Reading have been rocked by the news that there will be no speedway in the town next year.

The club have been waiting for some positive news regarding their new stadium, but despite initial reports that work was due to start in January 2008, up until now the new site in Island Road has remained untouched.

It’s now all systems go for construction to start on the new stadium next year, but unfortunately club bosses have today confirmed that the 2009 season is a non-starter for the Reading Racers.

Club owner Mark Legg explains: “We’ve finally been told that there won’t be any speedway in Reading next season.

“It’s been well documented that this is our last year at Smallmead and I’m informed construction work isn’t due to start on the new stadium until the middle of next year. This obviously means we won’t be ready to start the new speedway season in March 2009.

“The cost of putting a temporary track in would be around £500,000 and to do that it would also include putting in all the cables, lighting etc. To do all this, they would in effect have to build the whole stadium back-to-front and it just can’t be justified because of the costs incurred.

“As a result, we’ll to have to shut down for a year and move into a brand new stadium the following season.

“We realise this is a big blow to the sport in the area and can fully understand that our supporters are going to be bitterly upset to hear this news, but there is simply nothing we can do.

“Stadia UK are doing all they can regarding this matter and I plan to work very closely with them over the next few months.

“We have, however, been assured that the new stadium is now definitely going ahead and although we’ll have to miss the 2009 season, they will have the new site ready for us to move into in time for the 2010 campaign.”

In the meantime, Smallmead will be staging a big ‘End-of-an-Era’ celebration meeting on Sunday, October 19, in order to say a fond farewell to the stadium. It will also incorporate a celebration of 40 seasons of Reading Speedway.

Plans are now in full swing for this and more details will be released in due course.

Legg commented: “We urge everyone to come out and show their support for the Racers in our last season at this historic speedway venue.”