Wightlink Islanders skipper Ben Hopwood, who has been out injured since mid-August, has given the club a huge boost ahead of tomorrow’s first leg of the National League KO Cup semi-final replay away at Mildenhall.
That’s very welcome news indeed for the Island side, with Brendan Johnson becoming the club’s latest injured rider after being brought down heavily from behind by a Mildenhall rider within sight of the chequered flag in heat 8 during the thrilling cup match between the two sides at Smallbrook on Tuesday.
X-rays at Johnson’s local Poole hospital the following morning confirmed that whilst no bones had been broken in the crash, he had sustained extensive damage to both muscles and ligaments in his right shoulder and he himself has come to terms with the fact that though his heart is telling him he’d be fit enough to ride, his head knows he won’t!
Ben will be back riding tomorrow (Sunday) after being sidelined himself with shoulder damage sustained in his crash during the team’s home league win over Buxton on 21st August, news that has come as a welcome relief to joint team managers Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd.
Hunt said:
“Great news indeed that Ben will be riding in the replay first leg up in Suffolk, especially with Brendan now being out, and his return really has given the club a real boost ahead of it.
“Indeed welcome back from us all Ben, we’ve missed you!”
