Linlithgow speedway hosts its first meeting for over a year a week later than originally expected. The first meeting to be held on Saturday, May 29th at 2.00. It will be an open meeting 'The Linlithgow Riders Championship'. This meeting will be used to help select the Conference League team for 1999.
The team captain is Jonathan Swales. Other riders expected to feature include the 15 years olds Ryan Milburn (Edinburgh) and Robert McNeil (Glasgow) and Robert Grant.
All the Northern tracks have been contacted with a view to providing their junior riders for selection. Jitendra Duffill (Glasgow) and Steven McAllister (Wolverhampton) are likely contenders.
The rules permit Premier League team members under the age of 25 who had an average of under 4.00. This will open things up for the likes of Ross Brady, David McAllan, Scott Courtney, and Steven Jones if this is thought desirable.
It is felt unlikely that Ross Brady will appear as he is probably beyond that level now. David McAllan is more likely to feature. Of course if a visiting team turn up at Heathersfield containing superstars, as Peterborough did in 1997, then there will be a temptation to put out the strongest team available.
The Linlithgow track is still run by Alan Robertson but the promotion of the Conference League team is now down to John Campbell who leases the track from Robertson.
Alan Robertson commented in the Edinburgh Pink:
"John will handle all the paperwork and organization to do with the league business. This will free me to deal with team matters. I will be doing what I always enjoyed, and that's looking after the youngsters and watching them progress."
Robertson believes that Linlithgow have a good chance of picking up the Conference League title.
"There has been a lot of asset stripping of three-point riders within the Conference League to provide Premier League teams with reserves. This hasn't affected us because we didn't have a team. A lot of teams will have to start all over again."
"Many of our riders had a year out of the limelight and we are capable of winning races. We are starting in the middle rung as opposed to the first rung. Most folk won't have heard of some of our riders. But no-one had heard of Barry Campbell or Blair Scott either."
Admission prices are five pounds for adults and three pounds for OAPs and two pounds for children. The programme will be one pound.