Thanks to Bryn for this Speedway update. Ed
It’s with a feeling of enormous pride that we can bring you the wonderful news that former Wightlink Islander Chris Holder clinched the title of 2012 World Speedway Champion on Saturday night in the final Grand Prix held at Torun in Poland.
He’d gone into the meeting two points ahead of his nearest challenger, Denmark’s Nicki Pedersen, and despite suffering engine problems in Saturday’s final, had done enough by then to clinch the crown and become THE best speedway rider in the world.
And we are proud to have helped Chris (or ‘Noddy’ as he was affectionately known by our fans!) reach the very top of our sport with him having spent the first two years of his career here in the UK racing for the Wightlink Islanders in 2006/7 after arriving on these shores as a raw teenager from his native Australia.
Chris then moved onto his current Elite League club Poole in 2008 and, at the age of 25, has become World Champion!
Hoping for better weather this week
Following last week’s enforced postponement brought about by heavy rain, we hope the elements are kinder tomorrow and allow the second leg of the National League play off semi-final against Mildenhall at Smallbrook to go ahead.
And providing it does, the Wightlink Islanders will be facing the not insignificant task of having to overcome a 22 point deficit after their 58-36 defeat at Mildenhall in the first leg if they are to reach the final where they would meeting either the Stoke Potters or the Dudley Heathens.
We’re under no illusions about the enormity of the task we face but guarantee that all of our riders are totally committed to the cause as evidenced by the fact that teenage reserve Adam Ellis will be flying in from his home in France early in the morning so he can ride in the match.
So the question is CAN we overcome that 22 points deficit and reach the play off final that will decide this year’s National League champions? Well we are urging our fans to turn out in force at Smallbrook tomorrow night to cheer on the Wightlink Islanders as they attempt to do just that in a match that gets underway at the usual time of 7.30pm.
