Tigers are happy to take Bates gamble
MILDENHALL Fen Tigers co-promoter Kevin Jolly believes the signing of teenager Josh Bates represents the sort of gamble the National League is all about.
The highly-rated 16 year old put to pen to paper at the weekend, becoming the sixth rider to join the Mildenhall Fen Tigers for their 2012 National League campaign.
Mentored by former rider Louis Carr, the Yorkshire-based teenager caught the eye of Jolly and his fellow promoters Michael Lee and Chris Louis during a number of academy sessions staged at the West Row circuit.
Since getting aboard a 125cc bike back in 2010, Bates has made rapid progress up the 250cc ranks, finishing fourth in the 250cc British Championship, along with competing in the 250cc World Championship in Sweden.
“Josh looks a very aggressive rider who will attack anything. On the academy days he attended last year he looked very neat and tidy in his riding style,” said Jolly.
“It is a big gamble but he is exactly the kind of rider we want in the team and is just the type that the National League is all about.”
Following Bates’ signing, it leaves the Tigers with just one space to fill in their 2012 line-up.
Although a host of names have been linked with the vacant position over the last few weeks, it is not expected a decision on who will be taking it up will be made until next month at the earliest.
“We have the National League AGM on Thursday and will see what happens there before making any decisions on the final spot in the team,” added Jolly.
“We hope to have some training schools running early next month. It could well be that we find a rider at one of these schools as it will give them a chance to show to us what they can do. If they impress they could well get the last spot in the team.”
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