READING Racers travel to the Isle of Wight today (Thursday) to face this season’s new Southern Development League team the Wight Wizards.

It is the first trip across the Solent for Reading since their resurrection and entry into the junior league last year.

A National League standard challenge match between the two sides last season fell victim to bad weather, meaning they have not crossed swords for more than 12 years.

The Wizards rode at the weekend, losing to the Kent Kestrels as the Iwade-based team clinched the 2018 league title with three convincing wins in one day.

The Racers will be missing teenager Dan Gilkes, but will have their other top man Nick Laurence leading the team.

He is backed by Jamie Bursill, who is something of a track specialist, appearing regularly at the Ryde track.

Captain Stephen Whitehouse continues to be an ever-present this year, but fourth regular Rhys Laker is unavailable. Sixteen-year-old Bailey Fellows steps in as cover for Laker.

Having used a team of relatively raw novices – including blooding some riders from their own training school – for the majority of their matches this season, the Wizards have opted for a much more experienced line-up to take on the outgoing league champions.

Their former National League reserve Jamie Sealey leads the team and is backed by Ben Ilsely, and brothers Chris and Rob Watts.

The return match at Eastbourne on September 1 has been postponed and that date will now see the Racers face their successors as champions Kent Kestrels.

Thursday’s Line-Ups: Isle Of Wight Wizards – 1. Rob Watts, 2. Ben Ilsley, 3. Jamie Sealey, 4. Chris Watts.

Reading Racers – 1. Nick Laurence, 2. Stephen Whitehouse (c), 3. Jamie Bursill, 4. Bailey Fellows.