Speedway club's revival takes step forward

Mildenhall Fen Tigers are aiming for a 2025 comeback after having last raced in 2023

Plans to revive speedway racing at a stadium have taken a step forward following a public meeting.

The Mildenhall Fen Tigers based at West Row, Suffolk, said they aimed to get back to racing after sitting out of last year's seasons due to "reduced competition".

A steering committee to bring speedway back to the Mildenhall Stadium was previously formed and it hoped to adopt a supporters' trust business model.

At a public meeting at the West Row Village Hall on Sunday, supporters voted in favour to officially form the trust which Steve Ribbons, the man behind the plan, said left him "very optimistic".

"We had approximately 140 people at the meeting, we filled the West Row Village Hall," he explained.

"We took a vote and everybody was in favour of our proposals to form a supporters' trust, raise money and get the Tigers back on track.

"Now we've got the green light from the fans we'll go ahead and today I will be making moves to register the trust with HMRC and the government.

"Then we will invite people to join."

Mildenhall Stadium was damaged in a fire last August

The club has already had 70 applications to join the supporters' trust.

Mr Ribbons said during the public meeting many had pledged money for the plans which meant the club could be three quarters of the way toward its financial target to revive racing.

Mr Ribbons previously said he was confident the team would be back on the track this year for Mildenhall Stadium's golden anniversary, with a team of riders having already been selected.

Work has been ongoing at the stadium following a fire last year.

Spedeworth Motorsports, who owns the stadium, said this work would be completed by March.

Mr Ribbons added he expected "significant progress" over the next few months with the club's plan to bring back racing.