The history of speedway on the Isle of Wight is a story of sporting ambition, passionate supporters, memorable riders and a small Island that developed a big reputation in British Speedway. From the early days of racing at Smallbrook Stadium to the rise of the Isle of Wight Islanders and the later Warriors era, speedway has brought excitement, competition and a strong sense of community to the Island.

Isle of Wight Speedway was founded on 13th May 1996 at Smallbrook Stadium when a team was created for the newly formed Conference League. Life started for the team named Ryde Wight Wizards and finished the season in forth place.

In 1997, the Conference League was now the third tier of British Speedway to which the Ryde team were entered in once again. However, in July of this year, Skegness Braves folded whilst competing in the Premier League. The Smallbrook Stadium promotion team stepped in to host all of their remaining fixtures for this season and this is when the Wightlink Islanders was born. The Islanders quickly established themselves as a competitive side.

In 1998, they won their first major team honour, the Young Shield, defeating Peterborough in the final. It was an early indication that the Island team could compete successfully against established mainland clubs.

The early 2000’s become our Golden Years as a club, our most successful period.
In 2001, the Islanders won the Young Shield for the second time, this time beating Edinburgh in the final.

Moving onto 2002 brought success for individual and pairs events. Australian star rider Adam Shields won the Premier League Riders Championship. Adam also won the Premier League Pairs Championship with his team mate Danny Bird.

In 2003, the Islanders won their best honour to date, the Knockout Cup. They defeated Sheffield who entered the final leg as red-hot favourites. However the Islanders managed to secure the title by a narrow margin across the two legs.

For many fans, these years represent the heart of the Islanders era. Home meetings at Smallbrook were a regular part of the Island's sporting calendar on Tuesday evenings throughout the season. Big fixtures brought supporters to the grandstand and grass banking to watch the Islanders take on visiting teams.

The Isle of Wight saw many riders throughout these years who became well known speedway riders whoever went to become Grand Prix stars - even two World Champions in Australian duo Jason Doyle and Chris Holder. Doyle won the world title in 2017, while Holder became world champion in 2012. It is a remarkable part of the club's legacy that two future world champions raced at Smallbrook early in their careers.

2007 brought more major successes. Chris Holder and Jason Bunyan won the Premier League Pairs Championship, and the Islanders also lifted the Premier League Fours title. They even appeared on a televised fixture on Sky Sports against the King’s Lynn Stars on Tuesday, June 12, 2007.

At the end of 2008, the club's Premier League chapter came to a close as the Islanders moved down to the National League for the following season. Although the level of competition changed, the club continued to give riders opportunities and kept speedway alive on the Island.

The Islanders spent several seasons competing in the National League, facing different challenges while continuing to build their team. However in 2013, the Islanders won the National Trophy. It was an important achievement that demonstrated the club could still enjoy success despite the changes in its competitive position.

Sadly the club faced difficulties, and there was no league speedway at Smallbrook during 2014 and 2015. For supporters who had grown accustomed to the sound of the bikes and the atmosphere of race nights, this was a significant gap in the Island's sporting life.

After two seasons away from league competition, speedway returned to Smallbrook in 2016, thanks to the efforts of promoters Barry Bishop and Martin Widman.

The returning team initially competed under the Islanders name before becoming the Isle of Wight Warriors for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The change brought a fresh identity while retaining the club's connection with its history.

The Warriors competed in the National League and Development League era, providing opportunities for developing riders and continuing the Island's long association with the sport.

In 2018, Ben Morley became National League Riders' Champion. The club also received recognition for its community work, winning the WSRA Community Club of the Year award in 2018 and again in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 season before the club announced they would not be competing during the 2021 season. However, a team would race as the Wightlink Warriors Shale Track Racing Club, separate from the British speedway leagues. This allowed Smallbrook to host a wider variety of events, including junior racing, historic motorcycle classes and competitions for women riders.

In 2022, Smallbrook hosted the inaugural NORA British Women's Speedway Championship, won by Katie Gordon.

In 2024, the Warriors won the amateur NORA league, providing another milestone in the club's continuing story.

In 2026, Isle of Wight speedway celebrated 30 years since the Ryde Wight Wizards first raced at Smallbrook Stadium.

The Wightlink Warriors returned for a summer programme of meetings, with team challenges, individual championships, memorial events and opportunities for younger riders. The season also came during a period of change for the stadium, with new directors announcing ambitions to regenerate the venue as a year-round community hub.

The history of speedway on the Isle of Wight is about much more than trophies and league positions. It is about the riders who entertained the crowds, the volunteers who helped keep the sport running, the familiar voices around Smallbrook and the supporters who returned season after season. Thirty years on, the names Wizards, Islanders and Warriors each represent a different chapter in the same story: a determination to keep speedway alive on the Isle of Wight.