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Hammers career : 1989-1994, 1997-2001
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TROY PRATT put pen to paper to sign for the Hammers' National League side in 1989 following a series of demonstration rides and appearances for the junior team side in 1988. A former Rye House mascot - and son of current Coventry joint-boss and former rider Colin - he was making steady progress when, at the beginning of 1990, he sustained neck and back injuries in a crash at Arena-Essex.
When he returned from injury he held down a heat leader slot and did enough to convince the new promotional regime to keep him in the side for 1991 when they put together a revamped side.
Troy stayed with the Hammers in 1992 when the First Division beckoned and made an impressive top flight debut, scoring his first maximum against Eastbourne towards the end of the year. Come 1993 and Troy was capped by England at Arena and he also reached the British Final stage of the world championship rounds.
The 1994 season, though, was a year when nothing seemed to go right for him. He sustained an injury in the early summer and spent a lot of the year in the reserve berth. It was this loss of form that prompted the management to loan him out to King's Lynn for 1995 where again his season was wrecked by injury.
After a loan spell at Cradley Heath in 1996 Troy returned home to lead the Hammers in their quest for the 1997 Premier League under the returning Peter Thorogood. After a disappointing start to the 1998 season, Troy shocked all when he announced his retirement from the sport - but that proved to be short-lived when he re-signed for the Hammers for the 1999 campaign.
Troy enjoyed his best season in the famous crossed Hammers body colour in 2000, which earned him rider of the year honours and saw him pass the Club's all-time points milestone.
A hugely successful testimonial staged in 2001 saw Troy rewarded for his loyal service with a bumper Arena-Essex crowd. Although that season was to be his last with the Hammers, Troy did make a few appearances for Rye House the following season before retiring from the sport.
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1989 |
36 |
180 |
181 |
23 |
204 |
4.53 |
0 |
0 |
1990 |
25 |
119 |
150 |
18 |
168 |
5.65 |
1 |
0 |
1991 |
32 |
131 |
202 |
42 |
244 |
7.45 |
0 |
2 |
1992 |
17 |
78 |
104 |
15 |
119 |
6.10 |
0 |
1 |
1993 |
38 |
191 |
251 |
39 |
290 |
6.07 |
0 |
0 |
1994 |
36 |
154 |
157 |
27 |
184 |
4.78 |
0 |
0 |
1997 |
36 |
185 |
387 |
13 |
400 |
8.65 |
1 |
1 |
1998 |
22 |
96 |
162 |
5 |
167 |
6.96 |
0 |
0 |
1999 |
22 |
94 |
165 |
4 |
169 |
7.19 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
32 |
156 |
284 |
17 |
301 |
7.72 |
2 |
0 |
2001 |
40 |
179 |
315 |
30 |
345 |
7.71 |
0 |
2 |
TOTAL |
336 |
1563 |
2358 |
233 |
2591 |
6.63 |
4 |
6 |
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