WITH the speedway world preoccupied by the closures this month of two of the sport's longest running tracks, Exeter and Wimbledon, it was a particularly poignant moment for 2005 Sittingbourne AC Associates Crusaders' skipper Chris Hunt to announce his retirement.

Hunt, 41, made his speedway debut back in 1980 as an Exeter Falcon and was, for a record 75 consecutive matches, an inspirational captain of the London-based Dons in 2002-03.

Hunt said: "I've decided that I won't be riding again but I am very keen to remain involved in the sport - hopefully as a team manager."

The Didcot-based racer got a first taste of management with the Iwade-based club this term when side-lined by injury.

"It was a strange season for me at the Old Gun Site really - with some of my best ever performances interrupted by the worst injury set-backs I'd suffered in an ten year racing career.

"The worst was the crash involving Scunthorpe's Ashley Johnson in June. I'd scored 11 out of 12 points in the first match of the double header against Buxton and was feeling fitter and stronger than ever, when young Johnson ran into me and I suffered a really bad collar-bone break".

Hunt struggled back to fitness and was able to take to the track for the final meeting at Wimbledon Stadium in south-west London.

"I was really pleased to be able to ride in the Laurels championship earlier this month", Hunt stressed. "Although a bit off the pace, I did score what looks like being the final point ever to be recorded at the Plough Lane track. That means a lot to me, as I was so heavily involved in the Londoners' comeback in 2001 to 2003".

Looking further back, Hunt remembers making his competitive debut for Exeter as a 16 year old. "I'd been second-halfing in my first season at the County Ground when I received a call to travel north to make my debut at Newcastle.

"Remarkably, my only other appearance for the Falcons was also a long way from home up at Berwick! It's a shame that the old track down in Devon has also closed down - losing two of my old home tracks within a week of each other really does make you stop and think".

More recent homes for the popular Hunt have been Carmarthen in Wales; and this year, the AC Associates Crusaders base on Old Ferry Road. As a record-breaking skipper at Conference level (an unprecedented 116 matches as captain from 2002 to '05) Hunt seems perfectly placed to move onto team management.

If that happens, Hunt will have one former boss above all others held in his mind as an inspiration.

He said: "I'd like to pay tribute on the occasion of my retirement to current Isle of Wight boss, Dave Croucher. It was Dave who brought me back into the sport after something like a 15 year break.

"I'd bought an old Weslake in 2001 to do up as a project and I took it down to a Reading training school just to try it out. Dave was at Smallmead and he approached me asking me to take up racing again initially with his Southampton Saints outfit."

The rest became history and Sittingbourne fans will get their chance to honour Hunt at the club's presentation evening which is confirmed for Saturday, November 12, at The Shurland Hotel, High Street, Eastchurch, from 7pm to 11pm.