Bandits have the Wright stuff

Shielfield Park specialist Charles Wright will make his debut for the team he has tormented over the past four seasons when the FTS Bandits, powered by Keenwood Karpets, open their home Jubilee League campaign on Saturday night.

Skipper Chris Harris leads Berwick on what could be their last-ever visit to Armadale on Friday but then – along with Monarchs Paco Castagna and Lasse Fredriksen – heads for the airport as all three are in action in Saturday’s European Best Pairs event at Macon in France representing Great Britain, Italy and Norway, respectively.

Edinburgh have booked former Bandits Lee Complin and Kasper Andersen as replacements while the home side turn to a man who has been a constant thorn in Berwick’s side over the years.

Last week the 2019 British Champion dropped just one point to an opponent in Redcar’s crushing cup victory, his second 11-point haul of the season on the 380-metre raceway. In 2021 Wright clinched a five-ride paid maximum with a full throttle run to pip Saturday’s team-mate Jye Etheridge on the line, a further 12+1 inspiring the Bears in 2019.

“He has an incredible record here and it is not just the volume of points but the manner in which he collects them that makes Charles such a good rider to watch around Shielfield and the perfect replacement for Bomber,” team manager Gary Flint said.

“For once I’ll be cheering him on because his points are going to the Berwick cause.

“We’ll need him at the top of his game though because I think that Lee Complin and Kasper Andersen – who joint top-scored in the cup match last week – strengthen Edinburgh on the night.

“Josh Pickering and Sam Masters both know the fast line around our place so it’s important that we hit the mark from the first heat.”

It’s been another profitable week for physiotherapists and fitness specialists as the Bandits shook off the after-effects of an incident-strewn four days last week in which they won impressively at Oxford in the Championship, lost heavily at Glasgow in their CJL opener and were knocked out of the cup by Redcar.

Jye Etheridge, hand, Leon Flint, back, Jonas Knudsen, ribs and back, are all fit for action in another busy weekend for the Bandits which continues at Leicester in a rearranged Championship fixture on Sunday.

The 6pm start time at Beaumont Leys allows Harris time to fly back from France and take his place at the head of the Berwick team.

Flint missed the chance to represent Great Britain in the under-19 European Pairs last Saturday after crashing heavily at Ashfield but, having sat out Monday night’s Premiership Pairs at Wolverhampton as a precaution, was due to take his place, alongside club-mate Ace Pijper, in the British under-19 Championship at Redcar on Thursday night.

He will start at one of the favourites for a title which the now ineligible Drew Kemp has won for the past three seasons.

He will then play a crucial role in the search for CJL points at Armadale – a track he scored well on as a guest for Oxford earlier in the season.

With Edinburgh announcing plans to have a new, purpose-built stadium ready at Livingstone for next spring this could, dependent on play-off qualification, be Berwick’s last visit to Edinburgh’s home since 1997.

Leon, who revisited the Prior Park First School he was a pupil at over a decade ago this week, talking to the youngsters as part of their bike safety awareness week, will captain his home town side in the absence of Harris on Saturday.

But it is not just the Bandits who will be tested to the full on Saturday night.

Forming the second part of what are fast becoming legendary Saturday night Sheffield double headers will be the Bullets’ NDL KO Cup semi-final second leg against Leicester Lion Cubs.

The two teams are neck and neck at the top of the league table but the Lions’ are very much in the driving seat after winning the first leg 63-27.

They received a boost earlier in the week when number one Dan Thompson completed his mandatory 12-day concussion absence and was named in their side which faces Oxford Chargers tonight (Wednesday).

Kieran Douglas continues his rehabilitation from injuries received in the first leg defeat.

On paper there’s only one winner,” team manager Gary Flint admitted. “But the Bullets don’t ride on paper and their attitude is ‘let’s get on track and get stuck in.’

“We certainly have riders who can make things happen on track and it is up to the likes of Greg Blair, Kyle Bickley and Luke Crang to set the tone early.

“There’s never a problem with motivation when it comes to the Bullets, sometimes it is quite the opposite, and there’ll be no lack of effort put in from any of the Berwick sides over the weekend.

“That’s a promise I can make everyone, along with the fact that 30 heats in three hours will make the action fast and furious.”

As usual the double header begins early with the first race on track at 6.30pm.

Online tickets are available now and will remain on sale until 6.15pm on Saturday. Once again admission for under-16s is free for those buying in advance – a saving of up to £6 per child on cash admission prices.

Admission for the double header is £24 adults, £20 concessions, £6 12-16-year-oldCredit or debit card payments cannot be accepted at the turnstiles.

Anyone not wishing to travel can catch Leon and Ace’s British title bids at Redcar and the CJL clash at Edinburgh via the respective club streaming services.

Bandits: Chris Harris (Charles Wright guests on Saturday), Theo Pijper, Jye Etheridge, Ricky Wells, Leon Flint, Jonas Knudsen, Nathan Stoneman.

Monarchs: Sam Masters, Lasse Fredriksen (Lee Complin guests on Saturday), Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna (Kasper Andersen guests Saturday), Josh Pickering, Jacob Hook, James Sarjeant.

Bullets: Kyle Bickley, Ace Pijper, Mason Watson, Luke Crang, Greg Blair, Kyran Lyden, Ben Rathbone.

Leicester Lions: Nick Morris, Connor Mountain, Richie Worrall, Dan Thompson, Kyle Howarth, Max Clegg, Joe Thompson

Leicester Lion Cubs: Dan Thompson, Mickie Simpson, Connor Coles, Tom Spencer, Joe Thompson, Vinnie Foord, Max Perry

www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets

www.redcar-speedway.tv

www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/emtv