Stars to compete in National Development Trophy

King’s Lynn Speedway is delighted to confirm they will be competing in the new National Development Trophy competition next season.The club has a proud history of rider development and youth progression, and this will be the ethos of the Young Stars in 2025.Lynn previously competed in the National League from 2009-2017, with racing at that level having taken place at the Adrian Flux Arena under the Boston banner since 2000.The Young Stars finished as NL runners-up in 2013, significantly with a team which included Robert Lambert, Lewis Kerr and Lewis Rose, all of whom went on to race extensively for the club in the top-flight.The NDT is a new competition for next season which will run a limited schedule, in parallel to the National Development League, with NDT teams able to select from the same list of riders with a 38-point limit.King’s Lynn have appointed second-half co-ordinator Jason Pipe, who most recently took charge of Buxton at this level, as team manager – and he admits he’s excited about the opportunity.Pipe said: “I’m really looking forward to being back team managing at this level. It’s a level of speedway that I have enjoyed for a very long time. It’s always a pleasure to work with the riders at this level. “I really thought my team managing days were over at this level. So it came as a pleasant surprise when long-term friend Dale Allitt asked me to be involved again at this level, and it only took me less than five seconds to agree! “Dale and I have faced each other many times over the years when he was once a team manager himself at this level, and I was team manager at Redcar and then at Buxton.“Dale always came out on top when we were up against each other and we had some good battles, all friendly of course, but at least now we are on the same side and he won’t get the better of me anymore now!“I’ve learnt a lot from Dale over the years and I owe him a lot for the help he has given me, so now it’s only right that I repay the favour to the King’s Lynn promoter and look after the National Trophy team for him. “Dale and I have always had a lot of trust and respect for each other and a good friendship has grown over the last 20 years.“This is the sort of good bloke Dale is. Several seasons ago when I was Buxton manager, I was on a southern tour at Eastbourne, and I lost a rider during that meeting and I had to find a guest for the next day at Mildenhall. “Dale knew this by following Speedway Updates and before that meeting had ended, he rang me to say he’d sorted me out a guest already for the next day, to help me out.“This is the sort of help he used to give me and has always been there to advise me. “How could I say no to him when he offered me this role! I may be based 180 miles away in Middlesbrough, but it’s just down the road!“I enjoyed myself at King’s Lynn last season as their Second Half co-ordinator and I thought I’d be doing that again next season, so this has come as a pleasant surprise.”Pipe has put together an exciting, talented team for the Young Stars, which we are sure supporters will be pleased with.And they will not have long to wait for the news as we intend to release details of the full Young Stars one-to-seven later today.Pipe added: “I’d like to thank Dale, Rob (Lyon) and Buster (Chapman) for giving me this opportunity to be involved with one of the biggest clubs in British Speedway.”