Premier League
Reading Speedway: Racers square up to Bandits.
By Admin
Jul 17, 2008, 20:27

Having returned to winning ways with a solid showing at Birmingham, the Racers will be looking for further league success when they square-up to Berwick at Smallmead on Monday 21 July.

The meeting signifies Reading's Respect and Reward Evening, when members of the services will be allowed to gain entry FREE of charge!!

Service members, such as the NHS, Police, Fire, Territorial Army, Armed Forces and the RAF, will only have to show their official identification and they will be permitted free entry into the stadium for the action-packed encounter versus the Bandits.

Racers' boss Malcolm Holloway said: “We were wounded after losing at home to Edinburgh, but the reaction of the lads was superb in recovering quickly to win in such a spirited manner at Birmingham.

“That performance has re-ignited our season and we must now aim to kick-on from here by beating Berwick on Monday.

“That said, the Bandits have a strong look to them right now and we must show the same levels of desire and determination that were evident at Perry Barr.

“With the Smallmead circuit now in top condition, we are sure to be in for another evening of high-class entertainment.”

Reading will go into the match without Ulrich Ostergaard, who is recuperating from the hand injury that he unfortunately picked up in the home match against Edinburgh last Sunday.

However, the Racers' management have booked the best possible guest replacement in Somerset's flying Aussie Jason Doyle, who ripped to a paid 21-point maximum on the Rebels' last visit to Smallmead on 29 June.

As an added attraction, Monday's meeting will also feature a six-heat sidecar challenge match between Reading and Somerset. The two teams comprise three pairings apiece, as follows:

Reading " Tony Cook & Emily Coglan; Scott Francis & Jon Skinner; Dean Norton & Joe Richmond.

Somerset " Gary Southgate & Adam Young; Scott Dunn & Natasha Bartlett; Keith Richards & Jake Cutler.

Berwick, like the Racers, have turned forty years-of-age this season. Again, like Reading, the Bandits have also had two different home circuits, although the Northumberland club's story differs somewhat to that of the Racers.

The Bandits began life at Shielfield Park (the home of Berwick Rangers FC) on 18 May 1968, but they were given notice to quit in 1980 and speedway ceased at the venue in September that year.

During 1981, the club staged their ‘home' meetings at various other northern tracks, before moving into a new purpose-built venue at Berrington Lough the following season.

However, the Bandits were able to negotiate a return to Shielfield Park in 1996 and they have remained back at their spiritual home ever since.

The team made a splendid start to their 2008 Premier League campaign and initially headed the table for a few weeks. Indeed, Berwick's cosmopolitan looking line-up, dubbed in various quarters as the ‘Dream Team', has certainly caught the eye and maintained promoter Peter Waite's reputation for sourcing flamboyant racers from every corner of the globe.

As a club, Reading Speedway is keen to get the children more involved this season. As a result, the pits will be open every week on a Monday from 6.00 p.m. until 6.30 p.m., so that the youngsters can get autographs and have their photographs taken with the riders.

The Racers' management also wish to run a slick show this year, so the parade will be taking place at 7.10 p.m. and, unless under extreme circumstances, the first race will start bang on 7.30 p.m.

Normal admission prices apply for what is a bumper night of action at the Reading raceway: Adults �13; Concessions �10; Students �7; Children (12-16 years-of-age) �5; Kids (Under 11 years-of-age) FREE, if accompanied by a full paying adult.