BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 17 2025
(SPEEDWAY 1)
TIGERS PURSUE TOP OF THE TABLE SPOT
GLASGOW secured their place in the Cab Direct Championship play-offs with a 55-35 win over Oxford at Ashfield.
And the in-form Tigers are now targeting the top of the table as they trail leaders Poole by just one point, with two matches in hand.
Skipper Chris Harris scored 13+1 from five rides and was involved in three stunning races with opposite number Sam Masters, who beat him in Heat 10 before Harris hit back to overcome the Cheetahs captain from the back in Heats 13 and 15.
Kyle Howarth added 12+1 on his return to the side with Dan Thompson and Villads Nagel both scoring paid 11, whilst Masters’ (12) main support came from reserve Luke Killeen with 9+1 on a day which saw the visitors’ top four hopes extinguished.
Tigers manager Cami Brown said: “We look like a compact unit right now, the top five are super-solid. All-in-all it was a really good, business-like display and we are looking stronger every meeting.
“Chris was epic once again with outstanding races with Sam Masters. This track serves up sensational entertainment every week. Full credit to the track staff for delivering such a great circuit.
“I’m delighted we’ve closed the gap on Poole at the top. But we now have two huge fixtures at Edinburgh and Workington on Friday and Saturday.”
Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “No excuses – we were beaten by the better team. Glasgow are a very good side, who could end the season as the league champions.
“We put up a good fight and that’s all we can do. I’m proud of the effort from the boys, who kept going, and Mitch (McDiarmid) and Luke deserved to take a 5-1 in Heat 14. Also a big thank to Sam Hagon for accepting the guest booking and getting stuck in.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
WORKINGTON produced a remarkable mid-meeting burst to overcome Edinburgh 47-43, hanging on for victory in a last-heat decider at the GT Tyres Arena.
The Comets were six points down at the halfway stage of the Cab Direct Championship clash only to stun the Monarchs with a hat-trick of 5-1s to turn the meeting in their favour.
Edinburgh still took it to the wire with maximum points from Jonatan Grahn and Paco Castagna in Heat 14, and they sent out the same combination for the decider – but whilst Grahn hit the front again, Castagna was kept at the back by home duo Troy Batchelor and Antti Vuolas.
The result keeps the Comets’ hopes of a late run to the play-offs alive, and their scoring was led by Vuolas with 11+1, Batchelor on 10+2 and Tate Zischke with 10.
Reserve Grahn scored 13 for the Monarchs with Castagna collecting 11+1, and whilst defeat means they are yet to confirm their play-off place, they did take the aggregate point which moves them closer.
Castagna said: “It is a shame we lost – Heats 9, 10 and 11 killed us completely. I feel like we should have won and got all three points, but it is not all negative.
“Some of us had a good night, some of us a bad one but again we do it as a team. I felt we were stronger overall we just let the meeting get away from us in those heats.
“We got the bonus though, so it’s not all bad and that helps us for the play-offs.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
REDCAR edged out injury-hit Plymouth 46-44 at the Coliseum to strengthen their position in the Cab Direct Championship play-off zone.
The Bears made it a weekend double over the Gladiators as they stretched clear of the chasing pack in fourth place, and the result means it is now only Berwick and Workington who can force their way in.
Scott Nicholls rolled back the years for the home side with 17+2 from seven rides as he continues his comeback, but guest Tobias Thomsen was withdrawn after a tangle with fellow stand-in Declan Kennedy in Heat 9.
Reserve Jake Mulford led the Bears’ scoring with 10+2 from six rides and guest Lewis Kerr won three races as he notched ten, with those two riders securing an away win with a 4-2 in Heat 14.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
OXFORD race their penultimate home match of the Cab Direct Championship campaign tonight (Sunday, 6pm) as visitors Workington look to boost their play-off hopes.
The Cheetahs have had a tough run of late dropping them out of contention for a top four finish, but they are keen to finish on a high with home clashes with the Comets and Poole.
Meanwhile the Comets are nine points behind Redcar with two matches in hand, and they still have to visit the ECCO Arena next month, although they are currently yet to win on the road.
Oxford will be without the suspended Francis Gusts at No.2, whilst Workington bring in Zaine Kennedy to guest for Fraser Bowes who is absent with Polish commitments.
Cheetahs boss Peter Schroeck said: “Workington have a good side, led by our former No.1 Troy Batchelor, who seems to be in a rich vein of form at the moment. It’s going to be an entertaining early evening of speedway at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium.
“It’s not going how we’d like it to, at the moment. The highlight for me is helping the younger members of the team progress. Of course, that’s important, because we want to come back bigger and stronger next season
“We’ve got more to look forward to, than not to, and in the meantime, we want to turn around our form, starting with taking a victory over Workington – and hopefully an aggregate point as well – at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium.”
OXFORD: Sam Masters, TBC, Jordan Jenkins, Mitch McDiarmid, Cameron Heeps, Luke Killeen, Jonas Knudsen.
WORKINGTON: Troy Batchelor, Zaine Kennedy, Antti Vuolas, Jye Etheridge, Tate Zischke, Jacob Hook, Vinnie Foord.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BRITISH duo Seth Norman and Ollie Binns just missed out on the semi-finals after a gritty performance in the second round of the European 250cc Pairs at Slangerup.
They were two points adrift of qualification, but Norman produced the highlight of the day when up against eventual winners Poland as he managed to split their combination with a brave pass from the back.
Norman scored six points whilst Binns, on his first venture into Europe, was on the pace all day and could have easily scored more than his well-earned three points, but he will again gain from the experience.
Poland claimed victory over host nation Denmark as the Danes lost out in the Final, with David Oscenda beating Villads Pedersen and Elias Jamil to clinch victory. Germany were third on countback having had a heat advantage over the Slovenia team in fourth.
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY AUGUST 17:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford (41) v Workington (49) 6pm
MONDAY AUGUST 18:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue (48) v Birmingham (42) 7.30, King’s Lynn v Oxford 7.30, Leicester (36) v Ipswich (54) 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford (42) v Poole (48) 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 21:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Ipswich (44) v King’s Lynn (46) 7.30, Sheffield (42) v Leicester (48) 7.30
