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News Archive
April 2008
 BUT
MEANWHILE, THE WEEK AHEAD....
A busy time again for the Wightlink Islanders starting with
them beginning their quest for 2008 Premier League Knockout Cup glory
tomorrow (Thursday). Having received a bye in the first round of this
year's competition our side now face up to the Sheffield Tigers who
defeated Scunthorpe over the two legs of their first round clash to earn
to right to come face to face with ourselves
We travel to Yorkshire tomorrow for the first leg and are obviously
looking for a good result at the Owlerton Raceway to give us every
chance of progressing through to the next round when at the conclusion
of the second leg that takes place next Tuesday at Smallbrook, getting
underway at the usual 7.30p.m. start time.
And then on Saturday of this week, the Wightlink Islanders have accepted
an invitation to send a side to Sky Sport Elite League club Eastbourne
to take them on in an inter-league challenge and our side will be
bolstered by the inclusion of Poole's top Aussie star Davey Watt who has
not forgotten his roots in that he first raced for the Wightlink
Islanders in 2001 when he first arrived in the UK from his native
Queensland as something of an unknown quantity and has since gone onto
success on the international stage.
He comes into the Wightlink Islanders side as a replacement for Glen
Phillips who's away riding in a top quality long track meeting in
Germany, his appearance at which had been organised prior to Eastbourne
inviting us to send a team to them this coming Saturday.
 ISLANDERS
WIN AGAIN AND MOVE UP INTO THIRD SPOT IN THE LEAGUE...
On a track that was somewhat tricky in the early stages following the
addition of 20 tonnes of new shale within the past week and Sunday's
rain, the Wightlink Islanders secured another Premier League victory and
the two points that go with it by defeating the visiting Workington
Comets at Smallbrook Stadium last night.
It was certainly good to see quite a few folk forsaking the convenience
of watching live soccer on the television to come along and cheer on
skipper Jason Bunyan and his men to victory over the Cumbrian side and
regular supporters were augmented by a party of schoolchildren from
Dunton Bassett in Leicestershire, the fourth year in a row that teachers
and pupils from that school have paid a visit to the track to cheer on
the island side.
And, as stated, they were rewarded with a home victory by 49 points to
44 despite the fact that popular Polish star Krzysztof Stojanowski was
plagued by machinery problems all evening and was only able to muster a
somewhat lowly two points individual points return.
Given that, it was the Wightlink Islanders two young Australians Cory
Gathercole and James Holder who 'stepped up to the plate' as it were,
alongside Paul Fry, to back heat leaders Bunyan and Glen Phillips and
ensure victory over a Workington Comets side who many up and down the
land have tipped for success in 2008.
And they certainly provided the most impressive visiting rider to our
circuit so far this year in the shape of their Swedish No.1 Daniel
Nermark who revelled in the conditions and finished unbeaten on the
night by a home rider.
After he had won the opening heat for the visitors, the Wightlink
Islanders gradually took control and a fine 5-1 maximum heat advantage
from those two Aussies Gathercole and Holder in heat 8 saw them move 12
points clear at that stage with them leading 30-18.
But Nermark and his Finnish team-mate Kauko Nieminen led a fight back
from the visitors in the second half of the match and with two heats
remaining the Islanders lead was cut to just five points at 43-38.
Home fans' nerves were settled though, and victory assured too, when
Paul Fry and James Holder finished first and second respectively in the
penultimate heat and that was probably as well with Nermark and Nieminen
doing likewise for the Comets in the final race.
But it was all too late for them, the Islanders were already home and
dry and the two league points secured sees them move up to third place
in the current league table behind early pacesetters Berwick (who visit
Smallbrook a week next Tuesday - May 6 - see below) and King's Lynn.
LAST NIGHT'S MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:
Wightlink Islanders 49 Workington Comets 44
(Premier League)
Wightlink Islanders Scorers (in riding order): Krzysztof
Stojanowski 2+1, Cory Gathercole 11, Glen Phillips 9+1, Paul Fry 7,
Jason Bunyan 10, Andrew Bargh 1, James Holder 9+3
Workington Comets Scorers (in riding order): Daniel Nermark 17+1,
Scott Smith 1, Kauko Nieminen 11, Charles Wright 4+1, Carl Stonehewer 7,
Joe Haines 2, John Branney 2.
 ISLANDERS
TAME TIGERS WITH EASE... EMPHATIC AWAY WIN
The Wightlink Islanders travelled up to Suffolk yesterday (Sunday) for
their away Premier League encounter with the Mildenhall Fen Tigers and
came away with three league points safely in the bag following an
emphatic 52 - 41 victory.
It was a match Islanders skipper Jason Bunyan and his men dominated from
start to finish despite Bunyan himself taking a tumble on the very first
bend of the opening heat but that was a mere blip on an otherwise superb
all-round team performance.
Three maximum 5-1 heat advantages in the space of the first five heats
saw the Islanders storm into a 21 - 9 lead a third of the way through
the match to establish a stranglehold on proceedings and it was a
stranglehold they never looked in the remotest danger of relinquishing
at any stage.
It would be wrong to single out any of the seven Islanders for praise as
they all played their part in the win but mention must be given to our
two young Aussies Cory Gathercole and James Holder.
The former topped the score chart with 11 (paid 13) from his five rides
whilst Holder had his best meeting for the club so far winning each of
his first three rides and only missing out on perhaps his first maximum
in the UK when, off of the outside gate, he was forced wide at the first
bend of heat 14.
Speaking afterwards, Wightlink Islanders team manager Dave Croucher
said, "We said from the moment we put this team together in the winter
that if they all clicked at the same time, then we'd hand our opposition
a bit of a hiding. Today was such a day!"
YESTERDAY'S MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 41 Wightlink Islanders 52
(Premier League)
Wightlink Islanders Scorers (in riding order): Jason Bunyan 7+2,
Cory Gathercole 11+2, Krzysztof Stojanowski 8+1, Paul Fry 7+1, Glen
Phillips 6+2, Andrew Bargh 4+3, James Holder 9
ISLANDERS
AIM TO DOWN THOSE COMETS - AND PAVITT SAYS "COME AND ROAR THEM ON!"
The Islanders will be looking for more league points tomorrow night
(Tuesday) when they entertain the Workington Comets at Smallbrook
stadium, the match getting underway at the usual time of 7.30pm.
And the club's co-promoter Dave Pavitt has urged Island fans to turn out
in force to cheer Jason Bunyan and the team on - especially as the
weathermen predict that temperatures are about to rise!
"I think it's fair to say that our attendances so far this season have
been affected by the almost Arctic weather conditions we've been
'enjoying' since the new season began," he said, "but the weathermen
tell us it's about to warm up thank goodness!
"So I'm urging Islanders to stick the video on, record the football
that's on TV and come along and roar the Wightlink Islanders, the
island's title chasing team, onto victory in what promises to be a match
full of thrills and top class racing from start to finish.
"One other point which I should make clear is that as we have to finish
matches by 9.30p.m. (barring any hold ups because of crashes) and thus
there's plenty of time to get the children home and tucked up in bed so
they are up with the lark for school on Wednesday morning!"
Tomorrow's match against Workington promises to be a real nail-biter too
for the Cumbrian side are tipped by many as possible league title
contenders this season and will be arriving after being in action
initially at Reading tonight.
The Workington management have assembled what looks to be a powerful
line up with a good blend of youth and experience that has already
demonstrated their potential with a 48-42 league victory at Newcastle
this season.
So let's have a look at their septet starting with 30 years old Swede
Daniel Nermark who moved to Derwent Park in the winter after two
years with King's Lynn. He's shown a liking for our circuit in the past,
recording double figure scores on his last two visits and has started
this season well settling in quickly with his new club. Partnering him
is 34 years young Yorkshire man Scott 'Scud' Smith who has had a
long and distinguished career that stretches back to 1982 and that has
seen him claim a hat-trick of British titles. He earned the nickname of
"Scud" during his early days in the sport with some wags likening his
riding style to that of an 'unguided missile!'
Riding at No.3 for the Comets will be 28 years old Finn Kauko
Nieminen who started his British career with Workington in 2002 and
returned to them last year after spending 2006 with Glasgow, his only
season away from Derwent Park . Another who has shown a liking of the
Smallbrook circuit in the past as demonstrated by his double figure
scores in both the Comets league and cup defeats at Smallbrook last
year. His partner is teenager Charles Wright who, along with
brother James who's riding for Belle Vue, are the grandsons of ex-rider
Jim Yacoby who some of our elder fans here on the Isle of Wight might
remember. Aged 19 and born in Stockport, Cheshire Charles has also
ridden for Buxton in the Conference League.
Completing the Comets top five is a rider who many regard as "Mr.
Workington Speedway" and that's 35 years old Manchurian Carl
Stonehewer. Stoney hasn't had the best of luck with injuries in
recent years suffering severe arm burns in 2005, which ruled him out of
the 2006 season completely, and then a fractured vertebra last season.
He's back this year though and performing as well as ever.
And down at reserve they track 22 years old John Branney who was
part of the Oxford side our announcer Bryn Williams guided to the
Conference League title in 2005 and he's partnered by highly rated 16
years young Joe Haines who last year became British Under 15
champion.
 LOOKING
AHEAD....
On Saturday of this week, the Wightlink Islanders have accepted an
invitation to send a side to Sky Sport Elite League club Eastbourne to
take them on in an inter-league challenge.
 STOJ
RETURNS AND ISLANDERS OUTPACE THE RACERS AS JASON SMASHES RECORD...
Krzysztof Stojanowski made a welcome, if not surprise return to the
Wightlink Islanders side last night as they completed their Premier
Trophy fixtures with a comfortable 50-42 victory over the Reading Racers
last night in a match sponsored by the Simeon Arms.
But it was skipper Jason Bunyan who stole the show by not only leading
the side to victory, but also cracking the existing track record of
66.5secs set by last year's No.1 Chris Holder last May when winning his
opening ride in heat 3.
He shaved two tenths of a second off of Chris's previous best time as he
stormed around the four laps of the 385 metre Smallbrook circuit in a
new record time of 66.3 secs and that earned him a bonus of £250 from
track record sponsors Osborne Garage of East Cowes. And with the sort of
form Jason is showing at the moment, few would bet against him going
even faster in the weeks ahead to earn himself another bonus! Yes it
could well prove to be an expensive season ahead for the good people
from the garage!
Irrespective of the result of last night's match, the island side could
not qualify for the final stages of the competition having been beaten
at both Somerset and Reading but they were determined to hold onto their
unbeaten home record so far this season.
And that they did with relative ease, establishing a ten points lead
after the opening six heats which featured two wins and that track
record for skipper Bunyan together with heat victories for James Holder,
Glen Phillips and Cory Gathercole.
From that point onwards, it was merely a question of their final margin
of victory although they could never afford to take things too easy with
Reading's Danish ex-Islander Ulrich Ostergaard once again in top form
and receiving useful backing from his Australian skipper Mark Lemon.
But there was never any possibility of a victory on the night for the
Berkshire side who, perhaps, were slightly flattered by the final score
line with Bunyan, Paul Fry and Andrew Bargh all suffering mechanical
problems at some stage of the match..
Despite their defeat though, it is the Reading side who win through to
the final of the competition from the Southern Qualifying group at both
the Wightlink Islanders and Somerset Rebels expense.
MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:
Wightlink Islanders 50 Reading Racers 42
(Premier Trophy)
Wightlink Islanders Scorers (in riding order): Krzysztof
Stojanowski 6+3, Cory Gathercole 8+1, Jason Bunyan 11, Paul Fry 6+1,
Glen Phillips 13, Andrew Bargh 1, James Holder 5+1.
Reading Racers Scorers (in riding order): Mark Lemon 9, Chris
Mills 5+1, Ulrich Ostergaard 14+1, Tomas Suchanek 3+1, Tom P Madsen 4,
Jamie Smith 6, Danny Warwick 1+1.
 ISLANDERS
WILL HAVE TO TAME YORKSHIRE TIGERS IN THE CUP...
Having received a bye in the first round of this year's Premier League
KO Cup, the Wightlink Islanders now know who their opponents will be in
the second round and they are the Sheffield Tigers.
The Yorkshire side outpointed Scunthorpe over the two legs of their
first round clash to earn to right to come face to face with Jason
Bunyan and his men and dates have now been set for the two legs, the
Islanders travelling to Sheffield on Thursday of next week for the first
with the return leg taking place at Smallbrook on Tuesday April 29.
AND THE ISLANDERS TAKE
ON THE SUFFOLK TIGERS THIS SUNDAY...
The Islanders are on their travels again this weekend racing up in
Suffolk on Sunday afternoon at the home of the Mildenhall Fen Tigers in
a Premier League match and will track an unchanged side from the one
that defeated Reading at Smallbrook last night.
 BETTER DISPLAY AT
READING AFTER FORGETTABLE NIGHT AT RYE HOUSE...
The Wightlink Islanders, following their excellent home victory over
Somerset last week, were on their travels in the past week starting in
Hertfordshire at Rye House last Saturday night.
It was their first away Premier League match of the season and they
couldn't have asked for a tougher start, being asked to take on the
reigning league champions whose 262 metre circuit is best described as
'somewhat different' from the wide open spaces at the 385 metre
Smallbrook oval!
Saturday's match was one that Jason Bunyan and crew will want to forget
in a hurry as they slumped to a very heavy defeat as they struggled to
come to terms with the idiosyncrasies of a circuit they ride once a year
as opposed to the weekly outings of the Rockets riders
Quite simply The Rockets were rampant from start to finish and the
Wightlink Islanders just couldn't compete with them, eventually going
down to a massive 66-24 defeat.
MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:
Rye House Rockets 66 Wightlink Islanders 24
(Premier League)
Wightlink Islanders Scorers (in riding order): Cory Gathercole
7+1, Jason Bunyan 1, Paul Fry 5, Glen Phillips 7, Andrew Bargh 0. James
Holder 4
Stung by the size of that defeat, the Wightlink Islanders put up a much
better performance in the away Premier Trophy at Reading last night
(Monday). The home side won 52-40 but that score-line does not fully
reflect the battling performance put up by the Wightlink Islanders.
A mere one point separated the two sides after the completion of 11 of
the 15 heats but two 5-1 heat wins in the space of the last four races
sealed the home victory.
MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:
Reading Racers 52 Wightlink Islanders 40
(Premier Trophy)
Wightlink Islanders Scorers (in riding order): Cory Gathercole
3+2, Jason Bunyan 16, Paul Fry 5, Glen Phillips 13, Andrew Bargh 0.
James Holder 3.
TO REPEAT NEWS ON
TONIGHT'S MATCH...STOJ RETURNS!
News we brought to you earlier today was that, following a fitness test
this morning, Wightlink Islanders popular Polish star Krzysztof
Stojanowski returns to the team line up tonight for the home Premier
Trophy match against Reading that gets underway at 7.30pm. He's been
sidelined with a cracked wrist but is now determined to make up for lost
time.
Although the Wightlink Islanders cannot qualify for the final stages of
the competition now, the result of tonight's match will be crucial in
terms of whether it's Reading or Somerset who do go through from the
Southern qualifying group
BUNYAN'S MEN TOTALLY
CRUSH REBELS...
Prior to the off of last night's Premier Trophy match for the Wightlink
Islanders, many believed that their opponents, the Somerset Rebels, were
favourites to win and thus inflict the first home defeat of 2008 on
skipper Jason Bunyan and his side.
Whether they had heard of these theories or not we'll never know but
they were having none of it and easily crushed their opponents with an
awesome display of power throughout the match.
And it was skipper Bunyan who led his side with aplomb romping to
victory in his first five races and only being denied a sixth in the
very last heat when an oiled up spark plug caused him to grind to a
halt.
Not that it was a one man show from the Islanders by any stretch of the
imagination with all Bunyan's team mates bar one slotting in good
scores. The only home rider to miss out was winter signing Paul Fry who
was left despairing the cruel, and expensive bad luck when he blew his
engine whilst comfortably leading heat 9.
Move of the match though came Gathercole in the next race for up to the
very last bend it seemed certain that Somerset's Swedish racer Emil
Kramer would take the victory for the visitors, that is until the young
Islanders Aussie star swooped around the outside of him exiting the very
last bend to snatch the lead in the last few yards before the chequered
flag.
This comprehensive victory, achieved of course without injured Polish
star Krzysztof Stojanowski, has put the Wightlink Islanders in a very
positive frame of mind indeed as they look forward to their first away
Premier League match of the season this Saturday at Hertfordshire
circuit Rye House and next Monday's Premier Trophy encounter at Reading
before they host the return against the latter mentioned opponents 24
hours later at Smallbrook.
LAST NIGHT'S MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:
Wightlink Islanders 58 Somerset Rebels 34
(Premier Trophy)
Wightlink Islanders Scorers (in riding order): Cory Gathercole
10, Jason Bunyan 15, Paul Fry 3+1, Glen Phillips 14+1, Andrew Bargh 7+1.
James Holder 9+3.
"STOJ"
INJURY LEDS TO TEAM RE-SHUFFLE AS ISLANDERS LOOK TO CRUSH
REBELS...
The wrist injury sustained by Polish star Krzysztof
Stojanowski in last Friday's away Premier Trophy defeat at
Somerset that will keep him out of tomorrow's (Tuesday)
return match at Smallbrook, has led to the Wightlink
Islanders' management re-shuffling their line up for the
match.
Unable to bring in another rider as a replacement for him,
the Islanders have no option other than to utilise the
"rider-replacement" rules to cover which means that his four
programmed rides will have to be shared amongst the
remaining six fit riders in the side.
Skipper Jason Bunyan, Cory Gathercole, Paul Fry and Glen
Phillips can each take one of the rides and reserves Andrew
Bargh and James Holder can be used in any of them if
required in addition to their own three programmed rides,
subject to them each appearing a maximum seven times in the
fifteen heats.
In reality, barring any unforeseen further problems at the
match, the first four named in the last paragraph will each
take an additional ride and to ease any likelihood of them
appearing in two heats on the trot, Bunyan switches to the
no.3 position in the side with Stojanowski's rides to be
covered at No.1.
In a further tactical switch, reserves Andrew Bargh and
James Holder swop positions with Bargh riding at six and
Holder at seven
Obviously going into the match tracking six rather than
seven riders places extra pressure on those riding tomorrow
and thus the club's management have re-shuffled the team's
riding order. "That's about the best we can do in the
circumstances," said Islanders co-promoter Dave Pavitt.
WIGHTLINK ISLANDERS THE
UNDERDOGS?
In the absence of Krzysztof Stojanowski tomorrow from the
Wightlink Islanders side tomorrow night, it could well be
that many will regard their opponents, the Somerset Sharp
Rebels, as pre-match favourites to win,
And that theory, looking at the facts and figures, could
well have much credence to it for they've certainly made a
very good start to 2008 currently heading our Premier Trophy
qualifying group on ten points from four outings so far
having won both their home matches, including the one
against us last Friday, and both their away matches at
Newport and Reading.
As if the Islanders task wasn't tough enough as it is with
us being without Krzysztof, it won't be made any easier by
the fact that their No.1 should certainly know his way
around the Smallbrook circuit for it's none other than 22
year old Aussie Jason Doyle who, of course, rode for
ourselves for two seasons in 2005/6 before trying his luck
in the Elite League with Poole last year. Fresh from a
relatively successful winter back home 'Down Under' he's
back in the Premier League and heading the Rebels assault on
titles this year.
He'll be partnered by young German rider
Henning Loof
who's been given his chance by Somerset after Doyley's
fellow Aussie Tom Hedley opted out of racing in the UK in
2008. It's been a bit of a torrid start for Henning in the
the Rebels' colours and he has only just got back into the
saddle after suffering concussion when crashing in their
home match against Newport.
28 years old Swede Emil Kramer is back for a third
season in Somerset's colours having first arrived on these
shores back in 2002 when he linked up with King's Lynn. Now
firmly established as a huge favourite amongst the Rebels'
fans and has been in top form in the early stages of this
season.
Nicknamed "Psycho" because of his somewhat forceful riding
style in the early stages of his career the Rebels 28 year
old skipper, Bristolian Simon Walker rides at No.4
and is a very good second string to have in any side.
Another crowd favourite at the Oak Tree Arena.
They certainly don't come more experienced than the rider
who completes Somerset's top five for that is Californian
Brent Werner who will be 34 years young on the fifteenth
of this month. Born in Los Angeles, Brent first rode in the
UK for the Long Eaton Invaders back in 1995 and has ridden
for numerous clubs since before being snapped up by the
Rebels in the close season.
A second German racer in the Somerset side, and occupying
one of the reserve berths, is 28 years old
Stephan Katt
who has only ever ridden for the Rebels here in the UK. And
partnering him to complete our opponent's side is 23 years
old Jordan Frampton who scored paid 13 against us last
Friday and will be hoping for a repeat performance around
Smallbrook.
THE ISLANDERS NEED YOUR
SUPPORT!
Club officials are urging speedway fans on the Island to
turn out in force to cheer the six man Wightlink Islanders
onto victory against their toughest opposition to date
tomorrow night despite the current "less than tropical"
weather we're "enjoying" at the moment!
"We know full well it's going to be tough without Stoj,"
said Dave Pavitt, "but we are sure we can make it three wins
out of three with the backing of our fans. Our riders get a
real lift from hearing those on the terraces cheering them
on so I'm urging as many fans at can make it to be at
Smallbrook tomorrow."
"STOJ"
INJURY UPDATE...
Further to our earlier press release today, we can now bring you the
disappointing news that the Wightlink Islanders popular Polish star
Krzysztof Stojanowski is going to be out of action for at least ten
days.
He visited the hospital in Newport on the island this morning for X-Rays
on the wrist he damaged in a crash in his opening ride at Somerset last
night and those X-rays have revealed that he has sustained a cracked
left wrist.
The injury has been encased in plaster and "Stodge" has been told to
return to the hospital in ten days time for further X-rays when the hope
is that the injured wrist will have healed.
Obviously he's ruled out of both the away match at Welsh club Newport
tomorrow afternoon and Tuesday's home meeting at Smallbrook when the
Somerset Rebels provide the opposition and, quite probably, the away
matches at Rye House (April 14) and Reading (April 16).
In these matches, the Wightlink Islanders have no option other than to
utilise the rider replacement regulations to cover for his absence
which, in essence, means his rides will be shared amongst the other team
members with everyone eligible to take at least one of his rides.
"STOJ" INJURY WORRY AS WIGHTLINK ISLANDERS GO DOWN
The Wightlink Islanders have an injury worry concerning popular Polish
star Krzysztof Stojanowski (Stoj - pronounced "Stodge" - to his
friends!) as they look forward to tomorrow's (Sunday) away match at
Welsh Club Newport.
He was involved in a crash in his opening ride in heat 3 of last night's
(Friday) away match at the Somerset Rebels Oak Tree Arena at Highbridge.
He and home rider Simon Walker seemed to touch as they left the tapes,
Stoj fell damaging his left wrist in the process and he took no further
part in the match.
Rather than go to hospital in Somerset, the Pole returned home to the
Isle of Wight last night and will go to hospital this morning to have
X-rays on the damaged wrist hoping that those will reveal no broken
bones.
Obviously, at this stage, it is touch and go as to whether or not he'll
be fit to ride at Newport tomorrow afternoon and if he should be ruled
out, then the Wightlink Islanders will have no option that to utilise
the rider replacement regulations to cover for him which, in essence,
means his rides will be shared amongst the other team members.
Rest assured that as soon as we have any news on "Stoj's" condition we
will issue news on such but everyone is hoping that his injury does not
prove to be the type that will rule him out of action for any length of
time.
With him ruled out of last night's match against the Rebels, the
Wightlink Islanders always faced an uphill battle and, in the
circumstances, it was little surprise that they went down by 54 points
to 39.
That despite double figure returns from both skipper Jason Bunyan and
and Aussie Cory Gathercole but to loss of Stojanowski in his opening
ride was just too much of a handicap to bear.
LAST NIGHT'S MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:
Somerset Rebels 54 Wightlink Islanders 39
(Premier Trophy)
Wightlink Islanders Scorers (in riding order): Jason Bunyan 10+2,
Cory Gathercole 10, Krzysztof Stojanowski (injured) 0, Paul Fry 5, Glen
Phillips 7, James Holder 4+2, Andrew Bargh 3.
WIGHTLINK
ISLANDERS HIT THE ROAD...
Following their narrow 46-43 home Premier Trophy win over Welsh
club Newport on Tuesday of this week, the Wightlink Islanders
now take to the road as they face up to two away fixtures in the
same competition in the space of three days.
The first of those takes place tomorrow night (Friday) when they
are in action at the Oak Tree Arena, Highbridge, the home of the
Somerset Rebels.
And that looks set to be a tough encounter for manager Dave
Croucher and his men for the Rebels have started the 2008 season
with a bang, having recorded home and away wins over both the
other teams in the qualifying group, Reading and Newport.
Croucher accepts that the Islanders will go into the match as
huge underdogs but is confident his side can put up a decent
show providing that they can avoid the mechanical
problems that hit them during Tuesday's match,
"We'll certainly go into the match as underdogs," he said, "as
Somerset have really hit the ground running this season as
demonstrated by their results so far.
"Make no mistake, they are a good side and I expect them to be
there or thereabouts when titles are decided later in the year
but that doesn't mean to say we can't do well at their track in
this match.
"To do so though, we'll need to have cured the mechanical
problems we suffered against Newport that saw Krzysztof
Stojanowski grind to a halt during two races and the same fate
befall Jason Bunyan and Glen Phillips on other occasions.
"We'll go there with everything to gain and nothing to lose as
the saying goes and the main thing is that all our riders will
benefit from the time that they will spend out there on the
track.
"That's what we're short of at this stage of the season as I've
said before and I'm still confident that we'll get our act
together the more matches we get under our belt."
Croucher, whilst admitting that it will be difficult for the
Wightlink Islanders to defeat Somerset on their own circuit
tomorrow, feels that they have every chance of recording their
first away win
of 2008 when they travel across the Severn Bridge on Sunday for
the return of Tuesday's match at Newport.
"I don't think that people should read too much into the fact
that we only beat them by three points at home," he said, "and I
do really feel that we can win there providing that all the
Wightlink Islanders hit the sort of form I know they are capable
of.
BUNYAN SHOULD BE FIT...
Wightlink Islanders skipper Jason Bunyan expects to be fit to
lead his side in the upcoming two away encounters despite being
somewhat battered and bruised following his opposite number from
Newport, Craig Watson, bringing him down as the two raced for
the lead in heat 13 of Tuesday's match at Smallbrook.
ISLANDERS
EDGE HOME...
Looking back to Tuesday's action at Smallbrook, the Wightlink
Islanders edged to a three point victory in their opening
Premier Trophy meeting against Welsh club Newport despite a
combination of engine problems and a very impressive return to
Smallbrook for ex-Island rider Nick Simmons.
Mainly because of those two factors, the match was a lot closer
than many might have predicted but, once the home side edged
into the lead after the first five heats, they never really
looked like losing and the margin of victory would certainly
have been more but for skipper Jason Bunyan suffering a fall and
an engine failure, Krzysztof Stojanowski failing to finish his
third and four fourth rides after recording a win and a second
place in his first two, and both Glen Phillips and James Holder
suffering problems with their machinery as well during
proceedings.
Nevertheless victory it was for the home side, two Premier
Trophy points safely tucked away from the match and this year's
unbeaten home record intact.
Isle of Wight 46 Newport Wasps 43
Tuesday April 1 - Premier Trophy Group match.
Scorers (no of rides in brackets): Isle of Wight – Glen
Phillips 12 (5), Jason Bunyan 8 (5), Cory Gathercole 7+3 (4),
Paul Fry 7+1 (4), Krzysztof Stojanowski 5 (4), Andrew Bargh 4
(4), James Holder 3+2 (4).
Newport – Nick Simmons 16+2 (7), Craig Watson 10 (5),
Tony Atkin 8 (4), Sebastian Truminski 3+1 (4 inc tapes
exclusion), Paul Clews 3+1 (4), Jerran Hart 3+1 (4), Marek Mroz
0 (3).
GET WELL SOON DAVE!
Wightlink Islanders track photographer Dave Valentine was taken
ill during our home match match against Reading on Easter
Saturday and rushed to hospital.
Latest news is that, whilst in good spirits, Dave is still in
there undergoing lots of tests and we would like to send our
very best wishes and hope he's back with us shortly flashing
away!
WIGHTLINK ISLANDERS
OPEN NEW MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
Representatives
from
the Wightlink Islanders attended at Southampton Motor Auction Mart on
Monday 31st March to open the new Motorcycle Auction there.
Along with Team
Manager, David Croucher were Skipper, Jason Bunyan, Glenn Phillips and
new No 8 Kyle Newman.
Southampton Motor
Auction has been around since the late 1940's and is now situated in
Millbank Street, Northam. Over 30
Motorcycles were there to be sold, and alongside the Speedway Bikes were
some very interesting customised Harley Davidsons.
The Speedway Boys
rode into the Auction Hall in front of the first sale Lot, an MV
Augusta, as Radio Solent Presenter Kevan James announced them all.
Jason Bunyan,
typically, left a memento of his visit in the shape of a 30 foot long
skid mark as he left the room, much to the delight of the crowd.
Reporters and
Photographers were there from the local Southampton Echo and other
Motorcycle Magazines.
Jeff Brocklehurst,
a Director of the Auction, and Son of one of it's Founders, who lives on
the Isle of Wight, shared memories of Southampton Speedway with David
Croucher. "I don't know why
I have never been to Smallbrook Stadium," he said, "but the noise and
the smell of the Bikes has brought back so many memories, I will be sure
and pay a visit this Season."
Some photos from the evening can be found
HERE
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