wimbledondons

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WIMBLEDON SPEEDWAY SET TO CLOSE
The Directors of Wimbledon Speedway plc regret to announce that the GRA, the landlords at Wimbledon Stadium, have informed us that we will be unable to run speedway events at Plough Lane beyond the end of the current campaign that finishes in October 2005.

Last Wednesday at a meeting with the management of Wimbledon Stadium, the Directors of Wimbledon Speedway plc put forward an offer to renew the rental agreement for the 2006 season at a value in real term terms identical with the one in existence for the current year.

The GRA informed the Directors of Wimbledon Speedway plc that this offer would not be acceptable, and that unless the rental payment was substantially increased, speedway racing would cease at the stadium at the conclusion of the 2005 season.

The rent that Wimbledon Speedway plc currently pay for the use of Wimbledon Stadium is the highest paid by any speedway promotion in the United Kingdom and was subject this season to an increase in excess of 25%. In addition Wimbledon Speedway plc pay costs to cover the expense of laying protected sheets on the greyhound track and to sweep the arena after speedway events.

The Directors of Wimbledon Speedway plc do not believe that speedway racing can remain economically viable if faced with a substantial rent increase for the second year in succession.

Therefore reluctantly we must announce that speedway racing will cease at Plough Lane after the completion of the league fixtures against Oxford on the 21st September, Stoke on the 28th September and the Laurels individual championship on October 5th.

Representations have been made to Clive Feltham, Chairman of the GRA, and also to Luke Johnson and Ben Redmond of Risk Capital Partners, owners of the GRA, in the hope that speedway may continue, but to date, no response has been forthcoming.

It is disappointing that after investing £50,000 in building a purpose built speedway circuit, and at the point where we are about to conclude our most successful season yet, both in terms of finances and on track performances, the GRA have decided to end speedway events at their stadium.

Our focus must now be aimed at supporting the Robert Heath Heating Dons in their endeavours to bring back the first league championship to Plough Lane since 1961 and we can only hope that the GRA have a change of heart and recognise the economic and social benefits of having speedway staged at their stadium.

The Board of Wimbledon Speedway plc
19th September 2005

The BBC have put a recording of last night's interview on the web it
can be listned to via the following url
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/realmedia/sport/1909_wimbledon.ram
Ian
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The Unofficial Wimbledon Speedway Website Gavin Hedge Racing Website, Andre Cross Racing Website, Team Jono Racing Website