BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 7, 2026
(SPEEDWAY 1)
VATCHER HAPPY WITH YOUTH EVENTS SET FOR WORKINGTON
BRITISH Youth boss Neil Vatcher is delighted to see two top FIM Youth events coming to British shores at Workington this weekend.
The Comets stage the FIM Track Racing Youth Gold Trophy on Saturday followed by the European 125cc Youth Track Racing Cup on Sunday.
Both meetings feature 20-rider line-ups packed with the sport’s top rising talent, with strong representation from Great Britain who are represented by Jessica Cox, Fraser Buckle, George Climo, Lewis Hague and Douglas Marshall.
Vatcher said: “It’s something that we’re really excited about because these meetings have never been in the UK before.
“In my opinion it’s like a mini-Grand Prix, just smaller engines and younger guys, but the racing is so competitive.
“Anyone who hasn’t witnessed this previously who is able to pop along for one or ideally both days will I’m sure be really impressed.
“It’s the best young riders in Europe and Australia and they’re all of very similar calibre. The racing is always good and these riders always give it everything.
“It’s going to be a great weekend of Youth speedway and the five British riders would very much appreciate some support.”
Both meetings get underway at 3pm and adult admission is just £15 per day, with a joint deal of £25 for both days.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SHEFFIELD registered another statement victory with a 57-33 home win over Premiership Knockout Cup winners Leicester on Thursday.
Seven nights on from racing to their biggest win of the season (58-32) against Northampton, the Tigers were completely dominant once again as they moved to within one point of their opponents inside the play-off places.
It was another blistering start for the Steel City side who opened with seven straight heat advantages, including four 5-1s in the first five races, to lead 32-10 and put the match beyond their opponents.
Leon Flint registered a four-ride 12-point maximum whilst Ryan Douglas led the Lions’ response with 11 points including two race wins as they limited damage in the second half of the meeting.
Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “It’s another really solid win for us – but we know this will fire Leicester up even more for when we go to their place next week!
“Again it was nice to see plenty of really strong individual performances – and it was nice to see the contribution from our reserves after their disappointment at King’s Lynn on Monday. I was really pleased with that.”
Douglas said: “They started so well and put us under the pump. They took the meeting away from us before it started really, so it’s a shame.
“We had a similar thing at Belle Vue so we know it’s not good enough. We’re going out there and giving it 100 per cent but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IPSWICH overcame several issues to defeat Northampton 47-42 despite a stunning Foxes debut for Adam Ellis.
The former Witches rider piled up an incredible 20 points in his first appearance back in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, finishing second to Tom Brennan in his opening ride before reeling off six successive race wins.
The home side used rider replacement for the absent Richard Lawson, and were then reduced to five riders when Scott Nicholls tangled with the Foxes’ other newcomer Mitch McDiarmid in Heat 6.
Tobiasz Musielak (13+1) and Danny King (13) led the Ipswich scoring and Brennan added 9+2, whilst Northampton’s best support for the flying Ellis came from Jaimon Lidsey on nine.
Ipswich boss Paul Hurry said: “I was absolutely gutted to lose Scott so early because the track was good. It was probably the best it has been this season.
“I think with the way the track was and the way Scott started off, he would have been a big player. It wasn’t to be. Mitch McDiarmid’s footrest went into his front wheel and sent him over the handlebars.
“But on the other hand, the boys all pulled together and got the result. I am well happy to have got those two points, which are vital for us now. We need a few more.”
Northampton co-promoter Paul Hunsdon said: “It was an unbelievable Foxes debut from Adam. He produced an absolute masterclass, and after the second place in his first ride he never looked troubled after that.
“It was a credible performance and just a little disappointing that we came up short. What we need to do now is produce the goods in the run of home matches we have coming up.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCOTTISH rivals Edinburgh and Glasgow clash at Armadale tonight (Friday) one week on from a dramatic 45-45 draw in the reverse fixture.
Top spot in the Cab Direct Championship is available to whichever team wins on the night, with the Monarchs and Tigers currently separated by one point in third and fourth places.
Edinburgh bring in Vinnie Foord to guest at reserve after Jordy Loftus suffered concussion in a crash at Poole on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Glasgow have Nick Morris replacing the retired Kyle Howarth, and Reid Battye guests for Mario Hausl at reserve.
Edinburgh manager Alex Harkess said: “It’s up to us to beat them, and regardless of who is in their team we’ve got to beat them.
“We’ll not be taking it lightly. We have been gating well recently, that’s so important isn’t it? We’ve got to be really determined.”
EDINBURGH: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna, Kye Thomson, Mitchell Cluff, Vinnie Foord.
GLASGOW: Chris Harris, Sam Hagon, Nick Morris, Kevin Juhl Pedersen, Leon Flint, Freddy Hodder, Reid Battye.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
WSRA National Development League leaders Edinburgh made it five wins out of five with a 53-37 victory at King’s Lynn.
The Monarchs Academy were without No.1 Jordy Loftus due to concussion and James Shanes also missed the meeting, but they still raced to a convincing win to maintain their 100 per cent record.
Vinnie Foord (13) and Dayle Wood (12) led the way whilst Ben Whalley and guest Ashton Vale both scored paid 12, and Wood ended home skipper Simon Lambert’s (14) maximum chances in the last race.
Wood said: “I think we were maybe underestimated a little tonight without Jordy and James but we all got together, worked together, we made really good starts and we showed what we can do.
“(Manager) Scott (Wilson) does really well and never lets us get down, he worked his butt off to get the team together but also he told us he had the faith in us that we could cover the rider replacement for Jordy.”
King’s Lynn manager Jason Pipe said: “It’s a disappointing result because whilst that score might not have been a surprise if it had been the full Edinburgh side, I didn’t expect us to lose by 16 with the changes they had to make.
“We were just taught a lesson in gating, They seemed to get out of the gate ahead of us every time, and to be fair they were even outgating Lambert and Mulford who had to come from the back several times to get their points.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY AUGUST 7:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (45) v Glasgow (45) 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 8:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick (30) v Poole (60) 7pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Middlesbrough v Buxton 7.30
FIM TRACK RACING YOUTH GOLD TROPHY: Workington 3pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 9:
FIM EUROPEAN 125cc YOUTH TRACK RACING CUP: Workington 3pm
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Buxton (41) v King’s Lynn (49) 3pm
