Norfolk ace says back-up of Foulsham family, girlfriend and support crew are vital

King’s Lynn Stars number one Robert Lambert leads the hectic life of an international speedway rider.

The Norfolk ace – who turns 21 this week when the UK Premiership season begins – can be here, there and everywhere during any given week, whether it is on these shores with the Poultec Stars, competing in European leagues or around the world with Great Britain Lions.

He says the back-up unit of his Foulsham-based family, girlfriend Jessica Gast and support crew are vital cogs in the Team Lambert operation.

Norwich-born Lambert said: “It’s the key thing. If it wasn’t for those people, I wouldn’t be the way I am today. It’s definitely key.

“All those people play a big role in my career. It’s logistical mayhem but it’s part and parcel of the sport and we crack on with it. We seem to all work well together.

“As long as I stay injury free and healthy I will have a successful season.

“You need to plan things way in advance with the flights but you have one rain-off and it will mess everything up and you have to reschedule things.

“If you’re organised and plan ahead – it’s the same with everything in your life – then everything runs smoothly.”

On the Stars’ Premiership prospects, Lambert added at the club’s press and practice day on Thursday: “We’ve got pretty much nearly the same team as last year.

“That’s a good sign for a start.

“They wrote us off at the beginning of last year and look at the fantastic season we had. We can go out there being the underdogs again, and just do our talking on the track, pretty much.”

To go so close to a double in 2018, losing both the league play-off and knockout cup finals to Poole Pirates and Somerset Rebels respectively, is a motivating factor for the Saddlebow Road stadium side, home-grown rider Lambert adds.

He said: “It spurs us on and we’ve got the goal in the winter to better it, obviously working hard to try and do it.

“The club is really eager to win a trophy once more. It’s great there are going to be some local derbies (with Ipswich and Peterborough).

“It’s going to be great for the fans; for everyone. I’m looking forward to it – it’s good that there are some local tracks.”

Lambert doesn’t rank the Adrian Flux Arena outfit as SGB Premiership favourites, commenting: “I think last year they wrote us off. I wouldn’t say we are the favourites: we’ll just go out and do our business.”

He hopes to continue the prosperous heat leader partnership with Erik Riss, who arrived midway through the previous campaign.

Lambert added: “Erik is a really good team rider, the same as myself.

“I try and look out for the other riders.

“We work well as the pairing, and hopefully we can do that again this season.”

On Thursday King’s Lynn begin their 2019 season with a trip to Ipswich (see Lewis Kerr interview/picture spread starting on page 44).

SELECTED FIXTURES

All 7.30pm, Wednesday (March 3): Birmingham v Wolverhampton (David Mason Farewell), Somerset v Poole (20th Anniversary Meeting).

Thursday (March 4): Belle Vue v Peterborough (PSC), Ipswich v King’s Lynn (PSC). PSC= Premiership Supporters Cup.