BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2025/08

Feature photo by: IAN ADAM… SAM Hagon successfully defended his British Under-21 Championship following a dramatic Grand Final at Glasgow on Sunday.
The Final was led by Joe Thompson for two and a half laps before Hagon came through on the inside, but there was major drama at the end when Hagon hit the fence on the run to the finishing line.
He took the chequered flag in front before crashing on the first bend, whilst behind him Luke Harrison also came to grief after clipping Thompson, and William Cairns was also caught in the carnage.
Thompson was placed second with Harrison joining him on the rostrum in third place.

HERE’S the latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.

MAJOR EVENT LATEST

SAM PLAYS IT AGAIN!
BERWICK’S Sam Hagon became only the fourth rider to successfully defend the British Under-21 title with his victory at Glasgow on Sunday.
Hagon followed in the footsteps of treble winners Simon Stead (2001-03) and Robert Lambert (2017-19) and double winner Scott Nicholls (1998-99) when he topped the podium in an incredible finish.

The defending champion suffered a nightmare start to the meeting with a last place in Heat 1 and had to work his way through the semi-final, before passing Joe Thompson midway through the Final to hit the front.
There was carnage at the end as Hagon hit the fence and fell just after the chequered flag with Luke Harrison (3rd) and Will Cairns (4th) also being caught up, but fortunately there were no injuries.

Hagon said: “This meant so much more than the first victory. To be honest I’ve struggled ever since winning the first one and my first three rides today were c**p.
“A huge thank you to (Berwick owner) Jamie Courtney and Mark Courtney who have put so much into me the last few weeks. It all really began to click at Berwick last night

“And for everyone who doubted me … this is what I can do. It is going to be one to celebrate!”
Hagon’s next challenge is the FIM SGP2 Qualifier at Pardubice on Saturday, whilst Glasgow also stage one of the three events at Ashfield.
Dan Thompson, Ashton Boughen and Jake Mulford were the initial GB selections for the meeting – with Luke Killeen heading to Debrecen in early June – although Thompson’s broken scaphoid is likely to lead to a line-up change.

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP LATEST
LEMON PRAISES TITLE LEADER
BELLE Vue captain Brady Kurtz leads the World Championship standings after two rounds – and Aces manager Mark Lemon says it’s great to see.
Kurtz has translated his terrific form for the Aces into his debut Grand Prix campaign, where he has opened up a five -point lead at the top.

Lemon said: “Brady has made a sensational start to his debut season in the SGP.“I’m not surprised by that in the slightest. There’s a long way to go but it’s great to see him delivering on the biggest stage.”

STATEMENT WIN FOR TIGERS
SHEFFIELD became the first team in 2025 to defeat league leaders Ipswich in a tremendous Heat 15 at Owlerton on Thursday.
The Tigers then maintained their momentum by winning at King’s Lynn on Monday to establish themselves firmly amongst the pace-setters.

Manager Simon Stead said: “(Ipswich) haven’t gone unbeaten until this point for no reason. Their home form and their away form has been really good, they’ve got a good balance within their team and they showed why the bookies are making them favourites.

“I think we found it difficult in areas; we haven’t got the points return from some areas that we would expect and I think if the truth be told, we were on the receiving end of a little bit of good fortune.
“We’ll take that and put the win on the board but we know when it comes to the crunch at the business end of the season, we’re going to have to perform much better than that against this Ipswich team.”

WITCHES WAIT ON INJURIES
IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins is waiting for further news on injured duo Jason Doyle and Dan Thompson with the hope being their absences are not long-term.
Doyle suffered a dislocated him in last Saturday’s Grand Prix in Warsaw, whilst Thompson broke his scaphoid in the British U21 Final, with both missing the win at Birmingham on Monday.

Hawkins said: “We will know more about Jason and Dan as the week progresses regarding a timescale of how long they will be out for.
“We are at the stage that we know they are injured, we just need to know the extent of the damage and recovery times, and we should know that this week.”

MISSING LINK FOR STARS
KING’S Lynn manager Rob Lyon says his side are feeling the absence of Ben Cook, who has been out for the last month with wrist injuries.
The Stars have lost their last three matches, including at home to Sheffield on Monday where their former rider Lewis Kerr scored 16+1.

Lyon said: “Four points from Ben’s rides is just not enough, and the better team won on the night. Lewis Kerr had a terrific night for them and he was probably the difference.
“We’ll have to think about Birmingham away next Monday and go again there, but at the moment it’s a sore one to take tonight.”

LIONS STAY GROUNDED
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson says he won’t be losing sleep over a 52-38 defeat at Belle Vue on Monday, with the Lions having won a crunch home clash with King’s Lynn four nights earlier.
Dickson said: “We were beaten by the better team tonight, so we can only draw a line under it and move on to Thursday at Ipswich.

“There’s no point in shouting or getting too intense about things – Belle Vue are a good team, and we know how tough it is to come here.
“We have other realistic challenges and that’s not being disrespectful to the rest of the league. There are meetings that I will target for points, and this probably wasn’t one of them although I would have liked a better show.”

PK GOING THE RIGHT WAY
PETER Kildemand’s score of paid double figures was a bright spot in Oxford’s home defeat to Belle Vue last Thursday where the Aces dominated the race wins.
Kildemand said: “It’s been a tough start to the year for me, but it’s moving in the right direction.

“It wasn’t an ideal start to the season for me to pick up an injury, especially missing meetings around here, because it meant I was missing out getting used to the Oxford track. When I do, it will be a home advantage and I’m starting to get there on that.
“I really think we’re starting to work it out with my bikes and I feel I’m improving with every meeting.”

BRUMMIES LOSE MJJ
BIRMINGHAM welcomed Matej Zagar back into their team when they faced Ipswich on Monday – but that came 24 hours after the news that Michael Jepsen Jensen had stood down from UK racing.
Jepsen Jensen said: “The truth is, I’ve realised that what I need right now isn’t more racing; I need a clear head, strong fitness, time to go for bike rides and runs, and to trust the process I’m following.

“Even with our tough results, I’ve enjoyed the experience and could definitely see it happening again in the future — at a better time and under better circumstances.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this, especially the club for giving me the chance.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
PREMIERSHIP leaders Ipswich look to extend their unbeaten home record when they face Leicester on Thursday… Meanwhile Sheffield go for points on the road when they visit Oxford… Another busy Bank Holiday Monday sees Belle Vue open proceedings at home to Oxford at midday… Sheffield take on Leicester with a 6.30pm start, whilst Birmingham face King’s Lynn in the televised fixture.
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST

TIGERS’ DREAM START CONTINUES
GLASGOW won a Super Heat at Scunthorpe on Friday to keep up a terrific start to 2025 – and manager Cami Brown says there’s even more to come!

Brown said: “To win at Plymouth and Scunthorpe within six days is a great way to start our Championship league campaign.
“I’m delighted for the boys. It’s another big result and I’m proud of all the boys. I keep saying it, but when they all click together this will be some team.”

BANDITS NEED TEAM EFFORT
BERWICK boss Stewart Dickson saw his side pull off a 46-44 win over defending champions Poole having called for an all-round contribution in order for the Bandits to make a mark this season.
Dickson said: “Avoiding last places is very much the key to success and we are a side built in such a way that every one of the seven needs to be contributing.

“There’s no question we are a decent side, there’s also no question that the Championship is stronger and more evenly matched than for many years which means that a missed gate, fall or mechanical problems can cost you dearly.”

ONE OUT OF TWO FOR PIRATES
POOLE’S Northern tour resulted in one win and one defeat as Richard Lawson and Anders Rowe sealed a 48-42 win at Edinburgh with a 5-1 in Heat 15, before a late comeback saw the Pirates just miss out at Berwick.
Reflecting on the Armadale win, Rowe said: “It was tough out there tonight. To start with, the track sort of caught us out. It looked pretty grippy but it was quite greasy, so personally I went too high on the sprockets then started to tweak it.
“Luckily we managed to get it going in the end and finish Heat 15 off with a 5-1, so all good. I made another little change in Heat 15 and it worked, and maybe I had a little bit more speed than Richard, but he made a very good start and so it was good.”

EX-SPIRE BECOMES A CHEETAH
FRANCIS Gusts has returned to Oxford but this time in the colours of the Cheetahs as a replacement for the injured Dan Gilkes, having recently lost his place with the club’s Premiership side.
Manager Peter Schroeck said: “It is an ideal opportunity for us to welcome back Francis to the club, although this time he will be representing the Cheetahs. This will give him a further opportunity to establish himself in British Speedway.
“We are gutted for Dan and our fans who took him to their hearts with his 100% commitment on track and we wish him a speedy recovery

SCOTT IN FOR BEARS
REDCAR have redeclared their line-up with a change at reserve as Jody Scott comes in as a replacement for Tom Spencer.
Scott told redcar-speedway.com: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be signed for Redcar, it’s a track I’ve always liked and I’m sure I’ll get on all right there.
“I’ve done a few guest bookings for them recently and I’ve loved it, and I can’t wait to get started.”

COMETS MUST IMPROVE
WORKINGTON boss James Denham remains confident his side can put a tough start to the season behind them, with important MAXiCab KO Cup clashes with Edinburgh to come this weekend.
Denham said: ““We will make no excuses about recent results and we will see how the next few fixtures unfold and go from there, but I’m fairly confident that this is just an early season blip.
“A lot of riders in this league are doubling up in the Premiership and have had ten or more meetings, so once we get up to speed I have faith that the results will come.”

DECISION TIME FOR SCORPIONS
SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey admitted he was considering options following last Wednesday’s 55-35 defeat at Poole, with his side then dropping a point at home to Glasgow on Friday when they missed out in a Super Heat having been held 45-45.

Godfrey said: “It’s early days still but our away form is a cause for concern. We can’t keep doing that if we want to make anything of this season and be challenging for honours.
“It is going to have to be addressed very shortly, so we’ll make a decision on the best way forward.”

MONARCHS JUST MISS OUT
EDINBURGH ended a difficult weekend short of one more rider after Oskar Polis quit the club following Friday’s home defeat to Poole – before a better team performance looked set to result in a win at Plymouth, only for the Gladiators to fight back and take it 46-44.

Monarchs boss John Campbell said: “A greatly improved performance compared to many we’ve given this season, but it was pretty much in our hands, and we threw it away.
“The most positive things were that Kye Thomson was very, very good and Jonatan Grahn who was down and out after last night, was a completely changed man tonight.”

GLADIATORS OFF THE MARK
PLYMOUTH picked up their first league points of the season with a 46-44 win over Edinburgh, fighting back from an eight-point deficit at the halfway stage.
Captain Ben Barker won Heat 15 with the scores level and Joe Thompson added the vital third place, with ex-Monarchs rider Lasse Fredriksen having scored 15 points at reserve.

THE WEEK AHEAD…
AN important weekend of action in the MAXiCab KO Cup sees Edinburgh and Workington race their rearranged first round tie on Friday and Saturday, starting at Armadale and then moving on to the GT Tyres Arena… Scunthorpe have to pull back 20 points in their quarter-final tie at home to Oxford on Friday… Southern rivals Plymouth and Poole meet in the first leg of their tie at the Coliseum on Saturday.

WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE/NATIONAL TROPHY LATEST

LYDEN RULED OUT
EDINBURGH Monarchs Academy racer Kyran Lyden is set for a spell on the sidelines after he crashed during the recent home win over Belle Vue.
Lyden said: “I’ve battered myself a bit, it’s uncomfortable. I went to hospital, I’ve fractured my fingers, my skull, my back in two places and my neck.
“I’ve got a neck collar on at the minute, I’ve got to wear it for six weeks. I’m going to see a spine specialist tomorrow. I’ll be off work for a bit I am afraid.”

COLTS SEEK CHANGE OF LUCK
BELLE Vue are hoping for good news on injured Mason Watson but have confirmed Harry Fletcher is likely to be out long-term due to a broken collarbone.
Co-boss Graham Goodwin said: “With Harry looking at 12 weeks out, we are hoping to make a new signing to replace him.
“We also hope that Mason be fit to belatedly take his place (at Leicester) on Sunday. There surely can’t be any more black cats to cross, and hopefully our efforts will start to reap rewards.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
CHAMPIONS Leicester race their first home match in the WSRA NDL when they host Belle Vue on Sunday, and a busy weekend then sees them face the Steelers at Owlerton on Monday… Oxford Chargers are also in action on Sunday as they host Edinburgh.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

THURSDAY MAY 22:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich (49) v Leicester (41) 7.30, Oxford (33) v Sheffield (57) 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 23:
MAXICAB KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Scunthorpe (35) v Oxford (55) 7.30 ; 1st round 1st leg: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30

SATURDAY MAY 24:
FIM SGP2 QUALIFIER: Glasgow 7pm
MAXICAB KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Workington v Edinburgh 3pm; Q/F 1st leg: Plymouth v Poole 7pm

SUNDAY MAY 25:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester (48) v Belle Vue (42) 3pm, Oxford v Edinburgh 3pm

MONDAY MAY 26:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v Oxford 12pm
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30, Sheffield v Leicester 6.30
WSRA NATONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Steelers v Leicester (at Sheffield) (follows Prem fixture)

WEDNESDAY MAY 28:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Scunthorpe 7.30
MAXICAB KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Poole v Plymouth 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 29:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Leicester (50) v Birmingham (40) 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 30:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Oxford 7.30

SATURDAY MAY 31:
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester 5pm

SUNDAY JUNE 1:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Oxford 1pm
CHALLENGE: Kent v Thurrock 12pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (125cc): Belle Vue (follows NDL fixture)

MONDAY JUNE 2:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: King’s Lynn v Ipswich 7.30, Leicester v Sheffield 7.30

WEDNESDAY JUNE 4:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Glasgow 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ DEVELOPMENT INDIVIDUAL (HARBOUR MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP): Poole 7.30