Speedway season to begin in early May

SPEEDWAY fans can look forward to some high-octane racing in the summer of 2021 with clubs agreeing a start date of early May for the new race season, writes Stuart James.

Fixtures for both the Premiership and Championship are expected to be released this week, although it remains to be seen which league the Plymouth Gladiators, previously in the third-tier National Development League, will compete in.

The club have ambitions to race in the Championship, but saw their application to race in the second tier in 2020 rejected back in 2019. Since then, the club have invested heavily in its facilities, including the installation of a new stand on the home straight and have even said they will change race nights from the traditional Friday to accommodate visiting teams and make it more viable.

Swindon and Somerset have both said they will not be racing in 2021 with Rebels promotor Debbie Hancock saying: “The world remains very much in a perilous state right now and even though there are green-shoots of a health recovery by virtue of the vaccines that are being rolled out, we feel that there will still be too much uncertainty in respect of lifting restrictions sufficiently to allow a normal season to run.”

The BSPA say that another club have expressed an interest in joining the Championship, raising the hope that it could well be the Gladiators as they seek a return to the second tier Championship.

A statement on the BSPA website read: “British Speedway clubs have agreed a start date of early May for the 2021 season. Fixtures will be published for both the Premiership and Championship.

“Plans are in place for a new concept in both leagues with more details to follow. The plans have been made to adapt to the current situation regarding Polish restrictions on the amount of leagues riders can race in, plus the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.

“There is a clear pathway for the development of British Speedway and young British riders, not just in 2021 but in the years ahead.

“In addition, whilst there is disappointing news about losing Swindon and Somerset for 2021, these decisions have been made by these clubs to protect their futures from 2022 onwards. They will be welcomed back into the sport next year.

“Another club has expressed an interest in joining the Championship and this will be explored in due course.

“More details regarding the 2021 season will be revealed alongside our broadcast partners Eurosport in the coming days.”