SPEEDWAYTHE Wightlink Islanders finished this season’s home fixtures on a high, with a 49-44 win over the Buxton Hitmen in the National Trophy.
Leading the way was skipper Nick Simmons, who romped to four race wins out of his six.
With the Wightlink Islanders leading 17-7, it looked like they were en route to an easy victory but the Hitmen hit back.
They closed the deficit to just five points with two races remaining, the score standing at 43-38.
Heat 14 saw Dean Felton punch the air as he claimed a three-point win to maintain the five-point gap.
And although Buxton’s Adam Allott won the final race, his fourth win out of five, Simmons and fellow Islander Ben Hopwood got second and third to ensure the Islanders’ victory.
After receiving his man of the match award Nick Simmons said injuries hindered the team’s efforts to reach the top four and play offs this season.
He said: "I think everybody realises we were very much on course to reach that goal until we were so hard hit by season-ending injuries to three of our top five riders. If I’m back next year, and I hope to be, we’ll certainly be going for it."
Nick and Ben Hopwood will be hoping for individual success tomorrow (Saturday) at the National League Riders Championship in Hertfordshire, racing against 14 other NL riders.
The Islanders travel to Mildenhall, Suffolk, for Sunday’s National Trophy match.
• The Amateur Southern Track Riders Association will race at the Wave105.2FM stadium on Tuesday and the shareholder’s AGM takes place at the clubhouse on October 6, at 7.30pm.