This week’s action switches to TUESDAY 22nd August and will be a first chance for track racing enthusiasts to see a full scale GT140 race meeting as 18 riders from around the country battle it out for the inaugural GT140 Island Masters Title. All fifteen races will consist of six riders who will each take four rides with accumulated points qualifying the participants for inclusion in either C, B or A Finals. The meeting is being sponsored by Mark Cooper IFA@trulyindependant.
The GT140 class, an off shoot of conventional grasstrack racing, was launched in 2017 by Jed Rolph (who will be racing in the event) and has grown rapidly in popularity as racing costs are relatively modest and sit at affordable levels. Successful trials at Smallbrook have encouraged co-owners Barry Bishop and Martin Widman to promote a full-scale meeting with the full backing of the NORA organisation.
Speedway followers will be interested to see Island regular Chad Wirtzfeld taking on the cream of the class with 2023 British GT140 Grasstrack Champion Ian Clark (pictured) - formerly of the Peterborough Panthers - heading an exciting field that includes several riders at the top of the 2022 ACU grading list, not to mention Wayne and Max Broadhurst, Luke Tuck and Vinny Smith all of whom have had outings in various competitions on the Island this season.
The expected line should include:
Darren Sargeant, Thomas Wilding, Connor Sargeant, Mark Scopes, Vinny Smith, Jed Rolph, Adam Hawker, Ian Clark, Max Broadhurst, Kevin Gwillam, Chad Wirtzfeld, Lester Denham, Luke Tuck, Wayne Broadhurst, Luke Wicks, Richie Knight, Jordan Cross and Steve Newsham.
As usual, gates will open at 5:15pm, with the main event preceded at 6:15pm with Youth speedway racing. The GT140’s get under way at 7:00pm and a training development match between the Wightlink Wizards and Carmarthen Dragons integrated into the evenings racing.
The club are always happy to receive good luck messages or dedications to be read out during the course of the meeting and this can best be done by logging on to the Warriors website (www.warriorsspeedway.com) scrolling to the bottom of the page and filling in the template available there.