BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2025/25

Feature photo by: STEPHEN WALLER… IPSWICH charged into the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final with an emphatic 59-31 second leg win over Belle Vue at Foxhall on Thursday.
The Witches took just four races to cancel out the six-point deficit they faced at the halfway stage of their play-off semi-final, and the key phase of the meeting saw them take back-to-back 5-1s in Heats 9 and 10 to go 12 points up overall.
They will now face either Leicester or Sheffield in next month’s Grand Final, who are due to begin their semi-final later this week.

HERE’S the latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP LATEST
WITCHES IN WAITING
IPSWICH have reached the Premiership Grand Final – but the Witches are still awaiting news of their opponents, with the second semi-final between Sheffield and Leicester delayed by the weather.
Manager Ritchie Hawkins was delighted with the way in which his side adapted to conditions at Foxhall last Thursday as they eased past Belle Vue with a 22-point aggregate win.

Hawkins said: “The weather can be a leveller, but we have had a few weeks recently where the track has not been ideal. Tonight ended up better than some of those recent weeks and we are used to not having a massive advantage.
“We were more confident than they were even though it was tricky and there was still a bit of home track knowledge there. We did a great, professional job on Monday (at Belle Vue) and followed it up with our best performance at home for a long time.
“We need to keep focused, nothing is won in a semi-final. We have slipped up in Finals before and have lost a couple, so we need that focus and determination for 30 heats in the Final.”

TIGERS SEEK ADVANTAGE
SHEFFIELD co-promoter Damien Bates is hopeful that home comforts can play a part with the Tigers now hosting the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Leicester.
They had been due to travel to the East Midlands on Monday before that meeting was postponed due to the weather, so now the South Yorkshire side will look to build a lead on Thursday with the backing of their home crowd.

Bates said: “We’ve had some pretty good crowds at Sheffield this year and I know Steady (Simon Stead – team manager) has said before how the riders have responded to the bigger crowds and the atmosphere they’ve created.
“So hopefully we’ll get a really good turnout on Thursday and those cheering on Sheffield help the team get the win.”

DICKSON – FULL TEAM EFFORT
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson admits he expects their play-off semi-final against Sheffield to be closely contested, and is looking for all seven of his riders to play a part.
Dickson said: “I don’t think there’s a lot between the two teams, and whatever has happened before with us winning five out of six, or them narrowly taking the aggregate point the last time we met, really goes out of the window.
“I know it sounds boring, but we need all seven riders turning up in both legs and doing the job they are capable of. If that happens, then I do rate our chances as pretty decent.”

DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ACES
BELLE Vue star Dan Bewley had no complaints after the defending champions’ hopes of back-to-back titles were ended in a heavy defeat at Ipswich last Thursday.
The Aces reached the play-offs yet again but were unable to make it to a fourth Grand Final in five years as their six-point lead from the first leg proved insufficient.

Bewley said: “It’s very disappointing to be honest. First of all fair play to Ipswich, congrats to them and we wish them well in the Final.
“Personally, my first race was terrible, huge mistake mechanically on my end. I actually thought I was on after my second race, changed bikes, had a real good start. But I didn’t make a start after that.
“Cheers to Belle Vue fans for sticking by us all season. It wasn’t the result they wanted. Now for next time.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
THE revised schedule for the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-offs sees Sheffield host the first leg of their semi-final against Leicester this Thursday at Owlerton… The teams will then complete the tie at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Monday.
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST
 ADVANTAGE MONARCHS?
EDINBURGH lead their play-off semi-final against fierce rivals Glasgow by 14 points after a first leg which left both clubs with mixed emotions, as the Tigers clawed six point back in the final five races.
Monarchs manager Alex Harkess said: “Going by the results earlier in the year we would have settled for a 14-point advantage on Friday, no question about that.

“We achieved what we hoped to achieve after qualifying, but of course it was also disappointing because we all feel it could have been more.

“Anything into double figures, ten plus, was what we hoped for, and what we achieved was above that – above expectations before the match and disappointing after!
“The job’s only half done. We need the same determination from the riders and the same incredible backing from our supporters. If we can take that to Ashfield, then we give ourselves the best chance of finishing the job.”

TIGERS STILL FIGHTING
GLASGOW boss Cami Brown insists his side have it in them to pull back 14 points in the second leg of their play-off against Edinburgh, after a tough night at Armadale in the opener.
Brown said: “It’s clear to see how much we missed Dan Thompson especially who has been outstanding at Armadale all season.

“But the boys did very well to fight back in the latter stages and reduce the deficit. Kyle Howarth and Freddy Hodder battled so hard while Dayle Wood and Leon Flint also worked for every point. It just was a very rare off night for Chris Harris.
“We’ve beaten Edinburgh with 53 and 58 points on the last two occasions. We’ll need to do it again.
“The boys gave it everything but now we know we have a mountain to climb for the second leg at Ashfield in a fortnight. We will fight for every point to get to the Final.”

BEARS’ HOPES IN RESERVE
REDCAR boss Gavin Parr has pinpointed the contributions of reserves Jody Scott and Ace Pijper as they look to progress on three fronts over the coming weeks.
Both youngsters have played their part in the Bears’ recent run of wins and they now head into semi-finals in all three team competitions.

Parr said: “Both of our reserves have shown some great form recently, so if they can keep on singing, we will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
“Whilst we are still in three competitions, our destiny is in our own hands, we have got everything to play for.”

PIRATES RESPECT BEARS THREAT
POOLE promoter Dan Ford says he’s fully aware that Redcar could prove a tough nut to crack in their Championship play-off semi-final.
The Pirates seek to build a lead over the Bears at home on Tuesday, but will then need to perform again on Teesside in the return fixture on October 5.

Ford said: “Our distinguished record of the past is something to be very proud of and it serves as a driver to us as a club because we want the success to continue, but we know there could be a big road-block in our way, facing Redcar.
“They are on a strong run of form, which doesn’t surprise me and like us, they are chasing a potential treble this season, so we know it is going to be tough.”

BANDITS END WITH A WIN
BERWICK completed their home campaign with a 47-35 win over Workington, meaning a fifth-place finish is within their grasp if they can secure the aggregate point from the reverse fixture.
Co-owner Jamie Courtney said: “On-track I think we have given a decent account of ourselves with plenty of tight finishes and entertainment, effort and determination from the ten regular Bandits and a collection of guests.
“Behind the scenes there’s no doubt we are the best version of Berwick Speedway since I bought the club along with Scott in 2017. Not that there is not room for improvement.”

COMETS PAY TRIBUTE
WORKINGTON stage a special four-team tournament this Saturday in memory of eight-year old Jay Cartmell who tragically lost his life last year.
Six of the seven regular Comets will be involved in the meeting with appearances too from former Workington riders Paul Starke, Sam McGurk and Adam Roynon who returns to the track for the first time this year.
Youngsters Will Cairns, Luke Harrison and Luke Killeen are included along with former SGP2 star Kevin Juhl Pedersen.

THE WEEK AHEAD…
PLAY-OFF action takes place at Wimborne Road on Tuesday as Poole host Redcar in the first leg of their semi-final… The line-up for the BSN Series Final should be confirmed this week with the Pirates travelling to Oxford on Wednesday holding a 26-point advantage from the first leg of their semi-final… Meanwhile Glasgow and Redcar meet twice in less than 24 hours at the weekend as they clash at Ashfield at 7.30 on Friday before the semi-final is concluded at the ECCO Arena on Saturday at 1pm… Workington pay tribute to young supporter Jay Cartmell with a Memorial meeting at the GT Tyres Arena on Saturday.
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE/NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY LATEST

THE WEEK AHEAD
A CRUCIAL double header in the race for the WSRA NDL title takes place at Armadale on Friday (7pm) as Edinburgh host leaders Oxford followed by defending champions Leicester in a meeting which features the three clubs who all have a chance of finishing top in 2025.

FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Poole v Redcar 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Oxford (32) v Poole (58) 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Sheffield v Leicester 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Glasgow v Redcar 7.30
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh (29) v Oxford (61) 7pm, Edinburgh (35) v Leicester (55) (follows previous fixture)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Redcar v Glasgow 1pm
JAY CARTMELL MEMORIAL MEETING: Workington 3pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Leicester v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 23:
MAXICAB KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow (38) v Poole (52) 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24:
BLUE RIBAND: Poole 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow (38) v Edinburgh (52) 7.30
MAXICAB KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Redcar v Oxford 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Middlesbrough (42) v Oxford (48) 3pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Plymouth (36) v Kent (54) 7pm
RYAN DOUGLAS TESTIMONIAL: Leicester 4pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28:
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Workington 1pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (250cc/125cc): Workington (follows U19 Final)