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WIGHTLINK ISLANDERS

About Speedway

If you are new to the sport, you may not have the foggiest idea what to expect during the two and a half hours or so of a speedway meeting! Don't worry - it was the same for all of us at one stage! Believe us though when we say that we think you're gonna enjoy it! Hundreds of thousands of fans watch the sport of speedway worldwide during the course of the season and they all began in the same way. Here are a few key points which should greatly increase your enjoyment of your meetings with us which, we hope, is the first of many!
British Speedway - THE toughest speedway leagues in the world involving the very best riders from around the globe. Each team consists of seven riders and they clash over a series of 15 races. Each race last for four laps, and is contested by two riders from each team. The winner of each heat scores 3 points, the second placed rider scores 2, the third placed riders are awarded 1 point, but the fourth placed man, or non finishers score 0. Therefore, if say in heat 1, the home team riders finish first and second, they will score a combined total for that heat of 5 points to the opposition's 1. If heat 2 sees a home rider win with the opposition finishing second and third, then the points for that race are shared 3-3. The total points scored by each team's riders are added together as the match progresses and therefore, come the end of heat 15, the team with the most points are the winners.
The 'home side' in each match wear the red and blue crash helmets and the 'away' team's helmets are coloured green and yellow and black quarters. Riders also wear race jackets or jerseys with their team emblem on the front and also sporting their rider number. Rider's individual scores are also important because their earnings depend on the number of points they score in each match. Each has an 'average' which is actually a sort of 'form guide' based on their points tally in every match and that average is recalculated each month by speedway's ruling body. A rider's average can actually affect his position in the team.
If you look at the middle pages of any race magazine, perhaps the points we have just made will start to slot into place. At the top of the left hand page, you will see the home team riders score chart. First the riders number, then his name, his average and then boxes for you to fill in his score in each race he contests. The same information for the visiting team appears underneath.
Below the individual score charts is the race card which covers all the heats from 1 to 15. The top two riders listed in each heat are the 'home' riders, followed by the two 'away' riders. To the left of the riders name is their rider number and further across the page under the colour column is the colour of the helmet he'll wear (R-Red, B-Blue, G-Green and Y-Yellow & Black quarters).
To the right of the riders names is the 'gates' column. This refers to the starting position in each race with the No. 1 representing the inside grid and No. 4 the outside.
We hope the above will help you but don't worry if you are still confused! The announcers will guide you through the match and don't be afraid to ask the person next to you for help! Speedway fans really are a friendly bunch and they'll be more than happy to help.
There is something else you should know. Speedway bikes are powered by 500cc single cylinder engines, use fixed gears, have acceleration to match Formula 1 race cars, have NO brakes and virtually NO suspension! It takes a very special sort of bravery to broadside them around such a narrow track.

Basic League Rules

Four laps, clutch start, match decided on race points - 1st 3, 2nd 2, 3rd 1, 4th 0. Riders are identified by helmet colours - Home riders: Red & Blue, Visiting riders: Green, Yellow & Black.

Track signals: Flags displayed during the course of the race mean: Yellow and Black Diagonal Cross - Riders entering last lap. Black & White Chequered - Race finished. Black with accompanying disc - Rider excluded. Red lights around the track - indication that the race has been stopped. 

if after the 4th heat a team is 8 or more points in arrears, the team manager may either substitute a rider in the next or succeeding heats with another rider in his team as a Tactical Substitute or, if 10 or more points behind, nominate an already programmed rider for a Tactical ride. A rider my be used as a Tactical substitute or take a Tactical ride once only. Tactical rides and/or Substitutions must stop when the team is fewer than eight points behind nor are permitted in heat 15. 

A rider nominated for a Tactical ride, starts from the normal gate position on the start line, whereas a tactical Substitute starts on a 15 metre handicap, in both cases any points scored by that rider is doubled.

All riders (No's 1-7) must have a minimum of three rides prior to heat 15, unless prevented by injury and being declared unfit by the Track Medical Officer.

Reserves shall be entitled to maximum of 7 rides, use as a Tactical Substitute, Rider Replacement or in nominated riders race, will count in the maximum rides allowed.

In the case that a rider touched or breaks the tapes, the team manager may, at his discretion, either use a reserve in the original start position, or re-instate the guilty rider to re-start on a 15 metre handicap.

Additionally, there will be a further toss of a coin to determine the gate positions for heat 15.