Tatum Looking Forward to Hammers’ Season

Jack Giordmaina catches up with new Lakeside Hammers coach Kelvin Tatum ahead of the new season

After coming off a disappointing season last year, Lakeside Hammers have made a raft of changes to try and push the Purfleet based side towards a playoff spot later this year.

The addition of former Hammers team member Kelvin Tatum as rider coach may give the team the push they need to fight at the sharp end of the Elite League.

The 52-year old who had ridden for Lakeside in 1996 and from 2002-2004 approached the team when he knew there was an opportunity to join the club.

“In some way, I initiated the move. I have a good friend in Martin Hagon, and we were chatting about the club, and he told me to get in touch with Jon Cook, which I did. I told him I was looking to be more involved with the team, and we met up for a coffee, and it all went from there.” said Tatum.

The Vortex Hammers finished last season rock bottom of the Elite League, and Tatum believes that the riders he has around him are capable of much more.

“It was a disappointing season last year, and I want to see a sense of purpose this year, and I know the riders are ready to go. This team is capable of playoffs.

“Everything is up for Lakeside this year as we finished bottom of the league, which is an embarrassing place to be and I know the fans did not enjoy that,” said the 52-year old.

Winning Mentality

The former British Champion is hopeful that he can build a winning mentality this year, by maintaining a high level of confidence within the team and use that to get results at home and on the road.

“I sincerely hope I can install a winning one. When you drive out of the stadium after a win, it is much more enjoyable then when you have lost. However, if we lose I want the riders to come off the bike feeling hurt, so they can come back and try and rectify it next time.

“We also need to win at home and become a tough team to beat at the Raceway. The confidence you take from those meetings you take on the road,” said Tatum.

The Hammers have struggled to pick up points away from home over the last few seasons and Tatum believes that gaining confidence from home meetings will give the away form the boost it desperately needs.

“Picking points up away from home is a challenge. I think all the riders that we have here are more than capable of performing on bigger and faster tracks when we move away from our tight technical track. However, I believe that if we can gain good confidence from riding at home, then we can use that to pick up points on the road,” said Tatum.

Swedish rider Kim Nilsson is looking forward to working alongside Tatum this season. The 26-year old is hopeful that Tatum’s vast experience can help the team progress.

“It is great to have Kelvin as a coach. He is able to go on track himself, and he knows how the sport works, which is vital as he can give us some advice about the tracks before the meetings.

“Also, with Kelvin covering a lot of races on TV, he has the knowledge of most tracks in the league and teams, which should be a boost to us as he knows the best ways to ride the track and the strengths and weaknesses of the other riders,” said Nilsson.

Tatum will start his reign as Lakeside’s coach on Thursday 24th March against Kings Lynn and then faces the Norfolk side again in his first home meeting on Good Friday.

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