BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2025/26

Feature photo by: STEVE DIXON…LEICESTER are through to a second successive ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final after an epic semi went right down to a last heat decider against Sheffield.
The Lions won 47-43 on the night at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park for the narrowest of aggregate margins, 90-89.
The aggregate lead changed hands five times on a remarkable night of racing, with just one point between the teams going into the final race of the tie.
But after a re-start home skipper Max Fricke conjured a sensational start from the outside to get his team over the line, and set up a title showdown with Ipswich early next month.

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

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SEMI-FINAL DELIGHT FOR LIONS
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson says a second successive Grand Final is reward for his team’s efforts and the club’s loyalty over the last two years.
The Lions lost to Belle Vue in last season’s title decider but after overcoming Sheffield in a sensational semi-final, they now move on to face Ipswich early next month.

Dickson said: “We’ve now got a Final to look forward to, which is what it’s all about, and whilst we never covered ourselves in glory against Belle Vue last year I do think it’s a good record to reach another Final, and it says a lot about my riders.
“I stuck with as many riders as possible from last year’s team and I think that’s proved to be the correct decision. They should get the praise, they delivered when the pressure was on, and now we can start preparing for Ipswich.”

AGONY FOR TIGERS
SHEFFIELD fell a single point short of their Grand Final target as their title hopes were shattered with a 47-43 defeat at Leicester on Monday, meaning they went down 90-89 on aggregate.
Manager Simon Stead pointed to turning points across the tie but had no complaints over the efforts of his riders.
Stead said: “I can’t ask for any more than that, they’ve given me absolutely everything over the two legs just as they have all season.

“We’re all disappointed as a team, I’m disappointed for the riders and our management and we’re all disappointed for the fans but it was a great effort.
“It does leave a bit of a sour taste in our mouths because we didn’t lose it tonight, there were a lot of bits that went on last Thursday that made it difficult probably.”

THOMPSON THE KEY?
IPSWICH manager Ritchie Hawkins says the performance of back-to-form Dan Thompson was a significant factor in the Witches reaching the Premiership Grand Final.
And Thompson, who starred against Belle Vue, is set to have a big part to play especially as he is a track specialist at their Final opponents Leicester.

Hawkins said: “He has really struggled since returning from injury at Ipswich and I know he hasn’t been enjoying it as it has been tricky for everyone.
“Tonight, he got his head around it and it makes a massive difference to the team when he is riding like that. It is a lot on a young man’s shoulders but at the start of the season you saw what his scores did for us and that was a big difference.”

LAST CALL FOR SPIRES
OXFORD promoter Jamie Courtney has confirmed the Spires will race for the final time on Thursday when they face Leicester, as the club plan to run at two levels in 2026.
Courtney said: “For two seasons, we’ve proudly entered Oxford Speedway at all three levels of the British Speedway pyramid. During that time, we’ve held over 30 meetings at home per season and become the busiest speedway stadium in the world.
“The Cheetahs is the club’s traditional name and the name that our supporters would wish for us to continue. We will be entering just the Cheetahs and Chargers to race at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium in 2026.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
THE regular Premiership programme is completed this Thursday with both Grand Finalists racing away from home, as Ipswich travel to Sheffield whilst Leicester visit Oxford… Leicester also host the re-arranged Testimonial Meeting for Ryan Douglas on Saturday at 4pm.

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TIGERS HAVE BELIEF
GLASGOW boss Cami Brown is backing his side ahead of two major catch-up attempts in big Cup and league play-off matches.
The Tigers face 14-point deficits against both Poole and Edinburgh heading into home matches this week in the respective competitions.
Brown said: “This is the most exciting Glasgow side I’ve ever worked with, I think we are better than the team that won the title in 2023. The camaraderie and work ethic from one to seven has blown me away this year.
“In Bomber (Chris Harris) we already have a 2025 World Champion and his inspirational leadership has already won seven league titles and two KO Cups in both leagues in his career.
“No current rider can touch him for leadership, excitement and being so highly-decorated. He’s the best rider in the Championship by a country mile.”

SETBACK FOR MONARCHS
EDINBURGH have suffered a blow ahead of their play-off trip to Glasgow on Friday with captain Paco Castagna ruled out.
The Italian has confirmed he broke a shoulder when he crashed in the prestigious Golden Helmet meeting at Czech Republic venue Pardubice on Sunday.
Manager Alex Harkess told the club website: “It’s a big disappointment to lose Paco at this stage, but injuries are part of speedway.
“We wish him the very best in his recovery, and now it’s up to the rest of the team to dig deep and finish the job.”

BEARS ARE BUOYANT
REDCAR put in two strong away displays to maintain their hopes of a team trophy treble this year.
The Bears only went down by six points at Poole in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, and 48 hours later they held Glasgow to a two-point margin at Ashfield in the BSN Series.
Manager Gavin Parr said: “All of the boys battled really hard, it was an absolutely brilliant performance.
“However, we’ve done nothing yet so we’ve got to finish the job off in the second leg.”

LAST CHANCE FOR CHEETAHS
OXFORD go into their final opportunity for 2025 honours this week when they face Redcar in the semi-finals of the MAXiCab KO Cup.
The Cheetahs, who exited the BSN Series to Poole, head to Teesside on Friday before hosting the Bears at BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on Sunday.
Cheetahs racer Luke Killeen said: “I was determined not to have to write off this season as a bad one. Instead I turned around my form mid-season and I do feel that I have progressed as a rider.
“The season isn’t over for us yet and we’d like to finish it on a high in the Cup.”

KENNETT DEFENDS TITLE
FORMER GB international Edward Kennett will make a rare speedway appearance on Wednesday at Poole when he defends the Blue Riband title he won back in 2016.
Kennett is a former Poole rider but his last regular team place was with Plymouth when injury curtailed his 2022 campaign.
Promoter Dan Ford said: “It is always good to have the reigning champion back to defend his title.
“Although there have been a few years since we have last seen him here at Wimborne Road we know that he loves riding here and he won’t want to hand over the title without a fight.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
THE first Grand Final place should be resolved on Friday as Glasgow host Edinburgh needing to pull back 14 points from the first leg… The Tigers are also in home action facing an identical deficit against Poole in the MAXiCab KO Cup semi-final… The other semi-final in that competition features Redcar and Oxford who meet on Friday and Sunday… Workington face Berwick in the final regular league match of the campaign on Saturday… Poole host their big Individual meeting, the Blue Riband, on Wednesday.
 
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CHARGERS IN CHARGE
OXFORD still have the WSRA NDL title destiny in their own hands – if they can win at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Chargers went down 48-42 at Edinburgh on Friday where a win would have made them uncatchable, but they did bank the aggregate point to move a step closer.
Manager Peter Schroeck said: “I’m so proud of the progress of the Chargers this season – they have been a shining light this season.
“As usual, we will place no pressure on the lads at this level. We just want them to enjoy themselves while developing as speedway riders.”

FOUR OUT OF SIX FOR ACADEMY
EDINBURGH remained in the hunt for the WSRA NDL title with two home wins in one night at Armadale on Friday.
The Monarchs Academy defeated both rivals Oxford and Leicester in a double-header, although their opponents both did enough to take the respective aggregate points.
Captain Connor Coles said: “In our last home match we struggled a bit against a depleted Steelers team so I knew these would be close.
“It would have been nice to get a bit closer to the aggregate points and not leave it down to last heat deciders. I think if we win our last match at Belle Vue we will be in with a good chance.”

THE WEEK AHEAD
THE WSRA NDL title could be resolved on Saturday if leaders Oxford can win at Middlesbrough… There is also action in the NDT with Plymouth hosting Kent.
 
FIXTURE PICTURE…

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

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Oxford (40) v Leicester (50) 7.30, Sheffield (47) v Ipswich (43) 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 1st leg: Redcar v Oxford 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington (35) v Berwick (47) 3pm
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:
MAXICAB KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Oxford v Redcar 5pm

THURSDAY OCTOBER 2:
YOUNG STARS PRIDE OF THE EAST: King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY OCTOBER 3:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Middlesbrough (43) v Belle Vue (46) 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 4:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Plymouth (37) v Leicester (53) 7pm

SUNDAY OCTOBER 5:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Redcar (42) v Poole (48) 6pm
IWADE CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent 12pm

MONDAY OCTOBER 6:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Leicester v Ipswich 7.30