Sky Sports will broadcast live speedway racing from Burnham-On-Sea’s Oak Tree Arena for the first time ever next month, it has been announced this week.
Somerset Rebels General Manager David Croucher confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com that Sky will be broadcasting live from the track on Tuesday April 28th for the clash between Somerset Rebels and King’s Lynn Stars.
“Everyone here is absolutely delighted,” said Croucher. “We are all looking forward to putting on a great show in front of the cameras.”
“Like so many things lately, this came completely out of the blue, and we have to thank Jonathan Chapman and all at King’s Lynn for agreeing to come down on Tuesday instead of the scheduled Premier Trophy fixture on the Friday night.”
“My thanks go also to those responsible at Sedgemoor District Council for their immediate agreement to this alternative race night and to Ian Thomas at Workington for agreeing another fixture change, so that we can get the rest of the Premier Trophy meetings in by the end of May.”
“I know that on previous occasions, Sky have expressed an interest in broadcasting from the Oak Tree Arena, and for various reasons, it hasn’t happened. Well, this is now written in stone, and I hope the TV viewing public will enjoy a thrilling meeting on the Track that was voted Track of the Year by the Speedway Rider Association in 2008.”
“With newly structured teams right through the League, I don’t think anyone could predict an outcome. Hopefully, we will have completed 5 home fixtures by then and all our lads will have settled in nicely, but King’s Lynn are never easy opposition, home or away, whoever it is against, and I know they will be coming down to win.”
“Jonathan and I have done battle previously in front of the Sky cameras and I won’t want a repetition of the last time we met. The boys will be fired up I’m sure, that’s always the way when you’re on TV and we won’t be able to afford any slip ups on the night. Equipment, attitudes, everything needs to be just right, and Steve Bishop and I will be hammering that home to the riders.”
“I know Johno will be looking forward to it and it will make a change for him to be behind a pair of goggles rather than a microphone, which, for a few years now, has been his role on Sky.”
“There are 2 new Aussies, Justin Sedgmen for the Rebels, and Darcy Ward for King’s Lynn, who will be thrown into the spotlight on the night as very few people have ever seen either of them race.”
“It is always a great privilege to get on the TV and I sincerely hope that this meeting is not only a great advert for Somerset and the set up here at the OTA, but also a great advert for the Premier League.”
