After swooping down to claim top prize in the superb inaugural Grasstrack Banter Team Tournament last year, the Eastern Eagles will be flying again on Sunday, May 4th, as they attempt to retain their title. The venue for this top team event is the Grasstrack Banter’s jewel in the crown, Bantasia Arena, Whaddon Farm, Owslebury, near Winchester SO21 1JJ. Indeed, the racing strip at the arena has had a major makeover during the off-season, so you can be sure that conditions will be absolutely prime for this much-anticipated round two of some hot team racing!
Words and Images by Mike Wood
Starting with those Eastern Eagles, they will arrive in Hampshire with a very strong squad again, and one which shows very few changes from their 2024 title-winning line-up. Mark Scopes (GT140), Ashton Vale(250cc), Luke Clifton(350cc), Kenzie Cossey(500cc) and Simon Beaney/Brook Fowler (1,000cc Sidecars) come in as Hayden Watts switches from 250cc to 500cc action. Missing this year for various reasons are Will Thurlby, Connor Sargent, Jake Mulford, Ryan Kinsley and Stef Blyth/Morgan Blyth.
Runners-up last year were the Northern Knights, and the squad they have assembled for 2025 certainly suggests that they are very determined to bag the top prize this time around! Coming in are the likes of David Knowles(250cc) and multi–British Champion Paul Cooper(350cc), recently returned from having a go at some Winter ice racing. After unfortunately missing the 2024 event when being stranded in France due to a European Grasstrack semi-final being rescheduled due to wet weather, this year, Paul will be there and part of a blockbuster Northern Knights 350cc team. Also, fielding Jack Roberts and John Cox in that class, it would be a major surprise if they did not go all the way to the ‘A’ Final. For the Northern Knights squad, one major change sees them field a totally different 1,000cc sidecar team and in 2025, they will be represented by Rad Pickard/Donna Armitage, Jack Pickard/Max Midgeley and Bradley Reynolds/Connor Measor.
Third in 2024, the Western Warriors have announced what looks like a very solid, interesting squad for this year’s battle. It includes a totally new 500cc team comprising of Jordan Derrick, Jason Prynne, Cameron Taylor and Martin Williams. For the Warriors, Ben Phillips switches from 350cc down to 250cc, whilst Max Derrick makes the change in the opposite direction.
There are several class changes for the Midland Missiles squad, including Luke Harris dropping from 350cc down to compete on a 250cc, the capacity on which he won last year’s ACU British Championship. Harris will be joined in the 250s by Graham Thomas, who is an interesting addition to the Midland Missiles. The GT140’s team for the Missiles shows the biggest changes from 2024, though, as Kevin Gwillam, Wayne Broadhurst, and Phil Thomas come in. After winning the 2024 1,000cc sidecar ‘A’ final, the Missiles again field a very strong chair line-up represented by Pete Lloyd/Terry Madley, Matt Fumarola/Andi Wilson and Tom Cossar/Ryan Wharton.
Looking to move up the team standings in 2025, the Southern Stags have again obtained the services of former GB speedway rider Edward Kennett, and he will come under starter orders in a strong 500cc team which will also include Charley Powell and Chad Wirtzfeld. Making a team racing debut for the Stags will be young Thomas Vinning in the 250cc class, whilst the Stags’ 1,000cc sidecar line-up also looks impressive. In that one, Andrew Minard/Lewis Davies, Will Offen/Ricky Pay and Michael Austin/Wayne Rickards will proudly fly the 2025 Stags flag.
So, will the Knights clip the Eagles’ wings, the Stags run clear from the Warriors, or the Missiles fly high above everyone? The only way to find out is to make sure you are at the Bantasia Arena this coming weekend and watch the action build up to those all-important finals, which will decide the destination of the 2025 track racing team tournament winner’s trophy. If you want to make it a complete grasstrack Bank Holiday, the site will open at 12pm on Saturday, 3rd May for camping, which is FREE of charge. On Saturday evening, there will be food outlets, a beer tent and a screening of the first Speedway GP of 2025 from Germany.
On Raceday, gates open at 7am with practice between 11am and 12pm before a rider’s parade which will be immediately followed by the commencement of the first heat. In the interval before the finals, there’s a running race for the kids, and everyone who participates will be awarded a free lollipop! Then once the destination of the title has been decided out on track you can relax with a drink and enjoy the event after party!
So, this is truly an event for the whole family with admission costs of £15 Adults, Children under 16 FREE and programmes at £2. It’s going to be a cracker so don’t miss it!
