LATEST NEWS ~ FEBRUARY 2010

COBRAS TIE WHETS THE APPETITE
By David Crane, Cambridge Evening News ~ Saturday 20th February 2010
FEN Tigers boss John Adams believes the prospect of facing Rye House in the Knockout Cup quarter-finals will give his riders enough motivation to overcome Buxton in the first round. Mildenhall were paired with the third division stalwarts when the draw took place this week, with the winners tackling the beefed-up Cobras. As with last season when the Tigers drew local rivals King's Lynn, supporters will relish the challenge of meeting one of their fiercest enemies.

Adams said: "The tie gives us every incentive to get through and have what would be a mouth-watering tie. It is one we will be doing everything to push to get there."

With fixtures due to be released imminently, Adams took time out to cast his eye over the strength of his 10 National League opponents. "It promises to be a very good season," he said. "Last year you could predict that two or three teams would dominate and that proved to be the case. But this year every team looks competitive and we will need to step up to the plate if we are going to achieve any silverware because it is going to be much tighter. The club has come on leaps and bounds in the past 12 months and there is so much interest in us now, which is very pleasing. We are going to have a fuller season with two big showpiece meetings, so it's all good for the supporters."

Meanwhile, former King's Lynn sponsors Art and Stitch have switched allegiances by becoming a main team sponsor of the West Row outfit.
 

TEAM SPONSORSHIP SEWN UP FOR FEN TIGERS
By Mildenhall Speedway ~ Sunday 14th February 2010
With the 2010 speedway season rapidly approaching Mildenhall Speedway are delighted to announce that Peterborough based Art and Stitch have become their team sponsors for the upcoming campaign.  However it is not the time the company has been involved in speedway sponsorship having been involved with The Fen Tigers arch rivals Kings Lynn last season.

Co Chairman Ray Mascall said “I am really pleased to welcome Art and Stitch to Mildenhall and I know they are looking forward to a successful season with The Fen Tigers and I would like to thank both Neil and Angela Watson for their support which means so much to a club such as ours.”

Neil Watson said “Angela and I have been keen supporters of National League racing for a number of years, and we have a special affection for Mildenhall Speedway going back to my time as Club Chairman.” He continued “At the end of last season I was invited to support the Club with the staging of the 2009 Shareholders Trophy, and that meeting reminded me just what a dedicated, friendly set-up it is at West Row and when I spoke with Ray Mascall about a week ago and realised that the opportunity to sponsor the Fen Tigers was available, it was an easy decision to transfer our sponsorship down the A10 for the 2010 season”
 

ADAMS JOY AS TIGERS LAND MAJOR EVENTS
By David Crane, Cambridge Evening News ~ Thursday 4th February 2010
MILDENHALL are in celebratory mood after being asked to stage both the National League Four Team Tournament and a qualifying round of the British Under-21 championship. It is a huge accolade to the club which, just 12 months ago, was rescued at the eleventh hour by chairman Ray Mascall. By staging the Fours, last won by the Fen Tigers six years ago, they gain a bye into the final event. They failed to qualify last season.

Co-chairman John Adams said: "It is brilliant news for the club and totally deserved. It is testament to everyone who has worked so hard over the past year that West Row will stage these two prestigious meetings."

Mildenhall have confirmed their entrance to the league, which will consist of 11 teams, as well as the KO Cup and Trophy competitions. The club are now working on fixtures dates and expect to publish them within two weeks.

Adams said: "There are no drastic changes to the league set-up. The only major outcome is that there will be a cut-off date in the middle of September to complete league fixtures and the winners of the league will have their choice of opponents in the play-offs. This brings the National League in line with both the Elite and Premier."
 

NATIONAL LEAGUE AGM STATEMENT
By BSPA ~ Monday 1st February 2010
ALL 10 National League teams from last season will come to the tapes again this year - and the third tier of British racing has welcomed a new club. Dudley Heathens were accepted with open arms at a meeting of all club bosses at British Speedway's HQ in Rugby when the competition format and league structure for the 2010 season was agreed.

Heathens, carrying the name of the famous old Cradley Heath club, will split their home meetings between Wolves and Birmingham and are expected to take plenty of travelling support up and down the country. They join Bournemouth, Buxton, Isle of Wight, King's Lynn, Mildenhall, Newport, Plymouth, Rye House, Scunthorpe and Weymouth.

The league itself will feature one home and one away - a total of 20 meetings per club - and the top four will go into the play-offs with the top team having choice of opponents from the other three. League fixtures must be completed by September 12.

The National Trophy has been retained and certain starters are Mildenhall, Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Weymouth and Newport. Buxton are considering entering the mini-league and will make a decision soon.

Major event venues have been decided but dates are to be confirmed. The National League Riders' Championship will be at Rye House in October, the Fours will be at Mildenhall, holders Newport will host the Pairs and the Bronze Helmet will be at Poole.