BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2025/24
Feature photo by: EDDIE GARVEY …REIGNING champions Belle Vue will take a six-point lead to Ipswich on Thursday for the second leg of their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-off semi-final.
The Aces provided 11 of the 15 race wins in Monday’s opener at the National Speedway Stadium, but they were held to a 48-42 result after a determined showing from the league leaders.
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DOYLE ON THE BOIL
IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins paid tribute to Aussie star Jason Doyle for a classy performance in the first leg of the play-off semi-final at Belle Vue.
Doyle scored 11+1 as the Witches restricted the Aces to a six-point margin in Manchester, with the sides set to complete the tie at Foxhall on Thursday.
Hawkins said: “Doyley did really well, it is the most speed he has had around here probably since he joined us.
“It is great to see him get there and you can see how he has progressed and if it wasn’t for that knock-back mid-season, I think he would have been back to his top form.
“To have him going like this is a massive bonus for us in the play-offs.”
DAN HOPES FOR ACE NIGHT
BELLE Vue star Dan Bewley says the trip to Ipswich holds no fears as the Aces look to defend a slender six-point lead in the second leg of their play-off semi-final.
Bewley top-scored in the first leg in Manchester with 13 points, although he admitted a larger advantage would have been preferable.
He said: “It was a decent night for me but we would have liked a few more points.
“I really like it at Ipswich. For me as a rider, going to places like Lynn, Ipswich, it’s like the peak of riding.
“We are capable as a team to go to Ipswich and get the result. But we just have to do it. We’ve come this far, we’ve won before and we want to keep winning.”
TIGERS IN TOP FORM
SHEFFIELD manager Simon Stead was delighted with his team’s performance at Ipswich last Thursday in their final league match before the play-offs.
The Tigers won 47-43 at Foxhall to move above Leicester in the league table, securing the second leg at home in their play-off semi-final against the Lions.
Stead said: “I’m so proud of the boys with how they knuckled down.
“It’s been a really tough week with rain-offs and cancellations as well as a disappointing result at King’s Lynn.
“But tonight was a really strong team performance with loads of effort, loads of commitment – now we’re really looking forward to the play-offs!”
LIONS FEELING CONFIDENT
LEICESTER star Sam Masters says current form means the Lions can look forward to their play-off encounters with plenty of confidence.
The East Midlands side went all the way to the Grand Final in 2024 and are now preparing for home and away clashes with Sheffield next week, having defeated the Tigers on aggregate in two of their three attempts this season.
Masters said: “We were on good form this time last year also, but hopefully we are better this year and we can go one step further.
“We have the team that can do it, and we’re all pretty keen and determined.”
THE WEEK AHEAD…
IPSWICH trail Belle Vue by six points ahead of the second leg of their play-off semi-final at Foxhall on Thursday… The second semi-final gets underway next Monday in the East Midlands as Leicester host Sheffield at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.
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BROWN: TIME TO CONVERT
GLASGOW boss Cami Brown is desperate to see his side convert league leadership into trophy glory in the final weeks of the season.
Tigers are heading into a play-off semi-final against Edinburgh and are involved in two other competitions, with Brown anticipating the possibility of further clashes with Treble holders Poole.
He said: “Finishing top is a nice feeling but in truth, it means very little.
“No one will remember that if we don’t go on and win the Grand Final in the play-offs. There are no trophies for finishing top of the league.
“It’s going to be all about how we perform on the big nights. There are massive acid tests ahead against the Pirates who are so good at delivering when it matters.”
HUGE NIGHT FOR MONARCHS
EDINBURGH co-promoter John Campbell says the club are relishing the prospect of their biggest meeting of the season this Friday.
Monarchs face fierce rivals Glasgow in the opening leg of their play-off semi-final at Armadale with a bumper crowd expected.
Campbell said: “It’s always special when we meet Glasgow, but with the play off stakes and BSN coverage, this is a night to really show what Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway is all about. We need our supporters more than ever.”
PIRATES: NO SLIP-UPS!
POOLE promoter Dan Ford has warned his team that any errors in their upcoming play-off semi-final clash with Redcar are likely to be punished by an in-form Bears side.
The postponement of Tuesday’s meeting at Wimborne Road means the Pirates will now travel to the ECCO Arena for the first leg on Sunday, before the return next Tuesday (Sept 16).
Ford said: “This is going to be a massive tie for us. I really believe that every point in the 30 heats of semi-final racing which we are facing are all crucial.
“We cannot afford to drop any silly points as we want to be in that Grand Final to face one of the Scottish sides.”
BEARS HAVE THE TEAM ETHIC
REDCAR captain Charles Wright says his side’s Treble prospects are strong, as their overall scoring has been far stronger than in recent seasons.
Wright said: “The last couple of years, a lot came down to me and Danny (King) but this year we have really performed well as a team and there are no weak links, so there’s no reason why we can’t (win the treble) but we are just taking it one meeting at a time for now.
“This year comes very close to 2019 for me. It’s very similar to that year when I won the British title and we won the KO Cup so it’s been a good year for me and the club so far.”
CHEETAHS BATTLE ON
OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck insists his side will give it everything in their efforts to reach the MAXiCab KO Cup Final.
The Cheetahs face Redcar in the semi-finals for what is their best chance of honours this season, although the absence of the injured Jordan Jenkins is a further setback.
Schroeck said: “We looked at the available guest options for Jordan and we’ve opted for rider replacement, because everyone can take a ride.
“We’re using rider replacement at No 3, because it gives me greater flexibility during the meeting with various options, such as when I can give Sam Masters his additional ride.
“There’s no reason why we can’t put in a good performance and build up a decent lead – the boys are up for it.”
COMETS MISS OUT
WORKINGTON’S hopes of a late run into the play-offs came to an end when they were beaten 53-37 at Redcar last Friday, leaving them with home and away matches against Berwick to come to complete their league campaign.
Manager James Denham said: “It’s disappointing to fall short and for our play-off hopes to be over, we started the meeting way to slow and weren’t on the same setup as the Redcar boys – but I was encouraged to see that we did win the second half of the meeting.
“We’ve shown what we’re capable of on our night this season, taking some big scalps against the likes of Glasgow and Poole, but unfortunately it just hasn’t clicked all at once often enough. Away from home in particular, we’ve carried a few too many passengers at times and that’s cost us ultimately.”
BANDITS FALL SHORT
BERWICK director Jamie Courtney admits it’s been frustrating to see the Bandits miss out on play-off qualification this season, especially with a strong line-up in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Courtney said: “You always find yourselves asking ‘what if’ at the end of any season when things have not gone as planned. In our case we’ve featured in ten meetings decided by four points or less – and a draw – and just four of them have gone in our favour.
“Ultra-competitive without always having the cutting edge would not be a bad way to sum up a season where we have again had to work to cover injury and unavailability but ended up with the team in a pretty good spot.”
THE WEEK AHEAD…
A BIG week of play-off action ahead with the Redcar/Poole semi-final getting underway on Teesside this Sunday, before the sides reconvene at Wimborne Road for the re-scheduled return next Tuesday… Meanwhile, Edinburgh and Glasgow stage the first leg of their semi at Armadale on Friday… Redcar are also in MAXiCab KO Cup action this week as the first leg of their semi-final takes place at Oxford on Wednesday… There are two regular league matches scheduled for this weekend as Berwick host Workington on Saturday, with the return at the GT Tyres Arena on Sunday… Edinburgh (Saturday) and Glasgow (Sunday) also host rounds of the British Youth Championship this weekend.
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EAGLES END ON A HIGH
KENT’S final home NDT match of the season ended with a 39-35 win over Birmingham in a meeting which saw the result amended.
The Eagles won 54-35 on track, but the points of guest Cooper Rushen were subsequently removed as it was found that the absence of No.1 Vinnie Foord did not qualify for a facility.
Manager David Graveling said: “What a great way to end our home season with a convincing win. It was a nice gesture that fans stayed to hear the riders’ thoughts on our last home team meeting of 2025.”
PRIDE OF THE EAST!
KING’S Lynn will stage an additional meeting on Thursday October 2 to round off their season.
The Young Stars Pride of the East is set to be a full 16-rider individual with 20 heats, semi-finals and Final featuring several of the top riders in the NDL/NDT.
It will bring down the curtain on the 60th anniversary season at the Adrian Flux Arena, one in which their development team became NDT champions.
Young Stars regulars Jody Scott, Cooper Rushen and Calum Mitchell are all lined up for the event along with the likes of Will Cairns, Darryl Ritchings and Ace Pijper, as well as speedway returnee James Shanes.
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Poole v Redcar OFF (Now Tues Sept 16)
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: Ipswich (42) v Belle Vue (48) 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Workington 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh 1.30
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Redcar v Poole 7.30
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington v Berwick 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow 12pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Leicester v Sheffield 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Poole v Redcar 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Oxford (32) v Poole (58) 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Sheffield v Leicester 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Glasgow v Redcar 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Redcar v Glasgow 1pm
JAY CARTMELL MEMORIAL MEETING: Workington 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: TBC v TBC 7.30
