No Trophy Entry In 2025 Season...
The hoped-for comeback season for Mildenhall Speedway will not now include entry into the National Development Trophy [NDT] competition after an announcement today (20th. March) by the sport's governing body, the BSPL.
A deadline of mid-March had been set for the newly-constituted fans' community trust, the Mildenhall Speedway Supporters CIC to satisfy the BSPL that they could enter official tournament racing for this season and with the need to carry out essential track safety works still being pursued that deadline has now passed.
Speaking on behalf of the CIC, co-coordinator Steve Ribbons commented,
"We are disappointed at the official statement from the BSPL regarding Mildenhall Speedway missing the cut off date as stated of 15th March. I remain in very regular contact with BSPL Chairperson Rob Godfrey and he is still incredibly supportive and positive about a Mildenhall revival. However, the BSPL were being pressured by other clubs confirmed in the NDT to finalise their own fixture lists and they (the BSL) could not delay any longer”.
Mr Godfrey is quoted in this week's Speedway Star magazine as saying,
"If Mildenhall want to run six or eight meetings later in the year, we will try and facilitate that, as long as they have met the conditions of the track inspection. There are lots of options if they get the track up to standard. I'm sure the other ND League/Trophy clubs would be keen to take their sides there for Challenge matches - and everything the BSPL and Control Bureau can do to help, we will”.
The Supporters Trust are determined that the campaign goes on, as Ribbons went on to say:
"This is not the end of the Fen Tigers, not even for this season .. yet. As people will know we have had a massive stumbling block thrown at us by the track inspection by the Speedway Control Bureau representative Mr. Mick Bates. The completion of the new Stock Cars fence (being used for the first time in a stadium re-opening Bangers meeting this weekend) took us all aback - not that we had seen any drawings or blueprints of the construction. This then made our existing Speedway safety air fence not fit for purpose. As a consequence, we are faced with a very large bill for a foam block fence on the bends in lieu of the normal air fence; then what are being described as ‘tea cosy’ post protectors to cover the uprights and a foam mattress laid on top of the concrete ‘step’”.
Latest Update...
The newly-constituted Mildenhall Speedway Supporters Trust (a Community Interest Company, with close to 100 signed up members now) have issued an update regarding the campaign to raise funds and get the Fen Tigers back on track for the 2025 season.
Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Steve Ribbons commented,
"Firstly we, the Steering Committee, would like to thank the support and generosity shown by the fans. Without you we wouldn't have been able to even consider going back to tapes.
"After the track inspection by the Speedway Control Board's track inspector Mr M. Bates it was established that the existing air fence belonging to the club was no longer fit for purpose and that the new style foam block safety barrier would be needed - it's the type of safety fence used successfully at King's Lynn, Glasgow, Berwick and Scunthorpe Speedway tracks. We have also put forward a design to the block manufacturers to make a ‘foam tea cosy’ to cover the uprights whilst our existing board safety fence on the straights will have an extension to the kick board to raise it up level with the top of the stock car fence. This then, we trust, will make the track as safe as it can possibly be - whilst understanding that NO Speedway track is entirely safe, such is the nature of the sport. These proposed safety enhancements then should satisfy all these unfounded rumours floating about on the internet."