LATEST NEWS ~ NOVEMBER 2007

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY at Mildenhall Stadium 4pm - 6pm
ENTRY ~ FREE (MSSC members) or £5 (Non-members)

FOLLOWED BY

FAMILY DISCO at Mildenhall Stadium 7pm-11pm
ENTRY ~ £4 (MSSC members) or £5 (Non-members)
 

FEN TIGERS CLOSE TO ANNOUNCING 2008 SIDE
By Mildenhall Speedway ~ Friday 30th November 2007
The Mildenhall Fen Tigers are awaiting the outcome of the Promoter’s Conference in Coventry this week, when the points limit for the 2008 season will be agreed, before finalising their team for next season. Promoter Simon Barton is in constant contact with team manager Laurence Rogers from the conference and the pair are liaising over the format of the Fen Tigers team with Rogers left with the job of signing the riders.

He says, “We roughly know what team we want to track next season and I have been in contact with most of them to discuss terms but until we know what the points limit is set at and any other factors that will influence our choice on who we will be signing, we cannot finalise things. But once we have all these details it will not take us long to get our team sorted unlike last year where we were very late in getting things organised. We want to be in a position to name the full side as quickly as we can. I can reveal that I have concluded a deal with another rider and he will be unveiled to the fans at our Xmas party on Sunday night at the Stadium when he will sign his 2008 contract along with Jan Graversen and hopefully Mark Baseby. Mark has a work commitment that afternoon but is hoping to hot foot it to West Row to sign his paperwork in front of the supporters.”

“ I am also very close to agreeing terms with two other riders but these may not be finalised in time for the party on Sunday but if they are then we will also be able to announce their captures. If not we may well hold a Fans Forum soon to unveil them as Fen Tigers for the 2008 season. We are trying to build for the future of the club and will be looking to add to our asset base this year. Simon and I would like to eventually have a Tigers side that is fully owned by the club and this is what we are aiming at.”

“The party night on Sunday will be a great opportunity for the fans to meet up again, met a few riders, pick up some news, watch some greyhound racing if they want, and party the night away!! It all gets underway, after Santa has seen the kids in the afternoon between 4.30 and 6, at 7 o’clock. Entry for supporters club members is £4 and £5 for non-members and if they want to have a flutter race cards for the dogs are £4. Looks like being a good night!!”
 

TIGERS ANNOUNCE SECOND SIGNING FOR 2008 SEASON
By Mildenhall Speedway ~ Friday 23rd November 2007
Following on from their capture of promising Young Danish rider, Jan Graversen, the Mildenhall Fen Tigers have announced the second rider who will be in their 2008 line-up. Mark Baseby , who made such a good impression when called in to replace Mark Thompson in July last year, has signed on the dotted line to take one of the reserve berths in the 2008 side. The teenager, who doubled up with Conference League Sittingbourne last year, missed the end of season fixtures after injuring his shoulder against Newport at West Row on September 4th. He has been back on a bike a few weeks ago and reported no problems from the injury. He will be looking to also obtain a Conference league place for 2008 but his Mildenhall commitments will take precedence at all times.

He has been boosted by a local sponsorship deal from with top custom motorcycle company, Krazy Horse Custom Cycles in Bury St Edmunds, which also involves his younger brother Aaron, who rides for Sittingbourne. Krazy Horse owner Paul Beamish said "We travel all over the UK, and Europe attending Custom Bike and Car Shows and we look forward to spreading the word about Speedway at these events through our sponsorship of Mark and Aaron".

The sponsorship of Team Baseby will be of great benefit to both riders with Mark looking to upgrade his machinery. The bike he performed so well on last year was literally a museum piece!! He was riding a five year frame with a 15 - year old ex-Jeremy Doncaster upright engine converted to a lay - down and look how well he did!!!

Fen Tigers team manger Laurence Rogers is pleased with his capture, “Mark knew that he was very much in our thoughts for a full time team spot this year and I am sure it will come as no real surprise to the West Row faithful that he is my choice for one of the reserve spots. He certainly did enough in his 10 meetings for us last year, where he was averaging over four and a half points a meeting, to put him in the frame. One race stands out in my mind when we were at Redcar and he came zooming around the outside of former World Champion Gary Havelock and his partner and was on his way to a superb win only to loose his steel shoe and the race!!”

“I think, especially on better equipment and with more experience, he can be a solid reserve for us next season. He is exciting, listens to advice and best of all is a Mildenhall asset!! We are also close to announcing a third signing for the new season. I have agreed terms with the rider in question and await the return of his signed agreement. It may well be that the rider in question will be revealed to the fans at our Xmas Party at the Stadium next Sunday (December 2nd) and will be in attendance to sign his contract along with Jan Graversen and Mark Baseby. In fact, dependant on the outcome of the BSPA conference and the rulings and points limits for 2008, we may be in a position to announce even more signings!!”

“The party night is one with a difference. In conjunction with the stadium we are having a festive greyhound meeting alongside the Christmas Party and Disco. The Children’s party with Santa is between 4.30 and 6 and it’s free for supporters club members and £5 for non-members. Party food supplied for children. Children’s names for Santa by 25th November to the Supporters Club ladies (Linda Fountain 01442 269729 – evenings, Di farmer 07770481858, Janet Moslin 01992 630890).”

“Then in the evening the Adult Christmas Party takes place in the lounge bar with admission prices of £4 members and £5 non-members. Fans can decide if they want to dance the night away or watch a few greyhound races or both!! If people want to make a real night of it then they can also take advantage of the special deal the stadium have. The restaurant and fish bar will also be open for food. For parties of 10 or more, for just £10 a head the stadium are also pleased to offer the following :-

1 x Race Programme
2 x £1 Tote bets
1 x Pint/short or soft drink
1 x paid for re-admission
1 x Basket Meal “

”They do require pre-booking for this deal and interested parties can call the stadium on 01638 711777 (option 3) and they will send out a booking form. We will also have a break in the proceedings at the disco to do the raffle and this is when the riders present who are signing for the 2008 season will be called up to put pen to paper and say a few words. All in all it should be a great night which starts at 7 till 11. There is free entrance to the stadium and supporters can buy a greyhound race card if they so wish at £4 if they plan on having a flutter and entrance is via the turnstiles. Disabled access can be via the side entrance to the stadium. Driving past the 'riders van park' (which is dog trainers van park on that night') and then turning left. You can drive right down to 'the slope' by the speedway turnstiles.”
 

ROGERS GETS HIS MAN AS JAN AGREES DEAL
By David Crane ~ Cambridge Evening News Saturday 17th November 2007
DANE Jan Graversen has agreed terms with Mildenhall and could sign as an asset in front of supporters at the club's Christmas party in two weeks. The 2O year old, who has spent a couple of years with Swedish club Karlstad and will come into the team on an assessed eight-point average, impressed the Fen Tigers management in an individual meeting at West Row last month and the club immediately pursued his services.

Team manager Laurence Roger said: "We have agreed terms with Jan, subject to any significant changes to the points limit at the BSPA conference in two weeks. "He is very keen to come and we have a potential sponsor lined up who will help support his racing. Jan came to me on the recommendation of former Newport and Newcastle rider
Christian Lund, and I thank him for that. He is very highly rated and Denmark's Jan Staechmann has told me he is worth pursuing as he has a great attitude and good equipment. He will start on a high average but I firmly believe that he has the capabilities to achieve that."

Meanwhile, Rogers has hit back at comments by Plymoulh team manager Mike Bowden, who claims that Tiger target
Nicki Glanz is not ready for Premier League racing. Rogers said: "I've always stated that should Nicki join us it would be in addition to carry on racing in the Conference League. "There is no pressure on him, he knows that we are interested in him and we are holding Out the option for him to be involved with us in some way either at reserve or our squad No 8 rider. Mike also states that he is owned Newport, which is incorrect. I understand
from speaking to Nicki's father Peter, he has not signed a full contract with them and remains a free agent."

Tom P Madsen has been informed that an operation on his injured hip is not necessary, while Kyle Legault has been slammed by parent club Sheffield for showing "a complete lack of respect" for not speaking with the club after handing in a transfer request.
 

MAJOR SPONSORSHIP DEAL ANNOUNCED - KRAZY HORSE CUSTOM CYCLES
By Nikko ~ Saturday 17th November 2007
Team Baseby Racing are very proud and pleased to announce that they have agreed a major sponsorship deal with top custom motorcycle company, Krazy Horse Custom Cycles. Following on from negociations between Commercial Manager Neil "Nikko" Day and Krazy Horse owner, Paul Beamish a sponsorship deal was agreed on the 17th November when Mark, Aaron and Paul Baseby joined Nikko for a visit to the Krazy Horse Custom Cycle workshop and store in Bury St. Edmunds. After a tour of the workshop the lads were allowed to sit on some of the custom bikes and Paul and Nikko also made sure they got into the act as well.

Commenting on the deal, Nikko said "We are really pleased to welcome Krazy Horse to Team Baseby Racing and hope that it is a long and fruitful partnership for all concerned". Krazy Horse owner Paul Beamish said "We travel all over the UK, and Europe attending Custom Bike and Car Shows and we look forward to spreading the word about Speedway at these events through our sponsorship of Mark and Aaron".

Over the coming months we will providing updates and photos about Krazy Horse Custom Cycles / Team Baseby Events including a possible major announcement regarding Krazy Horse and a TV show in 2008. In the meantime we have added a photo page of the Krazy Horse Custom Cycles sponsorship day www.teambasebyracing.com and we urge you to check out their awesome site at: www.krazyhorse.co.uk
 

ROGERS REVEALS HIS TIGERS BLUEPRINT
By David Crane ~ Cambridge Evening News Saturday 10th November 2007
MILDENHALL Fen Tigers have several riders lined up for talks as they look towards next season - but won't make any firm decisions until the BSPA annual conference at the end of the month. Team manager Laurence Rogers has revealed the identity of three riders who he will consider for next season's team and is also in the position of having all of the current team expressing their wish to return to West Row. Rogers has been a long-term admirer of 18-year-old Nicki Glanz, who starred for Plymouth in the Conference League this year, and would be keen to fix him up in Suffolk if the deal is right.

He also has admitted his interest in 20-yearold Dane Jan Graversen, who is expected to fly into the UK for the club's Christmas bash on December 2. Maldon-based Chris Schramm, 23, is another who Rogers has set his sights on. One key aspect going in Schramm's favour is that he is a club asset after being purchased by former co-promoter Mick Horton, and having put in a hugely impressive performance in the club's Big Bang event last month, he is a strong possibility for a team berth.

Rogers said: "Chris is another rider I will be talking to over the next month or so. He is very much in the frame, he would like to join us and only lives an hour away, compared with the travelling he has had for Newport the last two years. I know other tracks are interested in him as well as us. One has officially approached us to talk to him, so he has options, but until after the AGM we cannot make any firm commitments."

Kyle Legault is due to have some practice laps in Canada next week as he regains his fitness two months after breaking his wrist in the GP Challenge final.
 

KYLE KEEN TO LEG IT BACK TO THE TIGERS
By David Crane ~ Cambridge Evening News Monday 5th November 2007
Canadian star Kyle Legault looks set to return to Mildenhall next season after handing in a transfer request to parent club Sheffield. The 22 year old topped the Fen Tigers' averages in a sensational year, and despite saying he would relish a return to West Row, a statement this week appeared to indicate that he was seeking Elite League racing in 2008.

He said: "Sheffield loaned me to Mildenhall this year and I have had a great time and made some big advances in my career. I am very ambitious and want to ride in the Grand Prix series, and I'm not sure I will get that chance whilst still contracted to Sheffield. At this stage of my career, I would like to be racing at the highest possible level in both the UK and also in Europe, and I think the Elite League is where I need to be."

But West Row boss Laurence Rogers says there is a chance Legault will return in 2008. "There is a lot going on behind the scenes. Kyle wants to be back with us and we are working very hard to make that happen, which includes putting together a support fund to help finance his racing," said Rogers. "His ambitions for the Elite League is for 2009 but for next year he figures very highly in our plans, which I know will please our supporters. We are also pursuing many other avenues and it's no secret that I'm very interested in Jan Gravesen. We are looking to build a team based around as many club assets as possible, but it doesn't rule out other riders."

The most likely outcome is that Legault will sign for an Elite League club to secure his future but be loaned to a Premier League club, possibly Mildenhall, next season. Legault will be confirmed as Mildenhall's Supporters' Club Rider of the Year at their presentation ceremony.