COMPANY boss, fitness freak, family man and speedway rider "“ Olly Allen is living a packed life as he tells MARK PLUMMER in the latest "˜Friday Feature'.
SPEEDWAY riders are no strangers to early starts.
But in the case of reigning Premier League Riders champion "“ and newly-crowned Premier League Fours Championship winner "“ Olly Allen it is no longer mad dashes to the airport that have him wide awake when the vast majority are still tucked up in bed.
These days you are more likely to find Allen pounding the streets of his native Norfolk or completing lengths of his local pool as part of his rigorous fitness routine.
The Somerset star leads a hectic life as a father-of-two who has also taken over the family engineering firm as well as continuing his career in the saddle. Oh, and if that's not enough, he's also training for a triathlon!
I took over my dad's engineering company last year," explains Allen. "I was out injured at the time and the then-manager stepped down, so it all fell into place.
"It has meant an end to my foreign speedway commitments which took a bit of getting used to after being in Poland on a Sunday for the past nine years, but I'm still enjoying my racing as much as I have always done.
"I typically work from 8am to 5.30pm on days when I'm not racing and I try to get in as much training as I can.
"I do a lot of running and swimming and I'll often be up at 5am to get sessions in before work.
"I've started cycling as well now and I'm preparing to do a triathlon next year.
"There is no proven science that higher fitness levels give you an advantage in speedway, but it can't do any harm. It helps my confidence and keeps my mind more alert.
"I would never say never about riding in the Elite League again, but I'm very happy just doing the Premier League at the moment.
"There have been a few occasions this year when I haven't been quite as sharp as I may have been in the past, but I feel I am probably riding as well as I have ever done."
Anyone in a bumper crowd at the East of England Showground last Sunday would vouch for that as Allen starred for Somerset Rebels in their Premier League Fours Championship victory.
It was a sweet success for Allen who came through the ranks at Peterborough before launching his senior career in Panthers' title-winning team of 1998.
He had also been a regular visit to the fast Alwalton circuit as a youngster when his father, 1970s and 1980s star Dave, plied his trade there.
"Peterborough has always been a special place for me," Allen added. "I remember going to meetings there as a kid when Dad was racing and loved it.
"I had won the Fours before when I rode for Swindon, but to win it again at the event's spiritual home at Peterborough was far more special.
"It was great to score plenty of points especially as I was feeling very sore after my crash on TV at Sheffield at the beginning of last week.
"The pain was bad enough for me to have a few tests and a fractured rib came to light!
"It was particularly good to win the Fours after what happened in the final of the Pairs last month and great for Nick Morris to have the winning ride.
"I was just glad that it took the pressure off me in the final race as he had already wrapped up the trophy."
Allen openly admits he didn't treat the sport as seriously as he should have done during the early stages of his career.
But he is certainly happy with his lot now though, loving life in his first season at the Oaktree Arena.
The 32 year-old opted for a switch to the South-West after a 2013 campaign with Rye House which was interrupted by a broken arm.
"I didn't really put my all into racing until I joined Coventry in 2006," he admits. "I was just doing enough in the early years to earn a living while having a lot of fun.
"I had a lot of good times, but I look back at that stage of my career with regrets.
"Now I'm in my thirties and there are times when I feel quite old due to the injuries I've had down the years, but Greg Hancock proves on a regular basis that age is no real issue in speedway.
"I didn't get on with Rye House as a home track last year so I was determined to race at somewhere I enjoy in 2014.
"I spoke to Somerset and another club in the winter and it was a close call either way. I plumped for Somerset in the end and it was a good decision.
"There is a real togetherness down there and it is a very close-knit club. The riders are well looked after. We can stay at the Hancock family's farm where there is always breakfast in the morning and a jet wash to clean the bikes.
"But the club is also very determined to be successful and we feel it if we don't perform."
So what chance of a third generation of speedway riders in the Allen family - will Olly's sons Joshua (3) and Jack (eight months) follow in the footsteps of father and grandfather
"I hope not," he confesses. "I would much rather than have a more relaxed career."
