BRITISH SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 18, 2025
(SPEEDWAY 1)
PIRATES WIN IN A THRILLER
POOLE retained the Cab Direct Championship after a remarkable finish to a thrilling Grand Final second leg at Glasgow.
The sides were incredibly tied 90-90 at the end of the regular 30 races across the Final, leading to a Super Heat decider where Richard Lawson and Zach Cook were the Pirates’ heroes.
Glasgow had earlier clawed back a 12-point deficit from the first leg, which increased to 14 early in the return, going level in a dramatic Heat 13 when Chris Harris went from last to first and the home side took a 5-1 when Lawson crashed out on the last bend.
The next two races were incident-filled as well as Cook held off Leon Flint to win Heat 14 but third-placed Will Cairns suffered mechanical trouble preventing the visitors from going back ahead on aggregate.
The Pirates looked set to seal it in Heat 15 only for another spectacular effort from Harris which saw him overtake both Lawson and Cook to complete a 15-point maximum on the night, as Glasgow won the second leg 51-39.
But the defending champions had the final say in the decider as Cook and Lawson rounded Kyle Howarth off the second bend and completed the four laps in front to take the title.
Cook said: “I said at the start of the season that I wanted to emulate my brother (Ben) and win the Treble as they don’t come around too often, but I am truly lost for words as to how we settled this trophy. If there is one way you want to win it, then it’s that way.
“Everything was riding on that, and if we were going to do something we had to do it over the next minute. We had a game plan and we just told each other, this is the time to do it.
“So much pressure and a long four laps, but in fairness all the lads dug deep this whole Final and the club deserves it. They put a lot of effort into us and are the most successful club, which is why everyone hates us!”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
GLASGOW manager Cami Brown reflected on the big picture after seeing his side miss on title glory in a sensational Cab Direct Championship Grand Final.
The Tigers had gone to the wire in the semi-finals against Edinburgh, going through in the last race of the tie, but the decider against Poole raised the bar even further.
Brown’s side were 14 points down on aggregate early in the meeting but they charged back to level the overall scores at the end of the second leg – only to lose out in a Super Heat finale.
Said Brown: “Obviously I’m gutted, the boys gave it everything and nearly snatched it at the end.
“Congratulations to Poole, they just made the start when it really mattered. But the most important thing is that speedway was the winner tonight.
“This meeting had everything. Unbelievable racing, drama, a nail-biting decider and in front of a huge crowd.
“This is how good this sport can be. On a brilliant and fair racetrack speedway can just be absolutely sensational entertainment.
“I have to give a huge amount of praise to both teams, every rider gave it everything.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
REDCAR host Poole in the first leg of the BSN Series Final tonight (Saturday) with the Bears now the only club who can deny the Pirates a double Treble.
The North-East side have already seen their league title and Cup hopes ended by their opponents, who have little time to celebrate their dramatic Championship triumph at Glasgow.
Redcar bring in Leon Flint to guest for long-term absentee Erik Riss in the only change to either line-up.
Bears co-promoter Jamie Swales said: “I’m happy for Poole to have the tag of favourites, which puts the pressure on them.
“Other clubs now see us as a genuine threat and one day we are going to get over the line for a title, and we aren’t going to give up until we do.”
Pirates co-boss Gary Havelock said: “It’s not really ideal having to go to Redcar straight after a night like we had at Glasgow. Of course looking at it from the travelling point of view it makes sense, but sadly there is no time to really enjoy what they achieved, which was something truly remarkable.
“It was an incredible night that had absolutely everything, and the boys are bound to be really buzzing after that.
“So the job tonight will be to bring them back down to earth and get them focused on putting in another great display.”
Swales also confirmed the supporters involved in last week’s freak accident which curtailed the semi-final with Glasgow will be given a special welcome back to the stadium.
He said: “I have been keeping in touch with the supporters in question and they are excited to return to the ECCO Arena. The fans will also be enjoying the meeting in hospitality.”
REDCAR: Charles Wright, Jake Mulford, Jason Edwards, Leon Flint, Danny King, Jody Scott, Ace Pijper.
POOLE: Richard Lawson, Tobias Thomsen, Lewis Kerr, Zach Cook, Anders Rowe, Paul Starke, Will Cairns.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PLYMOUTH round off their season when they host Kent at the Coliseum in the National Development Trophy tonight (Saturday).
Although King’s Lynn have won the competition, the remaining four clubs are covered by just two points, and an away win would secure runners-up spot for the Eagles.
The Centurions face an 18-point deficit for the aggregate point but if they overturn that margin, they would also move into second place.
Kent manager David Graveling said: “We know what is at stake. Our first task is to amass the 37 points we need to take the aggregate point, but make no mistake, we will be going all-out to win in the hopes of taking the runners-up spot in the table.”
PLYMOUTH: Joe Thompson, Mickie Simpson r/r, Ryan Ingram, Charlie Southwick, Ben Trigger, Eli Meadows, Morgan Williams.
KENT: Vinnie Foord, Jacob Clouting, Nathan Ablitt r/r, Luke Harris, Ben Morley, Kenzie Cossey, Charlie Wood.
(FIXTURES)
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)
