BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 31,2025

(SPEEDWAY 1)
 
CLOSE BATTLE GOES REDCAR’S WAY

REDCAR held off Oxford to win a tense Cab Direct Championship battle 48-42 at the ECCO Arena.
The Cheetahs led the early stages but new Bears signing Jody Scott played a key role on his debut, and his 5-1 with Jake Mulford in Heat 8 put the home side ahead for the first time.

Their victory was confirmed in the penultimate race when Scott and Danny King team-rode for a 3-3 to leave Oxford skipper Sam Masters at the back when he had been introduced as a tactical substitute.
Erik Riss (11+1) and King (10+1) scored double figures for the hosts with Scott contributing a vital 7+2 at reserve, whilst Masters led the way for the Cheetahs with 13 from six rides, and Francis Gusts impressed with 9+1.

Bears manager Gavin Parr said: “We knew we were as fast as them, but they were just trapping. Once we started trapping with them and getting in front, all of a sudden it changed a bit, and our home advantage came into it.
“We had a long talk with Jody at the beginning and took him on a track walk with Danny, we just wanted him to relax and enjoy it, and he came in after every race with a smile on his face. He definitely paid dividends today.”

Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “It was a very close meeting, and we just fell slightly short. But a six-point defeat isn’t much and we’ve kept ourselves right in the hunt for the aggregate point when Redcar come back to our place later in the season.
“Both Francis and Mitch (McDiarmid) were very impressive in their first meeting around this track. For Francis, it was a performance that should boost his confidence, since he beat both Charles Wright and Danny King during the evening.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

EDINBURGH will take an eight-point lead to rivals Glasgow on a date to be confirmed for the second leg of their MAXiCab KO Cup quarter-final.
The Monarchs were 49-41 winners at Armadale on Friday courtesy of another stunning showing from their stellar reserve Victor Palovaara, who scored a massive 20 points from seven rides.

The Swede dropped his only point to Leon Flint in Heat 14 whilst the Tigers dug in to win the races Palovaara was not involved in – and they brought the deficit down to single figures with a 5-1 from Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth in Heat 15.
Harris, who provided a memorable Heat 13 win from the back, top-scored for the visitors with 13, whilst Kye Thomson (9+3) and Justin Sedgmen (9+2) backed up Palovaara for the Monarchs.

Palovaara said: “We are improving, we are getting there. Everyone is coming up with some good heats.
“Glasgow are a strong team especially when the track is a bit grippier as it was tonight, so this is a good result.
“We had a good win at Glasgow before, so I am confident we can go there are get a good result.”

Tigers boss Cami Brown said: “We had a lot of problems tonight. Everyone tried hard. But I’m obviously disappointed with the defeat. “It’s a big ask. But with no tacticals, a quick start at home and I’m positive we can turn it around.
“Chris and Kyle have given us a big hope to come back in the second leg. They were both excellent all night. Chris was absolutely exceptional. It was vintage Bomber as he produced several incredible passes.”
The scheduled return fixture at Ashfield on Saturday was postponed due to a poor forecast, with a new date to be confirmed.

(SPEEDWAY 3)

GREAT Britain youngster Cooper Rushen narrowly missed out on a rostrum place in a hard-fought SGP3 Final at Prague on Friday.

Leicester Lion Cubs and King’s Lynn Young Stars racer Rushen notched ten points from five rides, which was just two behind winner Villads Pedersen as the Dane recovered from a last place in his first outing to win his remaining four and take the World Youth title.

With eight points from his first three rides Rushen led the standings but a last place in Heat 15 proved costly, and with second in Heat 18 he ended up in a four-rider run-off for third overall.
That race was won by Australian rider Beau Bailey as he joined Pedersen and Slovenia’s Sven Cerjak on the podium, leaving Rushen placed fifth overall in his last meeting at 250cc level.

Rushen said: “We gave it our all, we smelt the podium and we had one foot on it, but fair play to Beau Bailey, he did it when it counted and that’s speedway.
“We’ve just got to keep moving, on to the 500cc stuff and we’ll see how it goes. A massive thank you for all the messages and support.
“Sorry we couldn’t bring the trophy home this year, but there are some fast boys on the 250s in England so it will come home one day!”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

THE 2025 British Youth Championship gets underway at Leicester this afternoon (Saturday, 5pm) for all classes, where including Finals there will be a total of 36 heats.
Eight riders compete in the 500cc class including current WSRA National Development League regulars Jamie Etherington, Stene Pijper, Lee Harrison and Ryan Ingram, eleven in the 250cc class, and a total of 13 riders across the 125cc and Support classes.

This round includes four female riders with Tia May Brant competing in the 500cc class and Demi-Blu Harris making her BYC debut in the 250cc class. Both Jessica Cox and Ella Marshall compete in the 125cc Support section.
British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “It is a fairly late start in the season for the first round and I know all the riders who are competing today are chomping at the bit to get the series underway.

“We are all really looking forward to the start of another British Youth Championship, which this season will be over seven rounds, which again is fantastic, and credit to all the clubs that are hosting a round starting with Leicester today.”
The Young Lions would like to thank the Leicester promotion for their continued support as well as their Series sponsors – Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, Wessex Marine, Northern Scaffolding Solutions, Friends of Speedway, Royle T Racing, HG Aerospace Engineering Ltd, Ignite Insurance Brokers Ltd, Rentruck of Rochdale and the BSP Ltd.
The second round for both the 125cc and Support classes moves onto Belle Vue tomorrow (Saturday) where they will compete after the WRSA NDL fixture between the Colts and the Oxford Chargers.

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY MAY 31:
MAXiCAB KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Glasgow (41) v Edinburgh (49) OFF
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