Update from Bryn on behalf of the Wightlink Islanders. In his own words. Ed
Skipper Danny Warwick and Kyle Hughes’s hopes of winning the National League Pairs Championship at Mildenhall on Sunday were scuppered in the very first race of the meeting.
In that race they met the home pairing, and eventually title winners, Cameron Heeps and Lewis Blackbird and all four riders were clearly nervous as they lined up at the starting gate and there was much movement along the grid.
Unfortunately Kyle was the one whose front wheel touched the tapes earning the wrath of the referee and our No.1 had no choice other than to, in the second attempt to get the opening race underway, start it off a 15 metre handicap from the outside grid and consequently our pairing finished third and fourth to concede a 2-7 scoreline.
Our dynamic duo did claim maximum points over Rye House in their second ride of the afternoon to give them a measure of hope but then suffered a second maximum defeat in their final race, this time at the hands of the Buxton pairing of Robert Branford and Charles Wright who went onto claim the runners up spot in the final behind Mildenhall.
Mark joins his brother
With Gary Cottham now joining Marc Owen on the injured list, the Wightlink Islanders management have moved quickly to plug the gap in the team by drafting in Mark Baseby to join his younger brother Aaron in our line up.
He’ll make his debut appearance tomorrow (Tuesday) in our tough looking home National League match against unbeaten table-toppers Dudley. The 24 year old from Kent will slot into the No.5 position tomorrow and his 5.67 average means that Paul Starke will drop down to reserve where he could prove to be a real trump card.
Tomorrow night’s match also sees 16 years old Adam Ellis given an outing in the other reserve berth with the club’s management keen to see if he can repeat his excellent performances in the British Youth Championship at National League level.
Our opponents, the Dudley Heathens, will arrive at Smallbrook Stadium as current league leaders boasting a mightily impressive record of played eight matches, won eight matches so our joint team manager Chris Hunt is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing us on track tomorrow evening.
“Given their record so far this year,” he said, “no one will expect us to become the first side to turn them over this year but I can assure our fans that what we’ll be aiming for and it would be really great if we can do just that.
“They are bound to bring an army of fans with them too so we’re urging our followers to forsake whatever’s on the TV for one night and get themselves down to Smallbrook to cheer the Wightlink Islanders onto what we hope will prove to be a memorable win.
As usual, the action gets underway at 7.30pm
Gary Cottham injury update
Doctors have told Gary Cottham that his broken collarbone will keep him out of action for at least six weeks but Gary, being a speedway rider, has vowed to be back in the saddle much sooner than that!
“Four weeks maximum is what I’m aiming at,” he said, “and I’ll be doing everything I can to reduce that even further if possible!”
