BRITISH SPEEDWAY JUNE 28, 2026
(SPEEDWAY 1)
PIRATES ELIMINATED
BERWICK produced a sensational performance to dump MAXiCab KO Cup holders Poole out of the competition with a 55-35 win at Shielfield Park.
The Bandits, who had trailed by four points heading into the second leg of the semi-final, are through to the KO Cup Final for the first time in 37 years where they will face Plymouth.
An high-octane contest in front of a bumper crowd saw the home side go ahead on aggregate in Heat 4 and they added further 5-1s in Heats 6 and 8 to pile the pressure on the Pirates, who were unable to respond.
Top scorer Nick Morris (11) got the better of Richard Lawson in Heat 13 with Peter Kildemand (10+1) third to mathematically secure the Bandits’ progression. Lawson was top scorer for the visitors on 12.
Berwick manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was a typical Cup semi-final, all guns blazing, a little bit of controversy throughout, but the older I get the calmer I remain now!
“I don’t think the result flatters us in any way. We’ve been by far the better team tonight, there was some good exciting racing and we thoroughly deserve a place in the Final.
“It’s a great achievement for the club. I came in here a couple of years ago as team manager to try and do these sort of things, and we’ve managed to get to a Cup Final so I’m really pleased.”
Poole co-boss Gary Havelock said: “It’s really disappointing. We just didn’t get going at all tonight, and fair play to Berwick, the better team on the night won and that’s all I can say.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EDINBURGH moved up to second in the Cab Direct Championship by winning a last-heat decider 47-43 at Plymouth.
The scores were level at 42-42 heading into Heat 15 where the Gladiators fielded Scott Nicholls, who had dropped just one point from six rides at that stage.
But Monarchs duo Dan Thompson and Kye Thomson raced to a 5-1 over Nicholls and Danny King to seal the win for the visitors, who led by six points early on before the Gladiators briefly went ahead after Heat 10.
Thompson scored 12 from five rides on his old home track and each member of the visitors’ team recorded at least one paid win, whilst Nicholls (18) dominated the home side’s scoring as they dropped out of the top four.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
GREAT Britain’s Will Cairns is through to the SGP2 (World Under-21) Final series after a brilliant performance in Saturday’s Qualifier in Slovenia.
Belle Vue and Poole youngster Cairns, who turns 17 on Monday, scored 14 points at Krsko dropping his only point of the meeting in his first ride to Poland’s Maksymilian Pawelczak.
Three riders finished on 14 points with Pawelczak winning the run-off ahead of former Glasgow rider Villads Nagel and Cairns, who all progress along with Australian youngster Beau Bailey.
Luke Killeen was the best performer of the other GB riders involved on Saturday as he scored nine points at Danish venue Fjelsted, missing out on the top four by two points.
Luke Harrison scored four points in that meeting, whilst in Pardubice, Czech Republic, Ace Pijper and Max Perry scored six and five points respectively.
Oxford’s Australian racer Mitch McDiarmid was amongst the qualifiers from that event, with the main three-round SGP2 series getting underway at Malilla, Sweden on July 10.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
LEICESTER race their second WSRA National Development League fixture of the season when they host Buxton at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park today (Sunday).
The Lion Cubs are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season including home and away wins over the Bulls in previous challenge matches.
They go into the meeting without Max Perry who was on SGP2 duty yesterday, whilst the visitors name their full one-to-seven including recent signing Jack Roberts at reserve.
Leicester manager Jen Crossland said: “The team has been working together exactly as we hoped it would, and there’s been some great improvement from several riders which is what it’s all about at this level.
“But I do think it’s safe to say this will be a tougher match than the last time Buxton were here, especially with them having brought in Jack Roberts at reserve.”
Bulls boss Laurence Rogers said: “We are going with the intentions of putting in a strong performance and hopefully we can keep things tight.
“We are stronger than we were earlier in the season and look forward to putting on a better display for our supporters.”
LEICESTER: Ben Morley, Tom Spencer, Max Perry R/R, Ryan Ingram, Freddy Hodder, Eli Meadows, Seth Norman.
BUXTON: Alfie Bowtell, Jack Shimelt, Luke Harris, Arran Butcher, Jack Smith, Ryan Ashcroft, Jack Roberts.
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY JUNE 28:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester v Buxton 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 29:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue (49) v King’s Lynn (41) 7.30, Northampton (43) v Ipswich (47) 7.30
TUESDAY JUNE 30:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: King’s Lynn (40) v Oxford (50) 7.30
