Following last week’s fantastic speedway meeting against Weymouth, the Wightlink Warriors start out on their quest for Knock-Out Cup progression when they entertain the Plymouth Devils at The Andrew Younie Smallbrook stadium on Thursday (27 April).
The teams will face each other 24 hours later in Devon with the aggregate winners progressing to meet Birmingham in the next round of the competition.
The Devils have joined the National League this year having endured a troubled 2016 in the speedway Premiership where financial pressures and mindless vandalism at their facility took its toll. This prompted a change of ownership in the winter with new and enthusiastic management moving quickly to restructure the team and they certainly got tongues wagging when the much travelled Steve Boxall signed on to lead the side. Boxall joins with the highest average (10.30) of any rider in the division and can expect good back-up from former Warriors Benji Compton and Lee Smart.
Barry Bishop, the Warriors co-promoter said:
“This promises to be another night of super speedway and off-track fun. Following last week’s massive crowd for the Bryn Williams Celebration, we will be delighted to welcome back lots of people who enjoyed that meeting whilst on-track our Warriors will be fired up to lay down a first leg marker.
“In these two legged meetings every point is vital and we will need points from every position in the team. If we can do that, and contain the Devils big guns, there is no reason why we shouldn’t take a useful lead to the second leg. Having had one difficult trip to the St. Boniface Arena already this year, we are looking to put up a strong showing this time around”.
Unfortunately injuries are still affecting the Warriors. Tyler Govier and Rik Mullins have not fully recovered from the knocks sustained a fortnight ago and so the Rider Replacement facility will operate for Govier whilst Alex Spooner from Kent will deputise for Mullins at reserve.
New Warrior Nathan Greaves has a busy week with 4 meetings in 5 days, 1 of which we see him go for individual success in the British Under 21 Final at Poole on Wednesday evening.
Gates open at 17:30, the rider parade at 18:45 and first race at 19:00.
