Rising star Danny Ayres is so keen to progress in speedway that he’s committed to driving 700 miles a week to race with Glasgow Tigers as their new reserve.
The Englishman spent last season in Britain’s third tier with Kent Kings.
All Premier League clubs are required to include a three-point National League rider in their teams for 2016 and Glasgow have won the race to land the much sought-after 29-year-old.
Ayres – based in Cambridge – is a relative newcomer to the sport, having previously ridden motocross but has already established himself as a quality performer at National League level.
Now, team boss Stewart Dickson has backed his new man to make his mark when he takes the step up.
He said: “I think he’s going to surprise a few people and I believe we’ve got ourselves a very good three-point British rider.
“I know he’s not a youngster but he’s been a motocross motorcyclist. I think he actually started speedway at a ‘ride and slide’ day in 2013 and he’s made very quick strides since then.
“Obviously the Premier League is a step up in class for him but it’s no coincidence that he was getting guest booking after guest booking at the tail end of the season in the National League – and scoring double figures in almost every meeting.”
Ayres will make the 700-mile round-trip every week to race for the Tigers – a commitment he’s made despite receiving interest from clubs closer to home.
Dickson said: “He had several other clubs in for him, and that’s not an exaggeration. But he’s been true to his word, because I was the first one to approach him.
“He can’t wait to get started. He’s going to come up and practice whenever the track’s available and get some much-needed lap time in. He’s really excited by it.
“To drive up from his Cambridge base every Sunday just shows his ambition to ride in the Premier League. I think he’ll grab the opportunity with both hands.
“I think he can make significant progress. He’ll have a platform at Glasgow and we’ll look after him.”
Ayres said: “I’m overwhelmed. Obviously it’s only my first full year and that the system has gifted me the opportunity, as they’ve ha to bring a three-pointer in.
“But I’ve earned the right to be here, because I’ve worked hard to now be offered the opportunity.
“I’m still very humble about it, but I also feel I’m due a go at it. Whether or not they brought this in, I’d like to think I was starting to knock on the door enough for teams to start looking at me.
“It’s all very surreal – everything is so professional at the club.”
Ayres joins captain Aaron Summers in the Tigers’ 2016 line-up.