BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 23, 2025

(SPEEDWAY 1)
 
TIGERS OVERCOME DEFICIT TO WIN

SHEFFIELD moved top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership with a comeback from ten points down to win a Super Heat at Oxford.
The Spires raced into a 23-13 lead after six races, but the Tigers came charging back with a string of 5-1s and led the meeting after Heat 11 when Charles Wright was disqualified for bringing down Jack Holder on the first bend.

Oxford turned the meeting back around and a 5-1 from Peter Kildemand and Rohan Tungate in Heat 14 put them four points up again, only for Holder and Josh Pickering to level it up once more with maximum points in Heat 15.
The 45-45 outcome set up a Super Heat and although Erik Riss won the race for the Spires, Holder and Pickering forced their way inside Tungate on the first lap to give the visitors the additional league point.

Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “I’m really pleased because we had a couple of hiccups.
“We sort of sacrificed the gates early on to have a swing in our favour later on.
“Jack and Picko knew the job, we had a chat beforehand and with the scoring the way it is, they knew it was important to just avoid a last place.
“We kept the faith and just about got the job done.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

LEICESTER pulled off one of the shocks of the season with a 47-43 win at Ipswich as the Witches were knocked off the top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table.
The Lions took full advantage of the home side’s injury problems with the absences of Jason Doyle and Dan Thompson a factor in the result – but it was still an impressive showing from the visitors on a track where other teams have struggled this year.

Reserve Drew Kemp played an important role with nine points and after Kyle Howarth came from the back to win Heat 14, Luke Becker (12+1) and Max Fricke (8+2) secured a share of the points in the last heat decider to complete a four-point victory.
Emil Sayfutdinov scored 12+1 from six rides for the Witches and skipper Danny King picked up 10+1 but was squeezed out in the final race.

Leicester achieved their result despite being without regular team manager Stewart Dickson due to illness, with co-promoter Jen Crossland stepping in as they enjoyed a terrific result.
Crossland said: “I have to say I didn’t think anybody would come here this year and beat Ipswich, so I’m super proud of all the riders, they’ve all ridden their hearts out tonight.

“It was a great team performance and they stuck in together when we needed to, and we got the job done in Heat 15 – and that’s the one I definitely couldn’t watch!
“Luke in the first few races was absolutely phenomenal, Drew at reserve as well, and I can’t fault any of them for their effort and attitude. Everything about it was amazing.”
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I know we were weakened, but it was our worst home performance of the season against a very good team who rode well.

“They were better than us and deserved the victory, but we have got to look ahead at what is to come and write it off because we are still in a great position in the league, and we have a massive meeting in the Cup semi-final up next.
“It doesn’t feel like a positive right now, but we picked up the aggregate point. I know there was a lot of talk at the start of the season of us going unbeaten all season but that was never realistic in our heads, but I do feel if we could go the whole season not being beaten on aggregate that would be amazing, and it is something I would like to achieve.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

GLASGOW and Ipswich racer Dan Thompson has officially withdrawn from Saturday’s FIM SGP2 Qualifier at Ashfield.
Thompson suffered a broken scaphoid in a crash during the British Under-21 Final last weekend and the injury means he is unable to take his place for the meeting back at his home Cab Direct Championship track.

The news means his twin brother Joe, who finished runner up in the national final, steps up into the SGP2 qualifier alongside fellow GB representatives Ashton Boughen and Jake Mulford.
Luke Harrison, who was third in the British U21 Final, becomes first reserve for the event whilst Jody Scott, who reached the semi-final last weekend, now comes in as second reserve.

(SPEEDWAY 4)

SCUNTHORPE face a 20-point deficit heading into the second leg of their MAXiCab KO Cup quarter-final tie against Oxford tonight (Friday).
The Scorpions lost 55-35 at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last month, which was their first meeting of the season.
They have a new riding order in place for the return as Declan and Zaine Kennedy both move into the main body of the team due to new averages, whilst Luke Harrison and skipper Simon Lambert are at reserve.

Francis Gusts makes his Cheetahs debut having come into the side as a 28-day replacement for the injured Dan Gilkes.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “The target will be 56 points to get us through to the semi-finals. Although it’s a big one, we know we are capable of hitting it, if we’re firing on all cylinders.
“Last season, we faced a similar deficit of 18 points against Berwick at the quarter-final stage and we made it through.
“Obviously, we need to get off to a good start, and if we do that, and we get the crowd get right behind us, then anything is possible.”

SCUNTHORPE: Steve Worrall, Declan Kennedy, Zaine Kennedy, Connor Mountain, Jake Allen, Luke Harrison, Simon Lambert.

OXFORD: Sam Masters, Jonas Knudsen, Cameron Heeps, Francis Gusts, Jordan Jenkins, Mitch McDiarmid, Luke Killeen.

(SPEEDWAY 5)

EDINBURGH host Workington in the re-arranged first leg of their MAXiCab KO Cup first round tie tonight (Friday) with the sides set for a busy weekend.
The Monarchs will be looking to build a lead at Armadale with the return fixture at the GT Tyres Arena taking place on Saturday afternoon.
Edinburgh operate rider replacement for Oskar Polis, who quit the club last weekend, whilst Mark Parker is promoted from their WSRA NDL team to take the vacant No.7 berth alongside free-scoring Victor Palovaara.

Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “I expect to see the best of everyone in the two matches with Workington.
“I’ve always said that we should not be depending on Victor’s seven rides. That’s not how the team is going to win.
“It’s important to take a lead on Friday; I’m sure we can do very well down there, but let’s make it easier with a good lead.”

Comets manager James Denham said: “It’s going to be tough at Armadale, Tate (Zischke) didn’t manage to get there last year before his injury and Fraser (Bowes) hasn’t seen the place before – but Troy (Batchelor) was on fantastic form their last year when we had a depleted team and we have riders like Jye (Etheridge) and Jacob (Hook) who have ridden for Edinburgh in the past and go well there.

“Edinburgh have had some setbacks this week, namely the withdrawal of Polis from their team, and we need to capitalise on that on Friday I believe.
“We are obviously going there to win as always but we ultimately need to keep the score as close as possible for the home leg on Saturday, where I believe we are capable of putting our early season woes behind us.”
EDINBURGH: Justin Sedgmen, Oskar Polis r/r, Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Victor Palovaara, Mark Parker.

WORKINGTON: Troy Batchelor, Jye Etheridge, Tate Zischke, Fraser Bowes, Antti Vuolas, Jacob Hook, Vinnie Foord.
 (FIXTURES)

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: Oxford v Edinburgh 3pm