Speedway: Warriors welcome teams challengers to Oceanview

Whanganui Warriors team, from left, Brad Uhlenberg, Kaelin Mooney, Max Holloway, Zane Dykstra, Ryan Marshall, Hayden Hart and Rangi Dykstra (Manager).

As soon as it was announced that the Complete Paints Wanganui Warriors Teams Challenge would be held again this year, it was clear this meeting would be the highlight of the season.

That view was reinforced when the Warriors had their best finish at the ENZED-Dewtec Superstock Teams Champs in Palmerston North in February since they were runners-up in 2015.

It was the first time since that year they had made it through four races, finally finishing fifth after beating the Palmerston Noth Panthers and the Canterbury Glen Eagles on the second night.

The big question this Saturday is if anyone can stop the Gisborne Giants, now they have finally got the Palmerston North monkey off their back?

Even with Peter Rees retired from teams racing now, the Giants could be poised for a period of dominance.

The team is built around brothers Asher and Ethan Rees and Josh Prentice, but Tim Ross, Regan Penn and 2026 newcomer Brad Magee are all highly competitive in their own right.

The Baypark Busters come to Oceanview with a very strong team headed by 2024-25 1NZ Todd Hemingway.

Elias Dykstra is one of the hardest hitters in the sport. Flynn Ashton will make his Busters debut, coming in for the veteran Kerry Remnant who is retiring from teams racing.

With so many victories behind them, the Palmerston North Panthers can never be overlooked.

Former NZ Superstock Champion William Humphries brings a wealth of experience, Bex Barr joins the team after six years with the Mustangs and younger drivers Scott Williams, Trent James and Kyle Rowe are full of promise.

The talking point in the Manawatū Mustangs is the selection of Cody McKee, the Auckland Allstars flyer.

Add in the experience of father-and-son duo Ron and Brendon Tye, and the Mustangs are not a team to take for granted.

The Hawke’s Bay Hawkeyes are a mix of youth and experience.

Scott Gallop is one of the up-and-coming drivers on the scene and, at the other end of the scale, Mike McLachlan is a tough and experienced competitor who never gives an inch.

So what of the Wanganui Warriors?

Matt Buckley returns to the team, replacing 1NZ Brad Uhlenberg.

Warriors captain Zane Dykstra, Max Holloway, Kaelin Mooney and Ryan Marshall have formed a strong combination in recent seasons.

And Hayden “Lofty” Hart was in imperious form at Palmerston North whether blocking or running, winning the Spike Richardson Trophy for Entertainer of Teams Champs, the first Warriors driver to win this prestigious award since Kyle Heibner in 2015.

The Warriors will race Baypark Busters first up tonight in a reprise of the race that didn’t happen last year after Gerry Linklater’s unfortunate accident in the hot laps.

In the second round, the race between the Warriors and Gisborne looms as the race of the night.

After the two rounds of qualifying the third and fourth place teams will race one another in the Eco Tyre Recycling Challenge, then the top two teams will go into battle in a Grand Final.

Saturday’s racing also features the Karl Barritt Memorial Sidecars.

Barritt, a highly promising swinger for Bryan Kilkolly, died after an accident at Rosebank Speedway in Auckland in 2005. The meeting to remember him is always well supported.

Racing starts at 5pm, March 28, with the public gates open from 2.30pm

All the pre-race talk is over and the Wanganui Warriors Teams Challenge is about to hit the track.