Wightlink Islanders

The Wightlink Islanders speedway team race most Tuesday evenings between April and the end of September at Smallbrook Stadium, Ryde, a 385 metre oval circuit in the third tier National league.

It's a great family night out where you see all the action in every one of the 15 races with riders racing on 500cc motorcycles running on methanol accelerating to 60mph faster than a formula one car! These bikes have no brakes, just one gear and a clutch and race anti-clockwise bringing the rear wheel out into a skid around the corners.

The Wightlink Islanders consist of seven riders and in 2012 they will race against teams from Buxton, Dudley, King’s Lynn, Mildenhall, Rye House, Scunthorpe and Stoke. During the race season there are other fixtures added in such as individual, pairs or sometimes four team tournaments.

A race win awards the rider 3 points, second two and third just a single point with nothing for the fourth placed rider. Two riders from the Wightlink Islanders race against two riders from the visiting team over a fifteen heat format.

The racing is fast, furious and sometime dangerous! The riders race inches apart putting great trust in their opponents and teammates, blink and you miss it!

More information can be found on the clubs official website www.iowislanders.co.uk