DAY HORROR SMASH IN WILDCATS KO CUP DEFEAT
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 29th May 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats succumbed to Newport Hornets in last night’s 8 point defeat in a meeting marred by one of the most horrific crashes in heat 8 to be witnessed at the Wessex FM Raceway. Terry Day was knocked unconscious after challenging Hornets Mark Jones for the lead, Days bike lifting spitting him off and into the path of team mate Danny Stoneman who had nowhere to go. Stoneman’s bike hit Day at full speed exiting the fourth turn knocking the Verwood based youngster unconscious.

The track medics were quickly on the scene with Stoneman lucky and able to walk back to the pits unaided attention was with Day laying motionless on the track. After a lengthy delay of over half an hour Day was transferred to the County ambulance as he was coming round. He was made comfortable and stable before being taken for further examination at Dorchester hospital. With his crash helmet demolished head injuries were feared at first but luckily the popular 2009 rider of the year has severe bruising and concussion, other than that no broken bones to report following results of x-rays.

Day had opened his evening with an opening heat win with Hornets reserve teenager Tom Young pegging back the Cats pair in heat 2. Track record holder ex-Wildcat Tim Webster had a torrid evening starting in heat 3 with a tumble on the second turn and exclusion from the race. Gary Cottham stepped up holding off hard charging Hornet Todd Kurtz to put the Wildcats in the lead. Another shared heat with James Cockle leading ex-Wildcats James White Williams and Kyle Newman. Hornets wiped out the Cats advantage in one swoop with up and coming Aussie Mark Jones and veteran skipper Tony Atkin passing Wildcats skipper Tom Brown who was clearly suffering from lack of racing on his comeback from injury.

Wildcats rallied round to pull back the two point deficit and level the scores in heat 6 with Bekker holding off Newman and Day in third. Cockle held off Kurtz with Andrews slipping in for third to give the Cats the two point advantage back. With Day being disqualified from the heat 8 crash Newport took advantage with the awarded race to level the scores.

Again two more shared heats with Newman winning heat 9 which was re-run after Young crashed on the second lap but walked back pit side and Bekker took the spoils in heat 10 keeping the scores level at 30-30 after an early challenge from Kurtz. Jones took his third win on the evening on his way to top scoring for the Hornets in heat 11 holding Cockle back in second after taking Cockle on the outside of turn three on the first lap to put his team two points up. Kurtz won his last ride in heat 12 and Newman was again at the sharp end in a tight neck and neck heat 13 keeping the advantage to just two points with two heats remaining.

White Williams who had looked uncomfortable earlier in the evening popped in with a final ride win following Andrews fall and disqualification from the re-run heat 14 with Cottham unable to make any impact, giving the Hornets a four point advantage which set up a last heat decider. Newman and Jones gave the South Wales outfit an eight point lead in the first leg after all four riders were neck and neck. Bekker fell on the third turn referee Chris Durno stopping the race and instructing a re-run. Cockle suffered engine problems and ended up limping over the start line behind the Hornets pairing.

Wildcats continue track action tomorrow [Sunday] afternoon 5.00pm at West Row, Suffolk against Mildenhall Art and Stitch Fen Tigers in National League action. Wildcats now operated rider replacement for Terry Day and Richard Andrews is replaced at no.6 by Luke Wiltshire with the former being unavailable due to work commitments.

Wildcats continue their hectic schedule on Monday afternoon with an encounter against Rye House Kart Raceway Cobras at the Kart Raceway, Hoddesdon which gets underway after the clubs 2.00pm Premier League fixture around 4.00pm. Richard Andrews steps back into the no 6 race jacket with Luke Wiltshire reverting to his no 8 position able to cover rider replacement rides.

After meeting comments;
Wildcats team manager Jem Dicken commented; “I’m a bit disappointed that we lost tonight, I thought we could of pushed them a bit closer. Tom was struggling with his fitness; his injury is fine he just needs track time to catch up. But the turning point was when Terry was carted off to hospital, I’m not looking forward to the weekend now without Terry. You don’t want to lose anybody, particularly Terry who’s been in a rich vein of form lately, but that’s Speedway for you. I’m not sure whether Terry hit his head on the track or if the bike hit his head, until I see the video I really don’t know.”

James Cockle said “It put a lot of downers on people seeing Terry out cold, your racing head goes in that moment of time, everyone’s friends off the track, it’s not very good, and we send him all our best. I’m looking forward to Sunday at Mildenhall, sometimes you put too much pressure on yourself going to a track you used to ride for which showed tonight with Tim Webster.”

TEAMS LINE UP SUNDAY:

MILDENHALL ART AND STITCH FEN TIGERS
1. Jerran Hart 8.91, 2. Matt Wright 6.71, 3. Luke Priest 6.00, 4. Joe Jacobs 7.12, 5. Barrie Evans 7.86 (c), 6. Ollie Rayson 5.12, 7. Nick Laurence 3.00, Team manager: John Adams

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown (c), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Luke Wiltshire, 7. Danny Stoneman, Team manager: Jem Dicken

REFEREE: Barbara Horley

TEAMS LINE UP MONDAY:

RYE HOUSE KART RACEWAY COBRAS
1. Jamie Smith 10.34, 2. Ben Morley 4.00, 3. David Mason 6.56, 4. Lee Strudwick 6.26, 5. Kyle Hughes 9.18, 6. Shane Hazelden 3.00, 7. Marc Owen 3.00, Team manager: John Sampford

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown (c), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Danny Stoneman, 8. Luke Wiltshire, Team manager: Jem Dicken

REFEREE: Ronnie Allen
 

WILDCATS HECTIC SCHEDULE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 27th May 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats entertain Newport Hornets billed as potential League Champions in the 2nd round of the KO Cup at the Wessex FM Raceway tomorrow evening [Friday] start time 7.15pm. Earlier than expected the South Coast side have received a huge boost with the news that Tom Brown returns to skipper the side from a broken ankle.

The Hornets track ex-Wildcats James White Williams, Tim Webster and Kyle Newman fit to ride following his horrific crash in the first heat Friday night. Veteran Tony Aitken skippers the side with Welsh teenager Tom Young at reserve and impressive Aussies Mark Jones and Todd Kurtz who both look to have a big future in the sport.

Following major team changes for both sides during the winter break supporters can look forward to a fixture not to be missed. Last season the Wildcats came out on top by 16 points in the home League fixture, the only time the two sides met at The Wessex FM Raceway.

Wildcats continue track action Sunday afternoon 5.00pm at West Row, Suffolk against Mildenhall Art and Stitch Fen Tigers in National League action followed by Monday afternoon’s encounter against Rye House Kart Raceway Cobras at the Kart Raceway, Hoddesdon which gets underway after the clubs Premier League fixture which starts at 2.00pm.

Looking to the weekends fixtures Wildcats skipper Tom Brown said; "Friday will be the toughest one, if we beat Newport on aggregate then there is no reason why we can't win the KO Cup, they are the best in the League at the moment in my opinion. The scores that they are putting in, like going to Plymouth and winning twice, the only other club to do that is Bournemouth and look what they did last year.”

Wildcats will be looking to former Fen Tiger James Cockle to pass on his track knowledge at West Row on Sunday afternoon where the top four Cats will also race in the National League 4 Team Tournament on Sunday 6th June. Terry Day and Gary Cottham return to their old stomping ground with the Wildcats on Monday looking to return to the South Coast with the League points in the bag. Brown continued; “Mildenhall are up and down at the moment but they blitzed Plymouth on Sunday, Rye House has a pretty good team so you never know really, it depends on the day."

The date for the return leg against Newport has yet to be fixed, but first it's a huge on track battle tomorrow [Friday] where all the Wildcats will need to be in top form.

TRACK STAFF REQUIRED
Wildcats require help on race days, all applicants must be 18 years of age or over, full training will be given for the following vacancies; 2 rakers, 2 kickboard cleaners, 1 Pusher and 3 stewards. For further information please contact Martyn Hepworth via email martyn_hepworth@talktalk.net or call 01305 774249 before 9.00pm.

TEAMS LINE UP:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown (c), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Danny Stoneman, Team manager: Jem Dicken

NEWPORT WESSEX BUS HORNETS
1. Tony Aitken 8.32 (c), 2. Mark Jones 6.00, 3. Todd Kurtz 6.00, 4. Tim Webster 5.67, 5. Kyle Newman 7.21, 6. Tom Young 3.00, 7. James White Williams 4.94, Team: Kevin Brown

REFEREE: Chris Durno
 

BROWN BACK TO STING HORNETS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Tuesday 25th May 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats entertain Newport Hornets in the 2nd round of the KO Cup at the Wessex FM Raceway this Friday, start time 7.15pm. Tom Brown returns to the side as skipper much earlier than expected from a broken ankle which is a huge boost for the South Coast side.

Asked how he is feeling Brown said; "My ankle is still swollen I wasn't meant to be having the cast off until tomorrow [Wednesday 26th] but I cut it off over a week ago so I could start exercising it! I don't get any pain from the bone, it's just the swelling as I'm using muscles that I haven't used for a while, just got to get some muscle built back up on it."

Brown is well ahead of schedule for his comeback and continued; "It was next week I was scheduling originally, but I want to do the Rye House fixture on Monday and Mildenhall on Sunday as well. The laser treatment obviously worked, but when I want to get back I always heal quick. I'm going to try and get a run out somewhere before Friday if I can. Obviously being out early in the season you want to get back as soon as you think you can get back. I could possibly have returned a week or so ago but it's not worth the risk when it's only challenge matches."

With the Wildcats operating the rider replacement facility for the majority of meetings while Brown has been out injured his teammates have been under pressure covering for his rides. "I think they have done quite well really, even last Friday against the Bournemouth side which is stronger than their normal side I reckon, we only lost by 8 points without me or James Cockle there." Singling out one team mate in particular Brown continued; "Byron Bekker's impressed me loads this year, he's definately having his best year so far I imagine."

Friday evening's visitors Newport are being billed as potential League Champions. In the line up for the Hornets are ex-Wildcats James White Williams, Tim Webster and Kyle Newman who is fit to ride following his horrific crash in the first heat Friday night while taking a guest booking for Bournemouth at the Wessex FM Raceway. Veteran Tony Aitken skippers the side with Welsh youngster Tom Young at reserve and a couple of impressive Aussies to watch out for Mark Jones and Todd Kurtz who both look to have a big future in the sport.

The date for the return leg has yet to be fixed, but first it's a huge on track battle sure to produce exciting racing on Friday where all the Wildcats will need to be in top form. Wildcats top four Byron Bekker, James Cockle, Terry Day and Gary Cottham have shown in recent weeks they can hold their own, with Richard Andrews finding his feet and popping in with important points and Danny Stoneman coming in at reserve things are looking brighter on the South Coast.

Looking to the weekends fixtures Brown concluded; "Friday will be the toughest one, if we beat Newport on aggregate then there is no reason why we can't win the KO Cup, they are the best in the League at the moment in my opinion. The scores that they are putting in, like going to Plymouth and winning twice, the only other club to do that is Bournemouth and look what they did last year. Mildenhall are up and down at the moment but they blitzed Plymouth on Sunday, Rye House has a pretty good team so you never know really it depends on the day."

TEAMS LINE UP:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown (c), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Danny Stoneman, Team manager: Jem Dicken

NEWPORT WESSEX BUS HORNETS
1. Tony Aitken 8.32 (c), 2. Mark Jones 6.00, 3. Todd Kurtz 6.00, 4. Tim Webster 5.67, 5. Kyle Newman 7.21, 6. Tom Young 3.00, 7. James White Williams 4.94, Team: Kevin Brown

REFEREE: Chris Durno
 

MAKESHIFT BUCCS PIP WILDCATS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 22nd May 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats succumbed to a makeshift Bournemouth Buccaneers Select side Friday evening who ended their unbeaten run on home shale. A big blow for Cats skipper James Cockle who failed to arrive at the Wessex FM Raceway suffering mechanical problems  with his transport during his journey to the South Coast venue, this resulted in this year’s Cats rookie Luke Wiltshire being drafted into the team. Buccaneers guest ex-Wildcats Brendan Johnson top scored for the visitors with 11 points.

Byron Bekker Cats No1 just missed out on a maximum dropping a single point in his 17 point tally to Johnson in the first heat which was re-run after a horrifying crash on the first turn. Another ex-Wildcat Kyle Newman guesting for the Buccaneers was the unlucky victim.

Wiltshire in only his second meeting for the Wildcats locked up from the inside of turn one, Johnson and Bekker were away but the unfortunate Newman with nowhere to go smashed into Wiltshire's back with his front wheel and somersaulted both man and machine through the air into the safety fence.

A lengthy delay followed while Newman who has qualified as second reserve for the World Under-21 Championship semi-final at Landshut, Germany, on 26th June received medical attention before being placed on a spinal board as a precautionary measure. The trip to Dorchester hospital has since revealed no broken bones after original fears of a neck injury. The battered and bruised Newman is due to star for Newport Hornets next Friday against the Wildcats was released to go home in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Buccaneers lead was up to 6 points after two heats; Bekker took his first win in heat 3 with Gary Cottham backing up his team mate for the only 5-1 of the evening reducing the gap to 2 points. Cottham lowered Johnson's colours in heat 5 with Andrews slotting in 3rd levelling the scores at 15-15. Heats 6 and 7 were shared evenly with Bekker again winning heat 6 and terry Day heat 7. Bournemouth moved ahead ending the deadlock between the sides with Johnson winning heat 8 and Aaron Baseby packing in for the Buccs second 5-1 putting them 4 points clear.

Heat 9 saw Terry Day and another ex-Wildcat James White-Williams tumble at the first turn, both riders were ok to take part in the re-run heat where Daniel Halsey took the win from Cottham and White-Williams limping over for 3rd with a puncture, with Day being forced to retire also suffering a puncture while challenging Halsey for the lead.

Bekker again took the chequered flag for his 3rd win with Buccs pairing ex-Cat Karl Mason and Mark Jones packing in the minor places. Johnson took his 3rd win in the re-run heat 11 unaware of all the action behind him between Andrews and Baseby fighting for 2nd place,
Andrews holding off Baseby. Day and Andrews sliding out in the first running with referee Christina Turnbull excluding Day as the cause of the stoppage.

Cottham took his 2nd win of the evening helping him to an impressive 12 paid 13 tally fighting off the challenge from Jones who tried every line available to pass. Bekker followed with another win in heat 13 giving the Cats a 4-2 heat advantage but the Buccs hit back with Mason returning the favour to win the meeting for the Buccs with Baseby in 3rd.

Bekker topped of a fine individual 17 point display by taking the win in the re-run final heat following a first turn tumble. Bekker was on a real mission for the win, finding a way past Mason and Halsey. A share of the heat points gave a final result of the Wildcats 41 Buccaneers 49.

Bekker is in action Sunday afternoon for the Buccaneers deputising for the unavailable Chris Mills at Buxton.

Wildcats require help on race days, if you are fit and able several places are vacant for bike pushers and track rakers. For further information please contact Martyn Hepworth via email heppie@breathe.com or call 07799 806428.
 

DEBUT MAN DANNY IN AGAINST BUCCS SELECT
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 19th May 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats entertain a Bournemouth Select side this Friday evening 7.15pm at the Wessex FM Raceway which sees the return of ex-Wildcats Kyle Newman, Brendan Johnson, Karl Mason and James White-Williams taking on the current side who introduce a new face to the fold. Plymouth asset Danny Stoneman make’s his Wildcats debut replacing the out of form Nick Lee at reserve as chairman Phil Bartlett wields the axe.

Lee has struggled to score points this term with a large number of retirements not helping his cause. Bartlett said: “We had to make a change, Tom Brown’s dad Terry has been helping Nick, but he’s just not scoring enough points and is continually being excluded from races so Nick has to make way for the good of the team.”

The Buccaneers Select side are without Mark Baseby who has agreed to double up with Somerset in the Premier League, Johnson replaces him while Mark Jones from Newport acts as cover for John Resch who is sitting an examination on Friday in Kent. Kyle Howarth is also unavailable so Garry may has booked in White-Williams and has Newman covering for Chris Mills.

The Wildcats will be eager to carry on with winning ways on home shale following last weeks win over Somerset Giants and a strong performance at Saddlebow Road against King’s Lynn Young Stars on Sunday losing out by just 4 points before the mouth watering KO Cup action against Newport Hornets at the Wessex FM Raceway a week Friday.

Stoneman scored five points for the Somerset Giants in last Friday’s Challenge meeting at Radipole Lane which included a race victory over Lee, the man he has now replaced. Bartlett added: “I watched both Danny and Nick race against each other last Friday and Danny left Nick for dust. He’s riding on Friday for us which is a good warm-up before the Knockout Cup meeting with Newport next week. Danny is still a Plymouth asset so I would like to thank Mike Bowden for allowing Danny to join the Wildcats.”

Southern Classic Speedway Bikes are appearing on Weymouth Esplanade by the Jubilee Clock from 10.00am till 4.00pm on Sunday 23rd May with their superb static collection of around 20 rare classic machines from yesteryear together with more up to date bikes ridden by the likes of Jason Crump, Leigh Adams and Craig Boyce.

TEAM LINE UPS;

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Terry Day, 3. Rider Replacement for Tom Brown, 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Danny Stoneman, Team manager: Jem Dicken

BOURNEMOUTH BUCCANEERS SELECT
1. Kyle Newman, 2. Brendan Johnson, 3. Mark Jones, 4. Karl Mason, 5. Daniel Halsey, 6. James White-Williams, 7. Aaron Baseby, Team manager: Garry May

REFEREE: Christine Turnbull
 

CATS BRING BACK A POINT FROM TRAVELS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 16th May 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats put up a strong display at the Norfolk arena last night [Sunday] in their National League encounter with King's Lynn Young Stars narrowly missing out 47-43 but bring a League point back to the South Coast. Wildcats team manager Jem Dicken said "We had the rub of the green, the boy's did well and kept us in it and brought back a league point they were unfortunate to lose McDade and had Mallett been riding we may not of had the point to take back with us"

Young Stars new signing Simon Lambert was the 'Star' of the evening only dropping 1 point that was to Bekker in heat 13, he was backed up well by Adam Lowe 11+1 but with rider replacement in operation for Darren Mallett his scoring power was missed by the Young Stars.

Wildcats battled well with 5 race wins and 11 2nd places with the team under pressure covering the rider replacement rides for injured Tom Brown. Bekker top scored 11+2 and was backed up well by Day who continues in good form with 10+1. Cockle 9 and Cottham after a slow start producing 8 points gave the top 4 a solid look with reserves Andrews 2 and Lee chipping in with 3+3.

Wildcats have two weeks until their next fixture on the road to West Row in Suffolk, taking on Mildenhall Fen Tigers. Dicken continued "Too much pressure is on the boys and their machinery really while we are covering for Tom [Brown] which is why James [Cockle] didn't take a rider replacement ride, this was so he didn't have two rides on the trot now he is down to a single engine. Gary [Cottham] did well again after a bit of a shaky start, Terry [Day] and Byron [Bekker] both did very well and to fair our reserve Richard [Andrews] deserved more than he scored, he didn't ride bad at all and Nick [Lee] probably rode the best he has rode and in one of his rides he did really well."

This Friday [21st May] the Wildcats take on a Bournemouth Buccaneers select side with ex-Wildcat Brendan Johnson pencilled in to cover for Mark Baseby who has agreed to double up with Somerset in the Premier League. Mark Jones from Newport will act as cover for John Resch who is sitting an examination on Friday in Kent.
 

GIANTS TUMBLE AS COCKLE LOOK TO THE STARS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 15th May 2010
WEYMOUTH 'Weyline Wildcats' beat the challenge of Somerset 'Dickies Giants' at the Wessex FM Raceway last night (Friday) after coming back from 6 points down after 2 heats in a closely fought battle to eventually win by 8 points thanks to another stunning display by skipper James Cockle (13+1) with solid back up from Byron Bekker (12+1) and Terry Day (11).

Although not a walk in the park as it was 12 months ago in the corresponding fixture, just 48 hours before a tough trip to the Norfolk Arena to tackle King's Lynn 'Young Stars' in their second league fixture on Sunday evening (7.00pm) the Wildcats will be hoping to continue with this form.

Nick Lee failed to make the 2 minute time allowance for the first heat, being replaced by last weeks star reserve Richard Andrews. Dan Halsey riding for the visitors took the honours followed by John Resch and Darryl Ritchings combining for a 5-1 in heat 2 to give an early 6 point advantage to the Giants.

The Wildcats kicked into life bouncing back with Day in heat 3 taking the advantage over a hard fought challenge from Brendan Johnson in the early stages. This was followed by James Cockle leading team mate Andrews home keeping Giants Karl Mason pegged back in 3rd  after Mason lifted at the gate, to level the scores in fine fashion.

A slender 4 point advantage came the way of the Wildcats with Day again impressive, this time backed up by Gary Cottham in heat 5. Mason hit back in heat 6 to narrow the Wildcats lead pinning Bekker back in 2nd. The next 4 heats were shared evenly with Cockle and Bekker grabbing a win apiece and Danny Stoneman for the visitors who is yet to attract a team this year in heat 8, and Mason taking the flag for the visitors after a stunning  pass of Day and Cottham in one move round the outside in heat 9 coming off the 2nd turn.

The Giants levelled the scores in heat 11 with Halsey getting the better of Cockle. Cottham kept Resch and Johnson behind in heat 12, it was then down to Cockle and Bekker to square up against Halsey and Mason. Halsey tumbled off into turn 1 leaving the referee no option but to re-run the heat without Halsey. The Wildcats top dogs roared off to give them slender 4 point advantage with just 2 heats to go.

Day took the flag in heat 14 so it was down to a last heat decider where Cockle and Bekker again combined to the delight of the Wildcats supporters giving the hosts an 8 point win.

Wildcats skipper Cockle who crashed a wrecked his number 1 bike and engine at the Isle of Wight recently and is now restricted to using his 2nd machine said "It's hard when you have nothing else to use and I don't particularly like this engine, it's a bit of an animal to ride! That's life, so far it's going ok, it's hard being down to 1 bike, turning up with 1 bike after travelling all this way, if anything goes wrong your days over."

Cockles engine tuner estimated a repair bill of 2 thousand pounds for the Wildcats skipper to find to repair the wrecked engine, but he has offered him another engine that he has for sale. Cockle continued "Hopefully if I can get the money together I will buy an engine from my tuner and I'll be using the engine at King's Lynn on Sunday hopefully." Finishing off James said "I was looking forward to the meeting at King's Lynn before the crash at the Isle of Wight, you've got to be on form round there, the Stars boys are pretty sharp on their own track."
 

GIANTS TACKLE WILDCATS
WEYMOUTH vs SOMERSET Friday 14th May 2010 National League Challenge
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 12th May 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats take a break from league action this Friday evening when they entertain the Somerset Dickies Giants in a challenge fixture before heading to Norfolk on Sunday [16th] to tackle King's Lynn Young Stars who have replaced their no 1 James Brundle with Simon Lambert who also races for Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Premier League following Brundles own wish to concentrate on Premier League racing full time.

The Wildcats will be boyed following last weeks comeback over the Isle of Wight at the Wessex FM Raceway with a vastly improved team performance which they will be hoping to carry on with Friday evening after a team reshuffle. Wildcats team manager Jem Dicken has moved Nick Lee into the main body of the team to allow Luke Wiltshire Wildcats no 8 rider valuable competitive track time. With these changes it means the rider replacement facility for Brown is dropped for this meeting.

Last May the Giants visited the Wessex FM Raceway and were cut down in size 62-31, only ex-Wildcat Karl Mason now riding for Bournemouth Buccaneers remains from that evenings visitors line up, following his recent 10+1 guesting for the injured Tom Brown, Mason will be a force to be reckoned with Friday evening. Day and Cockle are the only remaining Wildcats from that meeting with both looking to keep up the form of last week and last year when they scored 12 apiece.

Winner of the recent Under 21 qualifying round, Brendan Johnson lines up for the opposition along with Buccaneers duo Daniel Halsey and John Resch to spice up the Giants line up along with Darryl Richings and Danny Stoneman completing the side bar a vacant spot at no 3 which has been left after Matt Bates decision to rejoin Plymouth Devils with immediate effect from Mildenhall Fen Tigers. Tapes up 7.15pm Friday evening.

The Wildcats management have been forced into making some fixture changes, next week listed opponents will now be a Bournemouth Buccaneers select side replacing Rye House Cobras who now move to the vacant slot on Friday 11th June. After progressing to the 2nd round of the KO Cup Wildcats face Newport Hornets on Friday 28th May with the League fixture being moved to August and the Trophy to September. An earlier trip to Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire to face Rye House Cobras has been moved from Saturday 5th June to the earlier date of Monday 31st May following the Rockets Premier League meeting at 2.00pm against Workington Comets. An updated fixture list can be found on the above links.

WEYMOUTH 'WEYLINE WILDCATS'
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Nick Lee, 3. Gary Cottham, 4. Terry Day, 5. James Cockle, 6. Luke Wiltshire, 7. Richard Andrews, Team manager; Jem Dicken

SOMERSET 'DICKIES GIANTS'
1. Dan Halsey, 2. Danny Stoneman, 3. TBC, 4. Brendan Johnson, 5. Karl Mason, 6. John Resch, 7. Darryl Richings, Team manager; Ray Dickson
 

CATS CAPSIZE ISLANDERS CUP CHALLENGE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 7th May 2010
National League KO Cup 2nd Leg ~ WEYMOUTH 58 ISLE OF WIGHT 36 ~ Aggregate Weymouth 97 Isle of Wight 87
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats stormed to KO Cup victory against the Isle of Wight and now face home and away fixtures against the Newport Hornets in the 2nd round of the KO Cup. The Wildcats wiped out the 12 point deficit inflicted from Tuesday's 1st leg with their best team performance of the season last night (Friday 7th May) at the Wessex FM Raceway.

The meeting started with inform Byron Bekker and Terry Day scorching to 5-1 heat advantage setting the tone for the rest of the evening. Before the meeting and his 3 heat wins and 13 points return Bekker said; "The team are starting to get it together, it showed on the Isle of Wight where we held it together until the last two heats. We had a bit of bad luck on the Island and it's just Speedway. I think we've got good chances of pulling it back tonight though."

All the Wildcats weighed in with big points returns apart from out of form reserve Nick Lee. Day provided solid back up with 2 heat wins on his way to 10+3 points which included a fall in the final race of the evening. After wrecking a bike and blowing his best engine in the last heat last Tuesday on the Isle of Wight James Cockle dropped only one point to an opponent with a 15+1 return riding an engine that he dislikes!

Both sides operated the rider replacement facility, the Wildcats cover for Tom Brown and the Islanders for Dean Felton. Just 2 heat advantages and 4 race wins showed how much the Islanders struggled with below par returns and a number of falls hampering their progress.

Wildcats reserve Richard Andrews won heat 2 on his way to an impressive 10+1 score. Asked how he felt after the meeting Andrews said; "We got the set up, it felt good and I went out there and made some good starts. I just want to go to Newport and prove my point as I used to ride for them and show them what I'm made of."

Gary Cottham had a painful tumble on the exit of the last corner in heat 12 jumped to his feet to agonisingly push over the line to grab 2 points after the Islanders riders had both crashed out in separate incidents in earlier attempted running’s of the heat. Rikki Mullins sliding off in the first running and ex-Wildcat Danny Warwick demolishing a kickboard entering into the home straight and ending up going under the safety fence at the second attempt!

The Weyline Wildcats take a break from National League duties next Friday (14th) with the visit of the Somerset 'Giants' in a challenge fixture at the normal start time of 7.15pm before travelling to Norfolk to take on King's Lynn 'Young Stars' on Sunday 16th May.
 

EX-WILDCATS PUT THE HAMMER DOWN
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 27th June 2010
Friday night at the Wessex FM Raceway saw the Weymouth Weyline Wildcats slump to another agonising defeat at the hands of National League newcomers Dudley Heathens 39-53 spearheaded by ex-Cats Lee Smart 13+1 and Jon Armstrong 15+1. With Wildcats reserve Richard Andrews crashing out in the second heat and taking no further part in the meeting new signing Luke Chessell took a maximum seven rides on his home debut for a 6+1 return.

Byron Bekker back in the saddle now recovered from his recent back injury lead the way for the Cats with 11 points, storming away in heat one inflicting what was to be Smarts only defeat by a Wildcat, while new Aussie Michael Dyer making his debut for the midlands club grabbed third. It was feared the injury jinx was striking the luckless Cats again with Andrews bouncing along the back straight fence in heat two. After a trip to the local hospital Andrews has been given the all clear to return to the saddle in next Fridays meeting against the Scunthorpe Saints. Meanwhile Ashley Morris pegged Chessell back in the re-run heat.

Dyer was out again in the third producing an impressive first win in Heathens colours holding off Gary Cottham and Tom Brown in the re-run heat after Jake Anderson caused Brown to fall, Heathens now leading 8-10. James Cockle ground to a halt in the fourth while leading Armstrong who took advantage with Chessell in second. Smart way out front combined with Dyer for a 4-2 in heat five split by Brown before the Wildcats then 6 points down banged in two 5-1's. Bekker and Cottham kept Armstrong in third in heat 6 and Cockle with Chessell kept Ross Walter making his National League debut in third after Anderson fell giving the Cats a slender two point lead.

Cockle won heat 8 while Armstrong again took the flag in the re-run heat 9 after a four lap wheel to wheel challenge with Cottham cutting inside on the last turn after Brown’s earlier fall to level the scores at 27-27. Bekker kept the Heathens at bay in heat 10 before Smart and Dyer teamed up round the outside of the second turn for a 5-1 over lone Cat Cockle, Wildcats having to track one rider only due to Andrews withdrawal. Brown was sandwiched in-between Armstrong and Morris in heat 12. Heathens pounded in a 5-1 with Armstrong and Smart over Bekker with Cockle again suffering mechanical problems.

Last throw of the dice in heat 14 for stand in team manager Phil Bartlett and his charges who were now 10 points adrift. Cottham in as a tactical ride raced to second in the re-run heat after Morris took a first bend tumble. Cottham was unable to overhaul Anderson, which gave the Heathens an away win. Armstrong and Smart raced off for a 5-1 to rub salt into the wound in the last heat to give a meeting result of 39-53.
 

WILDCATS FACE UP TO THE HEATHENS & SUPPORT ARMED FORCES DAY
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 24th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats tackle the newly formed Dudley Heathens who take their name from the now defunct Cradley Heath side that spurned many top class riders. The Dudley outfit race their home meetings at Birmingham and Wolverhampton in a track sharing operation and tomorrow evening [Friday] will be the first visit of the club to the Wessex FM Raceway.

Wildcats chairman and stand in team boss Phil Bartlett said “It’s great to see such a famous name being brought back to the sport, again it’s sure to be another tough and close meeting and again good for the supporters to watch especially with a couple of former Wildcats in the ranks.”

Two former Wildcats line up for the Heathens with Lee Smart at 1, who parted company with the Wildcats last summer and Jon Armstrong at 3 after his injury lay off and undergoing a knee arthroscopy to assess the full damage to the broken tibia and patella tendon he suffered in 2008.

Recent guest for the Cats Australian Jake Anderson occupies the number 4 berth with former Coventry mascot Richard Franklin at 3 after recovering from injuries that had curtailed his progress. The reserve pairing of Ashley Morris, the British Under-15 champion who turned 16 last month and duly signed a full contract with Wolverhampton and 17 year old Tom Perry who has had considerable success on the grass-track scene. They are joined this week by new signing Michael Dyer, 19 years of age from New South Wales.

The Wildcats will be hoping to turn their form around after losses away at Plymouth last Friday and Scunthorpe on Sunday. Byron Bekker returns to the side feeling confident that the back he injured at Mildenhall recently will be recovered after taking four rides and struggling for 2 points at his parent club Scunthorpe last Sunday. Star of the show at Scunthorpe was new reserve recruit Luke Chessell who weighed in with 14 points from seven rides and makes his home debut for the Cats tomorrow [Friday].

Bartlett continued, “I don’t think we disgraced ourselves on the road, the scores don’t reflect the effort or team spirit in our camp. With an injury struck team, four of our starting line up have been out or are still out injured, hopefully all of the bad luck we have suffered at the start of the season is gone and behind us. With Tom and Byron back all we need is Terry to regain his fitness.”

Friday’s match against Dudley is part of Speedway’s week supporting Saturday’s Armed Forces Day whereby current serving members of the Armed Forces along with their families can gain free admission to the match on production of current valid services I/D.

TRACKSTAFF REQUIRED ON RACE DAYS
If you are 18 years of age or over and want to get involved with Weymouth Speedway, we are looking for various volunteers for Trackside Staff which include Pit helpers, Circuit helpers and Stewards. If you have a keen interest in Motorcycle Sport or not, full training will be given under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Safe Systems of work ethic.

All training will be given by Weymouth Speedway's Clerk of the Course, Martyn Hepworth. Please contact Martyn Hepworth on 01305 774249 (before 9.00pm) or martyn_hepworth@talktalk.com

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, 8. Luke Wiltshire, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

DUDLEY HEATHENS
1. Lee Smart, 2. Michael Dyer, 3. Richard Franklin, 4. Jake Anderson, 5. Jon Armstrong, 6. Ashley Morris, 7. Tom Perry, Team manager: Will Pottinger

REFEREE: Chris Durno
 

WILDCATS TAMED BY SAINTS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Monday 21st June 2010
Scunthorpe Saints defeated Weymouth Weyline Wildcats 52-38 last night taking all three league points 52-38. A strong performance with Irving, Compton and Wrathall all scoring 10+1 each with solid midpoint returns from the remaining Saints.

The Wildcats came unstuck between heats 7 to 10, the Saints took the score from 22-14 to 42-18 with four 5-1s. Wildcats tactical rides failed to bring any much needed points. Two 4-2s and two 5-1s for the Wildcats at the end of the meeting reduced the deficit to fourteen points. The Saints had put in the hard work earlier in the meeting.

James Cockle former Scunthorpe rider scored 10+1 and recent capture Scunthorpe asset Luke Chessell who is on loan to the south coast club scored an impressive 14 from seven rides including three heat wins. Another Scunthorpe asset riding for the Wildcats also returning from injury Byron Bekker had a torrid time managing just 2 points from four starts which included a tapes infringement in heat 11.
 

FREEMANTLE, LAMBERT & VAUGHAN TOPS IN UNDER 15’s
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Monday 21st June 2010
CENTRE stage at the Wessex FM Raceway on Saturday evening was taken by the second round of the British Under 15 Championship. There were three classes, 125cc support, 250cc and 500cc both championship classes. Some fine racing from the youngsters on display with Kieran Vaughan taking the honours in the 125cc class, Robert Lambert in the 250cc class and Brandon Freemantle in the 500cc class which keeps them all in the lead of their respective championship table.

The potential stars of the future provided the small crowd with some excellent entertainment while Young Lions coaches Neil Vatcher and Phil Morris were keeping their eye on proceedings and helping make sure the meeting ran smoothly, in fact it was probably the fastest ever meeting run at the Wessex FM Raceway. Elite league star rider Eddie Kennett was also on hand pit side helping with advice for the youngsters before helping to present the winners’ trophies.

A first race tumble for Nathan Stoneman didn’t put him off, he raced back to come second in the 250cc final while class winner Robert Lambert fell in his second ride. Local youngster Lee Cutler looked impressive throughout the meeting suffering a retirement after a fall in his first ride to finish third on the podium.

Kieran Vaughan romped away in the 125cc class dropping just one point all evening to Wildcats mascot Anders Rowe in the first heat of the class. Tom Brennen was great entertainment never giving up round the outside. Vaughan, Brennen and Rowe were the rostrum placings.

In the 500cc class Brandon Freemantle was unstoppable racing to overall victory unbeaten all evening. Adam Kirby was solid all night finishing second with Adam Portwood coming home third.

The fastest time of the night was set by Freemantle in the final heat 54.3 seconds just which is comparable to recent heat winning time at the Wessex FM Raceway.
 

WILDCATS SLIP UP AGAINST DEVILS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 18th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats depleted side took on West Country side Plymouth Devils [tonight] but were sent packing back to Dorset with a 54-41 defeat. Still without Byron Bekker Wildcats drafted in former Devil Ben Hopwood 7 points and continued with the rider replacement facility for Terry Day. James Cockle 12 top scored which included a tactical ride second place in heat 9. Cockle was backed up well by another former Devil Tom Brown 11+1 including a tactical ride victor in heat 12. Gary Cottham chipped in 6+1, debut boy Luke Chessell 4+1 with Richard Andrews struggling with a single point return.

The Devils strength in depth showed with several of their squad carrying vast experience in the National league. Mark Simmonds led the way on 12 with Matt Bates 10+2 and Seemond Stephens 10+1. Paul Starke chipped in with 8, Lee Smethills 3, Ben Reade 3+1 while reserve David Gough put in a good display with 8+1.

Wildcats chairman and stand in team manager Phil Bartlett said “I’m not too disappointed the lads responded well to me tonight. Luke took his maximum amount of seven rides for a 4+1 return but carrying rider replacement for Terry doesn’t help the younger riders.”

With a visit to Scunthorpe on Sunday afternoon 5.00pm Bartlett concluded “We kept within hitting distance for the first part of the meeting but a couple of 5-1 and 4-2 advantages for the Devils sealed it for them. We clawed a few points back with the tactical rides, the team did ok, they didn’t disgrace themselves, in fact I’m fairly happy, although a win would of been nice and when isn’t it. We just have to keep on trying and look forward to our next meeting on Sunday.”

At the Wessex FM Raceway tomorrow [Saturday] are young hopefuls all under 15 years of age competing in 125cc support class, 250cc and 500cc for the British Under 15s Championship. The meeting gets underway at 7.15pm with 22 races scheduled under the watchful eyes of Phil Morris and Neil Vatcher representing the Young Lions Coaching squad.
 

WILDCATS MAKE WAY FOR 2nd ROUND OF UNDER 15s
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 18th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats take a break from team racing tomorrow [Saturday 19th], taking centre stage at the Wessex FM Raceway are young hopefuls all under 15 years of age competing in 125cc support class, 250cc and 500cc British Championship races. The meeting gets underway at 7.15pm with 22 races scheduled under the watchful eyes of Phil Morris and Neil Vatcher representing the Young Lions Coaching squad.

Robert Lambert leads the 250cc class after the opening round at Newport, while Brandon Freemantle last season’s 250cc champion currently leads the 500 cc class. Just 10 years old Kieran Vaughn from Gloucestershire won the 125cc opener but will be up against Wildcats mascot a mere two years his junior Anders Rowe on his local circuit.

Luke Chessell drafted in on loan from Scunthorpe Speedway covering for broken finger victim Danny Stoneman makes his debut tonight in Devon against Plymouth Devils in the National league fixture. Byron Bekker is receiving intense treatment to aid a speedy recovery and track return in the number one race jacket, Mark Jones was booked once again to cover for Bekker but had to withdraw following injury earlier this week while riding for parent club Newport. His place has been filled by Isle of Wight Islander and former Devil Ben Hopwood.

Scunthorpe is the destination for the Wildcats in National league action at 5.00pm on Sunday where Bekker hopes for a track return at his parent club which would be  a huge boost for the decimated Wildcats side.

RIDERS FOR SATURDAY:
1. Adam Portwood, 3. Cameron Hoskins, 4. Brandon Freemantle, 5. Robert Lambert, 6. Tyler Govier, 7. Nathan Greaves, 8. Tom Brennen, 9. Jack Jones, 11. Jack Collins, 13. Nathan Stoneman, 14. David Abraham, 15. Reece Downes, 16. Anders Rowe, 17. Kieran Vaughn, 18. Adam Kirby, 19. Jordan Hazelden, 20. Kyle Bickley, 21. William O’Keefe, 24. Lee Cutler

REFEREE: Christine Turnbull
 

WILDCATS INJURY TRAUMA GETS EVEN WORSE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Tuesday 15th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats have drafted in Luke Chessell on loan from Scunthorpe Speedway to cover for a further injury to recent Wildcats signing Danny Stoneman who broke his index finger while unloading his bikes after Friday night’s meeting against Rye House.

Chessell has been taking guest bookings in the National league and as recently as Sunday rode for Rye House and scored 7 points from reserve at Buxton second top scoring for the Cobras. Former Arena Essex rider Mark is Luke’s father with uncles Gary and Martin showing a good speedway pedigree.

Chessell makes his debut this weekend at Plymouth on Friday and then Scunthorpe on Sunday where during the winter he rode in the Winter Championships finishing second behind Ashley Birks getting a reputation for fast starts.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said, “I would like to thank the Scunthorpe promotion for making Luke available to us during our injury crisis. Luke has a couple of tough meetings ahead before his first home meeting for us but from all reports he should fill the gap left by Danny until he is fit.”

Wildcats travel to Plymouth in National league action this Friday where earlier this season they were beaten 56-36 in the Devon and Dorset Trophy. Rider replacement will be operated for Terry Day with a late fitness call for back injury victim Byron Bekker. Should Bekker be unavailable the Wildcats will draft in a guest for the meeting.

With the Wildcats making the trip to the West Country on Friday home action changes to Saturday night with the second round of the British Under-15 Championship which includes a support class for young riders on 125cc machines along with the regular 250cc and 500cc classes. 22 heats of competitive speedway with British talent for the future await you at the Wessex FM Raceway from 7.15pm.

The following day Scunthorpe is the destination for the Wildcats again in National league action.

TEAMS FOR FRIDAY:

PLYMOUTH DEVILS
1. Seemond Stephens, 2. Matt Bates, 3. Lee Smethills, 4. Paul Starke, 5. Mark Simmonds, 6. David Gough, 7. Jaimie Pickard, Team manager: Gary Spiller

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker (or guest), 2. Rider replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

REFEREE: Dale Entwistle
 

WILDCATS STATEMENT: WILDCATS PART COMPANY WITH TEAM MANAGER
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Monday 14th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats have amicably parted company with team manager Jem Dicken following weekend talks. The team has struggled this season with injuries and following Friday night’s defeat the Wildcats management mutually agreed with Jem Dicken that there would be a parting of ways effective immediately.

With the additional duty of track maintenance that Jem Dicken had undertaken for the club over recent seasons together with team managing duties, it was felt he was under too much pressure and that fresh input was needed for the team to move forward.

Never afraid of putting his hands to any task at the stadium behind the scenes Jem has been a real asset to the club and should be especially proud of leading the Wildcats to the Conference League Championship and the Four Team Tournament in 2008.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said, “I will be taking over team manager duties until we have been able to secure a replacement for Jem. I would also like to add my best wishes to Jem for the future after being such a fantastic help to us and for the club.”
 

WILDCATS NEW WEBSITE DEAL
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 13th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats have moved quickly to agree for their website to be managed by Mad Web Design who return to the Wildcats fold. After running the original website when the sport returned to the South Coast venue in 2003, Mad Web has since built firm foundations within the sport managing web sites for riders and clubs.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said, “A change was made with our webmaster standing down from his position and I’m pleased to have Mad Web agree to manage the website on behalf of the club. The website has been run as unofficial for the last few seasons so it was the most logical decision to make this our new official website.”
 

COBRAS STING IN THE TAIL BEATS WILDCATS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 12th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats crashed to a 9 point defeat on home shale last night against Rye House Cobras leaving the south coast side firmly at the foot of the league table. 15 year old reserve Marc Owen top scored for the visitors with 15+2 solid back up came from Kyle Hughes 14 and Lee Strudwick 10+1.

The Cobras took the lead from the off by 2 points with former World Under-21 finalist Jamie Smith heading home Wildcats guest rider Mark Jones covering for the injured Byron Bekker while James Cockle ground to a halt. Richard Andrews taking the chequered flag in heat 2 was followed by Tom Brown and Gary Cottham combining for maximum points to put the Wildcats 10-8 up, the only time they were in front in the whole meeting.

Rye House responded with Owen scorching to two heat wins on the trot to put his side 2 points back in front. In heat 4 a fast move cutting up the inside of the first turn set him on his way to victory while behind was a tight battle between Cockle and Hughes. This was followed by taking a rider replacement ride for the unavailable ex-cat David Mason and his second win of the night. Two shared heats followed with Hughes taking heat 6 for the Cobras and Brown responding for the Wildcats in heat 7.

Owen again showing huge potential won the eighth heat again with a sharp pass on the inside on turn 2 with team partner Strudwick packing in second place putting the Cobras 21-27 up. Cobras further stretched their lead in heat 9 with Hughes again taking the win with Strudwick getting the better of his young team mate Owen in heat 10.

Wildcats team manager Jem Dicken introduced Cockle for a tactical ride for double points with the Cats now trailing by 12 points. Alas his second place only kept the Cobras lead intact with Hughes again taking the win.

The second and final throw of the dice in heat 12 saw Brown take a tactical ride pegging the Cobras pairing in the minor places. 3 points clawed back for the Wildcats after cutting inside Strudwick on the last bend of the last lap which left the Wildcats 9 points adrift. Hopes were raised in heat 13 with Cockle and guest Jones netting a 5-1 to bring the deficit down to just 5 points with two heats remaining.

That young man Owen struck again with Shane Hazelden packing in for second stretching the lead back to 9 points and thus winning the meeting for the Cobras. The final heat was a shared affair with Hughes romping away in the re-run heat after Brown and Strudwick had tangled on the first turn. Jones and Brown packed the minor places leaving the Wildcats with some serious thinking to do after a 43-52 loss at the Wessex FM Raceway.

The Wildcats seriously missed the services of Terry Day with the rider replacement facility producing a mere single point! Day was in attendance and good spirits though still a while away from a track return. Cockle and Brown stood out for the Wildcats with guest Jones producing a solid return.

Next week sees a change of racenight with a round of the British Under 15’s Championship taking centre stage on Saturday 19th June with a 7.15pm start. Next Friday the Wildcats travel to Plymouth hoping for a change in fortunes before heading off on Sunday to Scunthorpe. The next National league action at the Wessex FM Raceway is on Friday 25th June against the Dudley Heathens who share their home meetings between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
 

WILDCATS INJURY WOE CONTINUES
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 10th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats decimated line up continues tomorrow evening [Friday 11th] against Rye House Cobras 7.15pm start time. No 1 Byron Bekker is ruled out with lower back damage which was aggravated in a fall at Mildenhall last Sunday in the Four Team Tournament competition. The damage is in the joint between vertebrae 4 and 5 where his muscles have contracted to protect the damaged area. Bekker visits his physio tomorrow lunchtime after undertaking specific exercises the last 48 hours and will be more aware of how long he is likely to be out of the saddle and if there has been any improvement made by the exercises’.

Terry Day took an unplanned visit back to hospital at the weekend where he underwent a brain scan a week after the crash at the Wessex FM Raceway which has currently sidelined him and was released back home with the all clear. James Cockle is struggling financially and machinery wise after blowing his number one engine and having to rely on his second and only remaining bike together with a large repair bill for his van. Cockle is currently scoring well for the Wildcats but there is every chance he may not be able to see the season out.

The Wildcats management are awaiting the sports ruling body the BSPA on the decision of a re-run Four Team Tournament meeting following Sundays rain off after only 6 heats of each semi-final were completed.

Tom Brown is getting back to his old self after early season injury and Gary Cottham will be looking to put his mechanical problems behind him. Reserves Richard Andrews and Danny Stoneman both felt the wrath last week from the strong Buxton Aussie reserve pairing, one of which Nick Morris has just turned 16 this week and signed to ride for Glasgow in the Premier League after a handful of appearances for the Hitmen!

Wildcats have enlisted the assistance of Newport Hornet Aussie Mark Jones who scored 12+2 in the Hornets recent victory as guest for Bekker in the number 1 race jacket.

Rye House Kart Raceway Cobras are the visitors tomorrow in National League action riding on a high in 4th place after demolishing the Wildcats at the end of May 58-35. They are headed by 26 year old Jamie Smith a former World Under-21 finalist and the oldest Cobra on show, who has had more than his fair share of injuries over the years. The season started on the injury list but Smith is now back heading the Cobras. The National League Rider of the year approaching his 21st birthday next week is the lively Kyle Hughes who is also doubling up with the Rockets this term.

With support from 16 year old Ben Morley in his second season with the Cobras and 22 year old Lee Strudwick who has been with the side since 2006 after starting his career as a Wimbledon Don. In the reserve berths are 16 year old Shane Hazelden in his first full season of league racing and 15 year old Marc Owen another lively rider to watch out for also competing in his first full season following appearances from last August for Newport. 33 year old ex-Cat David Mason is unavailable and the rider replacement facility is operated. Mason suffered concussion earlier this season in a track crash and has had limited outings for the Cobras since.

Supporters are reminded that the World Cup Football does NOT affect tomorrows nights meeting, all systems go at The Wessex FM Raceway at 7.15pm.

TEAMS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Mark Jones (G), 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Danny Stoneman, 8. Luke Wiltshire, Team manager: Jem Dicken

RYE HOUSE KART RACEWAY COBRAS
1. Jamie Smith, 2. Rider Replacement for David Mason, 3. Lee Strudwick, 4. Ben Morley, 5. Kyle Hughes, 6. Shane Hazelden, 7. Marc Owen, Team manager: John Sampford

REFEREE: Margaret Vardy
 

HITMEN ON TARGET AGAINST DEPLETED WILDCATS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 5th June 2010
POWER packed Buxton Hitmen romped away against a depleted Weymouth Weyline Wildcats side last night inflicting the second worst defeat 36-56. Young Australian reserves netted 24 points between them together with no 1 Craig Cook bagging 13 for the Hitmen. James Cockle with 16 points shone for the Wildcats but he lacked solid support.

With a first heat 5-1 for the Wildcats the meeting looked positive with Cook pegged back in third with Cockle taking the honours followed by Dudley’s Jake Anderson stepping in for injured Byron Bekker. Hitmens hot Aussie reserves returned the favour in heat 2. Gary Cottham and Tom Brown swung the meeting back in favour of the Cats eventually after heat 3 was re-run 3 times following Dave Robinson’s decision of unsatisfactory starts.

Wildcats succumbed to the pressure in the following heats with Adam Allott powering around the Wessex FM Raceway in heat 4 and Cook bouncing back way out front in heat 5 backed up by Robert Branford. Allott again in heat 6 backed up team partner Nick Morris giving the Hitmen a 6 point advantage.

The onslaught was halted with a determined Cockle holding back Charles Wright and Lewis Dallaway in heat 7 following a re-run, but not for long. The young Aussie hotshots Morris and Branford combined in heat 8 for a 5-1, in heat 9 Branford joined Allott for a 4-2 and finally in heat 10 Morris stormed away with Wright for a 5-1 thwarting a Wildcats tactical ride with guest Anderson tumbling into the third turn fence on the first lap to give a 16 point lead to the Hitmen.

Wildcats team manager Jem Dicken rolled his final throw of the dice with Cockle as a second tactical ride in heat 11 but there was nothing he could do about the power of Cook, points shared 4-4. Heat 12 was shared, Dallaway taking the win in the re-run heat after a second turn fall with Morris. Cook lowered Cockles colours in heat 13 going inside after Cockle lifted along the back straight. Branford wasn’t finished, in heat 14 he took his seventh ride and another win for the Hitmen with Wright in second. Cook fittingly took the final heat with Cockle and Brown packing in for the Wildcats suffering their second heaviest home defeat after Allott took the 15 meter penalty for breaking the tapes.

On a plus note for the Wildcats Terry Day was in attendance watching his team mates after last week’s horrifying crash and said “I feel a bit drunk really all the time, it feels like I have had four or five pints really, but I’m getting there slowly, getting fit again. I just want to get back out there. I was gutted today, I had butterflies this morning when I woke up because I thought I’ll ride today but realised there was no way I’d go anywhere. I’m looking forward to coming back again.”

A collection was held with £250 being raised for the injured Wildcat towards the cost of repairs and replacement crash helmet which were wrecked in the crash. Day continued “I can’t drive at the moment but hope to have a skid next week and see how it goes; I’ll know more then, all I’ve done is eat, sleep and drink.”

The Wildcats management are hoping their injured duo return to fitness and form. Bekker returns for tomorrows visit to Mildenhall in the Four Team Tournament at 5.00pm which the Wildcats won in 2008. The groups line up as follows;

GROUP ONE: King’s Lynn, Dudley, Isle of Wight, Rye House.

GROUP TWO: Weymouth, Buxton, Mildenhall, Bournemouth.
 

WILDCATS FACE HITMEN WITHOUT BEKKER
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 4th June 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats face the surprise team of the season tonight with the visit to the Wessex FM Raceway of the lively Buxton Hitmen in National League action start time 7.15pm without no 1 Byron Bekker who is recovering from injury.

Already operating the rider replacement facility for Terry Day, who crashed dramatically last week, is still feeling the effects, although luckily with no broken bones. Day speaking from his home said “I feel drunk all the time without drinking! It’s like I’ve drunk half a bottle of Jack Daniels. It’s was quite a big crash from what everyone has said, it just shows what we go through. I don’t really remember what happened, everyone has been filling it all in for me.”

To make matters worse for the Wildcats Byron Bekker crashed out of Sundays visit to Mildenhall and is unavailable for tonight’s meeting, “I can’t sit on my bike at the moment, I spoke with my doctor who said my muscle could of detached from my pelvis, he said it’s just time, I’ve gotta wait for it to fix itself.”

Bekker is replaced by young Dudley rider Jake Anderson for tonight’s meeting after an almost day long search for an available rider to cover yesterday. Anderson has climbed to second in the Dudley averages already this season sandwiched in-between ex-Wildcats Lee Smart and Jon Armstrong.

National League riders champion Craig Cook heads the Hitmen with strong back up from Charles Wright and Adam Allott. Two young Aussies to watch out for tonight were included as a gamble this season by the Buxton promotion, both riders have been showing great potential Nick Morris and Robert Branford.

“I can walk around a bit more and want to be back as soon as possible.” Bekker added “I can’t ride tonight but hope to be back for Sunday at Mildenhall for the 4’s. I don’t want to go and say I can ride then pull out after my first race. It’s not like a broken bone where you can get an x-ray and see that it has healed. It feels fine but when I move its agony.”

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Jake Anderson (g), 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown (c), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Danny Stoneman, Team manager: Jem Dicken

BUXTON HITMEN
1. Craig Cook, 2. Rider Replacement for Jason Garrity, 3. Lewis Dallaway, 4. Charles Wright, 5. Adam Allott, 6. Nick Morris, 7. Robert Branford, Team manager: Jack Lee

REFEREE: Dave Robinson
 

BEKKER STARS IN WILDCATS TUSSLE WITH ISLANDERS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 31st July 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats picked up their game after suffering their biggest defeat of the season 60-32 last Tuesday on the Isle of Wight with a solid 49-40 win against the Islanders last night [Friday] at the Wessex Stadium. Never more than five points separated the two south coast rivals until heat 14, where the Wildcats pairing of Chessell and Cottham combined for a 5-1 to win the meeting and three league points.

Adam McKinna combined with Byron Bekker for an opening heat 5-1 over Islander Nick Simmons before Richard Andrews took the flag from Tom Hill after Luke Chessell fell on the third bend third lap, with Dean Felton’s subsequent retirement this put the Cats 8-3 up. Three shared heats followed, the Islanders taking the flag on each occasion, ex-Cat Lee Smethills took heat 3 from Gary Cottham and Tom Brown, Ben Hopwood got the better of James Cockle with Chessell third in heat 4. The most experienced racer in the National league Dean Felton took the re-run heat 5 from a hard pressing Cottham and Brown following Simmons first lap third turn fall.

The Islanders battled back in heats 6 and 7, a heat advantage for Hopwood who kept Bekker in second, the only time a visitor defeated him all evening and Hill in third in the re-run heat 6 after McKinna was handed a fifteen metre handicap for breaking the tapes. Warwick pegged back Cockle with Smethills in third in heat 7 to close the scores to 21-20. Two more shared heats followed, Mckinna headed Simmons and Felton in heat 8 after passing both Islanders round the outside for the win. Hopwood took his third win of the night ahead of Brown and Cottham in heat 9.

Wildcats stepped up a gear with two more heat advantages, Bekker and McKinna had Smethills pegged between them in heat 10 after Bekker took the inside line past Smethills on the third turn third lap. Simmons split Cockle and Andrews in heat 11 with the Wildcats moving into a five point lead 35-30. Two more shared heats Brown taking his only win of the night ahead of Smethills and Felton while Bekker took his second win, this time over Simmons and Hopwood with the rain starting to fall in heat 13.

Heat 14 saw the Wildcats pair of Chessell and Cottham bang in a 5-1 and win the second league meeting on the trot on home shale. Bekker finished off in style in heat 15 heading Hopwood after a super inside move on the second turn second lap with Simmons third after McKinna fell on the second lap forcing a re-run heat to give a final meeting result of 49-40.

Wildcats Chairman Phil Bartlett said after the meeting “What a fantastic meeting it was, and to beat the Isle of Wight and turn them over after going to the Island and getting severe defeat earlier in the week. It was good to see Byron back on form and to winning ways, with Adam slotting into the team well and a much improved showing from the whole team. We now have to look forward next Friday’s visitors King’s Lynn Young Stars and on Saturday at Newport for the National League Best Pairs where Byron and James will represent the Wildcats.”
 

WILDCATS FACE ISLANDERS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 30th July 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats suffered their biggest defeat of the season 60-32 at the hands of the Isle of Wight Islanders on Tuesday evening this week at the Smallbrook Stadium leaving them rooted to the foot of the league table. Tonight they have to pick themselves up on home shale at the Wessex Stadium 7.15pm start time in the return fixture.

The Islanders have moved up a place in the league table to 9th with Scunthorpe slipping to 10th position, three points clear of the Wildcats in 11th. Scunthorpe take on Buxton at home tonight and the Wildcats will be hoping that the Hitmen can do them a favour and win away from home, if so the Wildcats would need to win by 12 or more to move off the foot of the table with both clubs having raced the same amount of fixtures.

The Wildcats didn’t manage a heat advantage all evening in contrast to the Islanders five 5-1’s and four 4-2’s. The Islanders are without the services of Poole youngster and former Wildcat Brendan Johnson who raced to 11+1 on Tuesday as he takes his place in the British Under 18 final at Somerset. Latest signing for the Islanders another former Wildcat Lee Smethills joins Danny Warwick also a former Cat in the middle order, the experienced Dean Felton and Tom Hill fill the reserve berths and completing the Islanders are Ben Hopwood and Nick Simmons.

The Wildcats remain unchanged with skipper Tom Brown returning to form in the last two fixtures. Richard Andrews found the going tough on Tuesday after a good 7+1 showing at home against the Devils. Luke Chessell will be hoping for a few more points after scoring 6+2 in the last two fixtures. Gary Cottham will want to forget his nightmare trip to the Isle of Wight in a hurry. Likewise Byron Bekker who has suffered a couple of uncharacteristic performances during the last week will be looking for a bag full of points. Adam McKinna after making his debut last Saturday has weighed in with 14+2 from his first two meetings helping to balance the side. Finally James Cockle completes the Cats line up scoring 20+1 over the last two fixtures and is the only Wildcat to of lifted his starting average slightly.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said “After being beaten by the better side on Tuesday, we started off with mechanical issues for our top three before the meeting and everyone else was struggled with the track, so the lads have to up their game for tonight’s fixture. After the home track advantage for the Islanders racing such a big track compared to Weymouth this showed where their experience was over ours, we really need to put in a solid performance at home as we did in our last fixture against Plymouth.”
 

WILDCATS SUNK BY ISLANDERS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 28th July 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats suffered their biggest defeat of the season in the battle of the basement with the Isle of Wight Islanders in National league action last night at the Smallbrook Stadium 60-32. The Wildcats didn’t manage a heat advantage all evening in contrast to the Islanders who banged in five 5-1’s and four 4-2’s with the rest of the heats being drawn affairs.

The Islanders thought it was their birthday romping off to a 12 point advantage after four heats. Nick Simmons teamed up with new Islanders recruit Lee Smethills for a 5-1 in heat 1 with Byron Bekker grinding to a halt with mechanical trouble after initially leading the opening lap. Luke Chessell split Tom Hill and Dean Felton in heat 2 but Former Wildcats Danny Warwick and Brendan Johnson roared off for another 5-1 in heat 3. James Cockle managed to split Ben Hopwood and Hill before Wildcats team manager Phil Bartlett introduced Bekker as a tactical ride in heat 5. Bekker fell on the third turn last lap while Johnson and Warwick roared off again for maximum points.

Heats 6 and 7 were shared with Cockle taking the flag from Simmons and Smethills the hard way from third with the riders swapping places at will. This was followed by Brown just holding off Hopwood’s challenge and Felton in third with the Wildcats 16 down 29-13. The second tactical ride of the evening saw McKinna split Smethills and Hill for a share of the points with the riders well spaced out. Johnson in terrific form won heat 9 from Cockle who worked hard to keep Warwick at bay.

Two more shared heats Brown winning from a hard challenging Simmons and Smethills in heat 10 and Felton getting the better of Bekker and McKinna in heat 11 after a lightening start in a cracking race with very little separating the riders for four laps, with the scores now 43-25 and the meeting in the bag for the Islanders.

The Islanders finished off with Warwick taking the win from Brown and Hill for a heat advantage and two 5-1’s Hopwood and Simmons teaming up over Bekker after a great tussle for second place on the line in heat 13. Johnson unbeaten by an opponent at this stage won heat 14 with Felton ahead of Chessell. The final heat was shared with Simmons taking the win over Brown and Cockle to give a final result of 60-32 with Johnson’s paid maximum ruined with a last place.

The Wildcats now have to pick themselves up for the return fixture on Friday evening at the Wessex Stadium 7.15pm start time. Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said “Quite clearly we were beaten by the better side tonight. We started off on the back foot with mechanical problems for our top three even before the meeting and the parade. There was no more we could do, the reserves weren’t scoring and everyone else was struggling with the track. Quite clearly though with the home track advantage racing such a big track compared to Weymouth showed where their experience was over ours.”
 

WILDCATS SAIL ACROSS THE SOLENT TO TAKE ON THE ISLANDERS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Monday 26th July 2010
Following the home win against Plymouth Devils on Saturday night the Weymouth Weyline Wildcats travel across the Solent for the third time this season to take on the Isle of Wight Islanders in National league action at the Smallbrook Stadium on Tuesday evening 7.30pm start.

The two previous trips have proved fruitless for the Wildcats losing 56-38 in April in the Pete Redfern Memorial Trophy fixture followed by a loss in the Knock-out Cup in early May 51-39. The Islanders have just recruited ex-Cat Lee Smethills following his release from Plymouth and also include two other former Cats Danny Warwick and Brendan Johnson. They are lead by Nick Simmons with Ben Hopwood in the middle order and reserve pairing of experienced Dean Felton and Tom Hill.

Wildcats team remains unchanged from Saturday night’s victory over Plymouth, new signing Adam McKinna said after Saturday night’s fixture “I’ve always been slightly better suited to the big tracks so hopefully I’ll be able to go there and get out front, a much bigger track is always much easier to pass on but down here at Weymouth the one pass I made on Saturday night was just so close wheel to wheel and it’s not what I’m used to, I’m used to bigger tracks and on the Isle of Wight at least there is a bit of room to manoeuvre.”

Wildcats will be looking for an away win over fellow bottom of the table strugglers to leap frog the Islanders in the league table. The return fixture is at the Wessex Stadium on Friday evening 7.15pm start time.
 

WILDCATS WIN DEVILS DERBY THRILLER
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 25th July 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats beat South West neighbours Plymouth Devils with a much improved team performance in Saturday night’s National league fixture at the Wessex Stadium 49-41. James Cockle led the way for the Wildcats with Tom Brown back to form and a solid debut for Adam McKinna all bode well for the Radipole Lane side.

Bekker and McKinna combined for the perfect start for the Wildcats in heat 1 holding back the Devils returnee to the National league Nicki Glanz. Richard Andrews took heat 2 from Devils pair Jaimie Pickard and Ben Reade after Luke Chessell fell on the last turn. The following three heats were shared affairs with ex-Cat Matt Bates taking heat 3 from Tom Brown and Gary Cottham after a clever cut up the inside of the Wildcats pairing. The experienced Mark Simmonds kept Cockle and Chessell at bay in heat 4 while Glanz won his only race of the night with an inside pass over Brown and Cottham in heat 5 with the scores at 17-13 in favour of the Wildcats.

The Devils hit in with a 5-1 in heat 6 with Simmonds and Pickard combining following a fall from Bekker on the last turn while in second position to level the scores. Cockle and Andrews hit back with a heat advantage in the re-run heat 7 to go two points up after Bates fell, Cockle getting the verdict on the line over Stephens. Shared heat in the next two with McKinna grabbing a debut win over Pickard and Gough followed by Simmonds taking the flag over Brown and Cottham.

The Devils again levelled the scores in the re-run heat 10 with Seemond Stephens taking the honours on the line over Bekker after McKinna took a tumble. Cockle cut up the inside of Glanz to combine with Andrews again for a heat advantage in heat 11 for the Wildcats to go two up. Brown and Chessell took maximum points in heat 12 putting the Cats six up over Bates who missed the start and Pickard, 39-33.

Bekker took another fall while in third place and Cockle a fifteen metre handicap for a tapes offence in heat 13 where Simmonds and Glanz hit back in the re-run to bring the Devils within two points of the Wildcats. Heat fourteen saw the meeting won by Cottham and Andrews, Stephens slowed down while leading on the last lap allowing the Wildcats pair through for maximum points. Cockle and McKinna took the heat advantage in heat 15 for a result of 49-41 and three league points after Glanz demolished the tapes.

After the meeting McKinna said “I’m a bit battered and bruised, I don’t feel too bad, I wish I’d not got excluded in that one ride and got a point or two to put my overall score up a bit. I was hoping to score more but I think I was a bit keen to do better than I should be keen to do when I’ve just come back from a ten week spell on the side lines. Other than my knee hurting a bit I’m quite happy with it all.”

James Cockle said “It’s about time we have done that, everyone rode well tonight, Adam has come in, it’s done us well with seven riders in the team, he’s made his heat 15 in his first match. I’ve ridden with Adam before, he’s showed what he can do and he knows he can do it as well. Tom was a better rider this week, he’s going through a rough time as he’s been out injured, he’s just trying to catch up to race fitness now, I think he is getting there after tonight. The reserves have done well, Richard has picked up and we’ve all got to fire on all cylinders like we did tonight.”

A special thank you to Southern Classic Speedway Bikes for the time and effort put into their display on Weymouth promenade on Saturday helping to promote the Wildcats and Speedway in general.
 

100 DVD GIVE-AWAY
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 23rd July 2010
DL Sport Production who film all Weymouth Weyline Wildcats fixtures at the Wessex Stadium are celebrating their 10th anniversary in style with a 100 DVD give-away at this Saturday’s National league fixture against derby rivals Plymouth Devils where supporters will also have their first view of new the Wildcats new signing.

To claim a free DVD supporters will receive a special ticket in their programme and the lucky 100 ticket holders will be able to claim a free DVD from the back catalogue which include fixtures filmed at Exeter, Somerset, Trelawny, Plymouth, St. Austell and of course Weymouth.

Prior to the meeting Southern Classic Speedway Bikes have a display on Weymouth promenade by the Jubilee clock from 10.00am till 4.00pm on Saturday, 24th July prior to the Wildcats home fixture at 7.15pm against the Plymouth Devils. Bikes on display range from early JAPS to the modern day laydowns including Jason Crumps 2007 machine.

Around 18 bikes are likely to be on display giving the opportunity for supporters to pop along and view these pristine machines before the meeting. Also in attendance helping promote the Wildcats will be Richard Andrews with his bikes on display along with Tom Brown’s machines.
 

WILDCATS DICE WITH THE DEVILS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 22nd July 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats change their race night to Saturday [24th July] against the Plymouth Devils this week in National league action. Phil Bartlett Wildcats chairman will unveil a new signing Saturday evening who steps into the team replacing Terry Day.

The new signing is a temporary measure to allow Day the time he needs to fully recover his fitness before he embarks on a track return for the Wildcats. Day who suffered a horrific crash at the Wessex Stadium in May was scoring well above his average; this had put his team mates under increasing pressure covering for his rides whilst the team has been struggling for form. With National league and Premier league experience the new signing who has raced at the Wessex Stadium previously is sure to be a hit with supporters at the Radipole Lane circuit when all is revealed.

The rest of the Wildcats side remains unchanged for the derby fixture against the Devils who have made changes to their line up after a poor start to their season. Out go Paul Starke and Lee Smethills, recently Ben Reade was given a shot at reserve and at number one Dane Nicki Glanz makes a return to the sport after taking over a year and a half away from the sport to recover from a broken collarbone sustained while riding in the Premier league for Reading in August 2008 in a doubling up capacity.

With David Gough now recovered from a collarbone injury the Devils are at full strength featuring stalwarts Seemond Stephens and Mark Simmonds along with former Wildcat Matt Bates with Jaimie Pickard at reserve.

Prior to the meeting Southern Classic Speedway Bikes have a display on Weymouth promenade by the Jubilee clock from 10.00am till 4.00pm on Saturday, 24th July prior to the Wildcats home fixture at 7.15pm against the Plymouth Devils. Bikes on display range from early JAPS to the modern day laydowns including Jason Crumps 2007 machine. Around 18 bikes are likely to be on display giving the opportunity for supporters to pop along and view these pristine machines before the meeting. Also in attendance helping promote the Wildcats will be Richard Andrews with his bikes on display along with Tom Brown’s machines.

LINE UPs:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. TBC, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

PLYMOUTH DEVILS
1. Nicki Glanz, 2. David Gough, 3. Matt Bates, 4. Seemond Stephens, 5. Mark Simmonds ©, 6. Jaimie Pickard, 7. Ben Reade, Team manager: Gary Spiller

REFEREE: Mick Bates
 

WILDCATS DRAMATIC LAST HEAT DECIDER WITH BUCCANEERS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 17th July 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats succumbed to the Buccaneers and former Wildcat Jon Armstrong in last night’s dramatic National league derby clash at the Wessex Stadium with the Buccaneers coming out winners by just two points 44-46.

Current Dudley rider Armstrong stole the show for the visitors in his guest capacity with 10+1 and received solid back up to give the Buccaneers only their second away victory this season, both of which have been at Weymouth. Meanwhile several falls and retirements hampered the Wildcats quest for the much need league points on a night when there was very little between the two south coast sides eager for victory which came in the fifteenth heat.

With eleven shared heats, three 4-2’s and only one 5-1 heat advantage the good sized crowd witnessed some cracking racing. It took five heats before the deadlock was broken by Armstrong grabbing the win backed up by Halsey after a good battle with Brown early on to put the Buccaneers 13-17 into the lead.

Three more shared heats followed, heat six produced a great tussle between Gary Cottham and Mark Baseby early on for the lead with Baseby coming out on top. James Cockle stormed away to win heat eight and Luke Chessell took the flag in heat eight. The Wildcats gained a heat advantage with Cottham taking the win from Mark Baseby and Tom Brown in third remounting after a fall to narrow the gap to two points 26-28 in heat nine.

Byron Bekker tied up heat ten after another great tussle with Kyle Howarth and Karl Mason but the Buccaneers edged ahead by four points with Armstrong taking the win over Cockle and Daniel Halsey in third. Brown came out after a disappointing evening in heat twelve and took the win from Mason who had the early lead until he slid off on the fourth turn of the third lap bringing the difference back down to two points, 35-37.

That was the last heat advantage with the last three heats shared evenly, Bekker winning heat thirteen, Howarth heat fourteen and Armstrong cutting up the inside of the first turn to head the Wildcats pair of Bekker and Cockle in the last heat to give a meeting result of 44-46 and three league points to Bournemouth leaving the Wildcats firmly at the foot of the table.

Next week the Wildcats change their race night to Saturday [24th July] against the Plymouth Devils. Prior to the meeting Southern Classic Speedway Bikes have a display on Weymouth promenade by the Jubilee clock from 10.00am till 4.00pm next Saturday, 24th July prior to the Wildcats home fixture at 7.15pm against the Plymouth Devils. Bikes on display range from early JAPS to the modern day laydowns including Jason Crumps 2007 machine. Around 18 bikes are likely to be on display giving the opportunity for supporters to pop along and view these pristine machines before the meeting.
 

WILDCATS CROSS SWORDS WITH BUCCANEERS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 16th July 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats entertain south coast rivals Bournemouth Buccaneers in a local derby National league fixture this evening 7.15pm start time. The last time the Buccaneers visited the Wessex FM Raceway was back in May when they ran out winners 41-49 with a select side, their only away victory this season.

Recent signing James Brundle who replaced Chris Mills (who has stepped up to the Premier league full time), in the Buccaneers side is unavailable for tonight's clash so the Buccs have booked in Jon Armstrong to cover at number one. Mark Baseby who has recently seen track action in the Premier league for Somerset and brother Aaron will feature heavily for the Buccaneers. Young reserve John Resch showed good form in his last appearance at the Wessex FM Raceway. After returning to Newport’s side last season, former Wildcat Karl Mason has settled well into the Buccs side. Their line up is completed by former Rye House rider Daniel Halsey and former youth grass-track and moto-cross rider Kyle Howarth who only started on shale in 2008.

Wildcats riders will be looking to pick their game up after last Fridays defeat at Newport in the KO Cup which followed on from their first win in eleven meetings the previous Friday against Scunthorpe. Wildcats remain unchanged with Byron Bekker heading the side. Reserves Richard Andrews who put in an impressive 10+1 display at Newport and Luke Chessell 5+2 will be hoping for more of the same. Gary Cottham who had a good couple of tussles with Buccs guest Jon Armstrong three weeks ago against Dudley, especially in heat 9 where they were wheel to wheel for four laps in one of the closest races seen at Weymouth, is getting to grips with the Wildcats track and is looking for some consistent scores after his recent change of machinery. Tom Brown and James Cockle will be hoping their nightmare at Newport is behind them when both riders struggled scoring just five points between them.

Next week the Wildcats change their race night to Saturday [24th July] against the Plymouth Devils. Prior to the meeting Southern Classic Speedway Bikes have a display on Weymouth promenade by the Jubilee clock from 10.00am till 4.00pm next Saturday, 24th July prior to the Wildcats home fixture at 7.15pm against the Plymouth Devils. Bikes on display range from early JAPS to the modern day laydowns including Jason Crumps 2007 machine. Around 18 bikes are likely to be on display giving the opportunity for supporters to pop along and view these pristine machines before the meeting.

If you are able to display an A4 poster to help promote Weymouth Speedway there is a downloadable poster available on the homepage of the clubs website.

TEAM LINE UPS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

BOURNEMOUTH BUCCANEERS:
1. Jon Armstrong (guest), 2. Daniel Halsey, 3. Karl Mason, 4. Kyle Howarth, 5. Mark Baseby, 6. Aaron Baseby (C), 7. John Resch, Team manager: Gary May & Neil Vatcher

REFEREE: Mick Posselwhite
 

HORNETS STING WILDCATS OUT OF KO CUP
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 10th July 2010
Newport Hornets ended Weymouth Weyline Wildcats KO Cup hopes in last night's quarter-final second leg with a 53-35 win over the south coast club who faced an uphill battle from the first leg defeat 41-49 at the end of May.

The Wildcats started with a second place for Byron Bekker in heat 1, followed by top Cat on the night, Richard Andrews taking the win with Luke Chessell in second after ex-Cat James White-Williams was excluded and Tom Young retired from the race. Gary Gottham and Tom Brown filled the minor places in heat 3 keeping the slender three point lead intact. James Cockle won the only ride he finished in heat 4 while Chessell packed in for second to put the Cats 8-15 up. Bekker won heat 5 with Cottham in third split by Hornets skipper Tony Atkin while ex-Cat Tim Webster took a trip to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone injury.

Hornets Aussie pairing of Todd Kurtz and Mark Jones hit back with maximum points in heat 6 to cut the Cats lead to 15-20. Another ex-Cat Kyle Newman took the flag while Cottham and Brown packed the lower places to keep the five point lead in heat 7. Jones supported by White-Williams brought the Hornets to within a single point of the Cats in heat 8. Tom Young popped in his first of two wins for the Hornets in heat 9 with Andrews in second, just two finishers with Cockle disqualified and Aitkin retiring from the race, scores were now level 26-26.

The Aussies again romped away for another 5-1 in heat 10 giving the Hornets the lead, Newman again took the flag in heat 11 with Bekker and Andrews packing in to share the points. The killer blow came in heat 12 for the Cats, Young and White-Williams combined for a 5-1 over Andrews with Brown again disqualified from the race to lead 39-31. Bekker split Newman and Kurtz in heat 13, Chessell took a fall and the Cats were now ten down 43-33.

Hornets skipper Atkin with White-Williams stomped off to a 5-1 in heat 14 as did Newman and Kurtz in the last races to give victory on the night and overall to the Hornets 102-76 and passage into the semi-final stages.
 

WILDCATS FACE WELSH PRESSURE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 9th July 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats face Newport Hornets in the second leg of the second round of the National League Knock Out Cup on tonight at Queensway Meadows start time 7.00pm. Top of the table Hornets are eight points ahead going into this tie having won by 49-41 at the Wessex FM Raceway in the first leg at the end of May.

The Hornets change riding order with new averages, Aussie Todd Kurtz takes over the number one race jacket in his debut year from Tony Aitken who moves to number four while ex-Cat Tim Webster takes over the number three position. Kyle Newman at five is now also doubling up with Birmingham Brummies gaining valuable experience in the Premier league. Another ex-Cat James White-Williams shares the reserve berths with Welsh teenager Tom Young. Completing the Hornets is another Aussie who has been a regular figure at the south coast track in recent weeks undertaking guest booking Mark Jones.

Following last Friday night’s home win the Weyline Wildcats will be hoping to put up a much better performance in South Wales. Tom Brown and Richard Andrews as ex-Newport riders will be looking for good returns at their old stomping ground. Wildcats number one Byron Bekker after scorching to his first paid maximum for the south coast club said, “It’s going to be very hard, we’ve just got to knuckle down. We’ve lost ten meetings and won tonight which proves the fighting spirit is there and the wins should come now.”

With the rider replacement facility for Terry Day in operation solid returns from Gary Cottham and Luke Chessell will be a must for the Wildcats to be able to claw back the eight point deficit they face. Day is currently planning his comeback with a daily training routine of swimming and mountain biking to regain fitness with ex-Bournemouth Buccaneer and Wildcat Jay Herne, who is recovering from a broken back.

On the eve of the British Grand Prix at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium a large crowd is expected for tonights on track clash. In form James Cockle reflected, “I like Newport, now I’ve probably just jinxed myself! It’s going to be hard to go and win but I like the place myself, Tom [Brown] has done a fair few laps round there. The last time we went there it was smooth and very slick so we should all have engines set up for that sort of place as the weather has got hotter this year it’s been like that at Weymouth. It could be a meeting we could win; it’s a similar sort of circuit but a bit bigger and the same sort of preparation for the track. Touch wood it will be good and everyone will be hyped up for Cardiff so we should have a good day out.”

The next home meeting for the Weyline Wildcats is on Friday 16th July in a local National league derby clash against Bournemouth Buccaneers at 7.15pm.

TEAM LINE UP’S:

NEWPORT WESSEX BUS HORNETS
1. Todd Kurtz, 2. Mark Jones, 3. Tim Webster, 4. Tony Atkin (C), 5. Kyle Newman, 6. Tom Young, 7. James White-Williams, Team manager: Kevin Brown

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

REFEREE: W Dishington
 

SAINTS SUCCUMB TO WILDCATS PERSISTENCE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 4th July 2010
Friday night the Weymouth Weyline Wildcats produced a strong performance to beat Scunthorpe Saints 52-41 their first win after a losing run of ten meetings. “The guys are so relieved and I’m so relieved and it proves that we finished the meeting with the riders we started the meeting with we’re gonna be there or there about,” commented Bekker after the meeting.

Scunthorpe assets Luke Chessell and Byron Bekker roared off for a 5-1 in the opening heat much to the delight of the Wildcats supporters. Saints hit back to level the scores in heat 2 and then took the advantage with Scott Richardson pegging Gary Cottham back in heat 3 with Tom Brown’s fall on the last turn first lap.

James Cockle combined with Chessell for another 5-1 keeping ex-Cat Benji Compton back in third for the Wildcats to take the lead. Richardson took his second win in the next heat sharing the points after a great battle between Brown and Jones who overcooked it into the fence allowing Cottham through. Bekker and Cottham stuck in another 5-1 to give the Wildcats a six point lead. Cockle kept the lead intact winning heat 7, again another fine battle for the minor places in the first staging of the race before Andrews and Irving fell.

Birks split Brown and Chessell in the re-run heat 8 giving the Wildcats and 8 point advantage after a nasty looking crash with Steve Worrall and Birks. Two shared heats followed with Compton taking heat 9 and Bekker heat 10 after Chessell slipped from 2nd to 4th. Saints guest Mark Jones split the home pair in heat 11 but couldn’t stop Cockle taking the win to put the Wildcats ten up. Richardson emerged from the pits in the black and white helmet for a double points tactical ride in heat 12 which was awarded in his favour following Brown falling on the second bend of the last lap. With an 8-1 for the Saints the score line was narrowed to a Wildcats 3 point lead.

The Wildcats lead was extended in heat 13 with a great display of team riding from Bekker and Cockle keeping Jones back in third. Cottham finished his evenings work off winning an eventful heat 14 and the meeting for the south coast club by cutting inside Steve Worrall after team mate Andrews fell 2nd bend 2nd lap and remounted only to see Irving fall on the next bend giving the Wildcats a 4-2. Bekker and Cockle were split by Richardson in the re-run of the final heat after Richardson took Compton wide to give a meeting score of 52-41.

Bekker received the bumps from his team mates after completing a well overdue paid maximum on his 23rd birthday. Bekker said “A few people said to me if it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen on your birthday. I was actually more nervous going into this meeting than any.”

No meeting at the Wessex FM Raceway this Friday with the Weyline Wildcats in South Wales in the 2nd leg of the KO Cup at Newport Friday evening 7.00pm start time. Bekker added, “It’s going to be very hard, we’ve just got to knuckle down. We’ve lost ten meetings and won tonight which proves the fighting spirit is there and the wins should come now.”

The next home meeting is on Friday 16th July in a local National league derby meeting against Bournemouth Buccaneers. Bekker concluded “We can beat teams at home now, we just have to knuckle down, we weren’t far away against the Select side earlier in the year and that was without James [Cockle] so we have a good chance.”
 

WILDCATS TACKLE THE SAINTS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 2nd July 2010
Friday night at the Wessex FM Raceway will see the visit of Scunthorpe Saints in National league action against the Weymouth Weyline Wildcats. Following his heat two crash last week Richard Andrews returns to the Wildcats side who are seeking a win following a string of recent defeats.

The Saints travel to the south coast venue without the services of injured Adam Wrathall and ex-Cat Mark ‘Buzz’ Burrows who’s currently on holiday which was booked prior to his signing for the club. Rider replacement is operated for Wrathall and Newport’s Mark Jones covers for the absent Burrows.

Another ex-Cat Benji Compton returns to the Saints side after recovering from an infected wound which kept him out of the clubs visit to the Isle of Wight on Tuesday this week. The remaining Saints are made up of Gary Irving who has had recent Premier league experience with Redcar and is now doubling up with the Saints Premier league side. Scott Richardson completes the middle order with Ashley Birks and Steve Worrall who is also in the doubling up position for the Saints Premier league side at reserve. Steve’s twin brother rapidly drafted into the side at number 8 takes over the captains duties as he did on Tuesday at the Isle of Wight when making his league debut!

The Wildcats will be looking for strong performances from Byron Bekker on his birthday and Tom Brown and also hoping that James Cockle will have put his mechanical problems behind him. After one of the races of the season with Dudley’s Jon Armstrong in heat 9, Gary Cottham's 10+1 return last Friday showed a remarked improvement from the Eastbourne based rider.

Luke Chessell took a full house of seven rides last Friday on his home debut producing 6+1 and with Richard Andrews recovered from his heat 2 spill the Wildcats are looking much healthier. Luke Wiltshire is once again named as the clubs number 8 able to take any of the rider replacement rides for Terry Day.

Day is working hard on the road to fitness and is due to be starting a regime of swimming and mountain biking to regain full fitness before being in a position to make a track return.

TEAM LINE UPS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Rider Replacement for Terry Day, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, 8. Luke Wiltshire, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

SCUNTHORPE JOTUN SAINTS
1. Mark Jones (guest), 2. Rider Replacement for Adam Wrathall, 3. Scott Richardson, 4. Gary Irving, 5. Benji Compton, 6. Steve Worrall, 7. Ashley Birks, 8. Richie Worrall, Team manager: Stuart Parnaby

REFEREE: Ronnie Allan
 

WILDCATS SAIL ACROSS THE SEA
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Tuesday 31st August 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats suffered double defeat at Buxton on Sunday in the double header National League and Trophy fixtures 65-25 and 54-38 respectively. The Wildcats eventually drafted in Luke Priest as a replacement for Byron Bekker who crashed heavily on Friday night breaking his collarbone and a knuckle but were hit with more bad news with Karl Mason being forced to withdraw due to illness enroute to Buxton Sunday morning.

Star of the show was Craig Cook being unbeaten in all of his rides with solid support from Robert Branford and Jason Garrity throughout. James Cockle led the way for the Wildcats in the first meeting with 11 points but lacked any support. In the following Trophy fixture Luke priest top scored 9+1 with Gary Cottham chipping in with 8+2 but they couldn’t stop the all round strength of the Hitmen.

The Wildcats travel to the Isle of Wight on today and have booked in Adam McKinna as cover for Bekker. McKinna rode his second meeting back from injury last month at Smallbrook scoring 7+1 and has since been recalled by parent club Newcastle to resume his place in their Premier League side at reserve.

The three meetings so far at Smallbrook between the South Coast sides has seen the Islanders come out top back in April 56-38, May 51-39 and in July 60-32. Tonight’s fixture gets underway at 7.30pm at the Smallbrook stadium.

TEAM LINE-UPS:

WILDCATS
1. Adam McKinna (guest), 2. Dan Halsey, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

ISLE OF WIGHT
1. Paul Starke, 2. Lee Smethills, 3. Danny Warwick, 4. Brendan Johnson, 5. Nick Simmons, 6. Dean Felton, 7. Tom Hill, Team manager: Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd
 

WILDCATS INJURY JINX STRIKES AGAIN
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 28th August 2010
The much anticipated National League battle with Newport Hornets turned into an injury nightmare for the Weymouth Weyline Wildcats and Byron Bekker who suffered a broken right collarbone and broken left knuckle in a first bend crash with Hornets Tony Atkin in heat 10 last night at the Wessex Stadium.

The meeting started off well for Bekker in heat 1 winning from Hornets Todd Kurtz with Dan Halsey picking up third for the Wildcats. Back from injury Tom Young backed up James White Williams for a 5-1 in heat 2 with Richard Andrews picking up third. Two shared heats followed Tom Brown taking heat 3 for the Wildcats over Hornets Mark Jones and Atkin. Former Wildcat Kyle Newman stormed off for heat 4 with James Cockle and Gary Cottham taking the minor places after Cottham initially led the race.

Heat 5 saw an advantage for the Hornets with Kurtz and former Cat Luke Priest split by Brown, while Karl Mason struggled at the back suffering from sickness. Bekker took his second win in heat 6 ahead of Newman and White Williams while Halsey fell on the first bend fourth lap while in third place. Another heat advantage for the Hornets with Cockle splitting Atkin and Jones in heat 7 saw the Hornets move 6 points up, 18-24. Priest took heat 8 from Cottham and Halsey sharing the points then White William and Newman smashed in a 5-1 over Cottham and Brown who retired from the race in heat 9 to go 10 points up 22-32.

Straight away Wildcats team manager Phil Bartlet sent Bekker out in black and white for a tactical ride, the race only lasted until the first bend with elbows and pushing at will resulting in Bekker and Atkin carrering into the first turn fence. Atkin was soon up and walking back to the pits but the medics treated Bekker on circuit before transferring to the ambulance. Following a 40 minute delay until the County ambulance arrived when Bekker was transferred and taken to the local hospital where it was revealed during the early hours the extent of Bekkers injuries are a broken right collarbone and broken left knuckle which has halted the South-African's season, although initial thoughts are that Bekker could possibly return in three weeks.

Cottham replaced Bekker in the re-run heat with Halsey splitting Jones and Atkin. Cockle was out as a tactical ride in heat 11 splitting Hornets pair of Kurtz and Priest in the first of four shared heats. Jones won heat 12, Cottham and Brown slotting in for the minor places. Kurtz took heat 13 from Cottham and Cockle while Atkin headed Andrews and Mason in the re-run heat 14 following Young's fall and disqualification.

The last heat was somewhat controversial, Brown fell third turn first lap, the race continued with Kurtz in the lead, Cockle challenged Newman for second place cutting inside him entering the third turn second lap. Newman careered into the fence right in front of the Hornets supporters who made their voice heard when the meeting referee judged Newman to be the cause of the stoppage and disqualified him from the re-run which was won by Kurtz from Cockle putting the Hornets on top of the National League winning 39-52. After viewing video footage filmed by DL Sport Productions it clearly shows that Cockle had the racing line and Newman's foot caught Cockles dirt deflector throwing him off balance and into the kickboards while trying to re-pass the Wildcat.

Wildcats travel to Buxton tomorrow for a double feast of fixtures, first off at 3.00pm will be the National League fixture followed by the Trophy fixture. Chairman Phil Bartlett has a race against time to find a suitable replacement for the two fixtures, if no replacement is found the rider replacement facility will be used to cover Bekkers rides. The Wildcats also travel to the Isle of Wight on Tuesday and have booked in Adam McKinna as cover. McKinna rode his second meeting back from injury last month at Smallbrook scoring 7+1 and has since been recalled by parent club Newcastle to resume his place in their Premier League side.

Wildcats chairman said after the meeting "It didn't really matter about the result tonight, we're not in contention for the League but the shame of it is that we have lost Byron to injury which sums up our year. He could be back in three weeks but we will have to wait and see how the recovery goes. We will operate rider replacement at Buxton for the double header fixture and on Tuesday we draft in Adam McKinna to help us out."

TEAM LINE-UPS:

WILDCATS: (Sunday)
1. Byron Bekker rider replacement, 2. Dan Halsey, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

BUXTON:
1. Craig Cook, 2. Nick Morris rider replacement, 3. Jonathon Bethell, 4. Robert Branford, 5. Adam Allott, 6. Lewis Dallaway, 7. Jason Garrity, Team manager: Jack Lee

WILDCATS: (Tuesday)
1. Adam McKinna (guest), 2. Dan Halsey, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

ISLE OF WIGHT
1. Paul Starke, 2. Lee Smethills, 3. Danny Warwick, 4. Brendan Johnson, 5. Nick Simmons, 6. Dean Felton, 7. Tom Hill, Team manager: Chris Hunt and kevin Shepherd
 

WILDCATS CLAWS AT THE READY FOR HORNETS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 27th August 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats new look team were hit with another National League rain off on Wednesday at Birmingham’s Perry Barr Stadium where they were due to take on the Dudley Heathens on a high following a 43-31 win in the derby fixture against Plymouth Devils last Saturday at the Wessex Stadium. The fixture has been quickly rearranged for Wednesday 22nd September back at Perry Barr where the Premier League Brummies were granted full planning permission yesterday.

Tonight the visitors Newport Hornets ran out 41-49 winners in their previous visit for the KO Cup fixture in May currently are in third place in the National League. Should they win top place is guaranteed for them but, three League points would push the Wildcats two places higher above Scunthorpe and the Isle of Wight into seventh place.

With all to play for tonight’s fixture is another mouth watering event that gets underway at 7.15pm, “We always have a good competitive meeting against the Hornets and tonight will be no exception. Hopefully they will be sent back to Wales with the sting firmly in their tail this time around” said Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett.

Todd Kurtz is at number one in his debut year, former Wildcat Luke Priest is at two after being snapped up following Mildenhall’s demise. Aussie Mark Jones due to return home shortly rides at three. Skipper, veteran Tony Atkin is at number four with Kyle Newman at five who also doubles up with Birmingham Brummies gaining valuable experience in the Premier League. Another ex-Cat James White-Williams shares the reserve berths with Welsh teenager Tom Young. Young suffered injury last weekend in a track crash with Newman and faces a late fitness call.

A much more solid looking Wildcats side remain unchanged and are looking to start the Bank Holiday weekend off on a winning note. Five of the side recorded 8 point returns in last week’s curtailed fixture with team manager and chairman looking for more of the same before facing a double header at Buxton with both the League and Trophy fixtures on Sunday 29th at 3.00pm and the Isle of Wight on Tuesday 31st in the Trophy.

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Dan Halsey, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Karl Mason, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

NEWPORT HORNETS
1. Todd Kurtz, 2. Luke Priest, 3. Mark Jones, 4. Tony Atkin (C), 5. Kyle Newman, 6. James White Williams, 7. TBC, Team manager: Kevin Brown

REFEREE: Tony Steele
 

WILDCATS LEAVE DEVILS FOG BOUND
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 22nd August 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats new look team got off to the best possible start in the National League Trophy campaign last night at the Wessex Stadium with a 43-31 win in the derby fixture against Plymouth Devils. With very poor weather conditions all around the South coast all day the Wessex Stadium was able to avoid the worst until the fog descended and forced meeting referee Tony Steele to abandon after heat 12 had been completed, thus under the permitted rules the result is allowed to stand.

A dream start for debut rider Dan Halsey in heat 1 backing up team partner Byron Bekker on the way to a 5-1 over Dane Nicki Glanz the Devils recent signing back from injury. This was added to in the following heat by the Cats reserve pairing Gary Cottham moving down in the new look line up and Richard Andrews to put the Cats 10-2 up. The lead was maintained in a re-run heat 3 after movement at the start, with Tom Brown heading off Seemond Stephens after Stephens initially lead the race until Brown nipped through on the inside of turn three with ex-Cat Matt Bates third.

Heat 4 saw the Devils have their first of three heat advantages, James Cockle splitting the Devils pair of Mark Simmonds and Ben Reade with Cottham going from first to fourth on the first lap, followed by Glanz and Jaimie Pickard teaming up for a 5-1 over lone Cat Brown in a re-run heat 5, again movement at the start.  Glanz, Pickard and Brown all swapping place in an entertaining race which was again stopped after Karl Mason fell on the first bend last lap and was disqualified from another re-run of the heat. Brown took the early lead but couldn’t hold Glanz or Pickard back who both passed to narrow the lead to just two points, 16-14.

Halsey scorched to his first win for the Wildcats while Bekker made a great inside pass on Simmonds demolished the Devils for a 5-1 in heat 6. Cockle pegged back Stephens and Bates in heat 7. Halsey was involved in his third 5-1 of the night in heat 8 leading the way with Cottham heading off Pickard to put the Wildcats 29-19 up. With the Cats now leading by ten points Devils team manager Gary Spiller brought in Simmonds for a tactical ride, he produced the win for the Devils but the Cats pair Brown and Mason packed in for the minor places with the lead now cut to eight points.

Heat 10 was re-run twice; two laps in Bates fell on the second bend causing the first stoppage and was duly disqualified from the re-run. Halsey unbeaten up to this point, lifted wildly and fell, Stephens unable to avoid him clattered down onto the track. Thankfully both riders were able to walk away after treatment from the medical staff. Halsey was disqualified from the second re-run where Bekker got the drop on Stephens.

Cockle kept Glanz and Pickard at bay to share the points in heat 11 before the Wildcats stuck in another 5-1 in heat 12, Cottham and Brown over Bates. At this point the meeting referee Tony Steele consulted the team managers and team captains which resulted in the meeting being abandoned due to the fog and poor visibility. The result stands, a Wildcat win 43-31 over the Devils.

Promoter Phil Bartlett said “Plymouth have won the Trophy in the past, now we have strengthened up bringing in Dan Halsey we have a strong pairing at 1 and 2, where as in the League campaign we suffered with injuries we are going to go all out to try and win the Trophy. The team is much more balanced, were not top heavy so we can pick up points all the way through, that’s how we won the league in 2008 with a more balanced team.”

“Terry is still out struggling with his injury and obviously has to regain his fitness, this season could be over for him, we’ll have to wait and see how he progresses over the coming weeks. His replacement cover Adam McKinna has gone back to Newcastle in the Premier League which was his aim after coming back from injury himself. He did us a big favour covering for Terry and we did him a favour with a chance to prove himself which he did with a string of solid scores. Dan has come in as a fantastic replacement after Mildenhall closed down which saw Bournemouth switch their team around making Dan and Karl available and we’ve been fortunate to pick them both up. Karl has had a bit of a nightmare tonight, he knows his way round here and was with us back in 2008, he’ll come back strong.”

The Wildcats return to League action at Birmingham’s Perry Barr stadium on Wednesday evening against Dudley Heathens before returning to the Wessex Stadium to take on the challenge of the Newport Hornets also in the League next Friday [27th] at 7.15pm followed by a double header at Buxton with both the League and Trophy fixtures Sunday 29th at 3.00pm and the Isle of Wight on Tuesday 31st in the Trophy.
 

WILDCATS RE-SHUFFLE FOR THE TROPHY
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 19th August 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats have made changes to their line-up bringing in Karl Mason over the weekend and now Dan Halsey both recently dropped from the Bournemouth side. Both riders line up at the St. Boniface Arena Plymouth tomorrow [Friday 20th] and in the return on Saturday at 7.15pm in our change of race night this week as the Wessex Stadium.

“Last Sunday Newport Hornets were reduced to a five man team during the meeting and we should of won that meeting” said Wildcats Chairman Phil Bartlett. With a League campaign that never took off the Trophy competition kicks in and Bartlett continued, “We have had to make a few team changes due to Adam McKinna being recalled back into Newcastle Speedway's Premier League side at reserve. Unfortunately with Newcastle racing on a Sunday, this clashes with most of our away fixtures, with this in mind and added that this Saturday Adam would also be unavailable we have made a new signing by bringing in Dan Halsey and we also brought in Karl Mason for last weekend.”

“This means that we can move Gary Cottham to reserve to strengthen up at the bottom end. Unfortunately the victim of these changes is Luke Chessell, with Luke being an asset of Scunthorpe we felt we should keep our own asset Richard Andrews in the side to gain extra track time and experience. We would like to thank Luke for his time with us and wish him all the best for the future as well as Adam who we gave a chance to prove his fitness as a stop gap for Terry Day and did very well and also thanks to their respective clubs for allowing them to ride for us this season.”

A tough home and away local derby against Plymouth Devils as is always the case, earlier in the season Wildcats lost out 56-36 in the Devon and Dorset Trophy and again in the National League fixture 54-41 in June. On home shale they have fared better with a 45-45 draw in the Trophy and a 49-41 National League win.

The Devils remain unchanged from the previous encounter between the two sides. Bartlett finished off “We have suffered and had a League campaign nightmare with injuries, now quite clearly we have a full strength team for the Trophy competition to try and get something out of the season.”

FIXTURE CHANGE:
Buxton have agreed to run a double header meeting against the Wildcats on Sunday 29th August, 3.00pm start with both the National League and Trophy meetings being raced during the afternoon. This means the Sunday 10th October date is now cancelled.

MEETING DETAILS:

PLYMOUTH DEVILS
1. Nicki Glanz, 2. Jaimie Pickard, 3. Matt Bates, 4. Seemond Stephens (C), 5. Mark Simmonds, 6. David Gough, 7. Ben Reade, Team manager: Gary Spiller

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Dan Halsey, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Karl Mason, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

REFEREE: Tony Steele
 

WILDCATS SUFFER SAXON BLOW AND SIGN MASON
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 14th August 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats were piped at the post in a last heat decider against Tamworth Saxons at the Wessex Stadium last night 43-46. On show for the visitors was new signing for the Wildcats Karl Mason who returns to the fold where he helped the side to the League title in 2008 following his release from Bournemouth.

New recruit Mason led the visitors to an early first heat lead 5-1 with his team partner Micky Dyer fighting his way to back up his team partner with Adam McKinna slipping from second to fourth. Scott Day for the visitors took the handicap for a tapes offence in heat two which was won by Wildcats reserve Richard Andrews starting off his haul of 11+1 from Luke Wiltshire in the re-run heat after Wiltshire was unable to avoid Luke Chessell drifting right on the first turn.

Heat 3 was another shared event with Tom Brown taking the flag for the home side ahead of Dyer and recently crowned British under 18 Champion Brendan Johnson to keep the visitors 4 points up. In an eventful heat 4 Jake Anderson took the spoils from the other only finisher James Cockle who had remounted his machine after a first turn fall on the fourth lap, Day fell and was disqualified while Chessell retired from the race.

The Wildcats had two heat advantages firstly with Tom Brown and Gary Cottham who were split by Mason and in heat 6 Anderson split McKinna and Bekker to reduce the Wildcats deficit to a single point. James Cockle was again a faller on the 3rd bend 2nd lap while Anderson and Johnson romped away for a gifted 5-1 to stretch their lead to 5 points. McKinna and Andrews hit back with maximum points in the following heat which took four attempts to run with movement at the starts.

The first of three heat advantage for the Wildcats saw them take the lead in the fixture for the first time in heat 9 with Cottham and Brown being split by Anderson. The Cats lead extended with Mason splitting Bekker and Mckinna in heat 10 and Dyer splitting Andrews and Cockle in heat 11 to 35-30.

Johnson had the better of Chessell who lost his footing coming off the 4th turn amazingly staying aboard his machine in the re-run heat 12 with Day picking up third after Brown fell first turn third lap. Saxons top rider on the night Anderson reduced the Cats lead to a single point pegging Bekker back in second and Dyer in third in heat 13 putting the scores at 39-38.

Johnson getting the better of Andrews and Cottham in the penultimate heat forced a last heat decider which saw the visitors gain a 5-1 to win the fixture 43-46, Anderson combining with Johnson who cut inside McKinna exiting the last turn on the first lap.

Wildcats chairman said “Karl Mason comes into the side on Sunday at Newport with Gary Cottham being rested for a week following Karl’s release from Bournemouth. As team manager and promoter I have to the best for the club, it’s not personal and never is personal it’s for the sake of the team. He’s a Newport asset and they have given us permission to talk to him, we have been able to hastily include him in the side for Sunday at a track he knows very well.”

Mason said about his departure from Bournemouth which was kicked off by the recent demise of Mildenhall, “It was disappointing to be dropped by Bournemouth but you’ve just got to put it behind you and crack on. Tracks like Mildenhall shouldn’t be allowed to go under, these things need sorting out. It puts everyone under pressure, it’s harsh on the people who haven’t done anything wrong and all of a sudden there are seven riders available.”

Looking ahead to the Wildcats away fixtures tomorrow at Newport and next Friday at Plymouth Mason added “I’m excited to be back at Weymouth again; hopefully I can have a good meeting on Sunday at Newport with it being only a mile from home I always like going back there. I also had a good meeting at Plymouth last year, I haven’t been there this year, normally it’s been a bad track for me but I’ll go there with the same attitude I went to the Isle of Wight with, it’s just five big minutes. Hopefully we can put up a good show away from home to entertain the supporters, that’s the main thing.”

Recent signing Adam McKinna will be unavailable for a few meetings after his recall to Newcastle, with their home meetings being on Sundays they clash with several of the Wildcats approaching away meetings. Bartlett added “He’s riding next Saturday so is unavailable to ride for us, but the rest of the home fixtures should be ok. With the League almost finished and starting the Trophy competition next week we quite clearly have to look to see if we can strengthen up where we can.”

Sunday afternoon 2.30pm at Queensway Meadows is when the Wildcats return to League action against the Hornets.
 

WILDCATS TAKE A BREAK FROM LEAGUE ACTION
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 12th August 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats take a break from National league action Friday evening when the visitors are representing Tamworth Saxons at the Wessex Stadium. The team has been put together by Kelvin Lapworth who runs the Team Viking set up.

“We have been thinking of bringing the Tamworth name back to life for a while now with the intention of starting something next year and working from there, however I was asked by Phil Bartlett last week to put together a team to fill a gap in Weymouth's fixture list. It was not viable to put together a Team Viking squad due to August being a busy period in Scandinavia so I decided to start the Tamworth project a year early,” Lapworth commented.

The Wildcats line-up remains unchanged with the Saxon visitors comprising of new British Under 18 Champion Brendan Johnson, a former Wildcat together with another former Wildcat who has just this week lost his team place at Bournemouth Karl Mason. Micky Dyer and Jake Anderson come in from Dudley, with the Isle of Wight’s number eight Danny Hodgson skippering the side and Wildcats number eight Luke Wiltshire also included. Completing the side is Australian Tom Armstrong who has just arrived in the UK.

Lapworth said, “The Tamworth side of the 50's were known as the ‘Hounds’ and later the ‘Tammies’ but we wanted something to relate to Tamworth history. Our original intention was to call them the ‘Mercians’ as Tamworth was the ancient capital of the Saxon kingdom of Mercia but unless you are a history buff most people would scratch their heads at that one so we have decided on the Saxons.”

Two away fixtures for the Wildcats in the next week take in Newport this Sunday at 2.30pm in the National League and the Wildcats opening Trophy home and away fixtures against Plymouth next Friday at 7.30pm with the Wildcats home fixture changing to Saturday 21st August against Plymouth at 7.15pm.

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Adam McKinna, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

TAMWORTH SAXONS
1. Micky Dyer, 2. Karl Mason, 3. Brendan Johnson, 4. Tom Armstrong, 5. Jake Anderson, 6. Danny Hodgson (C), 7. Luke Wiltshire, Team manager: Colin Mackey

REFEREE: Dave Robinson
 

WILDCATS OFF THE FOOT OF THE LEAGUE TABLE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 7th August 2010
WILDCATS 49 KING’S LYNN 41 (National League)
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats stepped up a place in the National league table on Friday evening when King’s Lynn Young Stars found themselves on the wrong end of a Wildcats 49-41 win at the Wessex Stadium in a last heat thriller.

Young Stars Simon Lambert showed his class from the opening heat on his way to 16 point return from 6 rides by tearing around the inside of the Wildcats pair on turns 3 and 4. Adam McKinna slotted in for second with Jake Knight nipping in for third after Byron Bekker fell on the second lap second bend. Heat 2 saw Richard Andrews slide off his machine with Luke Chessell unable to avoid him on the first turn, a lengthy delay followed while the medics attended to Andrews. The re-run heat was won by Young Stars Lewis Kerr with team partner Chris Widman backing up his team mate with Chessell in third giving a 3-9 advantage to the visitors.

Two 5-1 heat advantages for the Wildcats put them into the lead firstly with Gary Cottham and Tom Brown after Scott Campos was disqualified for touching the tapes and replaced by Kerr. James Cockle and Chessell to put the Wildcats 13-11 up in the re-run heat 4 with both Wildcats passing Adam Lowe who fell on the second turn later in the race. Lambert took his second win in heat 5 with Cottham and Brown packing in to share the points after Brown briefly led the race. Another 5-1 for the Wildcats came in heat 6 for Bekker and McKinna with the heat being awarded following Kerr’s fall on the first turn of the last lap.

Two more shared heats followed with Cockle pegging back Knight and Campos in heat 7 while Lambert shone again in heat 8 taking McKinna on the inside with Chessell in third. The Wildcats still held onto their 6 point advantage until Lowe and Kerr took a heat advantage with Brown sandwiched between them in heat 9. Bekker and McKinna hit back in heat 10 with a 5-1 in the re-run heat after movement at the tapes over Knight who made the start forcing the Wildcats pair to work hard for their points putting the Wildcats 8 points up 34-26. Lambert went on for win number 4 in heat 11 with Cockle splitting the visitors pairing. Brown headed Kerr and Campos to share the points in heat 12 with the Wildcats 6 up 39-33.

Cockle split the visitors pairing in heat 13 with Lambert taking his fifth and final win of the evening after Bekker fell on fourth lap second bend while in a points scoring position, the Young Stars narrowing the gap to just 4 points with two heats remaining. Heat 14 was shared with Cottham taking the win on board Andrews’s bike ahead of Knight and Widman with Chessell taking the 15 metre handicap after touching the tapes.

The pressure was on for the Wildcats to gain a maximum heat advantage to move above the visitors in the league table in the last heat of the evening. Lambert unbeaten to this point was the clear favourite for the win, his only mistake of the meeting came on the second turn which allowed the hard charging Wildcats pairing of Cockle and McKinna to cut through on the inside of the second bend holding on for the duration giving the Wildcats supporters something to really cheer about, 5-1 heat advantage, 3 league points and a step above their visitors in the league table with a 49-41 win.

During the meeting McKinna said “I think I’ve done ok, obviously getting back into racing after being on the sidelines for so long is not easy so I can’t complain too much about how I’ve done, but I can only get better. I haven’t had any problem with my neck, I had a crash with Byron which I landed on my head so I’m pretty sure my necks alright now, I still get a bit of pain in my knee from where I damaged my ligaments, I think they will just take time but it’s nothing that’s going to stop me racing.”

Brown said after the meeting “If the top four get going we could win a lot more, but things keep happening at the wrong time, Byron had a couple of falls, I think it’s just an injury prone side at the moment, but tonight really feels good, well done to the boys for getting a 5-1 to claim all 3 points. I’ve changed my engine now and I feel it’s going really good now.”

After the meeting McKinna said “I knew that we had to get the 5-1 in heat 15 and obviously no one had got near Simon all night, he just made that one mistake which was enough for me and James to get by for the 5-1 which is all that matters in the end.”

“Another last heat decider, fantastic racing and good entertainment for the crowd it’s nice to get off the bottom of the table. Quite clearly we needed to get that, and the 5-1 in heat 15 made it hugely entertaining for the fans to go home extremely happy,” commented Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett after the meeting.

Bekker and Cockle team up at Newport Speedway this afternoon at 2.30pm representing the Wildcats in the National League Best pairs competition.
 

WILDCATS AIM TO LEAP FROG YOUNG STARS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 4th August 2010
WEYMOUTH Weyline Wildcats look to climb another place in the National league table on Friday evening when they tackle the King’s Lynn Young Stars who are one point and one place above them. The League table has been shuffled around due to the withdrawal of Mildenhall Fen Tigers whose results have been expunged from the records.

Wildcats pushed the Young Stars to 47-43 earlier this season in the away fixture at Saddlebow Road before the addition to the team of Luke Chessell and Adam McKinna. McKinna is aiming to impress his bosses at parent club Newcastle with the aim of recapturing his Premier league spot after regaining fitness from a broken neck.

Due to the news that Mildenhall Speedway has been officially withdrawn from the National league there are now two changes to the Wildcats fixtures, next week an International Select side is the opposition due to be made up of young Australian, and European riders from Sweden and Denmark which is being put together by Kelvin Lapworth who also runs the Team Viking set up, full details will be announced shortly. The other change is Friday 10th September when the visitors will now be Bristol Bulldogs who are planning a re-launch with a new track in the Bristol area.

Simon Lambert heads the Young Stars on Friday, but team manager Dale Allitt has been forced into several changes due to their parent team the Stars racing at Edinburgh the same night. Darren Mallett and Cal McDade will be making the trip north while rider replacement is used to cover for Mallett and jake Knight moves up from reserve to cover for McDade. Chris Widman receives a recall to fill the number seven slot partnering Lewis Kerr at reserve. Completing the line up is Scott Campos and Adam Lowe for the Young Stars.

The Wildcats remain unchanged after last week’s win over south coast rivals Isle of Wight and a week off from track action. Wildcats chairman and team manager Phil Bartlett said “Due to Mildenhall withdrawing from the league this week, we decided to keep the continuity of fixtures and the boys warmed up by filling the vacant fixtures. I would like to thank Kelvin Lapworth for taking on the International Select side for next week’s opposition and also to Bristol Bulldogs for taking the September fixture which now fills both the blank dates in the list.”

Following Friday night's encounter Byron Bekker and James Cockle represent the Wildcats in the National League Best Pairs event which is being held at Newport Speedway on Saturday 7th August with a 2.30pm start time.

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. Byron Bekker, 2. Adam McKinna, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Gary Cottham, 5. James Cockle, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Luke Chessell, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

KING’S LYNN YOUNG STARS
1. Simon Lambert (C), 2. Rider Replacement for Darren Mallett, 3. Scott Campos, 4. Jake Knight, 5. Adam Lowe, 6. Lewis Kerr, 7. Chris Widman, Team manager: Dale Allitt

REFEREE: Chris Gay
 

WILDCATS VIKINGS DATE CHANGE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 30th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats final 2010 track action at the Wessex Stadium as a team  was due to take place tomorrow [Friday 1st] with adverse weather conditions forecast it has been decided to postpone the fixture for 24 hours and restage at 7.15pm on Saturday 2nd October, weather permitting.

The International challenge against the Team Viking side is slotted into the Wildcats off race night with the Vikings due to return home shortly and they would be unable to ride the following week. Please keep a check on the weather update page on the clubs official website during the day for updates.

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00. All the Wildcats will be present at the event and there is now scheduled a Training Session from midday until 4.00pm the same day for those wanting to make a complete day out.
 

WILDCATS FINAL HOME TEAM FIXTURE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 29th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats final 2010 track action at the Wessex Stadium as a team is an International challenge on Friday [1st October] against the strong Team Viking side, normal start time 7.15pm. With current Chairman of the Wildcats Phil Bartlett stepping down from running the club at the end of the season fears have been mounting about the clubs future once the 2010 season is over as there has been no firm positive news regarding the prospective new owners of the club although three offers are on the table for Bartlett to consider.

The opening fixture this year at the Wessex Stadium was a defeat against Team Viking 43-47, only two of the current Viking’s side remain from earlier this year Briton Lee Geary scoring 2+1 and Robin Bergqvist from Sweden who scored 9 points last April. Geary raced in this year’s Belgian Golden Helmet scoring 6 points and Bergqvist posted an 11 point average in the 2009 Swedish first division, this year he rides for Vastervik and has none other than the new 2010 World Champion Tomasz Gollob as his team mate.

From Denmark in comes Thomas Jorgensen who has Premier League clubs chasing his signature for 2011, alongside him is countryman Jonas B Andersen, Claes Nedermark and Patrick Tarp all under 21 years of age. Jonas Messing from Sweden is a bright prospect under the wing and coached from none other than Grand Prix star Greg Hancock.

Wildcats remain unchanged for their final team fixture at the Wessex Stadium, next Friday a Training Session will operate with full details carried on the clubs official website, the session starts at 7.00pm until 9.30pm. There is just one more fixture booked at the Wessex Stadium which is and Individual event on Friday 15th October, the full details and line up will be announced shortly.

Should this Friday’s fixture fall foul of the weather as the Vikings team will be going back home shortly and unable to ride the following week there will be a 24 hour postponement until Saturday 2nd October at the normal start time of 7.15pm. Please keep a check on the weather update page on the clubs official website during the day for updates.

Wildcats skipper Tom Brown said “It’s a similar side to the start of the year when we lost by four points, it should be a good meeting and we should be able to beat them this time.” Reflecting on the prospective sale of the club and next year’s plans Brown continued “There have been rumours’ around for a while now regarding who’s taking the club over, it’s not really going to affect me as I have decided to take a year out with our baby due in January and concentrate on a family life. My leg is also playing up so I don’t know if I will come back, I’m definitely having a year off 100%.”

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00. All the Wildcats will be present at the event and there is now scheduled a Training Session from midday until 4.00pm the same day for those wanting to make a complete day out.

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Gary Cottham, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam Mckinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Brendan Johnson, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

TEAM VIKING
1. Thomas Jorgensen (DK), 2. Jonas Messing (SW), 3. Robin Bergqvist (C) (SW), 4. Jonas B Andersen (DK), 5. Claes Nedermark (DK), 6. Lee Geary (GB), 7. Patrick Tarp (DK), Team manager: Kelvin Lapworth

REFEREE: Mick Posselwhite
 

WILDCATS FINAL HOME TROPHY FIXTURE DISASTER
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 25th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats slumped to home defeat in their final National League Trophy fixture against a makeshift Newport Hornets side 34-60 at the Wessex Stadium last night.

Another torrid evening for the Wildcats started in the first heat with ex Cat Lee Smart standing in for Todd Curtz taking the win from James Cockle and another ex Cat Luke Priest for a heat advantage. This was followed in heat two by a Hornet’s 5-1 from guests Richie Worrall and Aaron Baseby. Tom Brown gave the Cats supporters a win in heat 3 with team mate Karl Mason third split by another Hornets guest Ashley Birks.

Two more 5-1’s for the visitors in heats 4 and 5 with the impressive pair of Worrall and ex Cat Kyle Newman followed by Smart and Priest to put the Hornets 9-21 in front. A tactical ride for James Cockle in heat 6 produced a second place behind Newman with Baseby third to share the points. The second of only three heat advantages in heat 7 with McKinna gaining double points in a tactical ride second place with Brendan Johnson third behind Birks with the Cats now 10 points down.

Another 5-1 from Worrall and Priest in heat 8 over Cottham in third was followed by a share of the points in heat 9; Newman took the win from Brown and Mason. The final heat advantage of the night for the Wildcats in heat 10 which was re-run three times; Cottham taking the flag ahead of Newman with Cockle in third after Birks was disqualified following a second turn fall which saw a 26-38 scoreline.

The Hornets wound onto another gear in the final five heats taking three 5-1’s the first in heat 11, Smart and Priest ahead of Andrews. Brown split winner Birks and Baseby in heat 12 before Newman and Smart combine for a 5-1 over Cockle in heat 13. A shared heat 14 with Birks taking the flag from Mason and Andrews before Newman and Smart combined again for a last heat 5-1 with Cottham third to give the Hornets an outstanding 34-60 victory at the Wessex Stadium.

Wildcats chairman said after the meeting “Newport booked some guests who came good for them, we were not at the races tonight, I don’t know what went wrong with the Wildcats tonight, I can’t wait for the last meeting and shut the doors so that someone else can take things over.”

Next track action for the Wildcats is a challenge on Friday 1st October against the visiting Team Viking side, normal start time 7.15pm at the Wessex Stadium.

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00.
 

WILDCATS FINAL HOME TROPHY FIXTURE AFTER A HEATHENS HAMMERING
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 24th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats stage their final National League Trophy fixture of the season tonight [Friday 24th] at the Wessex Stadium against high flying Newport Hornets who have like the Wildcats been besieged by injuries to their team.

On Wednesday evening the Wildcats went down 65-27 against top of the table Dudley Heathens boasting an impressive young line up mixed with Premier League experience. The Heathens roared away to race victories in every heat with just a single last place to their scorecard.

Heathens started by roaring off to two 5-1 maximum heat wins followed by a heat advantage where Tom Brown led the race initially before Tom Perry passed him. The first and only 3-3 of the night in heat 4 where Wildcats, Adam McKinna and Brendan Johnson packed in the minor places. A tactical ride for James Cockle failed to make any impression for the Wildcats with another 5-1 followed by a heat advantage to put the Heathens 26-10 up.

Last throw of the dice for the Wildcats as far as tactics were concerned with Brown out as a tactical ride in heat 7 where he grabbed second spot passing Ashley Morris. Three more successive 5-1’s for the home side with the Heathens now leading 45-17. Cockle had a good tussle in heat 11 but was only able to split the Heathens pairing, before Brown followed suit in heat 12.

Cockle again in heat 13 split the Heathens but Smart was well away at the front. Mason held on to second spot in the penultimate heat. Smart fittingly won the last heat of the evening after a stunning inside pass on turns three and four last lap of early leader Cockle to give a final result of 65-27 to the Heathens.

There is only one Trophy fixture remaining for the Wildcats after tonight’s encounter which is an away trip to South Wales which still has to be confirmed. Next Friday’s fixture is a challenge against an International ‘Team Viking’ select squad.

Lending a hand in the pits at Birmingham was injured Wildcat Byron Bekker who said “The injury isn’t too bad now, I’m still getting a little bit of pain, I’ve got to go back to the hospital on Friday 1st October for a check up to see if it’s healed if not there going to pin it. I really wanna ride now, the doctor said originally three months if the collarbone is pinned but I hope it’s a lot shorter than that.”

When asked about any plans for next year Bekker continued “I’m going back to South Africa in December to lay in the sun and get refreshed, I haven’t really thought about next year, I’m just taking every year as it comes and have to get the shoulder back ready and see what happens. It’s frustrating as I want to ride but whether I could of made any difference or not doesn’t matter as riding my bike is all I want to do and try and help out as much as I can.”

Onto tonight’s fixture which see’s a decimated Newport Hornets side travel to the South Coast after losing the majority of their side in recent weeks to injury. Hornets have called on the services of former Wildcat and current Dudley Heathens star Lee Smart who romped through the scorecard on Wednesday unbeaten in five rides. Smart steps in for Todd Kurtz who is unavailable tonight, with Newport’s senior side the Wasps requiring Kurtz’s services in a Premier League fixture. The only other two confirmed starters for the Hornets are Luke Priest and Kyle Newman, with the rider replacement rule being operated for the injured Tony Atkin. Guests and replacement riders will fill the remaining blank spaces in the team line up.

The Wildcats track the same team that lost to Dudley mid week with Gary Cottham moving to the number two position and a welcome return to Wildcats colours for the current British Under 18 Champion Brendan Johnson slotting in at number seven after losing his place at the Isle of Wight through injury recently.

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations will be on sale from the Bar at the track tonight, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00.

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Gary Cottham, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam McKinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Brendan Johnson, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

NEWPORT HORNETS
1. Lee Smart (guest), 2. Luke Priest, 3. TBC, 4. Rider Replacement for Tony Atkin, 5. Kyle Newman, 6. TBC, 7. TBC, Team manager: Kevin Brown

REFEREE: Ronnie Allan
 

UNDER 18 CHAMP RETURNS TO WILDCATS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Monday 20th September 2010
Wildcats outgoing chairman has secured the services of current British under 18 Champion Brendan Johnson for the remainder of the season. Johnson who lost his place through injury at the Isle of Wight comes in following injury to Dan Halsey who is sidelined for the rest of the season.

Johnson last rode for the Wildcats back in 2008 helping the South Coast side to honours that year. Last year life threatening injuries were suffered by the Poole based youngster but he showed the World just what he is made of in July this year when Johnson bounced back to form and won the British Under 18 Championship held at Somerset.

The inclusion of Johnson who has seen his average dip this year means he will slot in at reserve with Gary Cottham moving up to the number two race jacket vacated by the injured Halsey.

Wednesday evening the Wildcats travel to Birmingham’s Perry Barr stadium to take on the Dudley Heathens in their final League fixture of the year. The Heathens in their debut year are gunning for a big win to try and capture the top position in the league. Newport currently sit top of the pile, but three points against the Wildcats would put the Heathens on top, Buxton could overhaul them on points difference if they too have a big win away at King’s Lynn and the Heathens fail to gain three points.

With the Wildcats facing up to being foot of the table this year they could be the spoilers for the Heathens if they can keep the home side in check, although they have little or no experience of the Midlands circuit.

Heathens are lead by former Wildcat Lee Smart boasting over a nine point average this term, backing him up are Aussies Micky Dyer and Jake Anderson, the ever improving Tom Perry. The reserves are Ashley Morris and Richard Franklin with the team being completed by Barrie Evans who started off with Mildenhall at the beginning of the year before replacing another former Wildcat Jon Armstrong who again was sidelined with injury.

Next up for the Wildcats is the final home Trophy meeting against Newport Hornets this Friday [24th] evening with a further trip to South Wales still to be confirmed.

MEETING DETAILS:

DUDLEY HEATHENS
1. Lee Smart, 2. Micky Dyer, 3. Tom Perry, 4. Jake Anderson, 5. Barrie Evans, 6. Ashley Morris, 7. Richard Franklin, Team manager: Will Pottinger

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Gary Cottham, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam McKinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Brendan Johnson, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

REFEREE: Margaret Vardy
 

NO RUNNING FROM THE DEVILS FOR COTTHAM
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 19th September 2010
Wildcats were off to a flying start in the first heat with home favourite Glanz being beaten into third place behind Wildcats pair Gary Cottham and James Cockle. Heat two saw a terrifying crash which rules out Devils reserve Ben Reade for the rest of the meeting after his machine picked up speed and became airbourne exiting the second turn. Rider and machine were tangled in the second bend fencing with a long delay for repairs to the fence and for Reade to be checked over by the medical team. In the re-run heat Wildcats capitalised with a second 5-1, Cottham again tearing away with Richard Andrews cutting inside Bob Charles to grab second spot.

Home star Seemond Stephens showed the way in the re-run of heat 3 following Tom Brown's disqualification after sliding off on the second turn, Karl Mason managed to split the Devils with Matt Bates back in third. Another re-run in heat 4 after Bob Charles fell second turn, third lap which lone Devils veteran Simmonds won with no mistake over Cottham and McKinna with the scores at 9-15. Cockle forced his way past Bates in heat 5 splitting the Devils of Stephens and Bates.

Devils forced a 5-1 to level the scores at 18-18 with Glanz and Pickard over McKinna who started with a 15 meter handicap after failing to make the two minute time allowance, Cottham slipped from second to fourth. A heat 7 advantage for the Devils saw them take the lead for the first time Simmonds taking the flag from Mason and Charles after Brown fell and remounted to finish last. Heat 8 was shared with Pickard taking the win from Cottham who lead for the first lap with Mason third. Devils then edged out a four point cushion with McKinna splitting Stephens and Bates in heat 9. Glanz and Pickard combined for another 5-1 in heat 10 putting the Devils 34-26 in the lead.

Simmonds took the lead from early leader Cockle on turn three of the first lap to share the points in heat 11 with Cottham third for the Wildcats keeping an eight point advantage for the Devils. The Wildcats hit back in heat 12 taking a heat advantage with former Devil Brown winning from Bates with Andrews tucking in for third which narrowed the gap to a Devils six point lead. Glanz and Simmonds put the Devils into a ten point lead in heat 13 over the Wildcats 44-34. Team manager and outgoing Wildcats chairman brought in Cottham as a tactical ride for double points, in heat 14. Cottham touched the tapes and had to start from 15 metres back in the re-run heat. Stephens was away at the front but Mason tucked in for second for the Wildcats allowing Cottham to come through to second cutting the Devils lead.

Drama in the last heat the Wildcats needed a heat advantage to secure a league point for their troubles. Pickard fell and didn't remove himself from turn one, Mick Bates the referee put the red lights on as the remaining three riders continued their first lap, Cockle and Glanz slowed up in time, but Brown was unsighted and laid his bike down which clattered into Pickards machine. Pickard the Devils man of the match moved very quickly at this stage to avoid being hit himself. In the re-run Glanz took the lead until Cockle forced his way past into first place followed by Brown a lap later after Glanz made a mistake. The Wildcats grabbed a last heat 5-1 giving a final score from the St. Boniface Arena 48-44.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said after the meeting "We started off well with a couple of 5-1's, it was a hard fought meeting all the way, a 48-44 result was a good result on the road with a league point for our troubles." Wildcats covered for Dan Halsey with rider replacement following his crash on Friday night at the Wessex Stadium, Barlett continued "The latest news on Dan is that he has two squashed vertebrae and fractured the L2 vertebrae in his lower back which sadly finishes his season, he has been a great addition to the team and we would all like to wish him a speedy recovery."

Wildcats number one James Cockle said "Heat 15 was good, we have the last couple of meetings coming up and I hope we don't have to rely on heat 15, we started the meeting blinding today, I'm always determined when I come here, it's one of those tracks that you gotta beat, their boys they are good around here, it's a lot smoother and you can ride hard round here now, just a pity there's no dirt. It's a bit hard doing it in heat 15 all the time, but you’re a hero when you do it."
 

CATS DEVILS TASK
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 18th September 2010
Rider replacement will be operated by the Wildcats tonight at the St. Boniface Arena to cover for the injured Dan Halsey where they tackle bottom placed Plymouth Devils in National league Trophy action at 7.30pm.

This is the Devils last Trophy meeting of the season with the Wildcats still having home and away fixtures against Newport to come. The Wildcats put in a much improved and solid display against the second placed Islanders last night at the Wessex Stadium and will be looking for more of the same to cheer on the Wildcats injured list.

MEETING DETAILS:

PLYMOUTH DEVILS
1. Nicki Glanz, 2. Jaimie Pickard, 3. Matt Bates, 4. Seemond Stephens, 5. Mark Simmonds, 6. TBC, 7. Ben Reade, Team manager: Gary Spiller

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1.  James Cockle, 2. Rider Replacement for Dan Halsey, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam McKinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett
 

WILDCATS WIN DAMPENED BY FURTHER INJURY
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 17th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats completed their fourth home win against the Isle of Wight Islanders this season at the Wessex Stadium last night in a fixture that was curtailed after the first running of heat 15 which saw Wildcat Dan Halsey crash into the first turn safety fence before being taken to hospital.

Halsey and Cockle got the home side off on winning ways with a first heat 5-1 over Starke and Felton. Resch took the flag in heat two with Hill third and Cottham splitting the pair for the Wildcats. A shared heat 3 followed with Mason taking the flag ahead of former Cats Smethills and Warwick after a great tussle for first early on. McKinna and Cottham chalked up a heat advantage with Simmons battling hard to split the Cats pair in heat 4.

Starke and Felton hit back hard with a 5-1 in heat 5 over Brown and Mason to level the scores 15-15. The Wildcats regained the lead in heat 6 thanks to Cockle storming through the field and Halsey banging in their second 5-1 of the evening over Resch and Simmons.

A heat advantage for Smethills and Warwick split by McKinna who forced his way past Warwick left the Cats with a slender 2 point lead after heat 7. Their lead was extended to 6 points when the unbeaten by an opponent Halsey combined with Cottham for a 5-1 over Resch and Felton in heat 8. A further heat advantage in heat 9 from Brown and Mason for the Wildcats, Simmons was never far from the back wheel of Brown who made the start in both runs of the heat, Hill fell on the second bend first lap forcing a re-run. The Cats were now holding an 8 point advantage, 34-26.

Two shared heats followed, heat 10 Warwick showing the form when he wore the Wildcats race jacket inflicting the first defeat on Halsey by an opponent after an early wheel to wheel challenge with Cockle in third. McKinna kept Starke and Felton at bay in heat 11 with the scores standing at 37-29.

A killer 5-1 from Brown and Cottham came in heat 12 over Resch with Warwick retiring from the heat giving the South Coast side a 12 point lead. Islander team managers Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd sent Starke out in the black and white helmet for double points in a tactical ride in heat 13. A very tight tussle for first between Cockle and Starke who came home second ahead of Simmons but behind Cockle leaving 10 points between the sides. Smethills and Resch combined for a heat 14 advantage while Mason took second spot, the difference down to 8 points.

The last heat of the night was stopped by referee Graham Reeve after an unsatisfactory start and first bend fall which saw Halsey clatter into the fence heavily. After a lengthy delay Halsey took a trip to hospital in the track ambulance which meant there was no alternative but to call the meeting at 47-39 with only ten minutes to curfew time remaining, not enough for a replacement ambulance to arrive trackside.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said after the meeting “The lads put on a good show tonight, it’s a shame for Dan, he’s a nice kid, one of the real nice guys in Speedway, and we don’t know the extent of his injury to his back at the moment. It just about sums our season up. I’ve had enough, it’s time for me to go, we’ve been plagued by injuries and it’s getting tiring. I certainly want to spend my time with my partner Samantha and the family away from the sport and concentrate on my businesses.”

After announcing earlier in the day that the club was up for sale Bartlett explained “It’s too much time travelling, all the paperwork behind the scenes, the catering, bar, time trying to find replacement riders because of injuries, the list goes on, these is so much to do. I’ve not enjoyed it this season because of all the injuries and other issues which has left a bitter taste. We’ve had some highs and lows, it’s time now to go and do something else.”

After announcing his intentions to the supporters prior to the start of the meeting Bartlett added “To be cheered by supporters on the back straight when I announced the club was up for sale it left a bit of sickness in my stomach, after all the hard work and effort for the club that I and everyone else does for the club, not just me but what everyone else puts into the club, they are quite happy to see their club in this situation. It’s sole destroying when you put in so much work behind the scenes. I’m sure there is someone out there who wants to take on the club and take on the successes that we have built with the full planning and the costs involved and move the club forward, there is plenty of time for a lot more racing to go on here.
 

BARTLETT: WILDCATS FOR SALE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 17th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett today has confirmed that he wishes to step down as chairman of the Wildcats, from today [Friday 17th September] Weymouth Speedway is for sale.

Anyone interested in purchasing the club can contact Bartlett on his mobile number and obviously the club will be sold for the best offer that comes forward and also for the best interests of the club to move forward and keep operating in the future.

Bartlet said “I feel it’s time that I need to take this move to concentrate more on my business’s and my personal life and quite clearly after running the club for six years it’s time to move forward and let someone else take the successes forward. We had fantastic success in 2008 in the season when we won the league and the fours, we tried to do that in 2009 but we came runners up to the team that won with half of our team from the previous season.”

“This year we have suffered with injuries all the way through with rider unavailability it’s proved to be very difficult to find replacements for riders when injured and we’ve been glad of the successes on track. Therefore I made the decision this morning, a decision that hasn’t been taken lightly but has been ongoing for some months. I have had a couple of offers of people that have come forward, one was to take on a partnership and form a consortium to help me but it’s not the way forward after running the club on my own. Another offer has come in but nothing has been firmed up he wanted to make moves forward but nothing more has been forthcoming so therefore I have decided to put the club up for sale and stand down as chairman. Hopefully the club will continue forward and have more of the success that we have enjoyed, bringing it back to winning ways and winning the league in 2011.”

To conclude Bartlett added “I would also like to thank all the staff who have worked at the track over the years for giving up their valuable time and also to all the riders who have ridden for the Wildcats, thank you all.”
 

ISLANDERS HEAD ON WITH WILDCATS
by Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 17th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats start off the first of four meetings in a busy week with Trophy action against the Isle of Wight Islanders tonight [Friday 17th] at the Wessex Stadium before two away trips this week.

Seven previous fixtures have been split with each side winning on home shale this season. The Islanders recently lost the services of Ben Hopwood to injury with Paul Starke replacing him in the line up. More recently British Under 18 Champion Brendan Johnson was forced onto the sidelines with a knee injury being replaced by John Resch. Nick Simmons, experienced Dean Felton, Tom Hill, and former Wildcats Lee Smethills and Danny Warwick complete the Islanders line up.

No changes for the Wildcats who will be looking to build on last week’s draw against Bristol Bulldogs with points up for grabs over the next seven days. Wildcats shale action continues tomorrow [Saturday 18th] with a trip to the West Country to face Plymouth Devils in a Trophy fixture before the haul to Birmingham’s Perry Barr Stadium in their last League fixture against Dudley Heathens. The week finishes back at the Wessex Stadium next Friday against Newport Hornets in the Wildcats last home Trophy fixture.

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations will be on sale from the Bar at the track tonight, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00.

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Daniel Halsey, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam McKinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

ISLE OF WIGHT ISLANDERS
1. Paul Starke, 2. Dean Felton, 3. Danny Warwick, 4. Lee Smethills, 5. Nick Simmons (C), 6. John Resch, 7. Tom Hill, Team manager: Chris Hunt & Kevin Shepherd

REFEREE: Graham Reeve
 

BULLDOGS PAIR TURN ON THE STYLE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 11th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats fought hard last night against a team representing Bristol Bulldogs to force a draw in the last heat of the night. Top Dogs were former Bulldog’s legends son Jay Herne who returned from serious back injury unbeaten with a 12 point maximum and King’s Lynn Young Star’s Simon Lambert with 17 out of 18 at the Wessex Stadium.

Lambert started off with the fastest time of the night in heat 1 for the Bulldogs, Wildcats packed in for the minor positions. Cottham won the reserves race in heat 2 from Hazelden and Lawrence then it was time for the race everyone wanted to see, the return to shale action of Herne after a near 6 month layoff. Herne didn’t disappoint, electric from the start leaving the Wildcats for dead in the minor places with Armstrong losing a chain early on.

Deadlock was broken between the sides in heat 4 with McKinna and Cottham taking maximum points as Hazelden held on for third place replacing Nick Simmons who was a non starter for the meeting. Lambert took his second win in heat 5 untroubled by his opponents in a re-run heat after Baseby moved at the start. Hazelden was a faller on the third lap in heat 6 which referee Paul Carrington awarded in the Wildcats favour, Cockle with the win from Halsey to stretch their lead to 6 points.

Bulldogs Aussies hit back with Herne taking his second win in heat 7 with Armstrong partnering his teammate for second closing the gap to 22-20. Cottham caught the tapes in heat 8 and started on the handicap while Cats partner Halsey took the win, Lawrence was a faller third lap leaving Baseby to split the Cats.  Lambert was in as a rider replacement in heat 9 and again was untroubled out front, Cats pair of Mason and Brown in the minor places with the scores at 29-23.

Herne and Armstrong combined again for a 5-1 in heat 10 to level the scores before Lambert put the Bulldogs ahead in heat 11 with partner Baseby in third behind McKinna. Herne was at the front again in heat 12 with Hazelden tucked in behind to push the Bulldogs 6 points up 33-39, Andrews picking up third after Brown fell third bend fourth lap.

McKinna was the only rider to lower Lamberts colours in heat 13, Armstrong dropped to the back after a fast start while Lambert just grabbed second after a last bend pass of Cockle. A heat 14 maximum for the Cats from Mason and Cottham levelled the scores to force a last heat decider. Armstrong forgot to turn his fuel on and dropped to the back after a fast start while Hazelden picked up third.

Lambert finished off in style with the win to secure a draw for the Bulldogs with McKinna and Halsey settled in the minor positions giving a meeting result of 45-45. Armstrong spun around 360 degrees second turn second lap from second place staying aboard his bike with the cats pair narrowly missing the spinning rider.

A very happy Herne said after the meeting “It was very nerve racking, I wasn’t too bad until I had a practice here last Friday and I didn’t feel very good at all on the bike, I don’t know if it was just me or the track being a bit rough. I had a practice yesterday at Rye House which got my confidence back up. Once my first ride was out of the way it made me a lot calmer making the start off gate 1, riding at 3 was a big help. I was that nervous I couldn’t hang on, I thought I had arm and leg pump, I was tired and so nervous but once I got going I wasn’t too bad it was alright.”

Talking about next Year Herne said “Basically I have to get race fit and stay injury free over the winter. Last January I had the knee injury that took me out for a while and then my back which is nearly six months now. I wanted to do a few meetings at the end of the season to get my face in the shop window for next year instead of just having a season out and no one thinking of me. Having a meeting like this, scoring 12 points could put me in the shop window for a team spot in the Premier League and the National League if anyone wants me next year.”

During the winter Herne returns back to Australia where he said “I don’t really need a rest as I’ve been resting for six months! I’ll be working hard, training, ride MX and have a good winter riding and practicing, see the family and get race fit for next year.”

Chairman of the Wildcats Phil Bartlett said after the meeting “An excellent meeting for a challenge, we couldn’t have wished for a better meeting. Fantastic for Jay Herne to come back and score a max after injury, I’ve always rated him since I brought him here in 2007, absolutely brilliant and I wish him all the luck for the future, he should get a team place somewhere after tonight’s score. The Wildcats battled hard, Adam and Dan stood out tonight for us, Karl and Gary put in a strong showing but a draw was a fair result tonight. Those fans that stayed at home because of the overcast weather missed a good meeting.”
 

WILDCATS FACE BULLDOGS WITH LEGENDS SON LEADING THE WAY
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Thursday 9th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats last home win was three weeks ago and in-between time they have slumped to three defeats, tonight [Friday 10th] 7.15pm they take a break from League and Trophy fixtures with a challenge against Bristol Bulldogs lead by Jay Herne who’s father Phil raced at the Eastville stadium in the late 70’s.

Herne has only recently returned to practice at Sittingbourne following medical clearance after a crash on 28th March at Newport Speedway where he broke several vertebrae sidelined him for the season. Herne joins Aaron Baseby, Shane Hazelden, Nick Lawrence, Aussie newcomer Tom Armstrong, Isle of Wight number one Nick Simmons and King’s Lynn top man Simon Lambert in the Bulldogs line up.

Prospective Bristol promoter Andy Hewlett is involved in ongoing negotiations with Bristol City Council revolving around a 35-acre site at Avonmouth where he hopes to bring the sport back to life.

The last time the Bulldogs rode at the Wessex Stadium was Saturday 7th June 2008 when the Wildcats won 54-38. Tonight [Friday 10th] only one Wildcat remains from that team two years ago, Karl Mason who scored 13 points, although James Cockle rode at number one for the Bulldogs that evening scoring 5 points.

The Wildcats remain unchanged, with Byron Bekker sidelined for the rest of the season James Cockle has moved to the number one position with Adam Mckinna slotting in at number 5. Chairman Phil Bartlett said “Andy has put together a competitive side for this fixture, we wish him the best of luck in his quest to revive the sport in Bristol who would be a welcome addition to the league, fingers crossed for the right outcome.”

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Daniel Halsey, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam McKinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

BRISTOL BULLDOGS
1. Simon Lambert, 2. Aaron Baseby, 3. Jay Herne, 4. Tom Armstrong, 5. Nick Simmons, 6. Shane Hazelden, 7. Nick Lawrence, Team manager: Glenn Cunningham & John Adams

REFEREE: Paul Carrington
 

HITMEN DENT WILDCATS TROPHY ASPIRATIONS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 4th September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats slumped to a fourth defeat against Buxton Hitmen last night at the Wessex Stadium last night 41-53. The Hitmen are tipped as title favourites this season and after last night’s showing at the South coast venue there is no reason to doubt this.

Craig Cook started his last meeting off with a win for the Hitmen pegging back Dan Halsey and James Cockle for the Wildcats. Four heat advantages followed for the Hitmen with Jason Garrity and Lewis Dallaway joined his partner on the second lap for a 5-1 advantage in heat 2. Karl Mason managed to split the Hitmen pair of Robert Branford and Jonathan Bethell in heat 3 with Gary Cottham doing likewise in heat 4 over Adam Allott and Garrity, which was re-run after Adam McKinna fell first turn second lap from third place, Garrity laid his machine down to avoid him. Cook was unstoppable again in heat 5 with the very impressive Branford for another 5-1 putting the Hitmen 12 points clear, 9-21 in another re-run heat following Brown’s fall on the third turn first lap.

Cockle donned the black and white helmet colour for double points in heat 6 but could do nothing about Allott, with Dan Halsey packing in for third this was the first Wildcats heat advantage of the evening. Bethell and Branford hit straight back with a 5-1 in heat 7 before Halsey took a tactical ride in heat 8. Again Allott grabbed the win but Cottham packed in for third for the second heat advantage for the home side to put the scores at 20-32 in a closely contested race.

Mason split Allott and Dallaway in heat 9, Brown again a faller on the third turn, while Branford split the Wildcats pair of Cockle and Halsey in heat 10. McKinna back in the Wildcats line up took the chequered flag in heat 11 inflicting Cooks first defeat of the evening with Dallaway in third after Andrews fell forcing another re-run.

Tom Brown had a great tussle with Bethell for four laps in heat 12 and with Cottham in third in what proved to be the last heat advantage for the Wildcats, again another re-run heat after Dallaway fell third turn second lap. Cook took the spoils in heat 13 from Cockle and Mckinna in a close battle for first place before Mason split Branford and Dallaway in heat 14. Cockle just headed home Cook and Allott in a very close final race to give a meeting result of 41-53.

After the meeting Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlet said “We had to re-declare the side with Adam in to replace Byron as a temporary measure until we are fully aware of how long Bryon will be out of action for. Adam was offered a team spot by another club and for more money but turned it down returning to us showing his loyalty to the club. It shows why they are top of the League and we’re almost bottom, the Aussies they have worked out well for them Garrity riding good although he didn’t have a good night tonight, they could of won by a lot more if he had been on form.

Tom is a real worry for us, by his high standards he isn’t at the races at the moment, we don’t know what it is but it is a real worry for a rider that has ridden well for the club in previous seasons as we have all seen to see his form dive so badly.”

Byron Bekker confirmed that his crash last week has been a real blow to the end of his season “They re-potted my had today at the hospital, it’s a real pot which has to stay on for four weeks and my collar bone has snapped and overlapped each other. When I go back in four weeks to have the pot off they are going to check the collarbone and if it hasn’t healed they will have to pin it which will be about three months before its ready.”
 

MCKINNA BACK FOR WILDCATS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 3rd September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats have brought back Adam McKinna into the team as a short term replacement for the injured Byron Bekker who was sidelined in last Friday night’s encounter with Newport, suffering a broken collarbone and knuckle. Mckinna makes his Wildcats home return tonight against the high flying Buxton Hitmen.

The Wildcats suffered double defeat last Sunday at Buxton and will be eager to put a good show on for their home supporters against one of the sides tipped for title success. This will also be the last opportunity for supporters to watch rising star Craig Cook before he moves full time into the Premier League with Workington next season. Currently Cookie is riding in both Leagues averaging 10.48 for Buxton and 6.89 for Workington.

Tonight’s National League Trophy action gets underway at 7.15pm at the Wessex Stadium.

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Daniel Halsey, 3. Tom Brown, 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam McKinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

BUXTON HITMEN
1. Craig Cook, 2. Rider Replacement for Nick Morris, 3. Jonathan Bethell, 4. Robert Branford, 5. Adam Allott (C), 6. Lewis Dallaway, 7. Jason Garrity, Team manager: Jack Lee

REFEREE: Ronnie Allan
 

WILDCATS SUNK AGAIN ON THE ISLAND
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 1st September 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats suffered a fourth defeat at Smallbrook on the Isle of Wight last night with a 50-43 defeat, although this was their best showing this season across the Solent.

Heat 1 saw the Wildcats storm away for a 5-1 from Adam McKinna stepping into the team covering for the injured Byron Bekker being backed up by Dan Halsey. The Islanders reserve pair hit back to level the scores in heat 2 with Tom Hill and Dean Felton over Richard Andrews who led until the middle of turn three and four where he locked up allowing the Islanders pair through and Gary Cottham who started from the 15 meter handicap following a tapes infringement.

Danny Warwick sped away for the home side for heat 3 victory, Tom Brown and Karl Mason packing in to share the points. James Cockle split the Islanders pair of Nick Simmons and Hill in heat 4 with the Islanders taking the advantage, Simmons taking Cockle around the outside of the second turn third lap for the win. Another shared heat in heat 5 Warwick again away at the front with McKinna and Halsey packing in the minor places.

Smethills and Starke combined for a 5-1 for the Islanders in heat 6 over Cockle giving them a 6 point advantage. Mason split Simmons and Felton in heat 7 which saw the Islanders move 8 points up 25-17. Halsey and Cottham after an electric gate hit back for the Wildcats in heat 8 with a 5-1 over Smethills to half the deficit and Cockle kept it even by taking the win in heat 9 over Warwick and Johnson.

The Islanders popped in a 5-1 in heat 10 with Starke and Felton after Smethils failed to beat the two minute time allowance, Brown fell on the first turn and was disqualified from the re-run heat while Mason fell on the last bend but remounted for the point.

Two shared heats followed Simmons over Halsey and Mckinna in heat 11 and Warwick over Cottham and Brown in heat 12 which was re-run following Felton’s disqualification after a first lap, third bend fall. Initially the Wildcats led the race on a 5-1 before Felton hit the deck. The Islanders went 12 points up thanks to a Simmons and Starke 5-1 in heat 13 with Cockle in third after McKinna clipped the second turn fence on the third lap and retired from the race.

Mason came out in black and white for a tactical ride in heat 14 storming away at the front with Cottham behind him and Felton in third to give the Wildcats a chance of a league point going into the last heat just 5 points down. The race was awarded following Johnsons fall on the third turn of the third lap while in third place. After medical treatment and a visit to hospital Johnson has medial compartments damage on his left knee and will be out of action for at least two weeks.

The Islanders did all they had to grabbing all the league points with Cockle splitting Simmons who worked his way from third to first and Warwick to give a meeting result 50-43 in this Trophy fixture.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said after the meeting “A hugely frustrating meeting by missing out on a league point, also Richard and Tom struggled for points tonight. Tom being excluded after a first bend fall, maybe that should of been called back and later on when we were on a 5-1 Dean Felton falling saw us get a 3-3 in the re-run. If we had had the rub of the green we would have had a league point tonight, it’s hugely frustrating and annoying.”

“Byron Bekker is due to visit the hospital on Friday for more x-rays following last Friday night’s crash where he broke his collarbone and knuckle. We should have a clearer picture of how long he will be out of the saddle. But Adam came in as a guest for him tonight and did very well, Dan had a good meeting and James was solid as ever. Karl also did well getting amongst the point’s tonight top scoring and making the black and white count for us and Gary also did well at reserve. We’ve got to win all our home meetings now and try and grab a point at Plymouth.”

The next challenge for the Wildcats is Friday evening at the Wessex Stadium with Buxton Hitmen the visitors, the fixture gets under way at 7.15pm.
 

COTTHAM WINS FAREWELL
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 23rd October 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats reserve Gary Cottham took the honours last night in the ‘Farewell Individual’ meeting at the Wessex Stadium overcoming the previously unbeaten James Cockle and pre-meeting favourite Jay Herne who bowed out with mechanical problems at the semi final stages.

With a field of twelve riders who had all ridden for the Wildcats previously, apart from Scott Meakins who took the place of his father Gordon who rode for the club in 2006 saw current Cat James Cockle go through the card to take him into the final. Strong challenges from Tom Brown, Karl Mason Gary Cottham, Jay Herne and Richard Andrews.

Mason took heat 1 with Clement in a solid second place. Cockle started his charge off in heat 2 ahead of eventual winner Cottham, while Herne ran away with heat 3 ahead of Brown and Johnson. Cockle made it two out of two in heat 4 cutting inside and blasting past Herne out of the second bend first lap. Brown pegged back finalist Andrews in heat 5 after both riders narrowly missed the stricken Wiltshire who slid off on the first turn but was able to remount and finish the race which was re-run after Bates fall on the third turn first lap.

Mason won heat 6 from Cottham and Johnson, and then Herne followed with his second win in heat 7 with Bates passing Johnson for second pressuring Herne all the way. Cockle with his third win in heat 8 looked in untouchable form. Cottham grabbed a win in heat 9 after Mason made a mistake allowing Brown through for second.

Wiltshire took the 15 meter handicap for a tapes infringement in heat 10 which White Williams went on to win after Wiltshire clattered in the home straight fence after exiting the fourth turn. The heat was awarded by meeting referee Mick Posselwhite and both riders received medical attention in the pits, White Williams looked to of aggravated a recent collarbone injury.

Johnson was a faller in heat 11 which was re-run and won by Bates with Clement second and Cottham third creeping around with a puncture after initially leading the race. The four main protagonists met in heat 14 the final qualifying heat with Cockle taking the flag ahead of Brown and Mason. Brown initially led the race with Mason second, Cockle fought his way through the field taking the lead out of the last corner.

The first semi final was won by Cockle keeping his unbeaten record intact and passage into the final followed by Cottham in second, pre meeting favourite Herne bowed out with engine problems. Mason took the flag ahead of Andrews in the second semi final while Brown bowed out with a fall on the last turn.

Mason was unlucky in the final taking a tumble on the last bend of the first lap forcing a re-run where Cottham stepped up ahead of Andrews and Cockle back in third for a tapes to tapes victory.

Outgoing Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said after the meeting “It was an interesting meeting and a shame for James after going through the card but for Gary winning the final individual meeting after I was criticised for signing him this year and it just proves we’ve done something right this year. It was also a shame for Tom in his final meeting not to get into the final.”

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00. All the Wildcats have been invited and there is a Training Session from midday until 4.00pm the same day for those wanting to make a complete day out.
 

HORNETS TRIP FOR WILDCATS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Saturday 23rd October 2010
Tomorrow afternoon the Wildcats bow out of team action at Queensway Meadows Newport, 2.30pm start time in the long overdue National Trophy fixture against the Hornets which remains outstanding. Former Mildenhall team boss John Adams steps in to team manage the Wildcats with Phil Bartlett unavailable.

NEWPORT HORNETS
1. Todd Kurtz, 2. Rider replacement for Tim Webster, 3. Luke Priest, 4. Tony Atkin (C), 5. Kyle Newman, 6. James White Williams, 7. Tom Young, Team manager: Kevin Brown

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Brendan Johnson, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Karl Mason, 5. Rider replacement for Adam McKinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: John Adams

REFEREE: Dave Watters
 

WILDCATS PAST AND PRESENT BATTLE IT OUT IN FINAL FIXTURE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 20th October 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats past and present battle it out in the ‘Farewell Individual’ meeting taking place at the Wessex Stadium on Friday night in what could be the final meeting to be held at the South Coast venue if no buyer comes forward.

The meeting is being run over 12 scoring heats with the top eight scorers going into two semi-finals with the top two from each moving into the final. Wildcats skipper Tom Brown makes his final Wessex Stadium appearance Friday evening before making his final club appearance prior to retiring from the sport  on Sunday afternoon [24th] 2.30pm at Newport in Wildcats final Trophy meeting.

After recent interest in taking the club over it has become quiet on this front which is worrying for South Coast speedway supporters who were left without a club from 1985 when the then promotion moved lock stock and barrel to Poole until the sport was revived at its present location in the summer of 2003.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said “I’ve had my time involved with Weymouth Speedway over the past few years and it’s now time for someone else to be involved and for me to move on and do something else. I’ve spent a huge amount of my life on the phone this year due to rider injuries trying to find replacements. Comments from certain so called fans haven’t been pleasant, it’s time for me to walk away from the club after Friday’s meeting with someone else coming in with their own ideas.”

Bartlett has decided to let the club go for £1 for any prospective purchases taking on the club liabilities, he continued; “I invite anyone to take over the club at a price of £1! Anyone wanting to take over the club from me within 24 hours can do so by contacting me on my mobile or by email phil.bartlett@btconnect.com , Also by signing a confidentiality agreement a prospective purchaser will then be able to have access to all the accounting procedures that are in place.”

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00. All the Wildcats have been invited and there is now a Training Session from midday until 4.00pm the same day for those wanting to make a complete day out.

MEETING DETAILS:

FAREWELL INDIVIDUAL
Friday 22nd October 2010

LINE UP
1. James White Williams, 2. Richard Andrews, 3. Karl Mason, 4. James Clement, 5. James Cockle, 6. Matt Bates, 7. Gary Cottham, 8. Rob Smith, 9. Jay Herne, 10. Tom Brown, 11. Brendan Johnson, 12. Scott Meakins

REFEREE: Mick Posselwhite
 

WILDCATS IN LAST HEAT THRILLER WITH AMERICANS
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 10th October 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats secured a final home win against the touring American Team last night at the Wessex Stadium in what could be the final team meeting to be held at the South Coast venue if no buyer comes forward.

Leading from the front for the Cats was James Cockle with 14 points backed up well with skipper Tom Brown 10+3 making his final home appearance before retiring from the sport with Karl Mason scoring 10 and reserve Gary Cottham 9. The visitors’ 51 year old Hollywood stuntman, former Swindon and Birmingham rider Shawn McConnell weighed in with 15 points while reserve Bryce Starks looked a good prospect for the USA side with 10+1. Another 51 year old Eddie Castro chipped in with 6+1 and Tyson Burmeister 6.

Heat one was shared 3-3 Cockle heading the visitors Burmesiter and John Marquez. Starks split the Wildcats reserves in heat 2 with Cottham taking the win while Richard Andrews was back in third gave the home side the advantage. Three 5-1’s followed; Mason and Brown pegging back McConnell in heat 3 before the USA Team responded with Starks and Castro keeping Cottham at bay in heat 4. Cats Mason and Brown did it again in heat 5 to put the Cats 6 points in front, keeping loan visitor Marquez who initially led the race at bay. The Cats pair picked him off in the re-run heat following Burmeister’s disqualification after a second lap first turn fall which saw Brown with nowhere to go clatter into the American.

Castro lively as ever split the Cats in heat 6 while Cockle took the flag with Brendan Johnson third to extend the Cats lead to 8 points. McConnell with Mike Burman hit straight back with a 5-1 over Richard Andrews to close the gap to 4 points in a re-run heat after Cottham was disqualified for causing his team mate to fall on the third turn when he lost power unable to make way for the following Andrews.

Two more heat advantages for the home side followed; Cottham taking the win with Marquez nipping through the inside of the final bend as Johnson lost power in heat 8 and Castro splitting Brown who took his final Wildcats win with Mason pushing home half a lap for third in heat 9 stretching the Cats lead to 8 points, 31-23.

Three shared heats with McConnell taking heat 10 after teammate Burman fell causing the heat to be re-run according to referee Chris Gay but many supporters felt that McConnell caused his teammate to fall and that the referee disqualified the wrong rider. Mason headed home Burmeister and Marquez in heat 11 while Starks headed Cats pair Cottham and Brown in heat 12.

Wildcats stretched their lead to 10 points in heat 13 with Cockle getting the better of Burmeister who had a great tussle with Brown in third. McConnell rolled back the years going for double points in heat 14 the penultimate heat, the Hollywood stuntman took the win and 6 points with partner Starks second to force a last heat decider with just 3 points between the sides.

McConnell was back out in the final heat grabbing second spot while Cockle again took the win with Brown third in his final 4 laps as a Wildcat giving his team a 49-44 victory.

Club chairman Phil Bartlett said after the meeting “It was a fantastic meeting tonight against the Americans with some nice close racing, it’s a shame the crowd was low those supporters missed a good meeting with the Wildcats signing off the season with a win.”

When asked about the future of the club Bartlett continued “Next week we have a training session Friday evening with potentially the final meeting at the track on Friday 22nd October which unless someone comes forward could well be the final meeting held at Weymouth. I will be making an announcement about the club on Friday 22nd October prior to the meeting start.”

After his final meeting as a Wildcat Tom Brown reflected about his decision to hang up his kevlars “I’ve been riding ten years now and the last four or five year, apart from this year I’ve been pretty much in the top ten each year in the National League, I’ve justified myself, I’m never going to be World Champion and now have a family to think about and consider and my leg has been troubling me a lot lately. If I comeback, I comeback but if I don’t I’ve enjoyed it but I’ve got other things to think about now.”

Talking about last night’s meeting Brown finished off by saying  “The track tonight was the best it has been all year, obviously it was a bit slick, it’s a shame it couldn’t off been like this all year smooth, which makes for safer racing. I was happy with my score tonight, it could of been a few more points but after the fall in my second ride it affected my leg again. It was good to finish off with a team win.”

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00. All the Wildcats will be present at the event and there is now scheduled a Training Session from midday until 4.00pm the same day for those wanting to make a complete day out.
 

WILDCATS FACE AMERICANS IN FIXTURE ADDITION
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Wednesday 6th October 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats have arranged a final team fixture at the Wessex Stadium against the visiting Touring American Team this Saturday at the Wessex Stadium at 7.15pm.

Following last weekend’s bad weather and instruction from the BSPA which resulted in the Team Viking fixture being cancelled twice in as many days Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett arranged with Steve Evans who runs the Touring American Team side to bring the Stateside show to the South coast venue at short notice this weekend.

Evans is now the sole promoter of the USA Touring Team makes his sixth trip to these shores, he is backed up by some valuable help in the UK including Andrew Hale, owner of the sponsoring Penhall Museum who also doubles up as joint team manager with Newport’s Laurence Rogers.

Leading the team again is 51 year old veteran Eddie Castro. Castro, who is a fans favourite after making his British debut only 12 months ago. He regained the Victorville Track Championship and Main Event with wins at all of the major Southern Californian Tracks. Professional Hollywood Stuntman Shawn McConnell, also 51 and multi US Open Champion is another popular and entertaining rider who has previously ridden for Swindon and Birmingham in the UK. Dominant at San Bernardino this year, winning more Main Events than any other rider this year Tyson Burmeister making his third trip is here to secure a premier league berth in 2011.

Two time Under 21 National Champion, 18 year old Bruce Starks aims to ride in the UK in the future, after missing much of this season through injury again he is here to put himself in the shop window. Starkes is the sole representative from Northern California. Mike Buman races in upstate New York and has long aspired to join the tour. With impressive results this year he decided the time was right to join the tour as only the second ever East Coast rider. The Touring team has a policy of allocating a spot to an older rider who has never raced in the UK, Robbie Sauer fulfils a dream after some excellent rides at the Victorville track. Finally completing the side after suffering a broken back at Costa Mesa in April, former Under 16 National Champion Jason Ramirez from Orange will be looking to carry on his impressive comeback from injury. Ramirez was also on the 2009 tour which was cut short for him by injury.

A change in averages sees Brendan Johnson and Gary Cottham swap positions in the line up with Cottham dropping to reserve while Johnson takes the number two race jacket. Otherwise the Wildcats remain unchanged with skipper Tom Brown making his last appearance at home as skipper before hanging up his Kevlar’s.

There is still one outstanding Trophy fixture at Newport against the Hornets which Bartlett is still awaiting a date.

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00. All the Wildcats will be present at the event and there is now scheduled a Training Session from midday until 4.00pm the same day for those wanting to make a complete day out.

MEETING DETAILS:

WEYMOUTH WEYLINE WILDCATS
1. James Cockle, 2. Brendan Johnson, 3. Tom Brown (C), 4. Karl Mason, 5. Adam Mckinna, 6. Richard Andrews, 7. Gary Cottham, Team manager: Phil Bartlett

USA TOURING TEAM
1. Tyson Burmeister, 2. John Marquez, 3. Mike Buman, 4. Shawn McConnell, 5. Eddie Castro (C), 6. Robbie Sauer, 7. Bryce Starks, Team manager: Laurence Rogers and Andrew Hale

REFEREE: Chris Gay
 

WILDCATS VIKINGS CANCELLED
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Friday 1st October 2010
Weymouth Weyline Wildcats final 2010 track action at the Wessex Stadium as a team was due to take place tomorrow [Saturday 2nd] but club chairman Phil Bartlett has been advised this morning by the BSPA that the meeting cannot take place due to the re-staging of the National League Fours competition tomorrow at Rye House Speedway.

The International challenge against the Team Viking side was to be slotted into the Wildcats off race night with the Vikings due to return home shortly as they are unable to ride next week.

Next shale action is Friday 8th when a training school 7.00pm to 9.30pm with an individual meeting planned for Friday 15th, details to be announced shortly.

Tickets for the Wildcats End of Season Bash and presentations are on sale from the club, the event takes place on Saturday 6th November in the Wessex Stadium lounge Bar. Single tickets are priced at £7.50 with a couple’s joint ticket at £10.00. All the Wildcats will be present at the event and there is now scheduled a Training Session from midday until 4.00pm the same day for those wanting to make a complete day out.
 

WILDCATS FORCED TO CLOSE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Monday 15th November 2010
WEYMOUTH WILDCATS was today forced to close in a dramatic turn of events which has seen the BSPA annul the club and the landlords repossess the stadium and change the locks.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett said; “It’s a relief today to learn from the stadium owners Wessex Delivery that they have today taken the stadium back into their own hands which I agreed to due to non payment. I will be collecting my personal belongings at a later stage.”

“It’s a great shame as I had a buyer in place and received confirmation from my solicitor this weekend that there was an undertaking to take on all the existing liabilities and to clear all outstanding monies. The club was set to be taken forward, but this will now not be the case.”

“It’s a great shame that the BSPA have also stepped in and annulled Weymouth Speedway as well. The licence returns to the BSPA along with the clubs riding assets. This is for non-payment to the BSPA despite the fact that they have owed me money for two years whereas I owe them six months money.”

“I can now quite clearly concentrate on my family life and business and actually have a holiday in the summer like most normal working people. Also not having to arrange a meeting on a weekly basis for it to be unsustainable with insufficient people in attendance is a great relief. Despite the promotions that the club has done and winning the league in 2008 Weymouth Speedway has always made a loss.”

“I think it’s a fantastic sport and I wish any prospective person who looks to take the club over and negotiates with the stadium owner and the BSPA I wish them all the luck in the world, but speedway in Weymouth in unsustainable in the current climate and format that speedway runs.”

Training session dates booked through the off season have obviously now been cancelled.
 

COCKLE WILDCATS RIDER OF THE YEAR
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Monday 8th November 2010
James Cockle was voted the Dorset Echo Wildcats rider of the year at Saturday night’s end of season presentations, while Gary Cottham took the Weyline Taxis most entertaining rider of the year trophy.

“I enjoy it down here that’s why I came back for another year,” Cockle said after collecting his trophy. Both Cottham and Cockle are keen to return to the Wildcats colours in 2011 if a buyer comes forward for the club. On this subject Bartlett was quite positive saying; “I am talking to someone who is quite seriously looking to take the club forward, I hope to be able to make an announcement very, very soon.”

Last Thursday Bartlett attended a BSPA meeting and said; “It looks like this league is going to be very strong, Mildenhall look to be returning and the possibility of another couple of clubs joining so the league may go up to twelve clubs. There is a further meeting set for December 7th which is going to be the cut off point for teams declarations of intent to enter for next season. There will be a few more changes, I don’t always agree with changes for changes sake, but we will see.”

Two other presentations were made, firstly a large framed photograph for Weyline Taxis the clubs main sponsor and also Tim Helm was presented with the outstanding contribution trophy by outgoing promoter Phil Bartlett.

Bartlett also added that the good British riders were the main focus of the league and that Australians without partiality wouldn’t be able to ride in the league in future. He then finished by thanking the supporters for turning out each week to support the riders and the club before bidding his farewells.

Training sessions continue through the off season with the dates published on the Wildcats website. The next one is Saturday 27th November 12.00-4.00pm.
 

BSPA MEETING LOOMS - WILDCATS UNCERTAIN FUTURE
By Weymouth Speedway ~ Sunday 5th December 2010
While the future of Weymouth Speedway remains uncertain, the sports ruling body the BSPA have a meeting on Tuesday 7th December with teams required to declare their interest to run in the 2011 season, with two known parties expressing an interest in the south coast venue supporters remain optimistic.

With the news that Plymouth have been elevated to the Premier league following King’s Lynn and Birmingham’s move to the Elite league the National league line up looks to be made up of eight definite starters. Buxton, Dudley, Isle of Wight, King’s Lynn, Newport, Rye House, Scunthorpe together with the addition of Stoke who have dropped down from the Premier league.

Question marks remain over the future of Mildenhall who are due to be represented at the BSPA meeting by a representative of track owner Dave Coventry. Bournemouth have been lost to the league, although if rumours are true Coventry and Peterborough are considering applications to join the National league following confirmation that both clubs have dropped out of the Elite league and there is no room in the Premier league. Sittingbourne (Central Park) are another possible new club to the league while the Iwade continues as a training track, this could possibly see the National league boasting 13 teams.

Meanwhile a new Fans Community Forum has been set up for Wildcats supporters to keep in touch and show their support for the sport in the area, links to the forum can be found on the Wildcats official website, registration is quick and simple.