KING’S Lynn co-promoter Dale Allitt has paid tribute to several of the club’s departing riders with the team for 2024 having been announced.
The Stars have unveiled a new-look line-up for next year’s Sports Insure Premiership campaign, with only Michael Palm Toft and Rising Star Anders Rowe remaining from the side which completed this season’s schedule.
The club have thanked long-serving Dane Thomas Jorgensen, fellow countryman Nicolai Klindt and club stalwart Simon Lambert for their efforts after they were not included in the 2024 plans.
Jorgensen and Klindt both ended the season on the sidelines with serious injuries, but both will be back on track next season with Klindt having joined Premiership newcomers Oxford.
Allitt said: “It’s always difficult when riders are, for one reason or another, not in the next season’s team.
“However, I would personally like to thank Nicolai, Thomas and Simon for their efforts this year.
“Nicolai was outstanding before his injury, and at differing times really held things together for the team, whilst Thomas has been a huge fan favourite and I think at times produced some fantastic moves.
“I would like to think that this could be more of a ‘see you soon’ rather than ‘goodbye.’”
Lambert, meanwhile, returned to the club in mid-season and took over the captaincy when Klindt was ruled out, putting in some sterling displays at reserve in arguably his best campaign in the sport.
And after the end of the Stars’ league programme, he went on to lift the Championship KO Cup as Scunthorpe skipper after an outstanding performance in the Final against Poole.
Allitt said: “When Rob (Lyon) and I were looking at all the options for 2024, Simon was constantly in many permutations.
“Ultimately it’s purely a numbers game, and being let down by a couple of riders did impact on a few decisions that had to be made at different times.
“Simon did a fantastic job, especially towards the end of the year for both his clubs. We all wish all these riders all the success next year.”
Another rider not involved with the Stars next season is Grand Prix star Robert Lambert, whose short-term stint at the end of 2023 was hugely significant in raising the atmosphere and morale at the club.
Allitt said: “Robert answered our call in what was essentially our hour of need, and he put everything into it for those six matches.
“It was brilliant to see him racing at the Adrian Flux Arena again, and nobody will forget that Belle Vue meeting especially.
“We’d like to wish him well for his GP campaign next year, we’re all behind him and we do hope to work together again in the near future.”
Words and Images by Kings Lynn Stars
