BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2026/22

Feature photo by: STEPHEN FRUZYNSKI…SCUNTHORPE secured their Cab Direct Championship play-off place in emphatic style with a massive 61-29 win over Edinburgh on Friday evening at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
The Scorpions equalled the biggest score set throughout the second-tier league programme this season, moving up to second position in the table in the process.
Michael Palm Toft stormed to a 15-point maximum whilst skipper Josh Pickering added 13+1.

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 close to confirming top spot in the table, with a maximum of three more points officially required to achieve it. Sheffield boosted their play-off hopes with their 47-43 win over the Aces on Monday, and one more win should be enough for the Tigers. With Leicester also close to being confirmed in the top four, the main battle is between Ipswich and King’s Lynn who are separated by just two points, although the Witches have a match in hand.

BIG BOOST FOR TIGERS
SHEFFIELD are closing in on a play-off place after a hard-fought 47-43 win over leaders Belle Vue on Monday.
Tigers boss Simon Stead praised his two reserves Jye Etheridge and Luke Killeen for their contributions, including a match clinching 5-1 in Heat 14.
Stead said: “We knew it was going to be difficult, so it was important to keep it tight, stay close and not let the meeting get away from us.
“That’s what we did and then we came up with a couple of massive heats in Heats 13 and 14. It was great to see our two reserves really step up tonight and cover Leon (Flint) who had a difficult night after a crazy few days.”

NO PANIC FOR ACES
GERMAN Champion Norick Blodorn says Belle Vue remain in a strong position following their narrow defeat at Sheffield on Monday.
The Aces are fully expected to wrap up top spot in the table over the coming days, and they have two more away matches on their agenda next week.
Blodorn said: “The season is going well in general and I’m feeling a bit more comfortable on bike as well.
“It’s been a great season for Belle Vue, because nobody really knew what to expect when we lost Dan (Bewley), but bringing in Jason has been a really good move. We just need to keep continuing what we’re doing and I think we should be fine.”

HOME COMFORT FOR LIONS
LEICESTER head into September still with three home matches remaining as they look to secure their play-off place.
The Lions have a 100 per cent record at the Hydroscand Arena this season with clashes to come against King’s Lynn, Belle Vue and Ipswich.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “The riders are dialled in and comfortable around Leicester, as we saw against Sheffield last time we raced at home.
“We still have some work to do to make sure we’re in the play-offs, and we’d like to get that wrapped up as soon possible and then finish as high as we can.”

WITCHES HOPE TO MOVE UP
IPSWICH skipper Danny King is hopeful that a strong run of results in early September should see the Witches confirm their play-off place and could also move them up the league table.
King said: “We have a chance to finish at least third, which is what we would like to do. Next week we have Belle Vue, who are the favourites.
“That’s at home and if we can put on a strong performance and show them that we are a force to be reckoned with, I think it puts us in good stead for the play-offs and it’ll make people think about us.”

STARS LOOK TO SHINE
IN-FORM King’s Lynn youngster Jody Scott says the Stars are looking to pile the pressure on their rivals with big results in their remaining matches.
Scott was a key figure in Lynn’s recent home win over rivals Ipswich which kept them in with a chance of reaching the play-offs.
He said: “What we have to do is get wins. We have no pressure on us, but we want to put pressure on the other teams in the league.
“Hopefully then we can creep our way into the play-offs and have a good end to the season.”

FOXES MAKING PROGRESS
NORTHAMPTON manager Chris Adams says there have been encouraging signs from recent results as the Premiership newcomers bid to establish themselves at the top level.
The Foxes have two home matches remaining, against Ipswich and King’s Lynn, and they also have to travel to Sheffield.
Adams said: “Up until recently with our loss against Belle Vue we have not lost at home all season by more than eight points. Our last four meetings at home have come with two wins, one draw and a loss to the Aces.
“We, and I’m sure all of you, can see the progress we have made and also how competitive we have been in the top flight of speedway in only our first year.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
PLAY-OFF rivals Ipswich and King’s Lynn are both on the road this Thursday as the Witches visit Northampton and the Stars travel to Leicester… The Lions then host Belle Vue on Monday, whilst Ipswich have another chance to boost their top four prospects when they face Sheffield at Foxhall.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP  LATEST

HOW IT STANDS
THE play-off qualifiers are known with leaders Poole set to face Edinburgh in the semi-finals, whilst Scunthorpe will face Glasgow with the order of that tie to be confirmed. The remaining issue is that of the wooden spoon as Workington can move off the bottom if they defeat Redcar in their final fixture, whilst the Bears can move into fifth place above Berwick with a positive result.

PIRATES READY FOR PAIRS EPIC
POOLE promoter Danny Ford hopes the club’s staging of the Championship Best Pairs on Wednesday can see them end a run of misfortune in the competition.
The Pirates have twice been denied in the Final in recent years, and they will look to Richard Lawson and Zach Cook to get them over the line this time.
Ford said: “Last year there was an incident in the Final that cost us the title, and I can also remember the time at Oxford when Steve Worrall had a fuel problem at the start of the Final that also cost us dearly – and those controversial years when the event was traditionally held at Somerset on Grand Prix eve.
“I believe that we have a line-up that can produce memorable racing on a track where most of the riders know how to score well and so we have all the ingredients for a great night’s racing.”

FULL MAX FOR MPT
MICHAEL Palm Toft roared to a 15-point maximum against his former club as Scunthorpe booked their play-off place in emphatic style with a 61-29 demolition of Edinburgh.
Palm Toft said: “My form is down to a practice session we had ahead of the home meeting with Workington. I wouldn’t say the bikes are perfect, but they are now working.
“I knew my bikes weren’t working as they should. It can be difficult to pinpoint what’s what during a meeting itself and then I got into a really bad circle. I knew I hadn’t become a bad rider overnight and there something wrong with the bikes. I needed some time on track to work it all out and the practice session provided that.
“I also had a confidence boost with a good meeting against Workington last week, which I was able to take into tonight. I’m really happy to have things working again. Obviously, I didn’t expect to score as well as I have straight away and to score a maximum tonight is fantastic.”

TIGERS CHASING SECOND
GLASGOW missed out on match and aggregate points at Redcar last week, but they still have the opportunity to clinch second place in the league table when they host fellow play-off qualifiers Scunthorpe this Friday.
Manager Cami Brown said: “The track was OK, it was a bit heavy. It was just about making starts because it was difficult when you were behind. The Redcar guys are fast and that makes it really hard work.
“We were busting our backsides to get the points back but it wasn’t enough on the night sadly. We were working hard on our set-ups. It was tough out there.
“All eyes now turn to making sure we get all three points from our last home meeting with Scunthorpe.”

MONARCHS BID TO BOUNCE BACK
EDINBURGH endured a tough weekend with double defeat at Scunthorpe and Berwick accompanied by the news that they will face leaders Poole in the play-off semi-finals.
But the Monarchs’ performance at Shielfield Park was at least an improvement on what they produced at the Eddie Wright Raceway, and reserve youngster Jordy Loftus is keen to kick on after a 19-day absence with concussion.
Loftus said: “I feel much better now having had that time off. I do struggle a bit at Berwick to find a set-up. But I now have two NDL matches and we are all hungry to win the play-offs.
“Monarchs are an amazing club, all very nice and welcoming and I’m very happy to be here.”

BEARS END ON A HIGH
REDCAR completed their home league campaign with a fine win over Glasgow where they also took the aggregate point, with guest Nicolai Klindt and fans’ favourite Jody Scott both outstanding.
The Bears could finish the league campaign in fifth place, but their attentions now switch to defending a 27-point lead in the BSN Series semi-final at Berwick this Saturday.
Manager Gavin Parr said: “It was great to finish the league season (at home) with a win, and hats off to Glasgow for getting on with things and not complaining when the track was tricky (due to the rain) early on.
“I’d like to mention Nicolai and Jody, who were our standout performers in a good home performance.”

BATTYE BOOSTS BANDITS
BERWICK have already commenced team building for 2027 with the news that Australian racer Reid Battye will remain with the club.
Battye has proved to be an excellent source of points for the Bandits, especially at Shielfield Park, since his return form an early season back injury.
Co-owner Jamie Courtney said: “We thought, and said publicly, that Reid could be a slow burner, but despite a very serious injury, he has proved to be anything but.
“His form at Shielfield Park has been out of this world but he has also been able to adapt to away tracks very quickly.
“No question there are plenty of clubs that would love to have Reid in their colours next year but he’s a 2027 Bandit.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
GLASGOW host Scunthorpe on Friday in a preview to their play-off semi-final, and the result of that meeting will determine second and third places and who therefore has choice of legs… Berwick have a target of 59 points when they host Redcar on Saturday in the second leg of the BSN Series semi-final, with the Bears holding a 27-point advantage from the first leg.

WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE LATEST

HOW IT STANDS
NO fixtures at WSRA NDL level in the last week so Edinburgh maintain their lead with a 100 per cent record, and they are four points clear of Buxton. Leicester, Oxford and Middlesbrough are all one further point adrift, with the Lion Cubs having only lost one match so far.

THE WEEK AHEAD…
EDINBURGH have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table when they host Oxford in the only WSRA NDL fixture scheduled for the coming week.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2:
CHAMPIONSHIP BEST PAIRS: Poole 7pm

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30, Northampton (42) v Ipswich (47) 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow (41) v Scunthorpe (49) 7.30
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Oxford 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Berwick (31) v Redcar (58) 7pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Ipswich (39) v Sheffield (51) 7.30, Leicester (29) v Belle Vue (61) 7.30, Northampton (45) v King’s Lynn (45) (Prov) 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Ipswich (28) v Belle Vue (62) 7.30, King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Sheffield (45) v Northampton (45) 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Leicester 7pm, Edinburgh (57) v Buxton (33) (follows previous fixture)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12:
CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh 1.30

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow 1pm
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester v Edinburgh 3pm