BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2025/18

Feature photo by: KEITH HAMBLIN…GLASGOW closed the gap at the top of the Cab Direct Championship by winning a Super Heat at Berwick on Saturday after the sides had drawn 45-45 in the regular 15 races.
There were never more than two points between the teams during the meeting as neither could maintain an advantage, and wins for Bandits duo Drew Kemp and Peter Kildemand in the last two races secured a point apiece, as well as the aggregate point for the visitors.
And it would be the Tigers who took the maximum available as Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth got the better of Kemp and Kildemand in the early stages of the Super Heat, for their second such success this season after also being victorious in the same way at Scunthorpe.

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

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP LATEST
 
LIONS CALL FOR COMPLETE EFFORT
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson was content with the 45-45 outcome from the away leg of the Premiership KO Cup Final at King’s Lynn.
But the Lions chief is mindful that the Stars can strike back in the second leg on Thursday which will be a true winner-takes-all encounter, where Tom Brennan will guest once again.
Dickson said: “It sets it up nicely and King’s Lynn will still feel they’ve got a chance as well, because I know I would if it was one-off match that you just need to win by any score.

“Tom’s performance was very, very good, and it was a dream guest booking. It highlighted the fact that I didn’t want to go with rider replacement in a Cup Final, and you will have noticed that Rob Lyon (King’s Lynn manager) also went with seven riders tonight rather than r/r.
“We will need seven riders again in the second leg, and all seven contributing, because we could still be in for a difficult night.”

STARS STILL IN THE HUNT
KING’S Lynn manager Rob Lyon insists his side will still go into the second leg of the Premiership KO Cup Final with confidence that they can pull off a positive result.
The Stars were held to a 45-45 draw at home by Leicester but the durability of the team was shown in their semi-final success over Ipswich.
Lyon said: “We knew it would be tough, Leicester are a good side and they picked well with their guest in Tom, and he rode really well.

“Whether Luke (Becker) would have scored quite as many as that, we don’t know. Luke is a great rider, but they certainly picked well with Tom and he had a good night, and he was probably the difference if I’m honest.
“I think both teams rode well, and it was always going to be a tight Final. All of the boys are experienced enough at Leicester, they know what to expect there and it’s down to us to get our heads into it.”

ACES WIN AT BRUM
BELLE Vue star Norick Blodorn enjoyed one of his best performances of his British career with an 11+1 haul in the win at Birmingham on Monday, with the German unbeaten from his first four rides on a circuit where he has often performed well.
Blodorn said: “I’ve missed a few meetings and not been 100 per cent so it’s good to finally be back and scoring big points.
“It was epic. I dropped the clutch and the bike just reacted. It was fun because the bike was doing all the work.
“To be honest it’s pretty sad to be here for the last time. I think this is the best place for me in British Speedway. To lose this place for me I will have such brilliant memories.”

TWO IN FOR TIGERS
SHEFFIELD have made a major move in the transfer market approaching their deadline, with the signings of Nick Morris and Jye Etheridge to replace Lewis Kerr and Justin Sedgmen.
Promoter Damien Bates said: “We’ve been keeping a close eye on performances for a while now and we hoped something would improve in certain areas of the team.
“Our 18th league meeting, and therefore our transfer deadline, is just around the corner and with the new averages coming out later this week we just had to do something.
“From here on in we’re only looking forward and we want to try and rebuild that togetherness and momentum ahead of the business part of the season.”

WITCHES TAKE NO CHANCES
IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins said he had to err on the side of caution in withdrawing Jason Doyle from Heat 13 of what was already a comfortable home win over Birmingham in difficult conditions.
Hawkins said: “Jason only did three heats and was suffering from a tooth infection. He gave himself a jolt when he nearly crashed in his third ride and I’m sure if the scores were closer, he’d have gone out in Heat 13.
“With the way the things are with the season he is having and the injuries and now an infection in his mouth, I don’t like pulling them out of a Heat 13, but it was the sensible thing to do in the grand scheme of things.”

INSTABILITY COSTS BRUMMIES
BIRMINGHAM boss Chris Adams says the club have suffered from a lack of stability due to their recent year-to-year existence, with the Perry Barr Stadium set to close at the end of this season.
Adams said: “If you want a successful team it takes time, three to four years roughly, because you need that stability in a team.

“With the uncertainty of Birmingham Speedway club for the last two or three years it has affected that process, like it or not.
“And no-one can be blamed for that because the stadium is not owned by the club.”

SPIRES SEEK SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION
OXFORD boss Peter Shroeck says the desire is still high to enjoy a positive conclusion to what has been a testing campaign for the club’s top-flight side.
Schroeck said: “We know we can’t reach the play-offs, but we want a good run towards the end of the season and finish the year on a high.
“We want the fans to come along to Oxford and enjoy the remaining meetings for Spires.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…

LEICESTER and King’s Lynn race the Premiership KO Cup to a conclusion at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Thursday, with the scores all square at 45-45… ROWE Motor Oil Premiership resumes on Monday with the Stars again facing the Lions at the Adrian Flux Arena… play-off contenders Belle Vue and Ipswich meet in a big clash at the National Speedway Stadium… Sheffield also look to boost their top four position when they visit Birmingham.
 
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST
 
ACE RESERVE FOR BEARS
REDCAR boss Gavin Parr has praised the recent improvement from youngster Ace Pijper who has added vital points at reserve in a positive weekend at results.
The Bears beat Poole at home and then collected a crucial away win at Workington to boost their play-off chances.
Parr said: “Ace (Pijper) has been superb recently, we are building his confidence bit by bit and he was a major reason why we beat Poole.

“I don’t know what happened with Ace at Glasgow but we have had to build his confidence bit by bit, a little like a Lego set but he had confidence in himself last night and as each week passes, the bad meetings become less and less.”

TIGERS ON TRACK
GLASGOW competed a five-point weekend by winning a Super Heat at Berwick on Saturday, 24 hours after a narrow home victory over the Bandits.
The Tigers are now established in second position in the Cab Direct Championship table and boss Cami Brown was delighted with the outcome on a tough night.
Brown said: “It was such a tricky night making sure we used the right riders in different races.
“We were left vulnerable in a few races but our lads really stepped up when we needed it most.
“To manage to get the points in such difficult circumstances is very satisfying. I was really disappointed the night before after winning by just four at Ashfield. But it’s a complete contrast of feeling now.”

MONARCHS MARCH ON
EDINBURGH boss John Campbell says the Monarchs’ impressive win at Scunthorpe sets them up for the remainder of the season as they look to secure a play-off place.
Campbell said: “It was a great performance once we got going. I spent some time with Michael Palm Toft and he responded, much more like his old self, but the whole team did well.
“I was very happy with them, and we can do well in the rest of the season.”

LAWSON’S ENGINE WOE
POOLE No.1 Richard Lawson spoke of his frustration over early engine problems which restricted his scoring at Redcar in a meeting which resulted in a narrow defeat for the league leaders.
Lawson said: “I feel bad about the final result as I had a disastrous start to the meeting and felt I cost the team important points.
“I started off on an engine that has only recently come back from service and it had no power. It was so flat, with absolutely no power at all.
“So I went on the bike fitted with an engine that is well overdue for service, and it was like a rocket-ship. It doesn’t make sense, but it turns out that cost us dearly. A big shame.”

COMETS: JUST A BLIP
WORKINGTON manager James Denham is optimistic his side can quickly bounce back from their home defeat to Redcar.
The Comets were beaten 51-39 by the Bears to end their good run, and they go into two away fixtures this weekend at Scunthorpe and Plymouth.
Denham said: “This is just a bump in the road. The lads have shown their quality recently — now it’s about bouncing back and focusing on a busy weekend ahead.

“We have a busy schedule of meetings coming up and I’m sure the boys will be wanting to put this behind them, prove that this was just a blip and continue the form we have shown over recent weeks.”
“We are already focusing to Scunthorpe and Plymouth next weekend, and there’s no doubt that if we continue how we were last Saturday against Scunthorpe and Wednesday at Poole we can make the trip worthwhile with some more league points on the board.”

MORRIS JOINS BANDITS
NICK Morris is set to make his return to British Speedway this weekend having joined Berwick for what will be a second spell with the club.
Morris becomes the Bandits’ second recent addition with Jonas Jeppesen scoring well on his debut at Glasgow.
Club owner Jamie Courtney said: “In previous years when we have suffered setbacks we have always tried to find replacements for injured and missing riders.
“But this season the stars have really aligned as first Jonas and then Nick were not only available but keen to join the Bandits’ cause.
“They are great replacements and will help us push on for that play-off place.”

CHEETAHS BEATEN AT PLYMOUTH
OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck reflected on a tough night at Plymouth as a much-changed Cheetahs lost 52-37 in a setback to their play-off hopes.
Schroeck said: “The Plymouth track holds no fears for us – we normally come down and put on a better show and we’ve won here on numerous occasions.
“But today wasn’t meant to be. It’s been a rough week, trying to get riders together, and we were some missing key riders around here tonight and that hurt us.
“It was an eventful meeting, but we were beaten by the better team on the night. But we won’t dwell on it. We’ll re-group and we’ll keep on pushing on.”

SCORPIONS LACK THE KICK
SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey says he shares fans’ frustration at the Scorpions’ inability to step up to the plate in important matches which have seen their play-off hopes fade.
Godfrey said: “We just don’t seem to have had that continuity and consistency with the team this season, no-one – apart perhaps from Connor Mountain, who has had a brilliant season – has really been consistent or kicked on.
“Every team builds to the same points limit at the start and you always hope you are going to have riders who do kick on and improve and better their average. But it just hasn’t happened for us this year for whatever reason.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
A BUSY week in the race for the play-offs gets underway with champions Poole hosting Oxford on Wednesday… Edinburgh look to keep up their good run against Berwick at Armadale on Friday, whilst the Bandits face Oxford on Saturday… Glasgow travel to Redcar on Friday and then host Scunthorpe on Saturday, with the Scorpions in action at home to Workington on Friday… the Comets then make the long trip to Plymouth on Saturday.

WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE/NATIONAL TROPHY LATEST

 CHARGERS CHARGE CLEAR
OXFORD Chargers are five points clear at the top of the WSRA NDL after a 54-36 win over Belle Vue on Sunday, with four riders in double figures.
Chargers racer Ashton Vale (11+2) said: “I’m very happy with my afternoon. After my first couple of rides, we made a couple of change to the bike and after that, I felt more comfortable. I felt fast and it was good.
“I feel the season is going well for me. I’ve had a couple of bad meetings, but I’ve moved on from them. That’s how you progress and learn in speedway, you just have to keep on trying different things.”

LION CUBS MOVE UP
LEICESTER moved back above Edinburgh into second place in the NDL table with a 55-35 win over the Monarchs Academy on Sunday, with Ben Trigger scoring a paid maximum.
Manager Jen Crossland said: “I didn’t expect that scoreline, I thought it would be a lot closer, but it went really well for us overall.
“Ben scored a great maximum and I think Cooper (Rushen) would have had one as well if it had been earlier “Ryan (Ingram) was absolutely awesome, both he and Eli (Meadows) rode really well at reserve, and they both came up to the mark we needed so we’re really happy with the performance.”

MIXED WEEEKEND FOR ACADEMY
EDINBURGH added points to their NDL total with an impressive away win against the Steelers on Friday, although they were unable to back it up as they went down at Leicester on Sunday afternoon.
Manager Scott Wilson said: “There were some high points. Dayle (Wood) had a great tussle with Max Perry to win Heat 5 and Jordy’s (Loftus) race with Cooper (Rushen) in Heat 15 was great to watch. Two youngsters going wheel to wheel with our boy coming out on top.
“We have mostly home meetings remaining so we’ll look to win those when they come around and finish as high up the table as we can.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
ONE fixture in the National Development Trophy this week as Leicester face Plymouth on Sunday at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.
 
FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY JULY 30:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Oxford 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 31:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester (45) v King’s Lynn (45) 7.30

FRIDAY AUGUST 1:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (35) v Berwick (37) 7.30, Redcar (42) v Glasgow (48) 7.30, Scunthorpe (32) v Workington (58) 7.30
 
SATURDAY AUGUST 2:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick (35) v Oxford (55) 7pm, Glasgow (45) v Scunthorpe (45) 7pm, Plymouth (39) v Workington (51) 7pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 3:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Leicester v Plymouth 3pm

MONDAY AUGUST 4:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30, Birmingham (40) v Sheffield (50) 7.30, King’s Lynn (37) v Leicester (53) 7.30

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford (42) v Redcar (48) 7.30, Poole v Plymouth 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 7:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Ipswich (46) v Oxford (44) 7.30

FRIDAY AUGUST 8:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (50) v Scunthorpe (40) 7.30, Glasgow v Workington 7.30, Redcar (42) v Berwick (48) 7.30

SATURDAY AUGUST 9:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Scunthorpe 7pm, Plymouth v Poole 7pm, Workington v Oxford 6pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 10:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Kent Eagles (35) v King’s Lynn (53) 12pm
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Middlesbrough 1pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (250cc): Belle Vue (follows NDL fixture)

MONDAY AUGUST 11:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30, Leicester v Oxford 7.30, Sheffield v Belle Vue 7.30