April 2018 cannot come quick enough for Leicester’s two mascots Dan and Joe Thompson as the twins will turn fourteen on 22nd of that month.
With two gleaming complete and ready to race 500cc bikes sat side by side in the family workshop the teenagers will reach the age whereby they can step up into the highest level of competition in next season’s British Youth Championship series.
The transition has been made possible by the support of two of Leicester’s key partners, Lions team sponsor Watling JCB through their Sales Director Andy Raine and Paul Chapman and Sons Limited who have both extended their commitment by backing the boys. Andy and Paul said: “We were both looking at ways of how we can help make a difference at grass roots level and decided to invest in supporting Dan and Joe. They are both local and we have been impressed with how they conduct themselves on and off the track. We can see their potential and hopefully our support will aid their ambitions of becoming professional speedway riders in the near future.”
It has been a rapid rise from the entry level of racing 125cc machines where they both won junior national titles through to transference last year into the 250cc class middle tier section. Now their goal is to learn the art of racing at much higher speeds than ever experienced before.
Dan and Joe’s father Darren Thompson said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of both companies who are backing the boys’ development. It is a major step to take into a higher sphere of competition and with it comes’ a substantial outlay in costs which we have to fund but the worries of finding the money to do it properly have now been removed. We are so appreciative of the help we have received and also too from other people and companies who have also come forward in their backing of Dan and Joe.”
