A popular Workington Comets supporter will be remembered at a memorial meeting next week.
The Comets promoters have confirmed the meeting on July 29 will be in memory of a “very special person to Workington speedway – Susan Roper”.
The Northside Arena will be hosting the one-of-a-kind Susan Roper Memorial Grand Prix meeting with the exact same format as the current Speedway Grand Prix series with 18 riders competing – two of them at reserve.
There will be 20 heats plus two semi-finals and a final featuring the top eight scorers with first and second in each semi going into a grand final.
With Connor Bailey and Luke Harrison racing for Redcar at Berwick that night and Ace Pijper in Poland all week, Sam and Harry McGurk, Luke Crang and Elliot Kelly will be involved for the Comets.
Invited riders include Alfie Bowtell, Ashton Boughen, Sam Hagon, Max Perry ,Nathan Ablitt and Ben Trigger who have been impressive on previous visits this year while Max Clegg, James Pearson, Jack Smith and the newly returned to the sport Steve Boxall will be making their first appearances at the venue.
Cumbrians Adam Roynon and the currently unattached Kyle Bickley are also included in what looks an exciting line up.
The final rider involved will be Danny Phillips from Berwick who will be included in tomorrow’s draw.
After the match there will be a live big screen showing the FIM Speedway World Cup Final in the marquee.
The meeting is being sponsored by Moss Bay Metals with whom of course Susan Roper had connections.
Workington promoter Andrew Bain said: “We have quite a gap in our fixture list before the business end of the season comes and quite a hectic schedule for the Comets in August.
“So we have decided there is no better time to be holding this event and what a line-up we’ve got and what a meeting it’s going to be!
“Susan was a special person, not just to Workington speedway but the global speedway family, so what better way to honour Susan than a special meeting dedicated to her. It’s just a shame she isn’t here to witness the new era of the Comets.
“Susan was popular with promotions and riders up and down the country. She regularly supported riders financially when they were injured or struggling so this meeting is the least we can do in her memory.”
The rider’s gate draw will be confirmed this Saturday (July 22nd at 3.00pm) and it will be streamed Live on the Comets’ Facebook page.
