can’t ever imagine my life without speedway.
“Rob is a bloke who I’ve always looked up to and someone I’ve phoned when I’ve been struggling, because in my view he’s the most knowledgeable bloke who’s never ridden speedway. He knows all the right things to say and is very good at his job.
“When I race my bike I race to win, I’m all in with that, and on Monday I want King’s Lynn to win. It’s always had a place in my heart I’ll give it my all.”
And Lambert believes that he has a winning strategy as he locks horns with one of his former King’s Lynn bosses, Peter Shroeck who now manages Oxford in all three leagues.
“It’s a pretty simple script isn’t it? Bomber gets seven rides; King’s Lynn win and I’m one-for-one!”
King’s Lynn: Tom Brennan, Jan Kvech, Nicolai Klindt, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Richard Lawson, Chris Harris, Ashton Boughen.
Oxford: Rohan Tungate, Erik Riss, Charles Wright, Peter Kildemand, Maciej Janowski, Francis Gusts, Luke Killeen.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning