Bullet points: Mason chasing the next level

When the blueprints were unveiled for what would become the Grant Henderson Tankers Berwick Speedway Training Academy, there was a clear vision behind what was a huge investment in both time and money At the heart of it all was a desire to identify and enable the next and subsequent generations of young racers from the Scottish Borders and beyond to follow a clearly defined path from rookie rider into the tough but rewarding world of professional speedway via the Northern Junior and National leagues to the Bandits and beyond.

As the facility began to emerge from spare land on the established moto-x facility at Langton Lees near Duns in 2017 it piqued the interest of one teenager more than most.

Seven years on and Highfields-born Mason Watson is preparing for a big season, his third, in Bullets’ colours looking to become the first to graduate via the Academy into the Championship side.

Mason had competed with success on the junior moto-x scene from the age of six and transferred those honed bike handling skills to the less forgiving 500cc speedway machines, progressing to make his NJL debut for Berwick in 2018.

By the time he earned a podium place at the NJL Championships in 2019 – third behind George Rothery and Harry McGurk at Armadale – Berwick owners Scott and Jamie Courtney had signed their next local hero onto a club contract.

The then 19-year-old was the first name announced when Edinburgh declared their intention to enter the Armadale Devils in the 2020 National League, the season that Covid ensured never happened.

By the time British league speedway finally returned the Bullets had been formed with Mason winning his first ever NDL race, beating Rothery to the flag in heat two of the livestreamed behind-closed doors opener against Armadale at Shielfield.

His debut season earned an average of just under four with a paid ten-point haul against Belle Vue the highlight while last year saw that steady progress maintained leading to a spell in the top five and him being named as Bullets’ Rider of the Year at the end of season presentation night.

As a builder he knows the need for strong foundations and 2023 is the year when all the building blocks are in place for continued progress.

Pictures: Nia Martin, Keith Hamblin, Taz McDougall