The Isle of Wight’s Smallbrook Stadium will host the first NORA Women's British Speedway Championship during the Wightlink Warriors 2022 Shale Track Racing fixtures. The brand new competition will see eight of the UK’s top female speedway riders racing in a three round series on July 14th, July 28th and August 2nd. Cumulative scores will then be used to determine the top four riders who will then race-off at the end of round 3 in a dramatic ‘winner talks all’ Grand Final to decide the first Women’s Champion.
Being the first female British Championship in the sport, it’s sure to generate a lot of interest from riders, fans and sponsors alike. Warriors co-owner Barry Bishop added, "We have always ensured that speedway is accessible to anyone here on the island and we are delighted to see the number of females participating at a competitive level. Female participation has grown significantly over the last 15 years or so, following on from the Two Fat Submariners Ladies Only Speedway School. That baton has now been taken up by Alan Critcher and we are delighted that he has agreed to be our meeting coordinator for the 2022 championship which I know will get a lot of interest throughout motorcycling and is another great result for the Isle of Wight. With two Island based racers in Steph Whitlock and Anastasia Sallee hoping for selection, who knows, maybe we will have a local favourite on the podium. Now, we cannot wait to get started and to finalise the competitors. There will be lots of opportunity for businesses to align with all the events at Smallbrook Stadium in 2022 through various sponsorship and marketing packages which will be available shortly."
Championship Co-ordinator Alan Critcher said, ""It has been a long held desire of mine to see a structured, meaningful and competitive opportunity for lady riders. In 2021 the seeds for such a competition were sown when, on two occasions, the Isle of Wight staged some Ladies Only Races as part of their regular meeting framework. The interest generated by these races has resulted in the Wightlink Warriors promoting the 2022 NORA Women’s British Speedway Championship. This will be contested over three separate rounds, with riders scoring points, based on their finishing position in their three programmed races at each round. At the conclusion of the third round, the top four riders by virtue of their aggregate points scored, will be seeded to the Grand Final, to be raced on the same night as round 3. The winner of the Grand Final will be the 2022 NORA Women’s British Champion!!! My personal thanks go to Barry & Martin, for their acceptance & promotion, of this truly ground breaking Womens British Championship."
Any lady riders wishing to take part should contact Alan Critcher via Facebook Messenger or email speedwayontheisland@yahoo.co.uk and the organisers will be in touch.