THERE will be plenty of speedway action tomorrow night (Thursday) as Smallbrook Stadium hosts the third staging of the Slide in Ryde best pairs competition.
The event will feature regulars in the regular Wightlink-sponsored Isle of Wight Warriors team — Alfie Bowtell, Scott Campos, Danno Verge and Shaun Tedham.
This year's competition has been sponsored by Cobra’s Garage Mahal and bike-mad former American Gladiator, ‘Cobra’ (aka Steve Luxton).
Warriors skipper Ben Morley will not, however, be taking part having been granted a few days off to recuperate following a spate of crash injuries.
Each of the six competing pairs has attracted team sponsorships, with the Speedway Widows duo out to defend the title they won last year, albeit with a change of riding personnel.
Choosing a pre-meeting favourite is not easy as the line up — drawn independently at Peterborough speedway last weekend — has produced a very evenly-balanced programme, which bodes well for a really closely-contested meeting that will run over the standard 15 qualifying heats, two semi-finals and a final.
The unusual 4,3,2,0 scoring system is also sure to add to the intrigue — and maybe catch a few out along the way.
Co-promoter Barry Bishop is clearly delighted to be able to meet up again with one of the club’s main sponsors on his return to Smallbrook.
He said: “I am so pleased to welcome back our very good friend Steve Luxton for his best pairs event.
"Being based in Florida, Steve is one of our long distance supporters, but that hasn’t stopped him being a constant source of sponsorship, encouragement and innovative suggestions that help us be the very best we can be.
"Last year, when Steve was here, we had a terrific night full of fun and exciting on-track action — and we're planning for more of the same."
The teams are Stamford Bridge (Eastbourne's Tom Brennan and unattached rider Jamie Bursill), Full Monty (Alfie Bowtell and Kent Kings' Alex Spooner), Steve’s Scorchers (Kent Kings' Taylor Hampshire and Danno Verge), Retail Renegades (Birmingham's Leon Flint and Shaun Tedham), Speedway Widows (Eastbourne's Jason Edwards and Plymouth Devils' Ryan Terry-Daley) and the London Loonies (Scott Campos and Plymouth Devils' Richard Andrews).
As usual, gates open at 5.30pm. Pit access is available between 6.15pm and 6.45pm, with the rider parade immediately following and tapes up for the first race at 7pm.
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