The 2023 Summer speedway season blasts off this Thursday (22nd June) at the Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde as the Wightlink Warriors face a team representing the Rye House Rockets.
The format is a team challenge meeting designed to give the home side a stiff workout whilst also giving oxygen to the campaign mounted by the visiting management to reinstate racing at the picturesque Hoddesdon raceway.
The Warriors have already made a winning start to their season away at Sittingbourne in the 1st round of the No Brakes Racing League (NBRL) competition with Ben Morley, Rhys Naylor, Arran Butcher and George Congreve combining to see off teams from the home club, Plymouth and Cradley.
That quartet of racers will be joined by Danish based Aussie Brayden McGuinness and the familiar face of Chad Wirtzfeld (pictured) for this week’s fixture.
The visitors come with 2 Rockets legends leading their attack and both making surprise track returns. Steve Boxall and Luke Bowen have both been persuaded to take to the track again with Boxall having put in some practice laps at Smallbrook just a fortnight ago.
Many still remember his stunning 18 point maximum on a previous visit and those credentials are matched equally by the no-nonsense team captain Bowen who, in the past, has always been a tall scorer around the Island circuit. Current National League regulars Ben Trigger and Jack Kingston form the engine room pairing for the Rockets whilst Sam Woods and ever popular Chris Watts complete the team.
With the Warriors owners always keen to give opportunity to up-and-coming talent, prior to the main event there will be at least 8 heats for Youth riders and also a 6-heat training challenge between the Wightlink Wizards and Crayford Kestrels woven seamlessly into proceedings.
Warriors’ co-owner Barry Bishop is excited for the season ahead and said:
“Well, here we are ready to deliver another season of exciting racing in our family friendly, fan conscious Warrior Way. I can’t deny that we have had to find ways of tackling some challenges to be here, however we have created solutions that we hope the public will support and that give riders more track time to do what they so dearly love – namely racing and entertaining.”
“Our plan to be part of a new league with 3 other clubs has come to fruition, but not in the way we all originally envisaged it. The NBRL is up and running, Warriors won the 1st meeting in front of an appreciative crowd at Sittingbourne, and we will see more NBRL action here on Thursday.
“A by-product of the changes has seen 2 of our original 6 riders missing. Unfortunately, Henry Atkins, who has had such a bright and busy start to his season with Oxford, has decided he must focus his full attention in that direction. We wish him well and hope that he may be able to fit some meetings in with us later in the season.”
“Wayne Parker took a knock whilst practicing and still needs more recovery time so we hope he will be back later in the Summer. Now we are giving Brayden and Chad some further opportunities to shine, and I know they are keen to get going.”
“Looking at our 1st meeting I have to say it’s great to be able to give the Rockets a full-on fixture. A couple of seasons ago we worked in collaboration with the group trying to revive Oxford and look how well that worked out. Now we have a chance to do the same for Rye House. Steve Ribbons and his colleagues are all working so hard to get things going again and I’m delighted that we might be able to help by staging what is sure to be an exciting fixture.”
Gates at Smallbrook open at 17:15, demonstration races start at 18:10 with the main team match getting under way at 19:00. Pre-booking tickets is not necessary with admission payment accepted by card or cash on the night.
