Bullet Points: Josh walks the walk

 Yet another of your GHT Bullets, powered by SBS, new signings who has had to overcome adversity as he bids to make his mark on the speedway world, Josh Embleton is one half of the Geordie Nation pairing which now calls Shielfield Park home.

Having sparkled in junior moto-x ranks, he famously used to push his first speedway bike for the six-mile round trip to and from Brough Park’s training schools and in search of an after-meeting spin.

Rapid progress soon led to a 500cc spot in Newcastle’s Northern Junior League team and a National League debut with Stoke in June 2018, something of a baptism of fire as the Potters were thumped by title chasing Mildenhall at Loomer Road.

A couple of meetings for the Isle of Wight included a solid performance against Birmingham and in August the Brummies swooped to sign Josh, the highlight of a ten-match run in the Brummies’ septet an 8+1 haul at Plymouth.

Initial frustration at missing out of a team spot the following season was soon forgotten when a call came from Leicester.

After making his debut at Belle Vue a string of solid scores – especially around Beaumont Leys, included a match-changing 7+3 in the play-off semi-final against Cradley.

The Lions completed a comfortable aggregate win over Kent in the final to earn Josh a winners’ medal alongside the KO Cup gold earned against a Belle Vue side containing Leon Flint, Kyle Bickley, Connor Bailey, Jordan Palin and Danny Phillips.

An average a fraction under five probably cost him a return to Leicester in 2020 but the announcement that Newcastle’s new owner Rob Grant planned to enter a Gems’ team in the 2020 NDL National Trophy.

Of course that was the year that never happened due to Covid but the Gems made it to the startline in 2021. At least for two meetings against Armadale.

Two solid displays against the Devils were not forgotten and they came calling last season and were rewarded with a career-best 11, once again against Mildenhall and paid 11 when Belle Vue visited West Lothian.

Now for 2023 Josh is a Bullet and raring to go.

Pictures: Taz McDougall and Jack Cupido (Edinburgh)