KENT speedway rider Andy Galvin, from Whitstable, is on a revenge mission at Purfleet Raceway on Friday night.

Galvin and his Arena-Essex Hammers team-mates take on Reading Racers, who inflicted their first defeat of the season this week.

The setback came after Galvin had made a triumphant start to the new season. He claimed a heat victory as Hammers opened their Premier League campaign with a 49-42 win over Isle of Wight at Purfleet.

The AF Stocktaking-sponsored team survived a determined fightback from a spirited Islanders side to win a thrilling meeting, despite losing new skipper Kelvin Tatum with a broken wrist.

Galvin claimed a confidence-boosting win in heat two, with his reserve partner Jason King, from Maidstone, claiming third place after former Hammers junior Chris Mills was excluded.

Fortunes fluctuated but Galvin benefited from the visitors’ misfortune in heat seven, when Frenchman Sebastian Tressarieu suffered an injury in a first turn tumble, followed by an engine failure for Ray Morton in the re-run.

This left Hammers’ Leigh Lanham and Galvin to cruise to an untroubled 5-0.

Three heats later Tatum suffered his injury, but the home team held on for victory.

Galvin also picked up useful points as Hammers won their second fixture of the season, 63-27 against Exeter.

He led a second heat maximum with King, and added a second and two third places as the side avoided defeat in any of the 15 heats.

However, he suffered two last places and a retirement as his team lost 46-44 at Reading on Monday, the home team clinching victory with a 5-1 win in the last heat.

Admission for Friday's meeting is £10 for adults, £6 for pensioners, £3 for under-16s, free for under-11s. The first race is 8pm. Car parking is free.

The Raceway is just off the M25 close to Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, Essex. Exit the M25 at junction 30/31 and follow the signs for the A1306. The track is situated off the roundabout alongside Thurrock Services.

Teams for Friday. Arena-Essex A F Stocktaking Hammers: 1. Kelvin Tatum, (Capt), 2. Lee Herne, 3. Joonas Kylmakorpi, 4. Henning Bager, 5. Leigh Lanham, 6. Andy Galvin, 7. Jason King.

Reading Euphony Racers: 1. Phil Morris (Capt), 2. Paul Clews, 3. Jonas Davidsson, 4. Andrew Appleton, 5. Scott Smith, 6. Daniel King, 7. Shane Colvin.