SPEEDWAY: BIRMINGHAM Brummies have swooped to make a club record signing by drafting in 14-year-old Leon Flint.
Flint, who turns 15 in February, becomes the youngest rider to wear the Brummies racejacket – and promoter David Mason had to work hard to capture his signature.
The 250cc National Champion beat the likes of Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley to land this year’s World Speedway Riders’ Association Young Rider of the Year award.
And the teenager is hopeful of a bright future at Birmingham.
“I’m so pleased with what I’ve done on the 250s but the 500s don’t faze me at all,” said Flint.
“The faster I’m going, the better I feel and whenever I have rode the 500s I felt even more confident.
“I ride it hard, I attack it even more and racing gives me a buzz like nothing else does.
“After an amazing 2017 season, moving up into the National League is another huge step in the right direction for me and 2018 is going to be another massive year.
“I’ve only ever been to Birmingham once but I was impressed by the whole set-up from the moment I got there and now David Mason is in charge, I think it’s only going to get better.”
Mason, who took charge of the Brummies following Tony Mole’s departure at the end of the season finished, said: “He (Leon) is undoubtedly one of the stars of the future who has already achieved a lot at such a young age.
“I’ve followed his progression at youth level and it really is quite spectacular.
“Signing Danyon (Hume) on his average and getting a three-pointer in like Leon is an absolute dream start to our plans for next season.”
