Kent Kings rider Paul Starke secured a top-ten finish at the British Speedway Final.

The final was held behind closed doors at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester after the plug was pulled on the event being staged infront of spectators at Ipswich’s Foxhall Heath Stadium.

Starke was one of the new signings hoping to spearhead the Central Park-based club's inaugural season in the SGB Championship in 2020, a league campaign that never got underway.

Monday’s final at least allowed Starke to blow off some steam as 16 of the top British and British-based Australians took part in the 60th staging of the British Final which saw 12 clubs represented.

It was a proud moment for the Kent club as one of their own was competing at the very top of the sport in the UK.

The individual championship meeting took place in the rain, which resulted in heavy and wet track conditions.

Starke’s evening started well, winning heat four and inflicting one of only three defeats for the eventual winner, former Australian World Cup rider Rory Schlein.

Trailing in fourth in his second ride was a set-back, finishing behind Maidstone-born former British Champion Danny King among others, but he then took a second place, beating newly crowned GB under-19 champion and former Kings rider Drew Kemp in the process.

Another second place in his final outing left him in equal 10th.

Earlier in the week, Kent Iwade Garage Royals stalwart Alex Spooner appeared for a GB Young Lions select side taking on Plymouth.

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