WEYMOUTH Wildcats retain hope of future involvement in the new NORA Speedway League (NSL) after being overlooked for the inaugural 2023 season.

In what is effectively a development league, NORA have grasped the opportunity to begin a new venture after controversial rulings by the British Speedway Promoters’ Association in 2020.

Their decision banned nomadic clubs, such as Weymouth, from competing in leagues under their umbrella.

Wildcats had looked into the possibility of forming a breakaway league with other nomadic clubs and also applied for NORA membership without success.

READ MORE: Weymouth Wildcats reveal multi-use stadium ambition

And NORA have now formed a four-team league this summer, comprising of the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Cradley Heath and Sittingbourne.

Speaking to Echosport, Wildcats’ co-promoter James Tresadern spoke of his sadness at missing the cut.

He said: “I was a little bit gutted that when the new NORA league was announced we hadn’t been approached.

“Not being involved in it, I was like: ‘Good luck to them’ because Barry (Bishop) and Martin (Widman, Isle of Wight promoters) have been absolute legends for us and any nomadic team letting them come over and race.

“I did get a message from Barry saying: ‘Don’t worry, we’ll involve you guys at some point’.

“Fair dos, we’ve never disbelieved Barry or Martin. They always think of us, which does mean the world to us because it keeps the Wildcats name going.

“But I was a bit disappointed we weren’t involved in any discussions about a new league.

“If we’d been involved early we could’ve come up with something.”

Wildcats are scheduled to feature in an invitational event at one of the Isle of Wight’s home meetings this summer on a date yet to be announced.