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’”.
The Speedway club are vigorously chasing down quotes and specifications for the equipment that is needed - with a company who have manufactured this same product for other tracks in the UK having sent samples to Ribbons so that he can show Mr. Bates.
Ribbons went on,
"We have worked on a plan for all this and will be calling a meeting of all the stakeholders - that is, those supporters who have paid into the club, to explain our plans and for those same stakeholders to vote on whether or not to go ahead with the works needed".
Fellow co-coordinator Kieran Phillips followed on by saying,
"Today's announcement is certainly a set-back, and again, one we didn't see coming in this way. The finished Stock Cars fence, the subsequent track inspection and now today's announcement took us by surprise - however, this isn't over by a long chalk, this just spurs us on to get this great club back to tapes.
"Steve and myself have been working tirelessly to find a solution and are leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit to get where we need to be. As Steve alluded to, we are currently in talks with various people to enable us to host meetings this season and will keep fans informed as soon as anything is confirmed."