A ‘summer season’ of six meetings gets underway at the Isle of Wight’s Smallbrook Stadium on Tuesday 28th. July, with the visit of Cradley A.R.H. Heathens to contest, the annual Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy.
Following the resignation of former promoter Barry Bishop, the run up to the season hasn’t been an easy one but Martin Widman, now sole promoter, has been helped by a band of volunteers who have all worked tirelessly to get the stadium ready for speedway to start.
Changes have been made and Martin has brought in former Warriors rider Henning Loof as their new Team Manager, Henning has a wealth of experience as a rider and is sure to add some flavour to the team and help guide them.
Danno Verge emerges from retirement at his local track to captain the Warriors who include in their line-up, world number Four from the recent FIM Women’s Gold Cup, Aussie Tayla Street, a relation to three times World Champion Jason Crump and former, Exeter and Newport racer Neil Street, and don’t take this rider lightly, has she has hit the ground running, beating some well know riders in the UK, including a heat 13 win in Hastings 45-45 draw in Kent last week.
Also in the Warriors team are Ryan Ingram, vastly experience although still young, Ryan certainly knows a fast way around Smallbrook.
Mickie Simpson, this young rider has shocked a few with his progress and is bound for higher leagues in the sport and certainly is one to watch.
Returning for anther stint for the Warriors is Arran Butcher, Arran missed a fair part of last season due to injury, but he is back and ready to go again, and very popular on the Island and really could well be a match winner.
Completing the home side is Charlie Southwick is back as well and another who is fast improving and is sure to pick up some points with his never say die attitude.
Cradley will certainly be no push over and have a fine record at Smallbrook and once again are fielding a strong team including an Aussie first timer on the IOW in their line up too, in Harry Sadler, Harry is son of former Rye House, Peterborough and Island rider Nigel Sadler, as he told me, I don’t race for second, I race to win, he will love the wide open spaces on the Island.
They are lead by the fiery James Shanes, Shanes is one of the most spectacular riders in British speedway and is certainly going to take some stopping.
Shanes will be partnered by Ashford based Nathan Hargrave, Hargrave had a tough baptism to team racing last season, but this year has shown a vast improvement after attending the Paul Hurry/Scott Nicholls “Try Speedway” training schools.
Alex Spooner also come with a pedigree of exciting racing, Alex seems to have been around for ages, but he is still relatively young, but another who knows a very fast way around the Island circuit.
Charlie Wood rates the Island as his favourite track, not surprising really and the Kent based rider, often picks up double points totals when he visits, making up the visitors line up is Seth Norman, another teenager who is fast learning.
Full line ups;
Isle of Wight Wightlink Warriors
1. Ryan Ingram 2. Mickie Simpson 3. Arran Butcher 4. Charlie Southwick 5. Danno Verge(c) 6. Tayla Street
Cradley Heathens
1. James Shanes 2. Nathan Hargrave 3. Harry Sadler 4. Alex Spooner 5. Charlie Wood (c) 6. Seth Norman
On the undercard, in a typically packed order of events, is the annual NORA J.A.P. British Championship – with title holder, Dean Felton going up against the two previous winners of this event for riders mounted on historic J.A.P. machinery, Keith Cornell and Graham Knowler.
The line up JAP championship is:
Keith Cornell, Dean Felton, Graham Knowler, Andy Hickman, David Hammond, Rob Snow, Daniel Owen, Giles Dismore.
The action gets under way at 7pm.