Kyle Richard Hughes (born 15 June 1989) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1][2][3]
 | |
| Born | 15 June 1989 Bath, Somerset, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 2004 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
| 2005, 2007 | Oxford Lions |
| 2008 | Boston Barracuda-Braves |
| 2008 | Sheffield Tigers |
| 2008-2009, 2011 | Plymouth Devils |
| 2010, 2015 | Rye House Raiders |
| 2011 | Somerset Rebels |
| 2011, 2014 | King's Lynn Young Stars |
| 2012 | Leicester Lions |
| 2012 | Isle of Wight Islanders |
| 2013 | Stoke Potters |
| 2016 | Eastbourne Eagles |
| Team honours | |
| 2004, 2005 | Conference League Champions |
| 2004 | Conference Trophy |
| 2008 | National League KO Cup |
| 2009 | National Trophy |
Biography
editBorn in Bath, Somerset, Hughes' first experience of speedway was at the training track at Reading in 1999.[4] After gaining experience in second-half rides at Swindon, he was part of the Mildenhall Fen Tigers team that won the Conference League in 2004.[4] He won the title again in 2005, this time with Oxford's academy team.[4] He signed for Plymouth Devils in the Conference League and Sheffield Tigers in the Premier in 2008, before a spell with Rye House Rockets which saw him win the National League Rider of the Year award and finish fourth in the British Under 21 Championship in 2010, but also suffering a broken collarbone which required a metal plate to be fitted.[5]
Hughes represented Great Britain at Under-21 level, in a test match against Australasia in 2009.[6]
He returned to Plymouth in 2011, after starting the season with Somerset Rebels.[4][7] He played a major part in Plymouth's first ever away win in the Premier League, scoring 11 points in the win at Leicester Lions.[4] In July 2011 he won the FAST Golden Hammer tournament at Monmore Green,[8] but was forced to miss part of the season through injury after breaking his other collarbone on 12 August.[4]
In March 2012 he was signed by Leicester Lions as a temporary replacement for the injured Simon Nielsen.[9] He was subsequently loaned to National League team Isle of Wight Islanders, scoring a five ride paid maximum in his first match.[10] In August, after blowing several engines during the season he announced his retirement from the sport for financial reasons.[11]
His retirement proved to be short-lived as he signed to ride for Stoke Potters in 2013.[12] In 2016, after signing for Eastbourne Eagles he broke his leg during the first match of the season but would return later in the season for Mildenhall Fen Tigers.[13]
Family
editHughes is the cousin of snooker player Stephen Lee.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Kyle Richard Hughes". British Speedway. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "2011 Rider Index: H", speedwaygb.co, retrieved 2011-12-06
- ^ "Somerset Rebels rider Kyle Hughes can resume racing", BBC, 28 February 2011, retrieved 2011-12-06
- ^ "Devils trio aiming to clinch win", thisiscornwall.co.uk, 17 July 2009, retrieved 2011-12-06
- ^ "Rye House speedway star Hughes fourth in British U21 Final", Welwyn Hatfield Times, 18 April 2010, retrieved 2011-12-06
- ^ "Hughes Wins the Hammer Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine", dudleyheathens.co, 26 July 2011, retrieved 2011-12-06
- ^ "Lions Sign Kyle Hughes", speedway365.com, 22 March 2012, retrieved 2012-03-22
- ^ "RYE HOUSE: ISLE OF WIGHT 58 RAIDERS 31 (KOC)", speedwaygb.co, 1 May 2012, retrieved 2012-05-06
- ^ "End of the road", Speedway Star, 1 September 2012, p. 44
- ^ "Two More in for Potters", speedwaygb.co, 10 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012
- ^ "YOUNG STARS LAND HUGHES". Speedway Star. Retrieved 14 February 2023.