BELLE VUE have had to move swiftly to make two changes to the Colts side on the eve of the opening clash.
The JR Ashworth and Sons Colts take on Leicester Cubs in their first National Development League fixture of the season at the National Speedway Stadium on Good Friday (12pm).
Chad Wirtzfeld and Harry McGurk have both withdrawn from the Colts and are replaced by former Kent and Mildenhall star Jack Kingston and exciting 15-year-old debutant Harry Fletcher.
Colts co-manager Graham Goodwin explained “It’s certainly been a crazy week leading up to the meeting.
“We had the full 2025 team in place by Christmas time, and were raring to go as the official start to the season approached in March.
“But then just before our press and practice day, we got a single paragraph text from Chad saying that he had changed his job and wouldn’t be able to ride this year.
“We had specifically changed our raceday for 2025 to mainly Sundays to help riders with work commitments, and to try to get more young spectators on board, but all attempts to contact Chad have been ignored, so we’ve had to let him go.
“Then late this Sunday night Harry McGurk informed us by text that he no longer wishes to ride. Again phone calls and messages have been ignored. So regrettably, neither will be riding this year.
“Teams have to be registered with the governing body three days before a fixture, so it made Monday feel a bit like football transfer deadline day!
“We don’t dwell on negatives and we’re delighted with the signings we have made. Harry Fletcher caught our eye at a Belle Vue experience day just like a 15-year-old Freddy Hodder had done a few years ago. When we knew a gap was opening up, we invited him down for a practice and we like what we saw.
“We contacted Jack Kingston on Monday to ask if he had any plans. He came back saying ‘no plans, but Belle Vue is the one place that could tempt me’.
“As of Monday his equipment wasn’t race-ready, but within 24 hours he was all signed and ready to go.
“We’re really grateful to Jack and Harry for their professionalism. They even got complimented by the BSP office for how quickly they dealt with the paperwork.”
Whilst Fletcher makes his NDL debut on Friday, he won’t be the only 15-year-old on show.
Leicester track two 15-year-old debutants of their own in Ryan Ingram and the highly rated Cooper Rushen, whilst as well as Fletcher, the Colts are led by William Cairns who went from reserve to No.1 in just four meetings last year, and doesn’t turn 16 until June.
Goodwin added: “I’m not sure there’s ever been a meeting where three riders aged 15 all debuted, and with William yet to reach 16, we have four of the youngest riders in the country on show, and they could have a big say in the match result.”