Daniel Gilkes (born 21 May 2002) is a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1][2]
| Born | 21 May 2002 Northampton, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| Great Britain | |
| 2019, 2021 | Kent Kings/Royals |
| 2022 | Belle Vue Colts |
| 2022–2023 | Plymouth Gladiators |
| 2022 | Peterborough Panthers |
| 2023–2024 | Sheffield Tigers |
| 2024 | Redcar Bears |
| 2025 | Oxford Cheetahs |
| Poland | |
| 2023–2024 | Piła |
| Team honours | |
| 2023 | SGB Premiership |
| 2024 | Knockout Cup |
Career
editGilkes was still a pupil at Campion School, Bugbrooke when he started racing.[3]
In 2019, he signed for the Kent Kings for the 2019 National Development League speedway season, helping them to National Trophy success. He was crowned the supporters rider of the year.[4]
Unable to ride during 2020 because of the COVID-19 cancelled season, he continued to ride for Kent in 2021 but appeared in both the NDL and the higher league of the SGB Championship 2021.[1]
In 2022, he signed for Plymouth Gladiators[5] and his form was so impressive that he was added to the Peterborough Panthers squad in the SGB Premiership 2022 (the highest league in Britain).[6]
He started the 2022 campaign in very good form but his season ended early when he crashed and suffered serious injuries that included five broken ribs, a broken and displaced humorous bone and a collapsed lung.[7]
In 2023, he re-signed for Plymouth for the SGB Championship 2023[8] and also signed for Sheffield Tigers for the SGB Premiership 2023, as their rising star.[9] He helped Sheffield win the league title.[10] In 2024 he re-signed for Sheffield,[11] and won the Knockout Cup with the Tigers.[12]
Gilkes signed for Oxford Cheetahs for the SGB Championship 2025.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b "Gilkes, Daniel". British Speedway. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Northampton teenager Dan Gilkes is a speedway demon!". Northampton Chronicle and Echo. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "2019 SOKK RIDER OF THE YEAR RESULTS". Kent Speedway. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "Dan Gilkes joins the Gladiators". Plymouth Speedway. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "Peterborough Panthers add a talented teenager to their squad for 2022 and 'good value' season tickets remain on sale". Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "PLYMOUTH'S GILKES INJURED". Speedway Star. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ "Gilkes back with Plymouth". British Speedway. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Tigers bring in Gilkes". British Speedway. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ "Tigers champions in Grand Final drama". British Speedway. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "Sheffield are complete". British Speedway. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Speedway: Sheffield battle back to draw at Ipswich and lift KO Cup". The Star. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "Oxford Cheetahs triple signing completes 2025 line-up". Oxford Mail. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.