BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2024/16

Feature photo: GREAT Britain were crowned World Champions in a sensational Speedway of Nations Final at Belle Vue on Saturday. Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley overcame Australian duo Jack Holder and Brady Kurtz in the Grand Final race-off to secure gold for GB in Manchester. It’s the second time Lambert and Bewley have combined for World Team glory at the National Speedway Stadium, after their win over Poland in 2021.
Photo credit: IAN CHARLES

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

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP…

BACK TO BUSINESS!

IPSWICH manager Ritchie Hawkins is looking forward to getting back to work in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership as his team looks to ensure top spot ahead of the play-offs.

Hawkins said: “We are all looking forward to getting back together after ten days off, I think it came at a good time for some of the boys.

“They needed a little bit of rest, and it was great to see a few of our riders in the Speedway of Nations 2 representing their countries. It shows what great futures they have but we are looking forward to some team action.”

BRUMMIES SEEK REPLACEMENT

BIRMINGHAM are looking for cover for skipper Steve Worrall, who has been ruled out for a month with Labyrinthitis.

Worrall missed the Brummies’ home defeat to Oxford last week having been laid low with the illness for a second time this year.

He said: “I’ve not really felt like myself and not been able to put my finger on why. There’s more to it than what you realise.

“It’s a weird thing to have because it just happens. I was coming back from the workshop in the van on Friday, a couple of minutes on the way home and everything just went blurry, strange and wobbling around.

“You close your eyes and even the black spins around, it’s really strange. The docs have told me the only thing that solves it is time.”

VITAL NIGHT AHEAD

LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson is determined to see his side record a victory over an Ipswich side who have very much had the better of the Lions in their previous meetings.

The Witches head to the East Midlands in a vital clash on Thursday with the hosts currently just one place outside the play-offs.

Dickson said: “I’d say we are in decent form, I’m not going to say brilliant form, but we’ve scored 54 and 52 points in our last two home matches, so that hasn’t been too bad.

“But it’s about time we beat Ipswich. It’s going to be a toughie, and we need all seven riders to be firing.”

RESERVE WORRIES FOR ACES

BELLE Vue have issues to resolve in both reserve berths due to Tate Zischke’s injury and now the news that Rising Star Connor Bailey is to take time out of the sport.

The Aces were to track Antti Vuolas as a guest at Ipswich on Monday before that meeting fell victim to the weather, and they are now preparing for back-to-back clashes with Oxford.

They visit Cowley this Thursday (July 18) before hosting the Spires at the National Speedway Stadium next Monday.

SPIRES WELCOME BEWLEY

OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck says Speedway of Nations winner Dan Bewley will get a warm welcome when he races for Belle Vue at Cowley on Thursday.

But the Spires’ chief is looking for his team to then take more important league points against the Aces in the tight fight for play-off places.

Schroeck said: “Obviously as a club we’re very proud of Great Britain for what they have done so it would be nice to acknowledge Dan’s achievement, and hopefully there will be another full stadium to boot because we have to appreciate that we have riders of that calibre over here.

“But league racing is slightly different to that, so we want to keep him under control!”

 NEWS IN BRIEF

SHEFFIELD and Ipswich have confirmed dates for the Premiership KO Cup Final with the first leg to take place at Owlerton on Monday September 2, whilst the Witches will host the return on September 5… KING’S Lynn were frustrated by the weather once again when their home clash with Leicester was called off on Monday, with the Stars set to go back into action at Sheffield on Thursday.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP…

BUSY SPELL FOR PIRATES

POOLE promoter Dan Ford says it’s crucial that his side builds momentum in their upcoming home matches as they look to secure a play-off place over the next six weeks.

Pirates will welcome back reserve Vinnie Foord for their home clash with Plymouth on Wednesday.

Ford said: “As things currently stand we have ridden the fewest number of league matches in the Championship, but have quite a schedule ahead of us with four home league matches, starting on Wednesday, interspersed with three very tough away matches (Redcar, Glasgow and Workington).

“It is crucial for us that we can be in a strong position heading into those.”

TWO IN FOR TIGERS

GLASGOW will have a new-look line-up when they resume against Scunthorpe on Friday with Matic Ivacic and Jason Garrad joining the club.

The Tigers have released Paul Starke and Ace Pijper, and boss Cami Brown admits it was a tough decision with away form having been a concern.

Brown told the club’s website: “Both are terrific guys and it’s never an easy decision. But the bottom line is that we needed to find a way to strengthen the side.

“Anyone connected with the club will appreciate that the side has looked vulnerable and particularly weak away from home.

“Trust me, we have worked harder than ever before to strengthen the side over the past few weeks. We have to take a chance to make sure we get a play-off place, it’s as simple as that.”

SCORPIONS AIMING HIGH

SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey says he wants more than just a top four finish in the Cab Direct Championship.

The Scorpions are currently second in the league table as they prepare to head to Glasgow on Friday, and they are also still involved in both the KO Cup and BSN Series.

Godfrey said: “As I’ve said before, my targets are set higher than just making the play-offs, I want a top two finish. There are plenty of teams in the mix, and Glasgow are one of the sides close behind us.”

SO FAR, SO GOOD

OXFORD No.1 Sam Masters says he’s content with the Cheetahs’ current position at the top of the Cab Direct Championship, with their campaign set to resume at Plymouth on Saturday.

Masters said: “We are sitting at the top, so things aren’t going too bad.

“All that matters is what you do in the play-offs, and our first aim has to be getting there.”

BAILEY BLOW FOR BEARS

REDCAR will continue their Cab Direct Championship play-off chase without Connor Bailey, who is taking time out of the sport for personal reasons.

The Bears have a big home clash to come with Poole on Friday where they will look to put further pressure on the top four.

Manager Gavin Parr said: “There have been signs that all was not well recently with Connor’s performances on the track. There could be personal issues which we, as a club, don’t get involved with but we will support him and really hope that he gets himself fit and well and comes back again.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

BERWICK face three meetings in four days next week with trips to Oxford on Wednesday July 24 and then Edinburgh 48 hours later, before the return home match against the Monarchs on Saturday July 27… EDINBURGH star Justin Sedgmen finished fifth in the Ben Fund Bonanza at Workington on Sunday, with the Monarchs returning to Cab Direct Championship action this Friday when they take on the Comets at Armadale… WORKINGTON completed a successful staging of the Ben Fund Bonanza and are now on the road again in the Championship, visiting Edinburgh on Friday… PLYMOUTH are waiting on the fitness of Dan Thompson, who suffered a dislocated shoulder last weekend, ahead of their trip to Poole on Wednesday followed up by a home clash with Oxford on Saturday.

 WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE…

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Having recently turned 15 years of age, WILLIAM CAIRNS made one of the most remarkable debuts in NDL history with his 19-point haul guesting for Scunthorpe at Oxford on Sunday. There was also an impressive display from Connor Coles with his 15-point maximum for Edinburgh against Middlesbrough.

CAIRNS JOINS COLTS

FRESH from his incredible NDL debut at Oxford on Sunday, William Cairns has been confirmed as a Belle Vue Colts rider on a two-year deal.

Cairns said: “I’m super excited to be linking up with Belle Vue for the rest of 2024. I love the National Speedway Stadium and this club was up there as my top choice to race for.

“I feel like I can bring a lot to the team. I’m good friends with quite a few of the boys already and the team spirit is really good so I’m looking forward to it.

“I want to focus on my personal development and take as many opportunities as I can in the time that’s left this season, but I also want to do my bit for the team and bring success to Belle Vue.”

STAGS STUN CHARGERS

SCUNTHORPE raced to a 54-36 away win at champions Oxford, inspired by guest William Cairns, but also featuring a terrific all-round display from the visitors.

Co-boss Paul Tatam said: “All our riders put in a decent effort and had a good afternoon, and we’d won it before Heat 15, so I gave Stene (Pijper) the ride in that race alongside Will because they both deserved it.

“All we ask for is the riders, win or lose, to try their hardest for us and they all did that today and we ended up with a good victory, so I’m pleased for them all.”

CHARGERS ARE GROUNDED

OXFORD were unable to recover from the double blow of losing Jody Scott and Ashton Vale to injury early in their home defeat to Scunthorpe on Sunday.

Manager Peter Schroeck said: “The lads gave 100 per cent and got stuck in and I’m really proud of their efforts. Jacob (Clouting) and Senna (Summers) only ride in the WSRA NDL and both got seven rides today, but not in the circumstances we’d like.

“I want to win; the boys want to win. But, more importantly, this league is about rider development. None of the boys were badly hurt. We’ll see if any have to miss any meetings, but at the end of the day, they can brush themselves down and go again.”

A WIN FOR THE ACADEMY

EDINBURGH collected their first win of the NDL season with a strong display to defeat Middlesbrough 52-37 – despite missing Sam McGurk due to travel issues.

Manager Scott Wilson said: “I’m really pleased, I thought we were excellent. I said to the boys beforehand that we really needed to come together to cover for Sam and we did that.

“Connor Coles was excellent at No.1 with a maximum, that’s what we signed him for, and Max Perry was also superb. I’d mention Mason Watson also, he came here to learn to ride smaller tracks and he showed how well he is doing that.”

FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY JULY 17:

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Plymouth 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 18:

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Leicester v Ipswich 7.30, Oxford v Belle Vue 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 19:

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (29) v Workington (61) 7.30, Redcar (43) v Poole (47) 7.30, Glasgow (35) v Scunthorpe (55) 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 20:

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Oxford 7pm

MONDAY JULY 22:

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v Oxford 7.30, Birmingham v Sheffield 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 24:

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Berwick 7.30

CAB DIRECT KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Scunthorpe 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 25:

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: King’s Lynn v Ipswich 7.30, Leicester (42) v Belle Vue (48) 7.30, Sheffield (42) v Oxford (48) 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 26:

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Glasgow v Poole 7.30, Scunthorpe (39) v Workington (51) 7.30

WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Middlesbrough (34) v Oxford (55) 7.30

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar (follows NDL fixture) (500cc/125cc support)

SATURDAY JULY 27:

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington (29) v Poole (61) 3pm

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington (follows Champ fixture) (500cc/125cc support)

MONDAY JULY 29:

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30, King’s Lynn (32) v Sheffield (58) 7.30