PETERBOROUGH have bolstered their Rising Star ranks with the signing of British Under-19 Final runner-up Jake Mulford.
The Crendon Panthers have been singularly unfortunate in that department so far this season with both Jordan Palin and Dan Gilkes suffering long-term injuries.
Palin’s season is over after he sustained a bleed on the brain in a crash whilst practicing with Great Britain at Belle Vue recently, whilst Gilkes has been sidelined since the end of April when he fell heavily at Scunthorpe and sustained arm, rib and lung injuries – although he still hopes to race again this year.
18-year-old Mulford, who is also a very proficient grasstrack racer, made his NDL debut with Kent in 2019 and raced for the Kings at Championship level last year.
He took a Rising Star berth at his local club King’s Lynn for 2022 but found his opportunities restricted due to a lack of racing elsewhere - but that issue is also being solved as he now races for Belle Vue in the NDL.
And ironically Mulford’s Panthers debut will come when they visit the National Speedway Stadium on Monday.
Head of operations Dale Allitt said: “This is a good move for Jake and also for Peterborough given the injuries in that position during this season.
“Jake rode superbly by all accounts in the British Under-19 Final at Redcar on Thursday, and only just missed out to Leon Flint in the decisive race.
“So he’s very much at the top of that bracket of riders, and what he really needs now is more track time in speedway.
“This gives him the opportunity to get that, and it also means Peterborough have more options in that position, so it’s a good move for all parties.”