There will be a full-on summer programme of track sport at Ryde’s Smallbrook Stadium, as the Wightlink Warriors management plan to deliver another varied programme of action that will introduce matches in the newly announced Nora Speedway League.
The provisional calendar sees the first meeting set for Thursday 22nd June when the main event will be a full team challenge against a side representing the Rye House Rockets (for The Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy) with the usual pre-meeting demonstration races for the ‘keen-as-mustard’ youth riders, as well as a six heat improvers fixture featuring riders of Wizards / Warlocks standard.
In total, 13 meetings are planned over the holiday period, with two meetings in the week commencing 17th July (on both Tuesday and Thursday). That ‘two-in-a-week’ period will permit the highly popular Nora British Women’s Championship to be condensed into 2 rounds, which should make participation easier for some riders’ who found last season’s three separately spaced rounds a struggle.
Outlining his thoughts on the 2023 season, Warriors co-owner Barry Bishop said:
“Martin (Widman – co-owner) and I have been assessing feedback on 2022 and we believe we have been able to respond with a meaningful and exciting programme for this summer that will appeal to participants and supporters alike and, of course, we are thrilled to be able offer team speedway via the new Nora Speedway League.
“The response from our fans has been so positive since we named our riders last week and it is now ‘full steam ahead’ as we put the finishing touches to our events that will also feature the wonderfully entertaining Handicap Racing, Flat Track Racing, the Nora Upright Championship, the Nora British Open, a one-off Island Masters meeting and plenty of track time for those looking to progress their speedway experience within the body of our main events.”
As before, the demonstration races for the youth riders and up-and-comers will take place before all meetings and commence at 18:15, with the main parade at 18:45 and racing starting promptly at 19:00.
The fixture list below is, as always, subject to change at short notice, with updates posted on the club website and Facebook page as soon as possible.
Thursday 22nd June – Warriors v Rye House (Challenge) plus Wizards fixture
Thursday 29th June – Warriors v Plymouth (Nora League) plus Flat Track
Thursday 6th July – Cradley v Warriors (Nora League at Smallbrook) plus Wizards fixture
Thursday 13th July – Nora Island Masters Open Championship plus Flat Track
Tuesday 18th July – Speedway Pairs Championship plus Nora Women’s Championship Round 1
Thursday 20th July – Nora British Open Championship plus Nora Women’s Championship Round 2 & Final
Thursday 27th July – US Style Speedway Handicap Event plus Nora Upright Championship Qualifying Round
Thursday 3rd August – Warriors Knock-Out Cup (Nora League) plus Nora British JAP Engines Final
Thursday 10th August – Nora Upright Championship Final plus Wizards Fixture
Thursday 17th August – Awaiting Confirmation plus Flat Track
Tuesday 22nd August – Warriors v Sittingbourne (Nora League) plus Wizards fixture
Thursday 31st August – Warriors v Cradley (Nora League) plus Flat Track
Thursday 7th September – Reserved – Warriors Knock Out Cup Final (Nora League) or Handicap Meeting plus Wizards Individual
Dates for the Warriors away meetings at Sittingbourne and Plymouth will be given in due course.
More noise, dust, light, CO2 and oil fumes pollution, and adding to the NHS burden.
But hey, it keeps a few bored gawpers happy, so lets ignore all green issues, as it’s ‘fun’
What are you, the fun police?, jesus, there’s little enough on this island of much interest.
Probably less over all pollution, and raises more revenue than the dreadful cycle race which nobody wanted but cost us the tax payer 300k! But you wouldn’t see that, because that’s outside your narrow sad minded field of vision.
You should change your name to ‘Mood Hoover’
Do us all a favour and stop using up our oxygen.
At least I won’t miss the opening meeting like I did last year. Cannot wait (but have to) for that gorgeous fume adrenalin you get on the opening night and it stays with you every time you attend. Been going to Speedway since I was eight years old, missed a year or three as I relocated to the Island from Coventry (Bees) but my late Husband told me that it was here and we went to all that the promoters and co-promoters could throw at us. Let the good times and the good memories continue.