Wpa Healthcare Trophy

[Bryn]

Hopefully the weather gods will be a whole lot kinder to the Isle of Wight tonight than they were last Thursday as it's individual action at 7.30pm in the form of the WPA Healthcare Trophy.

 

The Wightlink Islanders trio of Danny Warwick, Ben Hopwood and Paul Starke have all set their sights on finishing in first place face stiff opposition from nine others - Brady Kurtz, Simon Lambert, Ben Reade, Brendan Johnson, Ben Morley, Dean Felton, Lewis Kerr, Ross Walter and James Sargeant.

 

As usual the action will get underway at 7.20pm with the introduction of riders and the first race scheduled to get underway ten minutes later. Admission is just £11 for adults, £5 for kids aged 10 to 15 with kids Under 10 admitted FREE with a paying adult.

[waco]

Are there any updates for this meeting anywhere/??

[stressed]

Are there any updates for this meeting anywhere/??

 

Can't find any, bit of a sad state when a texter can't be found. Thanks to that no phones or Internet rule from the SCB it means that Russ who was Mr Reliable can no longer keep us all informed, real shame.

[gazzatopfuel]

Can't find any, bit of a sad state when a texter can't be found. Thanks to that no phones or Internet rule from the SCB it means that Russ who was Mr Reliable can no longer keep us all informed, real shame.

real shame, updates are the best !

 

well done paul,

[Modd]

Just hear from IoW 1st Paul Starke, 2nd Simon Lambert, 3rd James Sargeant. Sorry thats all the info I have. No scores or anything.

[Jef]

Simon Lambert was unbeaten until the Final, Paul Starke beat him to the first bend and managed to stay in front to the Flag, Well Done Paul!

[richiej95]

Anyone got the full scores?

 

Very interested to hear how Brady Kurtz did, I have heard good things about him.

[Jef]

Anyone got the full scores?

 

Very interested to hear how Brady Kurtz did, I have heard good things about him.

Brady Kurtz improved with every ride, to everyones surprise he was leading his semi final but slid of into the fence on 2nd or third lap.

[Main Man]

Anyone got the full scores?

 

Very interested to hear how Brady Kurtz did, I have heard good things about him.

 

Brady did really well in his first full UK meeting. 4points in the qualifying heats then he led Starke and Lambert in the semi till he fell . Brother Todd text me that he was ok and enjoyed it and learnt a lot. His next outing is Thursday at Redcar in their open meeting

Edited August 14, 2012 by Main Man

[richiej95]

Thanks both for letting me know how he did, good to hear he did well, could prove to be a great talent

[Bryn]

Can't find any, bit of a sad state when a texter can't be found. Thanks to that no phones or Internet rule from the SCB it means that Russ who was Mr Reliable can no longer keep us all informed, real shame.

 

Russ would have had a hard job doing that last night Tim as he wasn't at the meeting! Will do full report on what was a very entertaining meeting with passing galore as soon as I am able to but right now need some shuteye!

Edited August 15, 2012 by Bryn

[stressed]

Russ would have had a hard job doing that last night Tim as he wasn't at the meeting! Will do full report on what was a very entertaining meeting with passing galore as soon as I am able to but right now need some shuteye!

 

What I'm getting at Bryn is the SCB rule that has affected updates for those supporters who can't attend every week, not whether the person who did a really good job for quite some time was there or not as he hasn't been able to do updates since the start of the season unfortunately.

 

I thought the sport needed to attract supporters not clam up and keep events secret, but there again maybe speedway does not need to attract new supporters or keep regulars happy who may be unable to attend due to shift work or health problems.

 

Anyway I will leave you with those thoughts . . . . .

[Bryn]

With respect Tim, there have been very few meetings indeed in the country that haven't been covered by the excellent live updates crew and / or other websites - alas last night was one of those few. I can also vouch that Isle of Wight Speedway club have and are working hard to attract newcomers to Smallbrook and it IS paying dividends.

 

There was a large crowd present last night many being holidaymakers, quite a few of whom asked me to put out announcements over the PA system detailing the fact that it was the first time they've seen the sport and how much they were enjoying it.

 

There were also organised parties of young children with supervisors from both a scout group camping on the island and the weekly batch from the Camp Beaumont summer camp at Bembridge.

 

In addition to that ex-Wightlink Islander Chris Simpson (er somewhat larger than when he rode speedway!) was providing regular live reports from trackside on that excellent BikerFM radio station.

 

Now onto details.

 

Heat scores: Ben hopwood 8, Lewis Kerr 2, Ross Walter 0, Dean Felton 2, Simon Lambert 12, Brendan Johnson 3, James Sargeant 10, Ben Morley 6, Ben Reade 5, Paul Starke 9, Brady Kurtz 4, Danny Warwick 11.

 

And this morning's official club press release:

 

Wightlink Islanders very own Paul Starke pulled off a stunning victory to win the 2012 WPA Healthcare Trophy in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far at Smallbrook last night.

 

 

He seemed certain to exit the meeting at the semi-final stage with him trailing but was handed a lifeline when the race leader, impressive Australian teenager Brady Kurtz, fell on the second lap causing the race to be stopped.

 

Starke couldn't avoid the fallen Aussie's bike and was brought down himself but thankfully neither rider sustained injury.

 

Kurtz was excluded from taking part in the re-run and Starke, after his mechanics had repaired his damaged bike at breakneck speed, took full advantage by following home Stoke's Simon Lambert to book his place in the final at the expense of team mate Ben Hopwood who finished third.

 

Islanders skipper Danny Warwick recorded a tapes-to-flag victory in the second semi-final and was followed home by James Sargeant from Hertfordshire club Rye House who thus clinched the final spot in the four man final.

 

Lambert, who had won all four of his heats and that first semi-final in impressive style, looked certain to clinch the title but "Starkey" had other ideas and took the lead in the battle for glory exiting the second bend hotly pursued by Lambert with Sargeant and Warwick having their own private battle for third place.

 

All eyes were focussed though on the leading duo and Lambert tried everything both on the inside and outside racing lines to find a way past race leader Starke, but the latter thwarted all Lambert's moves to pass him to take the chequered flag a mere bike length ahead and punched the air with delight as he went on a well deserved victory lap

 

A cracking finale to what had been an excellent night's racing with the watching crowd having their hearts in their mouths at times marvelling at some of the dare devil passing moves riders produced in the qualifying heats as they attempted qualification for the later stages.

 

A stunning victory for Starke then, heartbreak for Lambert but most importantly a superb night of action and fun enjoyed by the large holiday crowd.

 

And hopefully both the Isle of Wight Hospice and the Samantha Dixon Brain Tumour Trust will benefit from this meeting from funds raised.

 

MEETING RESULT:

 

1. Paul Starke (Isle of Wight)

2. Simon Lambert (Stoke)

3. James Sargeant (Rye House)

4. Danny Warwick (Isle of Wight)

Edited August 15, 2012 by Bryn

[Jef]

Really pleased to see Paul Starke win and mixing it with some of the leagues top riders, hopefully the mechanical problems that have dogged his season so far are done with and in the few remaining meeting we can see what Paul is really capable of.

[Miserable Old Git]

the excellent live updates crew and / or other websites - alas last night was one of those few. I can also vouch that Isle of Wight Speedway club have and are working hard to attract newcomers to Smallbrook and it IS paying dividends.

 

There was a large crowd present last night many being holidaymakers, quite a few of whom asked me to put out announcements over the PA system detailing the fact that it was the first time they've seen the sport and how much they were enjoying it.

 

There were also organised parties of young children with supervisors from both a scout group camping on the island and the weekly batch from the Camp Beaumont summer camp at Bembridge.

 

In addition to that ex-Wightlink Islander Chris Simpson (er somewhat larger than when he rode speedway!) was providing regular live reports from trackside on that excellent BikerFM radio station.

 

Now onto details.

 

Heat scores: Ben hopwood 8, Lewis Kerr 2, Ross Walter 0, Dean Felton 2, Simon Lambert 12, Brendan Johnson 3, James Sargeant 10, Ben Morley 6, Ben Reade 5, Paul Starke 9, Brady Kurtz 4, Danny Warwick 11.

 

And this morning's official club press release:

 

 

Wightlink Islanders very own Paul Starke pulled off a stunning victory to win the 2012 WPA Healthcare Trophy in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far at Smallbrook last night.

 

 

He seemed certain to exit the meeting at the semi-final stage with him trailing but was handed a lifeline when the race leader, impressive Australian teenager Brady Kurtz, fell on the second lap causing the race to be stopped.

 

Starke couldn't avoid the fallen Aussie's bike and was brought down himself but thankfully neither rider sustained injury.

 

Kurtz was excluded from taking part in the re-run and Starke, after his mechanics had repaired his damaged bike at breakneck speed, took full advantage by following home Stoke's Simon Lambert to book his place in the final at the expense of team mate Ben Hopwood who finished third.

 

Islanders skipper Danny Warwick recorded a tapes-to-flag victory in the second semi-final and was followed home by James Sargeant from Hertfordshire club Rye House who thus clinched the final spot in the four man final.

 

Lambert, who had won all four of his heats and that first semi-final in impressive style, looked certain to clinch the title but "Starkey" had other ideas and took the lead in the battle for glory exiting the second bend hotly pursued by Lambert with Sargeant and Warwick having their own private battle for third place.

 

All eyes were focussed though on the leading duo and Lambert tried everything both on the inside and outside racing lines to find a way past race leader Starke, but the latter thwarted all Lambert's moves to pass him to take the chequered flag a mere bike length ahead and punched the air with delight as he went on a well deserved victory lap

 

A cracking finale to what had been an excellent night's racing with the watching crowd having their hearts in their mouths at times marvelling at some of the dare devil passing moves riders produced in the qualifying heats as they attempted qualification for the later stages.

 

A stunning victory for Starke then, heartbreak for Lambert but most importantly a superb night of action and fun enjoyed by the large holiday crowd.

 

And hopefully both the Isle of Wight Hospice and the Samantha Dixon Brain Tumour Trust will benefit from this meeting from funds raised.

 

MEETING RESULT:

 

1. Paul Starke (Isle of Wight)

2. Simon Lambert (Stoke)

3. James Sargeant (Rye House)

4. Danny Warwick (Isle of Wight)

Think you will find that Chris Simpson was not an Islander but was in fact one of the Two first ever signings, along with Barry Bishop for the Isle of Wight Wizzards back in the middle nineties when George Major was team manager. Good memories of those days travelling down every week from Stoke on Trent to race on a fantastic track with very friendly supporters. Possibly correct though about the weight issue!!

[builderbob]

bryn did you watch the final or are you making it up from the result

[Bryn]

Think you will find that Chris Simpson was not an Islander but was in fact one of the Two first ever signings, along with Barry Bishop for the Isle of Wight Wizzards back in the middle nineties when George Major was team manager. Good memories of those days travelling down every week from Stoke on Trent to race on a fantastic track with very friendly supporters. Possibly correct though about the weight issue!!

 

Indeed MOG I stand corrected and my only excuses for forgetting the original Wizzards nickname are that it WAS a long time ago now, a late night coupled with an early morning start today and, of course, my advancing years!

 

Something for you to decide - is Chris S BikerFM's modern day answer to Chubby Checker?

[Miserable Old Git]

Very good question Bryn. I think that i will pass on answering that question as Chris lives a lot closer to me than you and you have the protection of a :moat: around the island that I am not afforded in Stoke against any reprisals regarding the size of this superstar !!