It’s the Wightlink Warrior’s first home 2016 National Trophy speedway meeting at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde on Thursday, a meeting that looks to be one of the toughest tests so far for the Isle of Wight side as they bid for victory following a defeat at Mildenhall on Sunday.
The Warriors take on an unbeaten Kent Slyde Kings for a 15-heat battle and fans are being urged by co-promoters Barry Bishop and Martin Widman to turn out in force to roar the Wightlink Warriors onto victory.
Team manager Neil Vatcher and his depleted Wightlink Warriors side, missing Lee Smart and Matt Saul, travelled to Mildenhall on Sunday for the first National Trophy fixture.
It was a somewhat difficult West Row track surface for the team and their cause wasn’t helped by Benji Compton falling in Heat 11 picking up an injury that ruled him out of the meeting at that point and out of this Thursday’s clash at Smallbrook against Kent, where Coventry Storm’s 20 years old Liam Carr will deputise for him and don the Warriors No.1 racejacket.
It was no surprise then when Neil’s side finished on the wrong end of a 57-33 scoreline but Neil, whilst being disappointed at the result said afterwards:
“I’m not making excuses as track conditions were the same for both sides, but it is fair to say that those conditions were not ideal and it was difficult for the lads to ride after a Stock Car event had been staged there on the Saturday evening. By the time our boys got tuned in, Mildenhall were already well on their way to victory.
“I am always one to take the positives from a defeat, and what can you say about Kelsey’s great start to the season but having said that, all our riders have done the club proud with their efforts so far, and remember its early doors as far as results going against us and that there’s no need to worry right now.
FINAL SCORE : 17th APRIL – MILDENHALL 57 WIGHTLINK WARRIORS 33 (National Trophy)
WARRIORS SCORERS: Mark Baseby 11, James Cockle 8, Kelsey Dugard 7+1, Tyler Govier 5+1 George Piper 1+1 Benji Compton 1 (withdrawn through injury).
