BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 7, 2025
Date: Thursday August 7, 2025
(SPEEDWAY 1)
BEARS CHARGE INTO TOP FOUR
REDCAR struck a huge blow in the race for the Cab Direct Championship play-offs with a 49-41 win at direct rivals Oxford.
The Bears took all three points from the meeting to move back into the top four, and they are now strong favourites to finish there having inflicted a damaging third home defeat of the season on the Cheetahs.
The home side were led by an outstanding performance from skipper Sam Masters who scored 19+1 from seven rides, but his only support of note came from battling reserve Luke Killeen with 10+1.
By contrast, the visitors gave a terrific team display with guest Leon Flint scoring a super 11+1 paid maximum from four rides, whilst Jason Edwards (11+1) and Danny King (10) also hit double figures.
Bears manager Gavin Parr said: “Getting guests in is not easy, but we had a guest who came in and did what Erik (Riss) would have done, on a par with him.
“We’re playing catch-up a little bit, but tonight I cannot ask any more from the guys, they’ve all done fantastic.”
Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “You never like losing your home matches. On Saturday we went to Berwick and won, so it’s a crazy rollercoaster at the moment.
“No excuses, we got beaten by the better team today, so fair play to those guys. We’re not a million miles away, we’re going to keep on going and the play-offs are still a little way away so let’s not panic, although I realise today is not a good day for us.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE completed a 100 per cent home record in the Cab Direct Championship but were made to fight all the way by Plymouth at Wimborne Road.
The Pirates won 48-42 to move to the brink of play-off qualification, although the efforts of the Gladiators’ top two prevented them from ever going more than eight points up, setting things up well for Saturday’s return in Devon.
Plymouth suffered a blow when captain Ben Barker was withdrawn with a dislocated shoulder after a heavy Heat 7 crash, but guest No.1 Dan Thompson (13) and veteran Scott Nicholls (13+1) were both in excellent form.
Thompson was the only rider to defeat home No.1 Richard Lawson, who scored 14 points as the Pirates did enough for the win.
Lawson said: “They pushed us real hard. Scotty looked back to his best, and it hasn’t taken him long.
“I would have liked to have won by a bigger score, but we’ve got the points on the board and that’s what counts.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
ROWE Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich race their match in hand on Belle Vue when they take on Oxford at Foxhall tonight (Thursday).
The Witches are a point clear having won a Super Heat after a 45-45 draw in Manchester on Monday, and they can extend that advantage with victory over the Spires in the evening’s only top-flight fixture.
They name an unchanged one-to-seven in terms of personnel, but Adam Ellis switches to No.2 with skipper Danny King joining Tom Brennan in the middle order.
The Spires have declared Victor Palovaara as a new signing to replace Craig Cook, but he misses out due to illness and the visitors call up Mitch McDiarmid from their Championship side to guest.
In addition, Oxford track Richard Lawson in place of long-term absentee Erik Riss, whilst Rohan Tungate has a shoulder injury and is covered by rider replacement.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Oxford have had a tough year, and we will go into the meeting similar to the last home meeting against Birmingham where we are expected to win and win comfortably.
“It is the same situation for us; we know from the King’s Lynn Cup meeting that we cannot let standards slip.
“We put on a brilliant show at Belle Vue on Monday and want to keep this momentum going and enjoy our racing. That is our aim on Thursday.”
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Adam Ellis, Danny King, Tom Brennan, Emil Sayfutdinov, Dan Thompson, Jason Edwards.
OXFORD: Charles Wright, Richard Lawson, Rohan Tungate R/R, Mitch McDiarmid, Maciej Janowski, Peter Kildemand, Luke Killeen.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
LEICESTER have confirmed Joe Thompson will retain their Rising Star berth for the remainder of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership season.
Thompson rejoined the Lions in May as an injury replacement when Dan Gilkes, who had taken over from Sam Hagon, suffered knee damage in a crash at Poole.
Gilkes is now heading for surgery and will not race again this year, so Thompson stays in position for the East Midlands side who won the KO Cup last week and are strongly placed to reach the play-offs.
Thompson said: “I’m really pleased to be joining the Leicester team on a full-time basis. It’s never ideal to come in as a replacement for an injured rider, and I’d like to wish Dan all the best with his recovery.
“I feel like I’ve been making good progress recently and I’m looking forward to continuing that development alongside the team as we head towards the play-offs.”
(FIXTURES)
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 (42) v Poole (48) 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)
