Wightlink Islanders | Isle of Wight Speedway

ISLANDERS ROUND UP

By Isle of Wight Speedway | Monday 25th June 2012

NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS POSTPONED AGAIN

The Wightlink Islanders have been left clicking their heels with the NL Fours competition scheduled to take place at Stoke last Saturday being postponed for a

second time because of our glorious summer weather and no home fixture scheduled for this week. With copious amounts of rain having fallen all week and

more predicted to fall in the area on Saturday, the postponement was decided upon on Friday thus saving riders and fans making unnecessary journeys.

Another new date for its staging is still to be confirmed.

DANNY GRABS CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY

That second postponement of the NL Fours suited us to a degree for skipper Danny Warwick would not have been available to ride at Loomer Road having

previously agreed to ride on that day in the British Sand Racing Championship at Vazon Bay in Guernsey. And how well he did too for, despite never having

raced on a beach before, he duly became the 2012 Champion heading home the experienced Marcus Bisson and Mitch Godden in the final.

"I must say it was a superb and thoroughly enjoyable day,” he said, “made even better by the fact that I’m now British Sand Racing Champion! We arrived to

be greeted by what looked to be just sheer ocean, had breakfast during which the tide moved out enabling the organisers to mark out a race track of about

650metres in size and after brief introduction to the big crowd we got a couple of laps practice. My initial thoughts were that the track was really good being

smooth and fast but nothing like anything I'd ridden on before and that showed in my first ride as I was trailing for a lap or two and getting soaked and covered

in sand but I battled on, got myself into the lead to record my first win then made a few little changes to the bike designed to give us a bit more speed and

whilst I finished second to Harland Cook in my fourth ride, I ended up as top qualifier for the final.

"Typically I made a terrible start in that and was right near the back entering the first turn but I battled away and gradually worked my way through the pack

into second but then the race got stopped due to someone behind me falling and, given a second chance I took the lead by the end of the first lap of the re-run

and thankfully stayed there! It was a great day and I’m so happy to have become British champion at my first attempt especially for my girlfriend Lorna,

mechanics Ricky, Colin and Kevin plus my sponsors Evolution Skate parks, City School of Motorcycling, New Driver Schools of Motoring, Parkstone MoT Ltd

and my mum and dad for all their support over the years.”

AN UPHILL TASK BUT

Everyone here and Danny himself will be hoping he’ll continue his fine run of form on Tuesday of next week (July 3rd) and inspire his team mates to do

likewise at Smallbrook as the Wightlink Islanders face up to the huge task of trying to pull back a massive 28 point deficit from in the second leg of their KO

Cup clash against the current league leaders, the Dudley Heathens.

“It’s a tough, tough task for sure,” said joint team manager Kevin Shepherd, “and I doubt that anybody will expect us to do it as the Heathens are a very strong

side indeed. That means there’ll be no real pressure on us so we’ll just tell them to go out there do their best and battle for every point, hopefully our fans will

cheer themselves hoarse giving Danny and the boys every encouragement and, well who knows - stranger things have happened!”

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