Thanks to Bryn for this update from the Wightlink Islanders. Ed
Wightlink Islanders’ No.1 Tom Perry has been ruled out of tonight’s (Tuesday) National League match at Smallbrook against the league leaders, the Coventry Storm, that gets underway at 7pm.
That despite showing everyone what a rare breed speedway riders are by being back in action last night just 48 hours after being rushed to hospital with a suspected broken shoulder sustained in a crash at Hertfordshire track Rye House on Saturday, Wightlink Islanders No.1 Tom Perry was back in action on Monday night riding for a Wolverhampton side in their home challenge match against the Dudley Heathens.
X-rays at the hospital revealed no broken bones but some quite severe muscle damage so riding for a Wolverhampton side in their home challenge match against the Dudley Heathens, Tom had hoped that he’d prove to himself more than anybody else that he would be fit to ride for us tonight against Coventry at Smallbrook, but despite finishing third in his opening ride, he was obviously in pain and was withdrawn from the meeting.
He immediately rang our joint team manager Chris Hunt to tell him that, much as he might like to, it’s best for the team that he pulls out of tonight’s match sets his sights on getting fully fit if possible for next Tuesday’s home cup match against Kent.
Hearing the news from Tom, Hunt wasted no time at all in telling ex-Wightlink Islander Paul Starke, who’d agreed to be on standby to ride that he’d be riding against Coventry. And a repeat of the 12+1 score Paul posted in top scoring for Dudley in last night’s 49-41 win at Monmore Green or even a higher return would be just the thing for us tonight!
The on track action gets underway at 7pm and the big question is can the Wightlink Islanders injury-hit side defeat the current National League leaders?
Skipper Ben tunes up by finishing fourth in the Kent Laurels
Wightlink Islanders skipper Ben Hopwood tuned up for the clash with league leaders Coventry at Smallbrook by finishing fourth in the Kent Laurels individual meeting which was won by Stephen Lambert who’s riding for Hertfordshire club Rye House in this year’s Premier League.
He admitted afterwards,
“Although I made the final I just wasn’t sharp enough out of the gate in that. I missed out on a maximum score by a point at Smallbrook last week but intend to go that one point better against Coventry!”
Image: Lee Jordan under CC BY 2.0
