LAMBERT AND BEWLEY GO FOR BRITISH GLORY IN MANCHESTER DOUBLE-HEADER

Great Britain duo Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley are seeking more golden moments in Manchester as they prepare for an ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester double-header on Friday and Saturday.

Britain’s biggest speedway event comes to the iconic National Speedway Stadium for the first time, and the venue enters its maiden season on the Speedway GP calendar with a huge reputation for delivering epic action.

Manchester hosted the 2021 and 2024 FIM Speedway of Nations Finals, which were both won in dramatic style by Great Britain, with good friends Lambert and Bewley joining forces to make history, beating Poland in the 2021 Grand Final and Australia in 2024.

Both men have won the British Championship in Manchester too, with Bewley topping the podium for three straight seasons from 2022 to 2024, before Lambert regained the crown for the first time since 2018 on May 12, winning a Grand Final for the ages.

Lambert was part of Manchester club Belle Vue’s British title-winning side for the 2022 Rowe Motor Oil Premiership play-offs, with Bewley helping them win the league in 2024.

The National Speedway Stadium is set to host the biggest crowds in its nine-year history this weekend, and Lambert and Bewley cannot wait for an atmosphere they believe will inspire them on the track. 

Lambert said: “The thing with Manchester is people are nice and close to the back straight, so you can see the cheers as you are coming off the corner.

“At the Speedway of Nations last year, I remember seeing everyone hanging off the fence, fist pumping and celebrating. Then I knew that Dan had done the job, and we had it in the bag. That can be a great motivator and it’s nice when you do your victory lap to soak up that atmosphere.

“We have had plenty of good memories there, so why not make some more? I have been on a good roll in Manchester with the meetings I have had there. Hopefully going into the GPs, I am going to continue that form.” 

 Bewley also can’t wait to line up on Speedway GP’s newest circuit, where he first raced for the Belle Vue Colts in 2016, before joining their Aces senior side in 2017. He has missed only the 2020 and 2022 seasons for them since.

He said: “It is good to race on your home track. Like the Speedway of Nations in the past, I feel like I always feel good when you have that, I don’t know, people might say it’s pressure, but when you’ve got that home crowd, it just gives you that little bit of extra. I think it’s awesome.

“I love the whole stadium, but the back straight has got a bit extra for me. It’s always a bit louder on that side. 

“If I was going to watch, that’s where I’d want to be; I’d want to be in there with them.” 

Despite their history of success in Manchester, both Lambert and Bewley are expecting two nights of high-octane racing as Britain stages two Speedway GPs in the same season for the first time.

Even if Lambert hits the front, he knows taking the chequered flag will be no easy task. He said: “You can feel very vulnerable. Even when you are in front, the four laps seem to take a very long time. But when you are behind and chasing, it seems like it passes very quickly. Nine times out of 10, you can make a move and maybe secure the win on the last lap or corner.

“I think Manchester is one of those tracks, which are wide open and create plenty of lines. It can create some magnificent racing. 

“We saw it in the Speedway of Nations Final last year and the British Final this year. I’m sure there will be many more great heats this weekend coming.”

Bewley led Lambert to an unforgettable British one-two at the 2024 FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff; his second victory in three years at the Principality Stadium.

Now he is dreaming of a third home win and would love to do it on a National Speedway Stadium circuit, where his passing prowess is renowned. But he believes even his years of experience in Manchester will not give him a huge home advantage.

He said: “Obviously the first GP win in Cardiff; nothing will top that. But to get one in Belle Vue would be special too. As far as the actual track is concerned, as far as it being a home track, I really don’t see it as much of an advantage. I feel like at this level, the track is just a track.”

Bewley arrives in Manchester placed sixth in the Speedway GP World Championship on 34 points, with Lambert eighth on 27.

They are chasing down Poland’s series leader Bartosz Zmarzlik, who is on 53 points and has an eight-point advantage over Brady Kurtz. 

The Aussie star, who has 45, will hope to close the gap this weekend on a Manchester track, where he has raced for the Belle Vue Aces since 2021.

Britain will also be represented by local wild card Charles Wright from nearby Stockport, who booked his place in the double-header by finishing second to Lambert in the British Championship Final at the National Speedway Stadium. 

Catch the action at Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium on Friday and Saturday. Limited tickets are still available online HERE now.

2025 ATPI FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF GREAT BRITAIN – MANCHESTER LINE-UP:

95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)

505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain)

66. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)

99. Dan Bewley (Great Britain)

54. Martin Vaculik (Slovakia)

25. Jack Holder (Australia)

155. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark)

415. Dominik Kubera (Poland)

29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia)

46. Max Fricke (Australia)

744. Kai Huckenbeck (Germany)

201. Jan Kvech (Czechia)

69. Jason Doyle (Australia)

105. Anders Thomsen (Denmark)

101. Brady Kurtz (Australia)

16. Charles Wright (Great Britain – wild card)

17. Chris Harris (Great Britain – first track reserve)

18. Adam Ellis (Great Britain – second track reserve) 

Bewley in the Monster Energy zone. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning

MANCHESTER FANZONE

Celebrate the National Speedway Stadium’s first SGP weekend with a visit to the ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester fanzone, which is open from 1.30pm on Friday and 3pm on Saturday.

Located on the sports pitch behind bends three and four – the fanzone features the official Speedway GP autograph session, where fans can meet all 18 riders from 4.30pm and grab a signature or selfie.

Pick up some exclusive freebies from Monster Energy athletes Fredrik Lindgren, Dan Bewley and Jack Holder at the Monster Energy Rig Riot from 5pm, featuring an appearance from three-time Speedway GP world champion Tai Woffinden. The Monster Energy area will be open from 3pm.

Up to 1,000 ticket holders can watch Friday’s Qualifying session and sprint race from the East Grandstand at 2pm (gates open at 1.30pm), with fans also able to watch from the fanzone on the big screen. There is no Qualifying session ahead of Saturday’s event.

Win Speedway GP prizes with our quiz on the big screen at 3.15pm. Fans can also pose for a photo with the Speedway GP trophy throughout the afternoon and the best of the 2024 SGP action will be playing on the big screen.

We will have interviews with some VIP guests at 5.35pm, and meet FIM Speedway mascot Speedy, who will be in the fanzone at 3.30pm and 6pm.

There will be a vintage speedway bikes exhibition, other photo opportunities, the We Love Speedway sign, food and drink stalls, the Speedway GP merchandise shop and much, much more.

The fanzone closes at 6.30pm ahead of the opening ceremony at 6.45pm, with racing getting underway at around 7pm. 

Bewley meets his fans. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning

WHERE TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND: TUNE INTO MAX

ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester R4 & R5 – Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14 at 19:00 UK time (20:00 CEST)

Fans can catch every moment of FIM Speedway action live on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platforms Max, HBO Max or discovery+. Coverage of all nine Speedway GP Qualifying sessions, featuring a brand-new knockout format for 2025, will also be available on these platforms.

Max is available in Europe in France, Iberia, the Nordics, Turkey and Central and Eastern Europe. HBO Max is WBD’s streaming platform in Belgium and the Netherlands. And discovery+ is the streaming platform for Germany, Austria, Italy and the United Kingdom ahead of Max launching in these countries in 2026.

Coverage of Speedway GP is available worldwide with digital and linear coverage – see below for more details of where to watch.

ACROSS EUROPE: Live on Max, HBO Max and discovery+

BRITAIN: Live on discovery+ and TNT Sports

POLAND: Live on Max

SWEDEN: Live on Max

DENMARK: Live on 6’eren and Max

AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox Sports

GERMANY: Live on discovery+

ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on Go3 and TV3 Sport channels

CZECHIA: Live on Max and CT Sport

SLOVAKIA: Live on STVR Sport and Max

CROATIA: Live on Max

USA/Canada: Live on Racer Network

AUSTRIA: Live on discovery+

NORWAY: Live on Max

FINLAND: Live on Max

REST OF THE WORLD: Live on Racer Network 

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