This in from Bryn for the Wightlink Islanders speedway team. Ed
The identities of the final three riders signed by the club to complete our starting septet for the 2013 season were revealed by joint team boss Chris Hunt at the supporter’s club Xmas dinner held in the Premier Lounge at Smallbrook on Saturday.
Experienced South African racer Byron Bekker, teenager Brandon Freemantle and 20 years old Danny Stoneman, who returns for a second successive year in our colours, form that trio and join Tom Perry, Ben Hopwood, Darryl Ritchings and Adam Ellis to complete a very exciting looking Wightlink Islanders side that many are already tipping to be up there amongst the favourites to lift the 2013 National League title.
The speculation is over
There had been much speculation on the internet, particularly on speedway-related forums, as to the possible identity of the final three riders being signed, but now the speculation is over and the Wightlink Islanders have become the first club in the league to complete their starting line up for next season.
It’s a line up that sees just two riders who ended the 2012 season racing in our colours returning, those being Hopwood and Stoneman and as well being a very exciting new-look side, it’s also a very youthful one with the average age of the septet being a mere 19.5 years old!
‘Boris’ eldest in team
Bekker, born in Johannesburg and aged 25, is the eldest in that septet and is keen that his affectionate nickname of “Boris” within the speedway fraternity doesn’t get changed to “Grandad” by his younger Isle of Wight team mates!
And he, having been given the green light by doctors to resume riding after suffering knee ligament damage in a crash at Mildenhall that ended his 2012 season early, is relishing the challenge of leading them to success.
“Personally I’m very happy indeed to have signed for the Wightlink Islanders as it’s a track I’ve always liked to ride at and I’m very keen to put last season and the way it ended prematurely behind me.
“I had an operation on the knee in which the docs did a really good job, so I am now back in training earlier than I expected and really eager to make up for lost time and looking at the side Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd have put together, my message to the rest of the league is watch us go!”
Hope to do well in 2013
Commenting on the latest three signings Chris Hunt said, “We’ve worked very hard indeed to assemble this side that Kev and I believe will do extremely well in the 2013 National League.
“I’d like to thank all seven riders we’ve signed for jumping at the chance to come and ride for us next year and, where they have joined us from other clubs, the management of those clubs for making the moves to us possible.
“Having completed our side for next year at this early stage we can now relax briefly and enjoy the upcoming festivities before embarking on an intensive campaign to persuade even more people to join us on race nights at Smallbrook next season and enjoy the excitement that the 2013 Wightlink Islanders fully intend to supply!”
