Thanks to Bryn for this update from the Wightlink Islanders. Ed
Wightlink Islanders’ stars Tom Perry and Adam Ellis have both been selected by TeamGB Youth bosses Phil Morris and Neil Vatcher to ride in the World Under-21 Team Cup semi-final at Gdansk in Poland.
That semi-final takes place on Saturday week (25th May) with our duo being joined in the UK quartet by skipper Kyle Howarth, who this year has been riding for Poole in the Sky Sports Elite League plus Workington in the Premier League, and Kyle’s Comets team mate up there in Cumbria, Ashley Morris.
Going to be a tough event
The talented young Brits will be racing against hosts Poland, Sweden and Russia with UK co-boss Phil Morris commenting,
“We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a tough event, but we’ve gone for a young line-up who will be determined to give it their best shot.”
Sunday match
Buoyed by their stunning away win in Kent on Monday, the Wightlink Islanders are on their travels this coming weekend heading up to Suffolk for a National Trophy clash at Mildenhall on Sunday afternoon in a match getting underway at 4.30pm
And joint team manager Kevin Shepherd admits that it would be quite an achievement if our talented septet were to come away with from West Row with our unbeaten record so far this year still intact.
“Last year the Fen Tigers won both the National League playoffs and the K.O. Cup,” he said,
“and they haven’t made a bad start to this season either as they’ve beaten both Stoke and Coventry in their last two home matches, the match against Coventry being a league one.
“Their race track is very different to ours being just 260 metres in length but that said it’s a circuit that has to be ridden flat out as demonstrated by the fact that the current four lap track record is just 49.85secs!
“The team know this is going to be their toughest test to date this season but they’re up for it and given that, I think it promises to be one heck of a match because the Wightlink Islanders, just as they did en route to Kent on Monday, will be travelling up the A11 on Sunday firmly believing they’re going to Mildenhall to win. Hopefully they’ll do just that!”
Tom aiming to capture coveted headgear
As well as hoping to play a full part for the Wightlink Islanders in their bid to garner more National Trophy points by winning at Mildenhall, Tom Perry will be doing his best to capture even more success after the main match has ended.
For he will be looking to claim a measure of individual glory too by defeating current Bronze Helmet holder Stefan Nielsen when they clash head-to-head thus relieving him of the coveted headgear.
Off track the duo are good friends as they both ride for Somerset in the Premier League in addition to their separate National League clubs but when they take to the track that friendship will be put aside with each eager to get the better of the other.
Next home action
Tuesday 21st May v Mildenhall Fen Tigers (National Trophy)
