BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2023/25

Feature photo by: Jack Cupido

EDINBURGH secured the final play-off place in the Cab Direct Championship with two wins in a double header at Armadale on Friday. The Monarchs slammed Plymouth 60-29 before defeating Birmingham 38-34 in a much closer second fixture which was halted by the curfew with three races remaining.

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

SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP NEWSROUND…

WITCHES CHASE SHOCK DOUBLE

IPSWICH face a six-point deficit ahead of the second leg of the KO Cup Final at home to Sheffield on Thursday, and they will then turn their attentions to the play-off semi-finals after their late qualification in the top four.
Boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I think everyone is confident that we are capable of overturning it, but we are six points down against a very good team that are capable of coming to Ipswich and winning.
“I would prefer to be six points up than six points down so we will need a massive effort, like we have shown over the last two months to get ourselves to this point where we are going for a Cup and the league.”

STEAD WANTED MORE
SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead accepts his side will need to be at their best to defend a six-point lead in the KO Cup Final at Ipswich on Thursday – and is backing guest Max Fricke to bounce back from a rare off-night at Owlerton.
Stead said: “Max is disappointed with his night. But he gets his chance to turn it around and put some points on the board for us.

“So if he can turn it around and the rest of the boys can keep doing what they’ve been doing then we’re going to be a handful.”

WOLVES: NOW IT GETS SERIOUS
WOLVERHAMPTON rounded off their regular campaign with back-to-back 54-36 defeats at Sheffield and Peterborough – but boss Peter Adams insists they’ll be ready for the play-offs.

Adams said: “We’re in the unusual position here where, arguably, the best team in the league aren’t going to be in the play-offs
“They rode very well did Peterborough, but for us now it’s just about staying as healthy as we can. We now look forward to the matches that are really going to matter.”

LIONS LEFT DEVASTATED
LEICESTER were knocked out of play-off contention in a last-race showdown at Peterborough on Thursday, where the Panthers scored a 4-2 to win 58-32 and mean the Lions missed out on the vital aggregate point.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “I’m not going to have a pop at my riders, they gave everything all season and they’re all very disappointed, as the supporters are and I went over and spoke to them after Heat 15.

“I’m disappointed myself – we wanted to get into the play-offs, of course we did, although you have to say on tonight’s performance we didn’t deserve it.”

PANTHERS IN TOP GEAR
PETERBOROUGH kept up their stunning run towards the end of the season by slamming Leicester 58-32 and then defeating Wolverhampton 54-36 – and they face bottom club King’s Lynn on Thursday.
Manager Rob Lyon said: “It’s a strange situation because we couldn’t buy a win for the first two-thirds of the season, and now we’re winning in a canter, and you can see that with the team we have now.

“I’ve tweaked the line-up around a few times which you can do when you’ve got that sort of strength that you can just mess around with it a bit, and you’re not exposed in any areas.”

ELSEWHERE… BELLE Vue have suffered a major blow with Charles Wright crashing in Poland on Sunday and suffering a broken collarbone and rib and back injuries. The Aces commence their play-off campaign next week against Ipswich… KING’S Lynn end their campaign with Thursday’s re-arranged fixture at Peterborough, although the Stars cannot now move off the bottom of the table.

THE WEEK AHEAD… IPSWICH and Sheffield contest the second leg of the KO Cup Final on Thursday with the Witches six points down from the first leg… the Suffolk side then travel to Belle Vue on Monday for the first leg of their Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final… the league campaign is rounded off by the A47 derby between Peterborough and King’s Lynn on Thursday.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP NEWSROUND…

PIRATES PRAISE FOR SCORPIONS
POOLE promoter Dan Ford expects a tough test from Scunthorpe as Group A of the play-offs gets underway this Wednesday, with the Pirates having elected to face the Scorpions and Edinburgh.
Ford said: “I think it is reasonable to say that Scunthorpe are probably the dark horses amongst the play-off qualifiers. They have gone about their business stealthily this year and have thoroughly deserved their place.
“There is no question that they will make things as tough as possible for us but I will never stop believing in our lads, there is still more to come from them I’m sure.”

IT ALL STARTS AGAIN!
OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck is ready for the play-off battle with his side set to kick off Group B when they host Glasgow on Wednesday.
Schroeck said: “Past results count for nothing now. While the success story of this season remains relevant, we can’t allow it to cloud our mentality and impact how we approach these next four fixtures.
“Glasgow are a well-established side at this level and demonstrated on Friday in our final regular season meeting how powerful they can be when things click. We’re wary of that, but at the same time have confidence in our own ability to do a good job on home shale.”

TIGERS PSYCHOLOGICAL EDGE?
GLASGOW boss Cami Brown says the Tigers’ win at Redcar on Sunday puts them into the play-offs in great shape – as they will have to go back to the ECCO Arena in Group B.
Brown told glasgowtigers.co.uk: “It was definitely the perfect boost for all the boys. Redcar are a good side and it’s a good win.

“I think we would have got the result if the meeting had gone the full 15 heats. Over the next couple of weeks we face Redcar again in the play-offs so we know we can get a result here.”

SCORPIONS IN GOOD SHAPE
SCUNTHORPE boss Dave Peet is delighted with the form of his side as they prepare to face Poole and Edinburgh in the play-offs, having finished fourth in the regular table thanks to a big win over Berwick.
Peet said: “Dougie (Ryan Douglas) wanted to max out tonight and also go out and win Heat 15, while Tofty (Michael Palm Toft) is still feeling it with his foot and settled for a four-ride paid maximum. Jake (Allen) was also on good form and happy to take Heat 15. “Drew (Kemp) had a few mechanical issues, but we’ll make sure those are resolved before the play-offs – we know what he can do, he showed that a couple of weeks ago and we have every confidence in him.”

BANDITS END WITH A WIN
BERWICK avoided bottom spot in the Cab Direct Championship thanks to a 52-38 win over Plymouth which also gave them the aggregate point – and boss Kevin Little admitted it was a major relief.
Little said: “After a tough season it was good to see six of our riders get a race win and there was some really entertaining racing. “It’s been a difficult and disappointing season but at least we go out with a win.”

ELSEWHERE: EDINBURGH will kick off their play-off campaign at home to Scunthorpe on Friday, and will be using guests for the suspended Craig Cook… REDCAR are safely in the play-offs but have to make preparations for being without the injured Charles Wright… BIRMINGHAM missed out after losing at Edinburgh on Friday, although there are still two more meetings to come at Perry Barr this season… PLYMOUTH ended the season in a depleted state with injuries and suspensions, and finished with the wooden spoon after defeat at Berwick.

THE WEEK AHEAD…  The Cab Direct Championship play-offs get underway this week with Poole hosting Scunthorpe on Wednesday in Group A before the Scorpions visit Edinburgh on Friday, and then take on the Monarchs at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday… in Group B, Oxford host Glasgow on Wednesday with the Tigers then taking on Redcar at Ashfield on Tuesday.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NEWSROUND…

CUP TARGET FOR FEN TIGERS
MILDENHALL boss Jason Gardner wants to finally get the better of Leicester when the sides meet next month in the NDL KO Cup Final for the second year in succession.
Gardner said: “It’s helpful we have that league match at Leicester just a fortnight before the Cup Final second leg at Beaumont Park – it’ll help our lads know the best set ups to use and how to tackle the track. 
“Alfie Bowtell scored really well there on Saturday night and he will be helping his team mates with all he learnt from that recent, invaluable experience. The Lion Cubs are strong of course but we will be doing all we can to put one over on them and bring the Cup back to West Row.”

ROYALS REIGN OVER ACADEMY
KENT boss Jamie Willis was delighted with a hard-working effort from his side to overcome Edinburgh 48-41 at Iwade.
Willis said: “A brilliant all round team performance where everyone contributed to the win. Two league points were vital, and we were delighted to finish our home league season with a win.
“Massive credit has to go to Ashton (Vale) who won his first two NDL races but also picked up vital points in his other races and I’m sure everyone will agree he was brilliant today!”

MILESTONE MAX
OXFORD youngster Jody Scott picked up his first career paid maximum in the Chargers’ emphatic home win over Kent last week.
Scott said: “It feels amazing to collect a paid maximum – I’ve never got one before. When I crossed the line in my final ride, I was buzzing and just wanted to carry on riding. I was so excited – it’s just unreal.
“It’s a real boost to get a paid maximum – it really boosts my confidence and that’s important, because we’re on course to quality for the Final.”

CUBS NEARLY THERE
LEICESTER enjoyed a perfect weekend with wins at Belle Vue and over Workington in the NDL to virtually guarantee their Grand Final place, before reaching the KO Cup Final at the expense of the Comets.
Boss Dave Howard said: “It was a great couple of performances by the team and it puts us into the Cup Final and virtually into the play-off Final.
“It was a tricky track for everybody to start with and there were lots of incidents but we got there in the end.”

COLTS CLOSE, BUT…
BELLE Vue were defeated at home by Leicester on Friday as the Colts’ play-off hopes came to an end after a strong season overall.
Skipper Jack Smith said: “Of course we’re disappointed. Last year, when it was the top four who went through, we just missed out by a point and now this year we’ve potentially missed out by an equally close number.
“But it just wasn’t to be for us. Certain circumstances were working against us, with missing Sam (Hagon) and James (Pearson), and then losing Luke (Muff) as well meant we were down to five riders after just four races.”

RAIN IS A PAIN
WORKINGTON boss James Denham felt his side were capable of snatching a win at Mildenhall on Sunday – having been just one point down when heavy rain hit West Row.
Denham told workingtoncomets.com: “The rain has done us over of getting a result from the Mildenhall match but I think that just sums up our year of luck.

“We’ve had injuries all throughout the season to contend with but the lads have always dug deep and never gave up.”

ACADEMY MAKE THEIR POINT
EDINBURGH boss Scott Wilson felt his side could well have taken more than just the aggregate point from a 41-48 defeat at Kent on Sunday.
Wilson said: “We made things difficult for ourselves again with some falls and a retirement when in scoring positions, and ultimately it was too much to overcome.
“We’ve come away with the bonus point, which was the minimum objective today, but we all wanted the win.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… Two matches in the NDL on Saturday as Berwick round off their time in the third tier with a home match against Belle Vue… meanwhile, Workington complete their first season of official team fixtures since their return when they take on Kent at Northside.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP A: Poole v Scunthorpe 7.30
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP B: Oxford v Glasgow 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP ROUND 2: Peterborough (46) v King’s Lynn (44) 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich (42) v Sheffield (48) 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP A: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Berwick (29) v Belle Vue (61) 7pm, Workington (40) v Kent (50) 3pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP A: Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 5pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 19:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP B: Glasgow v Redcar 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP A: Poole v Edinburgh 7.30
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP B: Oxford v Redcar 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich v Belle Vue 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP A: Scunthorpe v Poole 7.30
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP B: Redcar v Oxford 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh (41) v Mildenhall (48) 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester (39) v Oxford (50) 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington 2pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Wolverhampton v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP B: Glasgow v Oxford 7.30