KING’S Lynn’s National Development Trophy team for 2025 features a youthful line-up packed with emerging talent and with a substantial local flavour.

Manager Jason Pipe has unveiled a side featuring six teenagers aged under 18, and yet with significant NDL experience in the heat-leader positions along with some exciting newcomers.

The Young Stars will be captained by hometown rider and former Lynn mascot Jody Scott, who has been racing in the National League with Oxford since turning 15 and also picked up Championship experience this year.

Vice-captain will be former British Youth Champion Luke Harrison, who has already made his way into the second tier full-time and achieved a creditable four-and-a-half point average with Scunthorpe at that level this year.

Completing the heat-leader trio, the Young Stars welcome in Max Perry who is another of the sport’s big young talents and who fought back from serious injury to compete in 2024.

16-year-old Ashton Vale enjoyed an impressive first full season in the NDL with Oxford after starting out with Kent in 2023, whilst Harrison Rogers (17) steps up to this level for the first time after achieving an eight-point average for Leicester in the Midland Development League this year.

There are two newcomers to league racing as the Young Stars will also include the highly-rated Colchester-born Cooper Rushen, who turns 15 next March and already has a string of Youth titles to his name; whilst the eldest member of the team is actually the least experienced in terms of speedway, as 23-year-old local motocross racer Calum Mitchell enters the sport for the first time.

Pipe said: “I’m very happy with the side I’ve assembled, it’s one that excites me and I can’t wait for the start of the season to come round.

“The average age of the team is 16.75 and every one of them has the potential to up their averages, and I’m sure our fans will also be happy.

“No pressure will be put on any of the riders. As long as they come back off the track with a smile on their faces, that will tell me they’ve enjoyed racing their bikes and that’s all that matters.

“The fixtures will have to be carefully planned, as we need to avoid certain dates when our riders will be racing for their league clubs, and also one or two of them racing for their Championship clubs.

“I’m planning on getting the whole team together at some point in March and have a track day together, and then do something socially all together later in the day.”

YOUNG STARS 2025: Jody Scott (c), Luke Harrison (v/c), Max Perry, Ashton Vale, Harrison Rogers, Cooper Rushen, Calum Mitchell.