After an anxious wait, fans of the ‘Wightlink’ Warriors will be delighted to hear that speedway will be back at the Smallbrook Stadium in April 2020.
Warrior’s promotional duo of Barry Bishop and Martin Widman emerged from today’s reconvened National League A.G.M. to confirm that the Island club will continue racing in the third tier of British Speedway alongside six other teams. It will be the fifth season under the Bishop / Widman banner.
Following the demise of the Stoke and Cradley clubs at the end of 2019, social media had been awash with rumours that the National League may not operate in 2020, especially when the original A.G.M. was unexpectedly adjourned, however club bosses have been able to allay fans fears with a declaration to run and at the same time welcoming Armadale (Edinburgh) into the structure. Thus the opportunity to provide a platform for meaningful competitive action for up and coming riders has been preserved with the development nature of the competition being honoured.
The 2020 teams will be Armadale, Belle Vue, ISLE OF WIGHT, Kent, Leicester, Mildenhall and Plymouth. Teams will build their line-ups to a 39 point limit with the lowest average being 3.00.
The National Trophy and Knock Out Cup competitions have been retained and some exciting format amendments – put forward in part by the Island club - are being proposed for the Trophy competition.
Warriors will meet Leicester in the Knock Out Cup.
Two meetings sure to draw national attention will be an early season round of the British Under 21 Individual Championship and, in a huge honour for the club, the National League Pairs Championship has been allocated to the Island on a summer date to be confirmed. The possibility of a Saturday night staging is being actively pursued.
Speaking after the A.G.M., Bishop said, “I’m very pleased to confirm that our award winning Warriors will again be an integral part of the National League and we are already planning a full season of weekly action. Sadly we have lost two clubs from last year, however it is fantastic to welcome an Edinburgh based team at our level and it will be a great delight to take an Island side north of the border in search of league points.
With the increased points limit also coming into operation, we will be accelerating our team building work whilst paying close attention to the ongoing needs of the Wizards in the Development League”.