Rising speedway star

NGK is backing 12-year-old Wilbur Hancock’s bid to emulate the success of his World Speedway champion father Greg.

The ignition specialist has had a long-standing relationship with current and four-time champion Greg and is now sponsoring his eldest son. Wilbur first took to the track aged just seven and currently rides with Eldarna in junior league Speedway in Sweden, where the family live during the European racing season.

The sponsorship was organised by NGK’s John Money, a keen Speedway fan.

Wilbur says: “I couldn’t believe it when Dad said NGK were keen to sponsor me. I thought ‘is this really happening?’ To get NGK as my first primary sponsor is really cool and we’ve already been talking about new suit designs. I love everything about Speedway, going sideways, the speed and the sound. It’s great.”

Greg says that Wilbur has made a promising start to his Speedway career: “He’s a great kid. He likes school and is keen to learn. He’s very relaxed and with his current desire

and willingness to improve he could go a long way. He’s certainly got the potential to go far.”

Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd, said: “We are delighted to announce that we are supporting Wilbur in the early stages of his career. We have had a long and successful relationship with Greg over many years and he is a great ambassador for both the sport and ourselves so it is great to see the family relationship continuing.”

His father Greg was in seventh position in this season’s World Championship standings after being beset by a number of mechanical problems in the early rounds but the four-times World champion had to withdraw from the British Grand Prix in Cardiff in July. The American dislocated his shoulder in an accident at home and was unable to continue after it dislocated again during practice on Friday and on the first lap of heat one.

NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd Marketing Manager Mark Hallam says: “It was sad that Greg had to withdraw from the meeting, but he will hopefully come back better than ever.”

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