BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2026/12
Feature photo by: COLIN POOLE…REDCAR got off the mark in the Cab Direct Championship with a last-gasp recovery to defeat Oxford 46-44 on Thursday night at the ECCO Arena.
With just three races remaining the Cheetahs looked set for an away win as they led by eight points, but the Bears then hit back with successive 5-1s to level the scores.
Nicolai Klindt, who was unbeaten following a last place in Heat 1, then won the last-heat decider with Jake Allen crucially holding third place as the home side snatched victory.
HERE’S the latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP LATEST
HOW IT STANDS
BELLE Vue are five points clear at the top of the table, with Sheffield and Leicester leading the chasing pack after both recorded away wins in the last week. Ipswich currently complete the play-off places, as they sit fourth thanks to last Thursday’s home win over King’s Lynn.
ACES CHARGE AWAY
BELLE Vue have gone through the 60-point mark in two successive home matches, with CEO Mark Lemon praising the overall club culture.
The Aces slammed defending champions Ipswich 62-28 on Monday despite operating rider replacement for Jason Doyle who was ruled out after his weekend crash at Wroclaw.
Lemon said: “The boys are riding very well and I think as a unit we’ve got this kind of culture at Belle Vue where we support the guys.
“It helps when you’ve got someone who is at the top end of the World Championship, and that confidence rubs off. Bringing Jason in has clearly helped, and the boys raised their game tonight because they knew they had to cover for him, and they did an exceptional job.”
LIONS WIN ON THE ROAD
LEICESTER recovered from last week’s big defeat at Belle Vue to record a vital away victory at King’s Lynn on Monday.
The Lions were 47-43 winners at the Adrian Flux Arena having gone down 61-29 in Manchester in their previous fixture.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “It probably makes up for the one that we didn’t win at Northampton, and I know I keep going on about that meeting!
“It’s also an important one for us with that being King’s Lynn’s second home defeat. I did say after last Monday that we’re not a bad side, one result doesn’t define us, and we proved that tonight.”
BAD NIGHT FOR WITCHES
IPSWICH manager Paul Hurry bemoaned a bad night at the office as his side dropped to a heavy defeat at Belle Vue on Monday.
It was the Witches’ second visit to Manchester this season and whilst they had almost caught the Aces cold last time, there was no repeat on this occasion.
Hurry said: “We started off alright when we came up here in April and put on a decent show. We came up on Monday and were really poor.
“Around Belle Vue, you cannot give them a head start. You have to make starts, and Danny (King) and Tobi (Tobiasz Musielak) were making half-decent starts and had some good rides. But the rest of them were not making starts. It’s a bit gutting. I never dreamt that we would get that much of a hiding.”
STARS SLIP UP
KING’S Lynn captain Chris Harris put in a virtuoso display in Monday’s clash with Leicester – but in a losing cause as the Stars went down by four points.
Harris raced to 14 from five rides with the majority of his points coming from the back, and he was quick to praise track conditions at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Harris said: “They had their gating gloves on tonight and they just sneaked the win in the end. Max (Fricke) is still a bit sore from his crash at the weekend and Paco (Castagna) is coming back from his injury, but all in all we can’t really moan.
“I think the track was fantastic for good racing, there was a lot of passing so on that front it was good. It was just from the starts where I think we were lacking as a team.”
TIGERS’ HOLDER BLOW
SHEFFIELD are facing up to the prospect of being without No.1 Jack Holder for an extended period after he suffered a broken arm in a crash during last weekend’s Wroclaw GP.
It made for a sad end to the week for the Tigers who had earlier pulled off a spectacular comeback to grab an important Premiership away victory at Northampton.
Speaking after that meeting, manager Simon Stead said: “It was a topsy-turvy meeting; we were always there-or-thereabouts and then we let it slip again in that mid-part which was disappointing.
“But we regrouped after Heat 11 in the interval, got our heads together and knew what we needed to do in the final few heats. They executed it perfectly so I can’t ask any more from them and hats off to the lads.”
FOXES STUNNED BY LOSS
NORTHAMPTON have pledged to learn the lessons from a devastating home loss to Sheffield where they were beaten 48-42 despite holding an eight-point lead with four races remaining.
The Foxes conceded a 4-2 and then three 5-1s in the closing stages having apparently been set for their second win since joining the sport.
Promoter Paul Hunsdon said: “We need to pick ourselves up as a team, what’s happened has happened and we have to put it behind us and concentrate on the next meeting. If there any lessons to be learnt, they will be addressed over the next week or so.
“We win as a club and lose as a club so we will stick tightly together, and what we need to do to put things right will be done.”
THE WEEK AHEAD…
LEADERS Belle Vue head to Ipswich on Thursday in a Round 1 fixture having raced to an emphatic Round 2 win when the sides met in Manchester earlier this week… Also on Thursday the teams in second and third places meet as Sheffield host Leicester… Northampton switch to Monday racing next week as they face Ipswich, whilst Belle Vue meet King’s Lynn at the National Speedway Stadium.
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST
HOW IT STANDS
GLASGOW are top of the table after a tremendous weekend on the road with wins at Oxford and Workington. Scunthorpe moved into second place thanks to their aggregate point at Berwick, with Poole in third but still with a 100 per cent record having only raced three matches. Edinburgh complete the top four, just ahead of Plymouth on race points difference, whilst Redcar got off the mark with their win over Oxford and are now ahead of the Cheetahs.
BOSS BROWN PRAISES TIGERS
GLASGOW manager Cami Brown reserved special praise for heat-leader Leon Flint as his side roared to the top of the table with an emphatic away win at Workington.
The result followed on from victory at Oxford four days earlier where reserve Freddy Hodder scored a sensational paid maximum.
Brown said: “Leon has been a tower of strength recently. He looks so polished and has developed into a top class scorer.
“It’s great to go top of the league. Obviously the teams around us have had less meetings, so it will balance out in time.”
BEARS ENJOY STUNNING FIGHTBACK
REDCAR pulled off a sensational comeback to defeat Oxford in a thriller at the ECCO Arena despite trailing by eight points with three races remaining.
The Bears turned things around with two 5-1s and a 4-2 to leave manager Gavin Parr delighted, and praising the all-round spirit in the camp.
Parr said: “The fighting spirit got us over the line. We win and we lose as a team but the attitude of these lads is second to none.”
BANDITS’ CUP DREAM
BERWICK co-owner Jamie Courtney is looking for the club to revive memories of past knockout glories when they take on Poole in this week’s MAXiCab KO Cup semi-final.
Courtney said: “It’s 22 years since we reached this stage but our older supporters well remember the days when we were known as a real Cup team. In fact, this is our 13th semi-final in total.
“No question Poole are a tough test and we need to be at our best from one to seven on Wednesday night. But the opportunity is there for the 2026 Bandits to write their names into history with Plymouth awaiting the winners in the final.”
LAWSON SITS OUT SEMI
POOLE No.1 Richard Lawson will miss the first leg of the holders’ MAXiCab KO Cup semi-final against Berwick due to a date clash with a previous commitment in Denmark.
Chris Harris has been booked to guest, and promoter Dan Ford said: “We knew from the outset that Richard would be unavailable, but we felt we had to go ahead with the fixture as it would otherwise have meant more than a month without a home meeting, which wouldn’t have been good for the team, the club or our supporters.
“I know Richard is absolutely gutted to be missing the meeting. There aren’t many riders capable of stepping in and doing the sort of job Rich does for us, but thankfully we’ve managed to secure one of the few who can.”
COMETS DOWNED AT HOME
WORKINGTON boss James Denham pulled no punches after his side went down to a damaging home defeat against Glasgow, paying the price for an abject start to proceedings.
Denham said: “We handed the victory to them on a gold plate, and that’s not what we were intending to do. It wasn’t an acceptable result and everyone knows where they went wrong, as every rider didn’t fire early on.
“Taking the positives we saw some great racing again in the second half of the meeting. Troy (Batchelor) and Chris Harris rolled back the years and once again Tate (Zischke) was fantastic, I was amazed to find out he hadn’t won a race before Heat 15.
“It wasn’t the debut that Drew (Kemp) intended and he’s a bit dejected about it, but we know what he’s capable of and I’m sure he will come back firing once he gets his set-ups dialled in around here.”
CHANGE FOR GLADIATORS
PLYMOUTH have confirmed the signing of Ben Whalley to replace Tom Spencer in the No.7 berth for the Gladiators.
Promoter Mark Phillips told the club website: “We have decided that Ben deserves a chance at this level. He is 23, is the current New Zealand Champion, an honour that will always carry massive kudos in the sport given the golden past of Kiwi legends.
“We look forward to working with Ben and to give him all the support and assistance he needs and we know that Scott (Nicholls) and Danny (King) will be on hand to offer him the benefit of their extensive knowledge, as will Ben (Barker) and other members of the team.
“Tom is a great guy and has ridden to the very best of his ability, but we have to be ready and willing to compete for the MAXiCab KO Cup and to aim for the league play-offs with the best possible seven-man team that we can muster.”
CHEETAHS STAY POSITIVE
OXFORD co-promoter Jamie Courtney has stressed the scale of the achievements of recent years after major changes behind the scenes this season.
Courtney said: “Just over five years ago, the stadium at Cowley was a shell of its former self. Derelict, crumbling, and slowly being reclaimed by weeds. Its future looked bleak, despite the determination of many who refused to let it become just another housing estate.
“Fast forward to today and we have a vibrant, modern stadium full of life. A place where riders young and old chase their dreams, where families come together, and where the greatest show on shale once again belongs to Oxford.
“But the loss of greyhound racing, and the turbulence that followed earlier this year, reminded us all that nothing should ever be taken for granted.
“The reality of running a speedway club is long days, late nights, and a huge personal and financial commitment. But I do it because I believe in this club, in this city, and because I believe in the people who support it.”
THE WEEK AHEAD…
OXFORD and Redcar meet at Cowley on Wednesday after a dramatic encounter on Teessdie last weekend… leaders Glasgow host Poole in a huge clash at Ashfield on Friday which will rekindle memories of last season’s Grand Final… on the same evening, Redcar host Edinburgh with the Monarchs then undertaking the long trip to Plymouth on Saturday… Poole and Berwick contest their MAXiCab KO Cup semi-final, meeting at Wimborne Road on Wednesday and Shielfield Park on Saturday… Workington take a break from league action when they stage the Jay Cartmell Memorial at the GT Tyres Arena on Saturday.
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE LATEST
HOW IT STANDS
NO change to the league situation this week with leaders Edinburgh two points clear of Middlesbrough, with King’s Lynn and Buxton looking to get off the mark.
WOODS IN FOR YOUNG STARS
KING’S Lynn have brought Sam Woods into their side as a replacement for Kenzie Cossey – and they are also working options to replace Jack Kingston, who is taking time out of the sport.
Manager Jason Pipe said: “With our current situation with the team and not knowing how the guests will go, I’ve had to do one change to the team to try and get some more points from certain heats.
“It really showed at Oxford recently that we may get away with carrying one rider in the team, maybe even two, but we certainly can’t carry three riders like we did at Oxford and never want a repeat of that again.
“Sam has worked hard this year and has been impressing me with his performances this season when I’ve watched him at a few different tracks around the country this season and has been knocking at the door for a team spot again in this league.”
THE WEEK AHEAD…
LEICESTER race their second NDL fixture of the season when they host Buxton on Sunday… A rescheduled fixture at the Adrian Flux Arena next Tuesday (June 30) sees King’s Lynn take on defending champions Oxford with the aggregate point at stake after the Chargers won the reverse fixture by ten points.
FIXTURE PICTURE…
WEDNESDAY JUNE 24:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford (44) v Redcar (46) 7.30
MAXICAB KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Berwick 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 25:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich (39) v Belle Vue (51), Sheffield (41) v Leicester (49) 7.30
FRIDAY JUNE 26:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow (35) v Poole (55) 7.30, Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 27:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Edinburgh 7pm
MAXICAB KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Berwick v Poole 7pm
JAY CARTMELL MEMORIAL 4TT: Workington 3pm
SUNDAY JUNE 28:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester v Buxton 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 29:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue (49) v King’s Lynn (41) 7.30, Northampton (43) v Ipswich (47) 7.30
TUESDAY JUNE 30:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: King’s Lynn (40) v Oxford (50) 7.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 1:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Poole 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 2:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Leicester v Northampton 7.30
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: King’s Lynn (40) v Ipswich (50) 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 3:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow (49) v Oxford (41) 7.30, Scunthorpe (41) v Plymouth (49) 7.30
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Redcar v Berwick 7.30
SATURDAY JULY 4:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Oxford 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester 6pm
MONDAY JULY 6:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: King’s Lynn v Northampton 7.30
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Leicester v Ipswich 7.30
