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Matt Read Farewell Meeting


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Don't care if he does this or not!  He knew when the GP's were and when Matt's meeting was!

 

What is more important Mark? Eastbourne or Matt?  :mad:

 

Good point. Not like he has a contract! (as far as i know anyway......?)

 

Would have been great to see Loramski at the Oak Tree, would have suited him. Shame also not to see Joonas Kylmokorpi for another visit to the Oak Tree. Been a long time :sad:

 

Just hope Readie continues to get the names in :approve:

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Don't care if he does this or not!  He knew when the GP's were and when Matt's meeting was!

 

What is more important Mark? Eastbourne or Matt?  :mad:

 

:o Must of been a weak moment for Tabby there :o , had to read the posting twice to make sure I wasn't seeing things!!!!

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Replaces Pedersen at GP weekends for Eastbourne :(

 

Still ill be there no matter what to field to support 'our' Readie!! :)

Well we are coming up to Somerset for 10 days, built around coming to support Matt in this meeting. I don't really care who rides. Could be a group of naked female models for all I care. :)

He rode for the Islanders for a season & we were very dissapointed not to have him back. We went to see him grasstrack in a Firework bonanza I think it was. He was injured from before but still won his first race & then tired somewhat. Now that looks scarier than Speedway.

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Official Press Release for Matt's Farewell Meeting

 

 

The star names just keep on coming for Matt Read's Farewell Speedway Meeting being held at Somerset's Oak Tree Arena on Friday September 22nd, the latest additions to the list being top Premier League riders Danny Bird and Somerset's own Magnus Zetterstrom.

 

26 year old Bird currently rides for Premier League high fliers Glasgow, his home matches involving a weekly commute from his Guildford (Surrey) home. Twice a winner of the Premier League Pairs, firstly in 2002 for the Isle of Wight with Adam Shields, Bird then captured the title for a second time two years later when riding for Reading, this time being partnered by Phil Morris.

 

Long associated with the Isle of Wight, where he rode for 6 seasons, Bird surprisingly moved to Reading in 2004 and many thought he would be an automatic choice for a team place when the Berkshire club moved up into the Elite League at the start of this season. However, due to a miscalculation over his average the ex moto-cross star was unable to claim his place, and it was Glasgow who stepped in and snapped up his services.

 

It was, however, whilst riding for the Isle of Wight that Bird first struck up a friendship with Matt, as he explains. "I rode with Matt for the Islanders in 2002, and although we knew each other prior to that, it was during that season we became good mates." "I'm really pleased that I'm able to come and ride in Matt's meeting, I'm just glad to help him out, I hope he has a night he deserves and the fans turn out in force for him."

 

The announcement of Magnus Zetterstrom being in the line up, brings the number of Somerset riders taking part in the meeting to three, following on from Glenn Cunningham and Stephan Katt. Matt was keen to ensure that the Rebels would be well represented in the meeting in recognition of the time he spent at the Oak Tree Arena. "I really wanted to include a few guys from Somerset in the line up, as I regard the Oak Tree Arena as 'home' as far as my speedway career was concerned, the fans there are the best in the sport and by including Glenn, Katty and now Zorro, this is my way of saying 'thank you' to the fans for the support they've given me, not only while I was riding for the Rebels, but also since my injury."

 

Unfortunately, due to meeting rescheduling by Eastbourne, it does now mean that both Dave Norris and Dean Barker will be unable to ride at Matt's meeting, but Matt and his hard working Committee members are close to securing two new top line riders to replace the Eastbourne duo and names will be announced as soon as the riders concerned have confirmed their availability.

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Good to see Matt and mum Jackie at Arena Essex last night selling souvenirs in aid of the Farewell fund.

 

There's also a Grand Draw being run inn conjunction with his meeting with the first prize being a magnificent looking chopper! Mini-chopper motorbike that is! Loads of other prizes too so make sure you get your ticket - just £1 each.

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Now now Shazzy! What would you do with such a magnificent chopper? :blink: But someone's going to win it and those that saw it on view at Arena will testify as to it's magnificence!

 

Really looking forward to Matt's big meeting next month - I'm sure it's going to be an absolutely brilliant night.

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MATT READ FAREWELL SPEEDWAY MEETING PRESS RELEASE

 

WEDNESDAY 23RD AUGUST

 

WILSON RIDES AT MATT’S BIG NIGHT!

 

Despite the loss of Dave Norris and Dean Barker from his meeting due to rearranged commitments with Eastbourne, Matt is delighted to announced that one of the sport’s all time top names, Sean Wilson, has agreed to ride at his Farewell Meeting on September 22nd.

 

Wilson’s appearance at Somerset’s Oak Tree Arena will be one of the very few opportunities that speedway fans will be able to see him take to the track during the 2006 season due to him not securing a team place this year.

 

The 36 year old Yorkshireman finished top of the Sheffield averages for the 7th time in a row last season, and rounded off the season by winning the Premier League Riders’ Championship, his 3rd success in this prestigious event. It was, therefore something of a surprise when Sheffield announced that they would not be retaining his services in 2006, and so it was that Wilson entered his testimonial season without a team berth.

 

“I was really delighted when Sean stepped forward when I heard that the two Eastbourne boys were unable to ride.” Said Matt at the announcement. “Though Sean hasn’t been riding on a regular basis this year, he is still a class act and to have a rider of his calibre at my meeting is unbelievable!”

 

In addition to Wilson’s appearance, Chris Neath has confirmed his availability for the meeting. An Oak Tree Arena specialist, Neath’s connection with Matt goes back a long way, as he explains.

 

“Matt and myself used to have rare old battles in our junior grass track days, in fact with Simon Stead also being in the line up, it will be just like the old days having the 3 of us together again.” “Obviously what with riding against each other week in, week out in the junior grass track competitions our families became good friends, as did Matt and myself.”

 

With 8 out of the 14 names now announced, speedway fans up and down the country can look forward to further riders being announced in the forthcoming weeks.

 

Official Press Release by Ian Belcher

Matt Read Farewell Speedway Meeting Press Officer

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MATT READ FAREWELL SPEEDWAY MEETING PRESS RELEASE

 

TUESDAY 29th AUGUST

 

THE 'SCREEN MACHINE' ADDED TO LINE UP

 

England International and Belle Vue star, Joe Screen is the latest top line rider who has agreed to ride at Matt Read's Farewell Speedway Meeting at Somerset's Oak Tree Arena on Friday 22nd September. Screen, like Matt, was a product of the junior grass track circuit and made his speedway debut in 1989 with Belle Vue. A World Under 21 Champion in 1993, Screen also captured the British Under 21 title in 1990 and 1993, as well as the Elite League Riders' Championship in 1992. Twice a British speedway Champion, Screen won the second of his titles in 2004 in bizarre circumstances when he won the final after his three rivals had either fallen or retired from the race! 33 year old Screen was granted his own testimonial meeting in 2004 to celebrate a career which has taken in spells at Bradford and Eastbourne, as well as Belle Vue.

 

In addition to the 'Screen Machine' ex-Rebel Mark Lemon has also confirmed his availability to ride in the meeting. Lemon rode alongside Matt for the Rebels in 2003, and was, therefore, an obvious choice for Matt to include in his meeting. "Lemo and myself quite often rode at numbers 1 and 2 during that year, and we formed quite a good partnership, even if Mark wasn't quite sure where I was going half the time, mind you, nor was I!" "Mark is a class rider and I'm really pleased that he is able turn out at my meeting."

 

After the racing has concluded on the night, there will be an auction of race jackets and other memorabilia, but pride of place will be a specially commissioned crash helmet which has been signed by every rider who has captured the World Speedway and World Longtrack Championships in the last 10 years. "I cannot thank the guys enough who have signed the crash helmet." said Matt. "This is going to be such a unique item for somebody to own, I almost feel like bidding for it myself!"

 

Screen and Lemon's confirmation means that a total of 10 riders have now been announced as taking part in what promises to be a great night of speedway action, the final four names to be released over the course of the next two weeks.

 

Confirmed Riders: Simon Stead, Sean Wilson, Davey Watt, Joe Screen, Danny Bird, Chris Neath, Mark Lemon, Magnus Zetterstrom, Glenn Cunningham, Stephan Katt

 

Official Press Release by Ian Belcher

Matt Read Farewell Speedway Meeting Press Officer

07816 107 751

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