Catching Up With Caydin

As the season draws that little bit closer, we can start to get that little bit excited.

With the news of the Bandits now having their full team in place there are plans are in place to do a full on Mythman Season Preview as is the tradition. But with plenty going on in my life away from speedway that may have to be delayed for the time being. Please don’t be alarmed, I am fine, perhaps better than I have been in quite some time and as such I’m aiming to translate that into my speedway work in 2022.

So basically, what I’m saying is while I perhaps can’t promise a full-on preview as has become the norm, I can promise you plenty of nonsensical ramblings…as has become the norm!

At the moment the plan, and yes there is a plan, is that there will be a preview of sorts but before all that I want to catch up with a young man who you’ll all have seen flying round Shielfield Park in the second halves for a number of years now, quietly learning all the time.

That man is Bandits Academy rider Caydin Martin and I had a few questions for him as he looked back on 2021 and forward to 2022.

1. First off Caydin you got plenty of laps in during 2021 and the progress was there for all to see, how do you feel it went?

CM – Really good, I felt as the season went on things were working better and it was allowing me to push harder every meeting. In past seasons when we work on things people might not see the progress on a meeting-by-meeting basis, it’s not till all the pieces fit together as a whole that people see the progression.

2.You were part of the Northern Junior League Academy side last season where you were an ever present in the side, that must feel like a massive achievement?

CM – Yes, it was huge, I won the Northern Junior League 4TTT with Ashfield in 2019 but that was a one-off meeting, to win the league riding in all our meetings was amazing, there was never any pressure on us to win meetings, it was about having fun and developing.

3. Speaking of massive achievements, you were voted most improved rider by the club last season, how nervous were you making your acceptance speech for your award?

CM – Very! It was the first time I have ever had to do anything like that, that’s another side of the Sport I guess I’ll have to get used to, normally I get to just ride my bike so to stand there with Dick Barrie in front of everyone was more nerve wracking than going to the tapes!

4. With all the success you had, what would rank as your own personal highlight of 2021?

CM – Getting 4 Laps in at Kings Lynn without having a big Off or trip to Hospital in an Ambulance when invited to a British Young Lions Track Day with 3 Times World Champion Jason Crump! In all seriousness the whole season just pieced together as we wanted, all the hard work put in over the 3 previous seasons come together to make it a successful Season.

5. You head into your fifth season in 2022 with high confidence and plenty to build on, what are your personal goals for the new season?

 CM– To Start the Season where I left off in 2021, I will be starting the season riding again for the Bandits Academy on 125s and plan to move up to 250cc engines during the season when I will be spending my time learning how to ride those and how they react. It’ll be like starting out again as everything will be another learning curve and hopefully be ready to push on in 2023 on them.

6. Realistically in another four or five years’ time you’ll potentially be knocking on the door of the Bullets team or even the Bandits team, is that the aim long term?

 CM – It seems like ages away as I just turned 12 at the end of January there but it’ll be here before we know it. We’ve always had a plan to develop and there is one in place for the next 3 Seasons 2022, 2023, 2024 and it won’t change. I’m 15 in January 2025 and eligible for the National League and the Bullets, I’m not necessarily chasing the bright lights of the NL at 15, if a National League Team Spot is on offer we’ll sit down as a Team and discuss what’s on offer and If I feel I’m ready to give it a go and the offer works for me than it might happen in 2025 but that could be deferred to 2026 depending on how we are developing on the 250s.

7. Lastly Caydin, do you have any messages for your fans or sponsors?

CM – Thank you for all your support and backing on this journey. I’m lucky enough to be able to have fun riding my bike around the UK with some great people and be surrounded by great sponsors.

My thanks to Caydin for taking the time to answer the questions and I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing him all the best for 2022 as we continue to watch him progress.

Of course if you wish to agree, or disagree with the Mythman, have an idea for a feature, or you simply wish to chew the fat over all things speedway, you can email me  jbspeedwaymedia@hotmail.com or get in touch via the JB Speedway Media Facebook page. If your compliments, or indeed gripes can be contained to limited characters you can tweet @Mythman666.

Until next time…and there will be a next time.

Right I’ll hae’tae gan.

Mythman