Gilkes was still a pupil at
Campion School, Bugbrooke when he started racing. In 2019, he signed for the
Kent Kings for the
2019 National Development League speedway season, helping them to National Trophy success. He was crowned the supporters rider of the year. Unable to ride during 2020 because of the
COVID-19 cancelled season, he continued to ride for Kent in 2021 but appeared in both the NDL and the higher league of the
SGB Championship 2021. and his form was so impressive that he was added to the
Peterborough Panthers squad in the
SGB Premiership 2022 (the highest league in Britain). He started the 2022 campaign in very good form but his season ended early when he crashed and suffered serious injuries that included five broken ribs, a broken and displaced humorous bone and a collapsed lung. In 2023, he re-signed for Plymouth for the
SGB Championship 2023 and also signed for
Sheffield Tigers for the
SGB Premiership 2023, as their rising star. He helped Sheffield win the league title. In 2024 he re-signed for Sheffield, and won the
Knockout Cup with the Tigers. Gilkes signed for
Oxford Cheetahs for the
SGB Championship 2025 and then was brought in for the Leicester Lions to race in the Premiership. == References ==