The Warriors faced top class opposition tonight at the Andrew Younie Smallbrook Stadium in the shape of the Mildenhall side defending an eleven match unbeaten run and it was the Fen Tigers who bared their claws to inflict a sixteen point defeat on the home side.
After a morning of heavy and persistent rain the intensive track work undertaken by Warriors volunteers paid dividends as the surface held up really well to twenty one heats of racing with fast times and plenty of passing throughout the evening.
On a night when the powerful visitors provided thirteen of the fifteen race winners that led to eleven heat advantages, it was an uphill struggle for all the Warriors who, in fairness, never threw the towel in and kept battling to the end, however they came up against the Fen Tigers pair of Danny Ayres and Josh Bailey who were in dominant form, be it from the starting gate or behind.
Even without the services of number one teenager Drew Kemp, the Fen Tigers looked comfortable and then add in the tenacious work of much improved Ryan Kinsley, it was clear to see why the Suffolk side are going to take some stopping as the race for the league title comes to a climax.
Warriors : Alfie Bowtell 8+1, Danno Verge 3+1, Scott Campos 7, Chris Widman 2, Ben Morley 11, Jamie Bursill 3, Shaun Tedham 3+2.
Fen Tigers : Rider Replacement for Drew Kemp, Ryan Kinsley 9+1, Josh Bailey 16, Jordan Jenkins 7, Danny Ayres 16, Matt Marson 3, Sam Bebee 2.
Immediately after the National League action the ‘Wightlink’ Wizards took on the Reading Racers in the Southern Development League.
Looking to repeat their home win last week, the Wizards came up just short of their visitors in a match that produced close racing throughout. Wizards Jamie Sealey put in three strong rides with some sweet passes whilst poor Rob Watts just couldn’t find the set up that saw him to three unbeaten outings last week.
Credit the Racers whose solid quartet was all very competitive and added greatly to the entertainment on the night.
Wizards : Rob Watts 0, Ben Ilsley 4+1, Jamie Sealey 8, Chris Watts 3+1.
Racers : Nick Laurence 6+1, Stephen Whitehouse 6+2, Jamie Bursill 8, Bailey Fellowes 1.
Warrior’s co-promoter was quick to express his gratitude to those involved in the meeting:
"Firstly a huge thank you to our brilliant track team for getting the circuit raceable after the heavy morning rain. Secondly an equally big thank you to the supporters of Mildenhall, Reading and the 'Wightlink' Warriors and Wizards who have turned out in great numbers to attend our meeting tonight and lastly well done to all the riders for serving up some fantastic speedway. Congratulations to Mildenhall and Reading on their wins on what has been a super evening showing all that is exciting and good about our sport."