BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2025/23
Feature photo by: IAN ADAM …GLASGOW have secured top spot in the Cab Direct Championship with a 53-37 win over Edinburgh on Friday – and they may be set to face the Monarchs again the play-offs.
The Tigers moved one point clear of Poole at the top of the table thanks to their home victory, whilst their Scottish rivals have also competed their fixtures and are currently in fourth place.
They will retain a play-off position unless Workington win each of their remaining three fixtures, as well as taking their last two aggregate points available – meaning the Comets require a home and away double over Berwick, and to overturn a 12-point margin in an away trip to Redcar on Friday.
HERE’S the latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP LATEST
ACES ALL SET FOR DEFENCE
BELLE Vue boss Mark Lemon feels the signs are good for the play-offs, having taken encouragement from several lower-order performances in last week’s defeat at King’s Lynn.
Lemon said: “There were some positive signs. Jake (Mulford) and Tate (Zischke) both rode really well. It’s probably the best meeting I’ve seen Tate ride away from home. He was on the pace all night and picked up some crucial points.
“Norick (Blodorn) changed his set-up and finished the meeting in a strong way. It will be a vital element to the end of the season if those guys can find their best form going into the play-offs.”
WITCHES RELISH TIGERS TEST
IPSWICH manager Ritchie Hawkins says completing the regular league season with home and away matches against title rivals Sheffield is perfect preparation for the play-offs.
Hawkins said: “It is a great opportunity to race at Sheffield so close to the play-offs, a place we may end up going to if we both make it to the Final.
“It is a really challenging end to the season with two meetings against Sheffield, but that is a great thing going into the play-offs and good results will give us confidence and momentum.
“We have had a good run of results, but this will be a stern test to get us ready for the massive meetings this month.”
KEMP CONFIDENT FOR LIONS
LEICESTER reserve Drew Kemp is confident the Lions have what it takes to mount a strong title challenge in the play-offs this month.
The KO Cup winners rounded off their home schedule with a 53-37 win over Birmingham last week, with Kemp winning three races.He said: “When me and Joe (Thompson) are scoring it takes the pressure off the top boys, it makes everyone’s life ten times easier and the whole morale is a lot better.
“If we can keep that up now, the whole team is pulling their fingers out effectively, so going into the play-offs we can hopefully come away with a couple of wins.
“I think we are capable of beating anybody on our day. Anything can happen in speedway, but I’m sure whoever we’re against we’ll put on a good show, and I know we’re capable of winning.”
TIGERS: HOME FORM CRUCIAL
SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead said the loss of an aggregate point at King’s Lynn was more down to their failure to record a convincing win in the reverse fixture at Owlerton.
The Tigers lost a Super Heat at the Adrian Flux Arena on Monday after going down 47-43, having come back from 12 points down on the night.
Stead said: “Gate four was tough for most of the night, particularly in the second half of the meeting, and unfortunately Picko (Josh Pickering) just couldn’t get the point we needed him to like he did from there in Heats 13 and 15.
“But it once again reiterates the importance of a good home display which we didn’t really have in our own leg of this one; I would say we lost this aggregate point at home more so than away here, and we need to bear that in mind.”
STARS END WITH A FLOURISH
KING’S Lynn ended their Premiership campaign with six wins out of seven, rounding things off by defeating play-off challengers Belle Vue and Sheffield at the Adrian Flux Arena.
The Stars took the aggregate point on both occasions leading to a clear sense of ‘what might have been’ especially considering the long-term injury absence of Ben Cook earlier in the summer.
Manager Rob Lyon said: “The return of Ben was pivotal that and now we’ve won six out of the last seven meetings, and we’ve had a decent season. We got to the Cup Final and we beat Ipswich three times, so overall it’s been okay although every team aims to get to the play-offs, that’s the whole point.
“The boys have done a great job given the circumstances and there’s been a really good team spirit especially over these last six or seven meetings, and we’ve put up a good show home and away.”
BRUMMIES STILL HOPING
BIRMINGHAM CEO Nigel Tolley says he won’t give up on efforts to find a new venue for the club to run from at some stage in the future, after their tenure at Perry Barr came to an end.
Tolley said: “It does hit you that that was the final meeting in the Premiership for Birmingham Brummies.
“Yes, we’ve lost the stadium, but we are still Birmingham Brummies and we’ll see if we can find another home for ourselves.
“We shan’t give up on that, and there’s lots in the pipeline. Let’s find another home for Brummies.”
THE WEEK AHEAD…
TOP spot in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership will be confirmed on either Wednesday or Thursday with Sheffield and Ipswich meeting home and away in the space of 24 hours… fellow play-off qualifiers Leicester complete their regular campaign at Oxford on Thursday… the first play-off semi-final gets underway at Belle Vue on Monday with the Aces facing either Ipswich or Sheffield.
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST
TIGERS ON TOP
GLASGOW secured top spot in the Cab Direct Championship with their win over Edinburgh last Friday – and boss Cami Brown wants them now to convert that into trophy success over the coming weeks.
Brown said: “I’m delighted and hugely proud of the boys for their league campaign.
“It was another huge performance to do the double over Edinburgh and that was the main job. But to win six out of eight away meetings and 13 out of 16 overall is a sensational season.
“However the job is not done yet. We still have the play-offs and you don’t get any trophies for finishing top of the league.”
ADVANTAGE PIRATES
POOLE lead Glasgow by 14 points at the halfway stage of their MAXiCab KO Cup semi-final after a powerful display in the second half of last Wednesday’s first leg.
Pirates No.1 Richard Lawson completed a 15-point maximum in Heat 15 with a 5-1 alongside captain Zach Cook as the home side outscored the Tigers 32-16 over the final eight races of the meeting.
Lawson said: “Tonight, I hit the ground, I didn’t make starts, I did make starts. It kind of had all sorts, but I was just glad we came through it as a team.
“Fair play to Zach in Heat 15. I was checking on his whereabouts and that was probably one of the best rides I have seen him do this season. When you’ve got both Bomber (Chris Harris) and (Kyle) Howarth right behind you it is not easy.”
COMETS KEEN FOR REPEAT
WORKINGTON’S final home league fixture of the season against Berwick has been re-arranged for this Sunday after the weather intervened last weekend.
Comets manager James Denham said: “We know what we’re capable of and we’ll be looking to make the most of our home advantage again and also finish our home campaign with a bang for the fans.
“The atmosphere against Glasgow was fantastic and I can’t thank the fans enough for the backing they gave us — it really lifted the lads and we saw the result.”
AN ACE SEASON
REDCAR reserve Ace Pijper says he’s thoroughly enjoyed his first season at the ECCO Arena having made several strong points contributions as the Bears chase silverware.
Pijper said: “I have had a pretty decent year. I started a little slowly in the opening matches but after that things are going reasonably well and better than previous years I’ve had at this level.
“I would like to stay at Redcar if things work out, it’s a great club and everyone seems to have fun at Redcar.”
MPT: UNDERDOGS CAN PREVAIL
EDINBURGH’S Michael Palm Toft hit double figures in a defeat at Glasgow on Friday which left the Monarchs hanging on to find out whether they will face at return to Ashfield in the play-offs.
Their 21-point total will be enough for fourth place unless Workington pull of a run of three wins which would need to also see them overturning a 12-point deficit in an away trip to Redcar.
Palm Toft told the club’s website: “The play-offs are a funny thing and we are coming in as underdogs after tonight, but all I’ll say is don’t write us off.
“We didn’t all click tonight, and who knows if we come here again let’s see what happens.”
HARRISON STARS FOR SCORPIONS
SCUNTHORPE youngster Luke Harrison was a bright spot in a tough season for the club, completing his Championship campaign with a Heat 15 win in last Friday’s home defeat to Redcar.
Harrison said: “As a team, we’ve had a tough time this season. It’s certainly not been down to lack of effort. All the riders have given their all throughout the season, but it’s just not fallen our way.
“On a personal note, it’s been good for me. I scored my first maximum, I scored my highest score [paid 19 against Oxford], my average has gone up, and then tonight, I won my first Heat 15. On an individual note, I’m pleased – it’s just a shame we couldn’t get going as a team, but there’s always next season.”
POSITIVE PLYMOUTH
PLYMOUTH promoter Mark Phillips says he is relishing the task of planning for 2026 after a successful run of home meetings this summer.
The Gladiators have not reached the Championship play-offs but they have played host to several dramatic encounters at the Coliseum and have reported increased attendances.
Phillips told the club website: “2025 has shown us the full potential of what we can achieve both on and off the track.
“The growing support from our fans this year has been incredible, breaking attendance records, and with a strong team working behind the scenes, we are ready to drive a new chapter of energy and innovation into speedway.”
NO HOME COMFORT
OXFORD promoter Jamie Courtney admits home form has been the Cheetahs’ downfall this season as they have failed to do enough to make the play-offs.
Courtney said: “In truth the damage was done when we lost at home to Redcar and at Workington in quick succession.
“Or even earlier perhaps in June when we lost at home to both Glasgow and Edinburgh in the space of a fortnight.
“A couple of wins on the road should have been the springboard, but we’ve failed to make the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium a fortress this year.”
THE WEEK AHEAD…
PLAY-OFF qualifiers Redcar host Workington on Friday, with the Comets then taking on Berwick in a re-arranged fixture on Sunday… Berwick stage their penultimate home meeting of the season when they host Plymouth on Saturday… Sunday also sees the second leg of the MAXiCab KO Cup semi-final between Glasgow and Poole, with the Pirates 14 points ahead from last week’s opening clash… Poole then open up the Championship play-offs when they host Redcar in the first leg of their semi-final next Tuesday.
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE/NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY LATEST
BROADHURST RULED OUT
OXFORD’S Max Broadhurst will miss the remainder of the season after suffering multiple fractures to his hand in a crash last week.
Broadhurst has recently made a significant contribution at reserve for the WSRA NDL leaders, and the injury also rules him out of Leicester’s NDT team.
Chargers manager Peter Schroeck said: “It’s a great shame for Max as he’s such a good lad and has worked so hard this season. His progress over the last few weeks has been phenomenal, and it was clear to everyone how much potential he has.
“Even though his season has been cut short, I’m certain he’ll remain a big part of Oxford Speedway’s future.“
THE WEEK AHEAD…
ONE meeting in each competition this week as third placed Edinburgh face the fourth placed Steelers on Friday at Armadale in the WSRA NDL… Meanwhile in the NDT, Kent Eagles take on Birmingham in the visitors’ final official fixture.
FIXTURE PICTURE…
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30, Oxford (40) v Leicester (50) 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar (51) v Workington (39) 7.30
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh (52) v Steelers (38) 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick (44) v Plymouth (46) 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington v Berwick 3pm
MAXICAB KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow (38) v Poole (52) 5pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Kent Eagles v Birmingham 12pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v TBC 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Poole v Redcar 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10:
MAXICAB KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Oxford v Redcar 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: TBC v Belle Vue 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Workington 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh 1.30
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Redcar v Glasgow 7.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow 12pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: TBC v TBC 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Oxford (32) v Poole (58) 7.30
