Speedway: Islanders move back to third place in League table

Thanks to Bryn for this update from the Wightlink Islanders speedway team. Ed

Mark BasebyMark Baseby produced his best performance so far in the colours of the Wightlink Islanders, scoring 14 points from his five rides to top score in their comfortable 55-37 league victory over the Scunthorpe Saints at Smallbrook last night.

And that win sees them leapfrog above the Stoke Potters once again and back into third place in the National League standings behind current league leaders Dudley and Mildenhall.

Two maximum 5-1 heat wins in the opening three races last night saw them move into an eight points lead and immediately put them in command of the match, a match that they never looked like losing from that point onwards.

Despite falls and mechanical problems
And that despite heat leader Kyle Hughes being plagued by mechanical problems all night long and both No.7 Adam Ellis and skipper Danny Warwick each suffering a high speed fall whilst seemingly set to bag points in heats 4 and 10 respectively.

All that mattered not one jot, though with Baseby tasting defeat just once in his five races, that coming in heat 5 when he was pipped to the chequered flag by the opposition No.1 Lewis Kerr.

Not that it was a one man show from Mark though, far from it in fact with him receiving superb back up from Ben Hopwood, Danny Stoneman, Warwick despite his fall and Paul Starke and even Kyle Hughes managed to win heat 11, the only race he finished – and that on a borrowed bike too!

Match details
Wightlink Islanders 55 | Scunthorpe Saints 37 (National League)

Isle of Wight scorers: Mark Baseby 14, Ben Hopwood 11, Danny Stoneman 9+2, Danny Warwick 8+1, Paul Starke 7+3, Kyle Hughes 3, Adam Ellis 3.