Thanks to Bryn for this latest update for Island speedway. Ed
Following on from last week’s revelations of the launch of a match day bus service to and from our home matches from various pick up points on the Island starting on April 7th, there’s more excellent news revealed this week for both the Wightlink Warriors club as a whole, their existing fans and any potential new fans wherever they may live.
That excellent news starts with, as promised, the launch of the new travel page on the club’s official Website and gives all the necessary information regarding travelling to the Isle of Wight from the mainland, and also discount codes for travelling fans and My First Skid training school students.
Discount travel
This includes an exclusive travel code that, when used, provides significant discount on the regular pricing of crossings structure, and the two men who have ensured the return of speedway to the Island, Barry Bishop and Martin Widman, duo very much hope that away fans and Wightlink Warrior’s mainland fans will take advantage of these offers.
Once fans reach the Island they will be met by complimentary taxi service with Ryde Taxis and whisked to the stadium. Fans must however book ferries via the club’s Website as it is the only way the travel code will work, and book taxis by emailing [email protected]
And the club are already working with accommodation partners for those of who want to enjoy the Island for the weekend, or take a longer break on the Isle of Wight in addition to being at one or more of our home matches and this additional page/link will also go live shortly.
Warrior Express
For all Island-based fans, there’s full details of the “Warrior Express” bus service picking up from various designated points across the Island on home race nights and delivering fans safely home afterwards.
A job completed and excellently done
Meanwhile at the track Team Warrior stalwart Stu Clelland has completed what must have seemed like a “Paint the Forth Bridge” sized task when he volunteered to paint the main stand at Smallbrook. Portsmouth based Stu (see photo), aged 49, has been an ever present at the Team Warrior working party weekends since the first one back in October finished his latest task on Sunday to ensure it was ready on time for the season start. The team were so impressed with Stu’s efforts that they have already named his favourite seat in the grandstand so that he can view both the speedway and the stand all the time.
Stu said,
“After Team Warrior refurbished and painted out the back of the pits we decided it would be a good idea to refresh the sponsors seating in the stand. Of course, that area was then transformed so Kev Shepherd, my son Jack and I decided to try and complete the whole thing and it became a real labour of love for me to get it finished and looking just right for the start of the season. The team spirit we have at the Team Warrior weekends are great and I recommend them to any would be Warrior fan.”
Betapak add their support
Betapak, based at Rookley, are the latest locally based firm to add their support to the club and are dedicated to supporting Island businesses with the supply of over 120,000 different products directly to the customer’s door.
Betapak’s Managing Director Jon Carter explained,
“Betapak are pleased to be working with and supporting the relaunch of Speedway at Ryde which is great for the Isle of Wight local community and tourism. Working with them has been refreshing, such great vision, passion, leadership and work ethic which we are sure will make this successful. Working to our statement of purpose ‘developing long term mutually beneficial relationships’ and our commitment to the IOW community, we are proud to be a part of this.”
A third mascot joins our crew
And our final news item in this latest release is that the Wightlink Warriors are pleased to welcome three years old Harley-Jaye Cyprien who becomes a third Warrior mascot joining Charlie Luckman and Frankie Stacey.
Barry Bishop explained,
“His grandfather Stuart is a lifelong speedway fan and I am sure he will be thrilled when Harley takes to the track in April. Martin Widman and I are very keen to extend our number of mascots to encourage kids to get on the track and be part of the Warrior set up and we hope that more kids will take this opportunity. We would like to thank our mascots sponsors SBS EPOS and Hubbards Mobile Speedway Museum for their kind support for the youngsters.
“We are lucky to have fantastic facilities at Smallbrook and given the work that has been done in the winter, Martin Widman and I are extremely proud of everything Team Warrior has achieved together and we hope that Wightlink Warrior fans will be surprised by the improvements we have all helped put in place both on and off the track to enhance the visitor experience. For us two it is not just about speedway it’s about the whole package – a great night out, and we will strive to achieve this.”
