Brummies skipper swaps bike for tractor - The Redditch Standard

Brummies skipper swaps bike for tractor

Redditch Editorial 11th May, 2020 Updated: 12th May, 2020   0

BIRMINGHAM skipper James Shanes admits the current lack of racing is a massive shock to the system.

The 23-year-old has been a multi-discipline racer since his school days and is used to having a constantly busy schedule.

However, with racing currently on hold due to the pandemic, Shanes’ diary has been completely stripped.

He has quite literally noticed the change of pace in life right now – after swapping his speedway bike for a tractor.




“I got a job working on my fiancee’s parents’ farm and I hate to think where I’d be without it now to be honest,” Shanes said.

“I’m just doing whatever I can to help. I’m usually just fixing broken things but apparently asparagus season is coming up so that should keep me busy!


“It’s a massive shock to life for me right now because all I’ve ever known is being busy and travelling all over the place.

“I was looking at the calendar last week and it was only then when it really hit me how busy I should’ve been right now.

“We would’ve had four meetings in a week with Birmingham and last weekend I should’ve been flying in and out of Germany too.

“So, I should be getting plenty of laps in at 60/70mph now or whatever it is – but last week I was happy to finally get the tractor to 10mph!”

MEANWHILE, Birmingham bosses have been delighted with the popularity of their Wednesday night fixture rewinds which are set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Each of the four online streams so far have had an encouraging view count and the fifth instalment is heading supporters’ way this Wednesday (May 13).

In association with ReRun Productions, the link to view the rewinds will be posted on the club’s website, Twitter and Facebook pages at 7.30pm prompt.

Brummies team manager Laurence Rogers said: “We’ve been really pleased with the number of people who’ve been tuning in to watch these old meetings on a Wednesday night.

“It’s great to see how much our supporters are enjoying them and it’s nice reading their comments and memories about each fixture afterwards as well.

“Obviously we’re all playing the same waiting game right now and we’re all itching to get back track-side.

“But until it’s safe for us to do so then we intend to keep streaming a fixture each and every Wednesday.

“We’ve got a few more we want to look back on from last season which are already available to us first, but we may well also explore the possibility of getting our hands on some older fixtures should we need them.”

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