Jump to content
British Speedway Forum

Isle Of Wight 2017


Islander15

Recommended Posts

True but I'd rather a 3.00 novice than someone who has let the club down time and time again and not even improved! A kid who scores 1 from 3 rides and is part of the team is better than returning to a rider who's treated the club poorly in the past imo.

 

There are a few riders around without a club anyway: Purchase, Basford, Halder, Speight, Parker or even giving Piper a proper chance. A couple of those would allow Govier to start at reserve too. Surely the issue is signing 6 riders which leaves 4.04 when they were unlikely to sign the better riders to fit that figure e.g. Luke Harris.

 

I may have criticised Mullins' signing but in every other way I applaud the fantastic work that the club has done on and off the track.

 

I think that the Warriors were banking on a 40 point limit and bringing Kelsey Dugard back. When the points limit changed, it left them rather high and dry and fitting in as best they can and, in that, they aren't alone. Kent admitted they were making the team up to 40 points and have had to have a radical rethink and others are having trouble with their final placings.

 

Its difficult to disagree with your view on Mullins. Given his record, it seems to me this was a case of just getting someone in to make the team up and not being particularly choosy about it.

Edited by Halifaxtiger
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

Two posts in as many weeks - this is a first for me :)

 

Anyways, I just wanted to share with you some of my thoughts on Rik Mullins and why we have brought him into the squad.

 

Rik, I know, has not been the most reliable rider in his past and has indeed been viewed to have let the Islanders down previously. Now, while I appreciate that this can be viewed as a letdown in the past I am a believer in tomorrow and the way forward. While I understand tomorrow is usually written in conjunction with the past, when we understand the past we can create the right path for the future. Rik was a young man and all over the place really during his previous time in speedway but having spoken with the lad, along with Jackie Vatcher, we feel that by bringing him to our environment with the right support around, him he has a chance, a real chance, to make it and give the Warriors a fantastic reserve pairing.

 

I have to say that Rik to his credit has pursued the club relentlessly since the end of the season for a team spot and we have been talking with him to understand more about his family and personal goals for 2017, probably more than any other rider - as we know that historically there was an element of confusion or disorientation in life. The result of these conversations is a rider who we believe will be born again, committed to the Warriors (and I have to say there have been 3 other clubs wanting him), our fans, our sponsors, the management but also his team mates.

 

Rik will, along with his team mates, have access to My First Skid and the support and ethos only the Warriors can provide him right now.

 

The truth is, if Rik were to leave us half way through the season for an unexplained reason, I would view this as a personal failing on me and the Warriors and not that of Rik because in 2017 he is ours to lose really; we have the opportunity to bring the best out of him; we have the opportunity to work with him and we have the opportunity to develop him and take him to the next level. And I for one am extremely grateful for that. Let’s see what 2017 brings and I hope that all Warriors Fans who have valued our viewpoint, committment and judgment to date, even if they disagree with us, will join us and give Rik the support all Warriors deserve and I am sure that you will all be rewarded with the bright, interactive, challenging, and loyal rider we can mold into a fine young man and rider.

 

Yours in speedway,

 

Barry

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to say yet again another positive release & approach to the situation regarding the Rikki Mullins signing by the IOW promotion.

An honest response by Barry towards all IOW & speedway fans and full acceptance that they have made a debatable signing which is incredibly rare as far to many promoters take no responsibility regarding the riders they track.

Do i personally think that the signing of a rider who has done very little competitive riding since 2014 is a good one? No

Do i think that pestering a club for a team place is justification for the signing of a rider over those who have been actively racing & putting in effort via amateur / development leagues? No

Do i wish IOW all the best with the signing of Rikki Mullins & the upcoming season? Unquestionably Yes. I cannot think of a team more deserving of success for the effort & enthusiasm they have bred back into the club & sincerely hope that this signing does not prove to be the undoing of their hard work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some really good, honest posts regarding this signing.

I got to know Rik and his family really well in the past.

We shared some great times.

We shared some good times.

And we shared some not so good times.

 

Barry...I have to say that your post is very honest and very professional.

There are many reasons why certain riders don't live up to their true potential and your post explains some of these in a caring, understanding and professional way.

 

If you can get the best out of Rik, he really could be a steal on a 3 point average.

 

I for one can't wait to see him back on the big IOW track that I know he can be so good on.

 

It will be good to meet up with him and his dad in the pits again.....and remember Rik...get that velco on your seat and keep looking forward.

You Mug!

 

Cheers,

Steve

Edited by wightlink flyer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can't believe the signing got knocked tbh, he would have been one of the first 3 pointers I would have tried signing after Jenkins Brennan Bickley etc.

Big talent who should romp against some of the other declared reserves.

Can't believe the signing got knocked tbh, he would have been one of the first 3 pointers I would have tried signing after Jenkins Brennan Bickley etc.

Big talent who should romp against some of the other declared reserves.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi guys, some of you may already know but for those who don't follow the Warriors on social media, the 2017 Warrior race jackets were unveiled a couple of days ago during the latest Warrior 100 live draw on Facebook, from a very special location. To view the video which includes the live draw, the new jackets, information and location reveal and much more, please click the link below.

 

http://www.speedwayportal.com/wight-warriors-home

 

Thanks guys.

 

Andy

Edited by Andy Wightlink Warriors
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi guys, some of you may already know but for those who don't follow the Warriors on social media, the 2017 Warrior race jackets were unveiled a couple of days ago during the latest Warrior 100 live draw on Facebook, from a very special location. To view the video which includes the live draw, the new jackets, information and location reveal and much more, please click the link below.

 

http://www.speedwayportal.com/wight-warriors-home

 

Thanks guys.

 

Andy

Andy, Can't get the link to open.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Superb promotion by Barry & Co. Once again

 

Taken from the Warriors FB:

 

"Today the Wightlink Warriors announced the Bring My Classmates scheme for Warriors to invite their entire class and their classmates parents to be guests of the Wightlink Warriors.

 

The scheme will enable any school class from any school on the island to come and visit the Warriors to watch speedway on one occasion during the 2017 season.

 

Steph Whitlock from the Warriors said, "This is a wonderful opportunity for students of all ages to experience the Warrior Way with their classmates. This is a fun time to be part of the club with lots of activities for kids and this for sure will introduce new people to this great sport. Who knows this could be the next generation of Warriors."

 

Commercial Director Barry Bishop added, "This scheme, to bring your class, is an amazing offer to pupils and their families on the Isle of Wight. The idea behind the scheme is to further spread the news that the Warriors fun packed family nights out are quite simply the best family fun on a Tuesday or Thursday night and that speedway is an amazing family sport. We know that we compete with many other attractions and entertainment for kids on the Island but we also know that once through the door most want to return to watch and support the Wightlink Warriors. We know this type of offer will be a success, we tested it last year to see if it would be viable for 2017 and the result was that we cannot wait to welcome your class to the Warriors."

 

For more details please email speedwayontheisland@yahoo.co.uk"

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi guys, this coming Saturday, over on the Island we are having a pre Valentines party named "For The Love Of Warriors Speedway" where there will be much fun and frolics going on I am sure.

 

A part of this evening will be a question and answer section with promoters Barry Bishop & Martin Widman on the mic.

 

Whilst there will be many questions taken from the floor I am sure, we wanted to open it up to the speedway community and invite you to post any questions you would like answered on here that we can present to them on the evening.

 

This section of the evening will be filmed and placed on the Warriors Media Channel with all the answers to your questions.

 

Many thanks,

 

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi David, quite a lot of people, myself included come over from the mainland each meeting.

 

The cheapest way I would say is to book the FastCat from Portsmouth. Book your ticket through the www.wightwarriors.co website and you get a discount on the ticket. You would have to pay for parking for the evening in Portsmouth, or find a free spot somewhere. You can book a FREE Taxi up to 24 hours before the meeting by contacting the club on speedwayontheisland@yahoo.co.uk which will pick you up from the ferry crossing point and take you to the stadium, and after the meeting the taxi will return you to the ferry point FREE of charge also.

 

However, the most fun way is to drive over from Portsmouth, come up to the Premier Lounge after the meeting and talk to the promoters and riders etc, and then catch the 11pm ferry back with most of the riders and other fans. Makes it more of an event.

 

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy