Piper adds first rider for summer meetings

Steve Piper has moved quickly to make his first signing as Wightlink Warriors team manager.

Piper, who was only appointed to the position on Wednesday, has started shaping his squad for the upcoming summer fixtures by bringing in Danno Verge as the first rider of his tenure.

Warriors have the first of a trio of three-team meetings with Oxford and Cradley at the Smallbrook on July 22 so Piper must move quickly to assemble his team.

After dropping out of the National League for this season at least, Warriors only had summer fixtures officially confirmed last month.

But Piper is pleased to get his first squad member confirmed, with Verge returning to the club where he spent two seasons at in 2018 and 2019.

He said: ‘I’m delighted that Danno has agreed to return to the Wightlink Warriors in 2021.

‘We have three really important team matches against Cradley and Oxford and I said I wanted to put a team together with heart and determination and Danno fits that bill perfectly.

‘Additionally, Danno has previously competed in the US-style handicap meetings held on the Island so I am confident he will do well in these 'pass-a-minute' actionpacked events.'

Verge, pictured, moved to the island last year and knows the club well from two previous spells with Warriors.

He said: ‘I am delighted to be going back racing for the Wightlink Warriors in some kind of speedway action at Smallbrook stadium in 2021. After what I feel were two successful learning years for me on the bigger tracks, I can look back on 2019 as being a pretty decent year for me and the club in general.

‘Now, in a year where there has been a limited amount of racing going on, my fixture schedule is less than half of what it was in 2019 so I am glad Barry (Bishop) and Martin (Widman; co-owners) are putting what sounds like a few fabulous meetings on for the fans. Of course, us riders who desperately need to stay on the bike and keep sharp for our league racing.’

Warriors will meet Oxford and Cradley in three separate fixtures this summer at the Smallbrook Stadium.