on Sunday, 19 May 2013 23:17.
Berwick’s speedway Bandits have again fixed the eyes of the speedway world on Berwick-upon-Tweed.
An eleventh-hour bombshell has exploded in the face of Berwick’s speedway Bandits’ plans to track their full team in Tuesday night’s vital Premier League local derby showdown against Newcastle Diamonds.
David Bellego, Berwick’s 20-year-old French favourite, has been handed a shock three-day suspension by the FFM (Federation Francaise de Motocyclisme) because of a weird fixture clash, and although locally-resident David will be present on Tuesday night, it will have to be as a spectator, not a rider!
“The French federation has entered a team in the World Team Cup, and face an elimination round at Miskolc, in Hungary, on Monday night,” explained Bandits’ team boss Ian Rae.
“They told David he was to be included in their team, but as his participation in the event meant a round trip of nearly 3,000 miles from Berwick to a place away at the far side of Hungary, close to their border with the Ukraine, and as the FFM were not offering to pay any part of travelling expenses – speedway in France is really more of an amateur pastime than a professional sport -- he declined selection.
“He couldn’t afford to go by road with his bikes, which would have prevented his being back here for the match on Tuesday as well as wrecking his bank account, so David told the FFM – ages ago, as soon as he was notified of their intention to include him -- it just wasn’t possible for him to accept selection for the team and ride in Hungary, not least because he felt obliged to race for the Bandits, who are his main source of speedway income, the next night.
“Sadly, the French federation then informed him that, if he was not going accept the ‘honour’ of selection – at his own expense, remember – for the WTC meeting, his racing licence would be suspended for three days, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and this embargo means he cannot ride for us against Newcastle.
“We appealed the ban, but it was a no-no, and he will not be racing on Tuesday – although neither will he be in Hungary, given the costs involved in getting there and back, money he wouldn’t be compensated for, and quite simply cannot afford.
“As a result of their ban, we will deploy the rider-replacement regulations to cover David’s races, and have local schoolboy Liam Carr on hand as our Number 8,”
THE BANDIT STILL AT SCHOOL:
Liam Carr of Tweedmouth leads a double life. By day he attends Berwick Academy as a sixth form pupil – but as soon as the bell rings, he becomes a professional speedway rider!
Captain of the Border Raiders – the club’s junior squad, who contest the Northern Junior League – Liam has already appeared in matches for the big-league Bandits while just 16.
“He is the first, but hopefully by no means last, local teenager to work his way through junior racing to the Premier League.” said training officer Gary Flint.
“Still only 17, Liam will be on stand-by as the Bandits No 8 rider on Tuesday, ready to roll out his bike if required.”
Liam will ride on despite an injured foot – ironically picked up in the school gymnasium, during a PE session, rather than from any speedway misadventure.
“It is painful,” he told his mum, “But I’m a speedway rider, a different breed – no hospital, please – just a couple of paracetamol and I’ll get out and polish up the bike in readiness for Tuesday night!”
BANDITS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL:
As the town of Berwick prepares to welcome the Sky Sports crew to town on Tuesday, a group of the club’s riders and officials are spreading the speedway gospel among local schoolchildren.
By the time Tuesday rolls around – and it cannot arrive quickly enough for the fans -- Danish star Nicki Barrett, and A-level student Liam Carr and David Bellego will have visited Prior Park 1st School, Scremerston 1st School and Berwick Middle schools, along with Gary Flint and the club’s commercial manager Phil Newton.
In addition to firing up enthusiasm for speedway (especially the televised event) among the assembled youngsters, the riders are helping to encourage cycling proficiency and address safety issues, such as the need to wear a helmet when on two wheels!
SPEEDWAY AIDS BERWICK TOURISM:
Club director John Anderson is enthusiastic about the way his riders are establishing community links with projects such as school visits.
“Our speedway is focusing attention on Berwick-upon-Tweed from all over the world” he explained.
“Last season – and again in August this year – we have international World Championship events here, awarded to the club by the FIM and serving to bring visitors into town from all over Europe”.
“Now with Sky Sports coming to televise Tuesday’s match, over twenty countries are going to see the town’s speedway – and the townspeople – in their living-rooms!”
SKY TEAM:
Sky Sports have disclosed that their broadcast will be hosted as always by main commentator Nigel Pearson, who will have former British Grand Prix star Chris Louis alongside him on the studio podium. Of perhaps greater interest to male fans (and the riders she will be talking to) Charlotte “Charlie” Webster, will be the pits interviewer.
DRESS UP FOR SKY SCREENS:
The Bandits’ management have invited their supporters to fill the screen, and give viewers extra entertainment. “We want to put on a BIG show!” said promoter John Anderson. “Some folk, I know, are already planning to come in fancy dress – great! We will have a prize to award to the best fancy dress captured by the cameras, so don’t be shy!
“For spectators who don’t want to go all the way to full-blown fancy dress, we have arranged for a limited-edition t-shirt to be on sale, commemorating the visit to the track by the Sky crew”.
“We really want viewers to sit back after the broadcast and say “Gee, these folk at Berwick have some great fans” – so we’re asking our spectators to bring every flag they can lay their hands on, and make as many funny banners as they like! If they aren’t TOO rude, the Sky people will pick them up, and viewers all over the world will lap them up!
DON’T WATCH IT LIVE!
The border club’s promotion have emphasised that, with this being a first-time-in-45-years chance to be part of live speedway going around the world from Berwick, locals shouldn’t be tempted into sitting at home to watch it! “That’s what your Sky-plus facility is for!” said club director George Hepburn. “Come out to the meeting, bring the kids in free, pay your tenner, enjoy it all as it happens, and be able to say ‘I was there!’. Then and only then, go home and watch it, and see yourself and the family, all over again!”
THE RACING:
Amid the extra hullabaloo created by the arrival of the Sky Sports team, the fact of the actual meeting to be broadcast being a vital Premier League contest between the two Northumbrian speedway teams must not be overlooked.
Newcastle are as ever, aiming high and have clear intentions of picking up points home and away during their 2013 campaign.
The Diamonds are led by the experienced Stuart Robson, a rider with a great career at Elite League level on his CV. ‘Robbo’ is respected as a high scorer on any track, and must be a real threat to the home squad.
Long-serving Australian Christian Henry has been in good form of late along with the much-vaunted Worrall twins, Steve and Richie. Scotsman Adam McKinna will be in, replacing the missing Ludvig Lindgren.
The Diamonds’ final trump card might be 23-year-old Lewis Kerr, who has made a startling impression since arriving at the Tyneside track this spring.
The home side have been revitalised by the stunning signing of Edward Kennett, whose debut for Berwick last Saturday began with a crash (while leading) into the track’s amazing polyfoam fence barrier, but carried on with Kennett then racing unbeaten by an opponent for the rest of the evening.
Tuesday’s anticipated teams are:
Berwick ‘New Holland Bandits’: 1. Edward Kennett, 2. David Bellego (rider-replacement), 3. Robin Aspegren, 4. Matty Wethers, 5. Kozza Smith (captain), 6. Paul Starke, 7. Nicki Barrett, 8. Liam Carr.
Newcastle “Sapphire Engineering Diamonds”: 1. Stuart Robson (captain), 2. Andrew Tully (rider-replacement), 3. Christian Henry, 4. Adam McKinna, 5. Richie Worrall, 6. Steve Worrall. 7. Lewis Kerr
SKY PRICES:
For this meeting, to encourage as many as possible to attend – and bring friends to be seem on TV too – admission will be a flat £10 for all over 15, and all accompanied kids come in free!
SKY TIMING:
The live broadcast will begin at 7.30, but there will be a parade around 7.15, and with Sky in town there will be a lot to look at even before that. Doors open at 6pm, with plenty going on….
MANIA MANIA!
23-year-old Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania will be an added celebrity attraction at the televised event. The young Scot, from Galashiels, was hospitalised after a heavy fall two days after his Aintree triumph, but has been honoured by a hero’s welcome throughout the borders since his victory on board 66-1 shot Auroras Encore.
“We are delighted to learn Ryan is coming along to watch our bikes racing” said John Anderson. “I’m a big horse-racing fan, but we’re hoping to convert him to an equally-enthusiastic speedway man!”
MATTIE STEWART, TOO!
Another guest of the speedway club on Tuesday will be former Scotland prop forward Mattie Stewart. Holder of 34 Scottish caps, the Barbarians stalwart also picked a European Cup-Winners Cup medal during his time with Northampton.
SMITHS’ DAY:
May 21st is also the recognised date of the “International Day Of The Smiths” which is celebrated in many English-speaking countries by people called Smith! The festival began in Smithland, Iowa during the 1980s, and has groups of Smiths coming together each year to hold parties and barbecues to celebrate their shared parentage.
With Kozza Smith riding so well as Bandits’ captain in 2013, he will doubtless be hoping to pull in maximum points on “Smiths’ Day” to be seen on TV around the world as his namesakes party down!
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL AT SHIELFIELD PARK IN AUGUST
There will be another huge speedway occasion for Berwick, which will flood the town with visitors from all over Europe, is the World Under-21 Final on Saturday, August 10th, featuring riders from all the leading speedway nations.
Already named as qualifiers -- they will be joined on August 10th by two (probably British) wild-carded riders -- are:
Vaclav Milik (Czech Republic), Andrej Lebedev (Latvia), Nicklas Porsing (Denmark), Wladimir Borodulin (Russia), Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark), Patryk Dudek (Poland), Artur Cjaza (Poland), Piotr Pawlicki (Poland), Kacper Gomolski (Poland), Tobiasz Musielak (Poland), Adam Strzelec (Poland), Nikolaj Jakobsen (Denmark), Mikkel Bech Jensen (Denmark) and Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland).
“We are so proud the FIM, and the British authorities, have awarded us this huge event” said co-promoter Ryan Anderson.
“I take it as a massive compliment to our staff, who worked miracles in staging our first FIM meeting last season despite heavy rain before and during racing”.
“We received so many compliments on the quality and work ethic of our track-staff, and on our overall presentation of the event – but to be awarded another, even more-important, FIM meeting so soon is really quite an honour”.
“Speedway is without doubt helping to put Berwick-upon-Tweed pretty firmly on the map!”
NEXT RACING AT BERWICK
After their unusual Tuesday night event, the speedway club reverts to Saturday racing. On June 8th the New Holland Bandits welcome Ipswich Witches for another Premier League match. Tapes go up as is usual on a Saturday night at 7pm.
