Dan Gilkes Explained

Dan Gilkes
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Date:21 May 2002
Birth Place:Northampton, England
Career1:Great Britain
Career2:Kent Kings/Royals
Years2:2019, 2021
Career3:Belle Vue Colts
Years3:2022
Career4:Plymouth Gladiators
Years4:2022–2023
Career5:Peterborough Panthers
Years5:2022
Career6:Sheffield Tigers
Years6:2023–2024
Career7:Poland
Career8:Piła
Years8:2023–2024
Teamyear1:2023
Teamhonour1:SGB Premiership

Daniel Gilkes (born 21 May 2002) is a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1] [2]

Career

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.[3]

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[4] 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).[5]

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.[6]

In 2023, he re-signed for Plymouth for the SGB Championship 2023[7] and also signed for Sheffield Tigers for the SGB Premiership 2023, as their rising star.[8] He helped Sheffield win the league title.[9] In 2024 he re-signed for Sheffield.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gilkes, Daniel . British Speedway . 29 September 2022.
  2. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 30 June 2023.
  3. Web site: 2019 SOKK RIDER OF THE YEAR RESULTS . Kent Speedway . 29 September 2022.
  4. Web site: Dan Gilkes joins the Gladiators . Plymouth Speedway . 29 September 2022.
  5. Web site: Peterborough Panthers add a talented teenager to their squad for 2022 and ‘good value’ season tickets remain on sale . Peterborough Telegraph . 29 September 2022.
  6. Web site: PLYMOUTH'S GILKES INJURED . Speedway Star . 29 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Gilkes back with Plymouth . British Speedway . 7 December 2022.
  8. Web site: Tigers bring in Gilkes . British Speedway . 8 December 2022.
  9. Web site: Tigers champions in Grand Final drama . British Speedway . 14 October 2023.
  10. Web site: Sheffield are complete . British Speedway . 20 November 2023.