BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2025/27

Date: Wednesday October 1, 2025

Feature photo by: IAN ADAM… GLASGOW are through to the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final after a sensational late turnaround against fierce rivals Edinburgh.
The Tigers trailed by eight points on aggregate with just three races remaining but they pulled off two 5-1 and a 4-2 to snatch the semi-final 91-89 on aggregate.
Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth both made their way past Victor Palovaara and Kye Thomson for a 5-1 in Heat 13, before Leon Flint and Max Perry collected a 4-2 in Heat 14 to cut the gap to two points.
Harris and Howarth then sealed the comeback with maximum points over Thomson and Justin Sedgmen in the decider for a 53-37 win on the night, and by just two points overall.

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

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP LATEST
 
WITCHES READY FOR FINAL
IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins says now is the time for the hard work to be converted into title glory as the Witches prepare to contest the Grand Final.
It is the third time in recent years that the Foxhall side have made it to the title decider, and they are desperate to take the big last step after losing out to Swindon in 2019 and Sheffield in 2023.

Hawkins said: “We have worked hard for a number of years to get into this position, and we have had the core of this group together for two or three years now and we are fully focused on the Final, there is no doubt about that. All our concern is on that, that is a given and we look forward to it.
“We have a break now which is the same for both sides which is good. A lot of the boys have big meetings abroad or in the Championship or in the Speedway of Nations and that is good competitive action, and we are looking forward to Leicester.”

FRICKE: BRING THE ‘A’ GAME!
LEICESTER captain Max Fricke says his side need to be in top form for the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final against Ipswich.
Both teams have won on each other’s home circuits this season and it is the Lions who stage the first leg at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.

Fricke said: “It’s going to be tough. Ipswich have been a phenomenal team all year, and they’re very good on their home track.
“We are going to have to bring our ‘A’ game, but I think everyone is ready for it.
“We’ve been busy riding in other meetings, and we want to keep ourselves fresh and ready to go for the Final. Hopefully we can build a lead at home.”

TIGERS END ON TOP
SHEFFIELD completed a campaign where they were so close to honours by beating Ipswich at home to finish ahead of the Witches in the league table on race points difference.
It was another strong season at Owlerton where they recovered from the loss of Tai Woffinden to injury on the eve of racing, but their title hopes were dashed when they lost their play-off semi-final to Leicester by a single point.

Manager Simon Stead said: “We wanted to finish off strongly. Obviously the play-offs were disappointing but we picked ourselves up like we have done all season.
“For us, it was really important to give the supporters a big performance and a big result as a thank you for the support they’ve given us all season.”

GOOD YEAR FOR PK
DANISH star Peter Kildemand proved a bright spark in a tough season for Oxford Spires, and confirmed his return to British racing has been a success.
Kildemand scored 12 points in the Spires’ narrow home defeat to Grand Finalists Leicester on Thursday which completed their campaign.

He said: “It’s been good to return to British Speedway this season. I’ve really started to enjoy racing again.
“The last couple of seasons I’ve been out with quite serious injuries and I’d stopped enjoying my racing. It’s been good riding for Oxford – coming back over to Britain has really helped me this year.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
IT’S Grand Final time next week as Leicester and Ipswich battle it out for top honours in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. The teams meet in the first leg at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Monday, before the title is decided in the return fixture at Foxhall on Thursday October 9.
 
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST

KYLE THE KEY
GLASGOW boss Cami Brown heaped praise on Kyle Howarth after a critical display in the Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final win over Edinburgh.
Howarth scored a paid maximum in the Tigers’ dramatic home success on Friday as they overturned a 14-point defeat in the first leg, and he had also scored heavily at Armadale, whilst reserve Max Perry also came in for special mention.

Brown said: “Kyle has been sensational over the two legs with 13 at Edinburgh to keep us in the tie, then a paid maximum at home. He delivered bigtime.
“Heat 14 was an unbelievable race for us. Leon Flint passed Michael Palm Toft but Max Perry’s third place was absolutely pivotal. That boy rode his heart out for us and he made all the difference with six points.”

MONARCHS MISS OUT
EDINBURGH star Kye Thomson hit double figures but his side agonisingly missed out on Grand Final qualification in a dramatic play-off semi-final against Glasgow.
Thomson and Justin Sedgmen were on the wrong end of a 5-1 from home duo Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth in Heat 15 as the Monarchs were defeated by just two points overall.
Thomson said: “I tried my hardest and we all tried our hardest and that’s speedway.
“We all stepped up and we pushed the team that finished top all the way to the last race, so we can be proud of that, but it hurts.”

CUP FINAL FOR BEARS
REDCAR are through to the MAXiCab KO Cup Final, where they will face Poole as they look to repeat their victory in the competition from 2019.
The Bears were taken down to the wire at Oxford in a Super Heat having held a 14-point lead on their home track one-third of the way through the tie.
Manager Gavin Parr said: “We dug deep, every one of the boys worked so hard and deserved the aggregate win.
“Hats off to Oxford as they gave us two fantastic meetings and fought right to the end.”

CAIRNS’ CUP JOY
POOLE’S 16-year-old reserve Will Cairns contributed a crucial paid-11 in the Pirates’ aggregate win over Glasgow to take them into another Cup Final.
Cairns knew he would have a vital role to play after Lewis Kerr crashed out at Ashfield, and he was part of the decisive race in Heat 14.

He said: “I’m over the moon, Toby (Tobias Thomsen) and Dan Ford both said to me that we need a 3-3 from the heat and I told myself that I was going to be part of it. Zach (Cook) cleared off but I was determined to hold on.
“It has been a  bit of an up and down season for me and Havvy (Gary Havelock) said to me once we knew Lewi would be out, that this was game time now and it was likely I would have seven rides.”

CHEETAHS’ HOPES ENDED
OXFORD took Redcar all the way to a Super Heat after a 90-90 draw in their MAXiCab KO Cup semi-final – but it wasn’t quite enough to go through to a second successive Final.
Skipper Sam Masters won the additional race but guest Kye Thomson was kept at the back by Bears duo Danny King and Charles Wright, despite his best efforts.

Masters said: “I’m proud of the whole team over the two legs, because everyone put their whole heart and effort into it.
“We always knew it would be tough, but we put up an awesome fight. Redcar are a very strong team and my best wishes to them in the Final.”

BANDITS FINISH WITH A FLOURISH
BERWICK completed the campaign with a welcome away win at Workington – their first on the road since May 2024 – to secure fifth place in the Cab Direct Championship table.
Danish duo Peter Kildemand and Jonas Jeppesen both scored paid maximums at the GT Tyres Arena with captain Drew Kemp contributing 12 points at No.1.

Stand-in boss Steve Dews said: “It was a good way to end the season and the boys worked hard to make sure we got the win.
“Workington is a track where you have to be on your game every lap, but it is good to give the fans something as our season comes to an end.

CONSISTENCY COSTS COMETS
WORKINGTON’S team season ended on a losing note as they were beaten 48-42 at home by Berwick on Saturday in their league finale.
Manager James Denham told the Comets’ website: “Unfortunately it didn’t go our way, we really would have liked to finish the season with a win but it wasn’t to be.
“Berwick were simply far superior from the gates and wanted it more than us. It probably sums our season up in a way – we just haven’t been consistent enough.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
REDCAR and Poole complete their Cab Direct Championship semi-final at the ECCO Arena this Friday with the Bears leading by six points from the first leg… The first leg of the MAXiCab KO Cup Final between the same clubs is scheduled for Wimborne Road next Wednesday.
 
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE/NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY LATEST
 
CELEBRATIONS FOR CHARGERS
OXFORD clinched the WSRA National Development League title with a 60-30 victory at Middlesbrough last Saturday.
The Chargers have now won the competition twice in the last three years, having suffered just two defeats this season.

Manager Peter Schroeck said: “It was quite a statement to score 60 points to clinch the title. The boys were on it. I’m buzzing for them and also the fans who made the long journey up there to support the team.

“All the boys have progressed and, to me, that’s as important as winning the league title. It’s been a tough year for Oxford Speedway with the Spires and the Cheetahs. But the Chargers are the foundations for our future.
“It shows Oxford Speedway has got the strength in our foundations and it’s something to build upon in the years to come.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
MIDDLESBROUGH complete their WSRA NDL programme at home to Belle Vue on Friday… Plymouth host Leicester in the NDT on Saturday… King’s Lynn celebrate their 60th anniversary with the Young Stars Pride of the East at the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday… Kent stage the Iwade Individual Championship on Sunday.
 
FIXTURE PICTURE…

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 SEMI-FINAL 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

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8:
MAXICAB CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Redcar 7.30

THURSDAY OCTOBER 9:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich v Leicester 7.30