Greensheets spell changes
There’ll be a new leader of the pack when your FTS Bandits,…
We have lift-off
It’s officially all systems go for 2023 after a successful and well-attended launch night in the Black and Gold.
New team kevlars were handed out to Bandits and Bullets while Owen Booth represented the Academy team which will once again compete in the Northern Junior League.
Work commitments meant that Rory Schlein was missing but he will be hot-footing it north today (Saturday) for Press and Practice, which begins at 6.30pm.
But the other 13 Bandits and Bullets received their now traditional grilling from Dick Barrie, our roving mikeman then making his excuses and heading for home in time to fly south ready for an appearance at today’s Ben Fund meeting at King’s Lynn.
Berwick co-owner Jamie Courtney thanked the supporters who turned out to welcome the class of 2023.
“We are a small-town club consistently holding our own against the rest of the, big town and city-based league. That couldn’t happen without the support from fans and sponsors.”
He also thanked everyone who took part in the monthly 5-1 Draw, administered by Berwick Bandits’ Supporters Club on behalf of Berwick Speedway, revealing that it had raised £38,000 since its launch in 2019.
Attention now turns to tonight, Saturday, when – following a team bonding session on the golf course, the bikes will fire up at 6.30pm.
It will also be the first outing for the transponders which will be compulsory in Britain’s top two leagues this season.
A sensor buried under the start line will link to kit on the machines to allow super accurate lap timing and, once competitive racing begins, for the match referee to call close finishes correctly.
Fans are welcome at Shielfield and the track shop will be open selling the new range of merchandise including jackets and shirts.
Not surprisingly the new season is also the subject of the first Total Access Countdown show of the season.
Bullets’ captain Greg Blair takes time off during the lambing season to co-host the 30 minute show with Scott Frame, Bandits’ skipper Leon Flint and longest-serving clubman Jye Etheridge featuring.
Watch via
Those who invested in the 2023 Season Passes will be able to collect their passes from the Box Office from 5.30pm on 1 April, the night that Redcar hit town in the Knockout Cup second leg.
They will also be available to collect from the Black and Gold between 1pm and 4pm that afternoon.
Passes are still available from
Pictures: Keith Hamblin
