Speedway fans are in for a feast of track racing over the next week as the Wightlink Warriors stage 2 meetings packed full of exciting racers.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde host the Wight Pairs Championship when 6 duos will come under the control of 6 super keen enthusiasts who wish to experience the hands-on pressure of speedway team management in a live meeting environment. They will be at the heart of the tactics and racing decisions for their pair who will ride under a team name selected by the manager.
The teams will be out to topple last year’s winners, the Surrey Sliders, who due to injury and retirement sadly can’t track their 2022 side again, however the Sliders manager Mark Cooper has recruited 2 new members for this meeting and has wisely invited Warriors skipper Ben Morley to team up with best mate and fit again Rhys Naylor to form an impressive pairing with bags of local knowledge.
Recently crowned Island Master Arran Butcher will link up with Belle Vue starlet Freddy Hodder to represent Charlie’s Champions whilst exciting Brayden McGuinness will be riding alongside Aussie compatriot and UK debutant Michael West as part of Mirac’s Marvels.
Kiwi combo Jake Turner and George Congreve join forces to represent the quirkily named Speedway Ireland outfit whilst Cradley Team Manager Andy Hawthorne is utilising Lee Complin and Tom Woolley for his Hawthorne’s Heathens and lastly the South Coast will delight in the appearance of the Pompey Warriors being represented by Steve Boxall and Jacob Clouting.
Supporting the Pairs event will be the 1st round of the Nora Women’s Championship with Islanders Steph Whitlock and Anastasia Sallee hoping to unseat reigning champion Katie Gordon.
The 2nd round of the Women’s event forms part of the 2nd night of the week’s racing on Thursday (20th July) when the main event will see 12 top riders going all out for the Nora British Open Championship sponsored by SES Autoparts.
Defending champion Jason Edwards will be hoping to secure his 3rd title in succession, however, it will be no easy task as Messrs Boxall, Complin, Butcher and others go up against him. The meeting will also enable the talented youth riders on the Island to perform their demonstration races as part of the main events as they battle it out for the Island Mini-Masters Award.
A further preview of the Open Championship will appear next week when the full line-up will be confirmed.
In the meantime here is a reminder that the gates at the Stadium open at 17:15 with the main event underway at 19:00. Admission is by cash or card on the night, no pre-booking is necessary.
