Thanks to Bryn for this latest news from speedway team, the Wightlink Islanders, Ed
The ultra-exciting seven riders that have been named to don the Wightlink Islanders colours this year will certainly be seeing plenty of the National League’s new club Kent over the course of the 2013 season for, in addition to the two league matches, the two clubs have been drawn to ride against each other in the KO cup as well as both competing in the National Trophy.
Geographically Kent, whose home track will be in Sittingbourne, are the Islanders nearest rivals but when it comes down to producing the goods where it matters as it were by winning matches on the track, Wightlink Islanders co-promoters Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd are confidently looking forward to all their team’s clashes with the Men of Kent.
Kent: Only named one rider
“The Kings as they’ve been nicknamed have only revealed the identity of one rider who’ll be in their team so far,” former rider Hunt revealed, “but I expect they’ll start naming others soon.
“It’s of little consequence to us though just which seven riders will ultimately be in their line up for everybody here at this club feels that the 2013 Wightlink Islanders will be up there challenging for success in all three major NL competitions this year in addition to our riders challenging for honours in their own right.
“Obviously injuries can hit clubs hard in this action packed sport of ours with riders astride 500cc highly-tuned specialised motorbikes with NO brakes so you can never make confident pre-season predictions in terms of winning things.
“Having said that though, we here on the island are all very confident that, over the course of what looks to be our six matches against Kent, it’ll be the Wightlink Islanders who’ll prove to be THE Kings of the South!”
Sharholders’ AGM
Both co-promoters were present at the well-attended club shareholders AGM on Saturday held in the very much new look Premier Lounge at the stadium and everyone who attended couldn’t fail to have been anything other than impressed at the work that has been carried out so far since the end of last season.
And that work is set to continue especially with the club currently close to agreeing to a move that will see soccer return to the stadium in the shape of Ryde Saints and part of that move being that the soccer club take responsibility for further off-track improvements.
On speedway matters Kevin Shepherd confirmed that there had been a lot of inter-club co-operation this winter when it came to team building and felt sure that the club’s three new signings, Tom Perry, Byron Bekker and Darryl Ritchings, will soon settle into their new environment and show just why they were signed by producing the goods in terms of points.
The 2013 Wightlink Islanders are likely to be seen at Smallbrook for the first time at a practice session on March 19th with a fans forum following and further details of that are set to be revealed nearer the time, the same applying to the club’s official press and practice session set to take place on April 19th.
Want to test your brain cells?
Well if you do the chance to do that comes next Tuesday (Feb 12th) with the hard-working Wightlink Islanders Supporters Club holding another of their popular Quiz evenings in the Premier Lounge at Smallbrook getting underway at 8pm, admission being a mere £2 per person.
Image: Lee Jordan under CC BY 2.0
