After an anxious wait, fans of the Wightlink Warriors will be delighted to hear that speedway will be back at the Smallbrook Stadium in April 2020.
The promotional duo of Barry Bishop and Martin Widman emerged from yesterday’s reconvened National League AGM to confirm that the club will continue racing in the third tier of British Speedway alongside 6 other teams. It will be the 5th successive season in the National League under the Bishop/Widman banner, despite initial plans to swiftly move up to the second tier.
Following the demise of the Stoke and Cradley clubs at the end of 2019, social media had been awash with rumours that the National League may not operate in 2020, especially when the original AGM was unexpectedly adjourned, however, club bosses have been able to allay fan’s fears with a declaration to run and at the same time welcoming Armadale (Edinburgh) into the structure.
The 2020 teams will be Armadale, Belle Vue, Isle of Wight, Kent, Leicester, Mildenhall and Plymouth. Teams will build their line-ups to a 39 point limit with the lowest average being 3.00.
The National Trophy and Knock Out Cup competitions have been retained and some exciting format amendments – put forward in part by the Island club – are being proposed for the Trophy competition.
Warriors will meet Leicester in the knock-out Cup.
2 meetings sure to draw national attention will be an early-season round of the British Under 21 Individual Championship and, in a huge honour for the club, the National League Pairs Championship has been allocated to the Island on a summer date to be confirmed. The possibility of a Saturday night staging is being actively pursued.
Speaking after the AGM, Bishop said:
“I’m very pleased to confirm that our award winning Warriors will again be an integral part of the National League and we are already planning a full season of weekly action. Sadly we have lost two clubs from last year, however it is fantastic to welcome an Edinburgh based team at our level and it will be a great delight to take an Island side north of the border in search of league points.
“With the increased points limit also coming into operation, we will be accelerating our team building work whilst paying close attention to the ongoing needs of the Wizards in the Development League”.
