BRITISH SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 16, 2025

(SPEEDWAY 1)

PIRATES IN THE LEAD

POOLE established a 12-point lead at the halfway stage of the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final with a 51-39 first leg win over Glasgow at Wimborne Road.
The Pirates led the meeting throughout but appeared set to be restricted to a single-digit advantage when two Tigers 4-2s in Heats 12 and 13 reduced the gap to six points.

However, the home side doubled that margin with a 4-2 in Heat 14 and then a big 5-1 in Heat 15 from Richard Lawson and Zach Cook over Chris Harris and Dan Thompson.
Lawson had earlier seen his run of four successive home maximums ended by Harris, but he still scored 14 points from five rides whilst Cook also dropped only one point to an opponent as he ended with 11+3. Thompson (9+1) and Harris (9) led the scoring for the visitors.

Cook said: “We didn’t go out there in that Heat 15 with a specific gameplan, and sort of winged it a little.
“We got to the first corner and I don’t really know what happened. Bomber (Harris) was throwing everything at me and you just don’t know where he will be coming from. One moment he’s on the outside and the next he’s in my pocket coming into turn one the next lap!
“I just had to ride defensively, it’s a Grand Final after all, and we take a decent lead up there.
“Obviously it’s better than nothing and we will just take that one as it comes, and hopefully it will be enough.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

GLASGOW manager Cami Brown insists his side can still fight back to take the Cab Direct Championship title despite a 51-39 defeat at Poole on Wednesday.
The Tigers face a significant points target on home territory at Ashfield tomorrow (Friday), but recent history also suggests the task is achievable.

Last year, 12 points was exactly the deficit faced by the Pirates halfway through the Grand Final against Oxford, but they still turned it around in the second leg at home.
Brown said: “The boys battled brilliantly all night to keep the scores close. I cannot fault any of them for fighting for every point, and that will be vital in the final outcome.

“There’s a bit of a feeling here now with Poole that they have won it. Well, it’s not over yet, that’s for sure. We have a full-strength side for the second leg and we can really deliver at Ashfield.
“They boys will be up for it, and I truly believe that we can overturn the 12-point deficit and make it a night to remember in Glasgow.
“Our fans came down here to Dorset for a Wednesday night, and credit to them. We will be ready for Friday.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

PREMIERSHIP champions Ipswich turn the spotlight on the future with the Tiger’s Academy Open at Foxhall tonight (Thursday).
Staged as a tribute to former rider and promoter John ‘Tiger’ Louis, 16 youngsters will be taking part in a full Individual meeting which will also see them receive support and advice from senior riders, along with a presentation from the Great Britain Speedway Team.
Riders have also been allocated one of two groups, enabling the meeting to conclude with a race between the two top-scoring ‘pairs.’

Witches supporters will have the opportunity to have their photos taken with the Premiership trophy, with home stars Jason Doyle, Danny King and Tom Brennan in attendance along with Ritchie Hawkins, Chris Louis and Mark Loram.
Hawkins said: “We have some great youngsters here in the meeting and it will be an awesome experience for them.

“It will be a new track for a lot of them to ride and there will be some exciting races, and after last week hopefully a big crowd can create a great atmosphere for the last speedway at Ipswich this year.
“There will be senior riders in the pits helping the boys throughout the meeting, looking after their pairs with a Final at the end of the night. The idea is for them to gain knowledge and experience, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn and I am sure it will be an entertaining night.”

GROUP A: Cooper Rushen, Jody Scott, Ace Pijper, Ben Trigger, Jake Mulford, Ashton Vale, Vinnie Foord, Jamie Etherington. GROUP B: Senna Summers, Stene Pijper, Ryan Ingram, Jack Shimelt, Eli Meadows, Harrison Rogers, Jordy Loftus, Seth Norman.

(FIXTURES)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 16:
TIGER’S ACADEMY OPEN: Ipswich 7.30

FRIDAY OCTOBER 17:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow (39) v Poole (51) 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 18:
BSN SERIES FINAL 1st leg: Redcar v Poole 6pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Plymouth (36) v Kent (54) 7pm

SUNDAY OCTOBER 19:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester (48) v Belle Vue (42) 2pm
BRITSH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (250cc): Leicester (follows WSRA NDL fixture)