BRITAIN’S DIFFERENT MENTAL APPROACH LEADS TO SoN WIN

GREAT Britain co-boss Simon Stead says the mentality has changed as the national team celebrates its second World Championship gold in the space of three years.

Stead and Oliver Allen oversaw GB’s victory in the FIM Speedway of Nations at Belle Vue on Saturday, adding to their gold at the same venue in 2021 along with silvers in 2022 and last year in the Speedway World Cup.
Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley were the on-track heroes in Manchester, with reserve Tom Brennan playing his part in the pits, and Stead admits it’s a great time to be involved.
He said: “Going into every competition we go into now, we go in to win. No longer as a nation do we think a medal is a good achievement,

“We are striving to be better than that, and I think with the progress that’s been made and the riders at our disposal, that comes with its own pressures.
“People can now expect something from us, and I think the fact that we’re delivering that at the highest level is testament to the lads that we’ve got riding for us, and the backroom team.
“Any time that we get together now is good time spent. The memories that we’ve made together over the course of the last few years will live strong, but we live for the moment and we’re striving for gold every time we’re out.

“Tonight is testament to a lot of hard work that goes on from a lot of people – the lads, their mechanics and teams, their engine tuners, and Rob (Painter) and Vicky (Blackwell) of course who have put so much time and effort into making GB Speedway a success.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SPEEDWAY of Nations winner Dan Bewley makes a triumphant return to hometown club Workington for today’s (Sunday) Ben Fund Bonanza.
The annual charity event was postponed in March due to bad weather but now it’s all systems go for the re-staging at the GT Tyres Arena with a celebratory atmosphere expected.

Bewley rode for the Comets at their former Derwent Park home in 2018 and will now appear in a full-scale meeting at the Northside venue for the first time.
And the line-up includes three more riders who have been on duty in Manchester over recent days – Czech racer Jan Kvech, German star Norick Blodorn and the USA’s Gino Manzares.
SRBF Chairman Paul Ackroyd said: “Today’s event is a vital source of income for our charity, and the Ben Fund Bonanza has become one of the major events in the British Speedway calendar.

“This weekend is the only time when there is very little speedway here in the UK and Poland, so it made sense to tag onto the SON event in Manchester and offer travelling fans the opportunity of taking in both events.
“Sadly we have recently seen injuries to Danny King who missed over a month of racing, but we are delighted to have him back today, and also others on the injured list include Jason Doyle, Rory Schlein and Tai Woffinden, and more recently Tate Zischke who was due to appear today. Our thoughts and best wishes are with those riders.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

OXFORD Chargers are at full strength for the first time this season when they host Scunthorpe in the WSRA National Development League today (Sunday).
Alex Spooner has been absent due to injury for the first half of the campaign but he makes his return at Cowley.
Meanwhile the visitors bring in British Youth star William Cairns for his first appearance at this level, guesting for Sheldon Davies who is taking time out of the sport.

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “We’re happy to be able to track a full team for the first time this season and we’re delighted to have Alex riding for the team. He wants to play his part and he can’t wait to get going.
“When you look at their side, Scunthorpe will be no pushovers, since their heat-leader trio were all Championship riders until very recently.

“As usual, there’s no pressure on the Chargers – we just want them to enjoy themselves, continue their progression and have a good meeting. If that all happens, it will bring another victory.”
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Sheldon notified us that he wants to take some time out of the sport.

“We have a plan of how we replace him going forwards, but in the meantime, we’re going to give William Cairns his first league meeting in British Speedway at Oxford.
“He’s a special young talent, who has very recently turned 15, and the fans at Oxford will be the first to witness him racing in a league match. It’s also likely to make the meeting much more competitive and the Stags can give the Oxford Chargers a run for their money.”

(FIXTURES)

SUNDAY JULY 14:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Oxford v Scunthorpe/Sheffield 3pm
BEN FUND BONANZA: Workington 3pm

MONDAY JULY 15:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Ipswich (26) v Belle Vue (58) 7.30
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: King’s Lynn (42) v Leicester (47) 7.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham 7.30 (500cc/250cc)

WEDNESDAY JULY 17:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Plymouth 7.30