Words and Images by Mike Wood

Starting with the stars of the future, there’s Youth racing featuring Auto’s, Cadet’s, Juniors and Inter’s at Chaddesley. 2023 Auto British Champion Alfie Shipp is one of the standout names on duty along with Finley Theoblad, Thomas Vining, Kane Newby and co. Going from young to old and British Pre-75 500cc Champion Dave Hammond tops the entry in that particular class. The Gloucestershire rider also competes in what looks to be a quality Uprights competition which features the likes of Tony Atkin, Jason Prynne, Luke Tuck, Tim Curnock, Eddie Rouse and several notable others.

Moving onto the modern-day solo’s and the top three rider’s in the 2023 GT140’s British Championship, Ian Clark, Kevin Gwillam and Wayne Broadhurst all start on Sunday. With Mark Scopes, Luke Wicks, Paul Smith and Lee Harding also entered, the action should be particularly hot in this one! Having finished runner-up in the recent Bantasia event, Aidan Arthur could be the rider to watch in the 250cc contest along with Tim Greig, Shane Kinght, Austin Riches and Max Derrick. Home Chaddesley Corbett club chairman George Pardoe starts in the 350cc class alongside the likes of Max Broadhurst, Jack Roberts, John Cox, Will Thurlby and Liam Ashcroft. The always busy Roberts along with Thurlby will also be competing in the 500cc solos. In that class they will face the likes of Jordan Derrick, Jamie Fenn-Smith, Luke Tuck and Ryan Ashcroft.

And so, to the Sidecars where all of the top three in the 1,000cc Right-Hand Baptisia class come to the start line to renew rivalries! In a contest which as attracted a full entry, this promises to be another exciting scrap with the question being just who can stop the dominant Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth? You can be sure that Terry Saunters/Liam Brown will certainly be right up for the challenge along with Kieran Hicks/Frankie Courtney, Will Offen/Ricky Pay, Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb, Neal Owen/Jason Farwell, Clint Blondell/Conor Measor, Michael Austin/Wayne Rickards and indeed the rest of the hard charging crews. In the Old and New Sidecar class, Mark Courtney/ Leon Torres look like the crew to catch but Liam Brown/Frankie Courtney should also be full of confidence following their recent Bantasia win! At present there’s just two 500cc Left Hand sidecars entered so let’s hope those numbers expand come race time on Sunday!

So, get along to Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday for a great day of grasstrack racing, the location code for the venue is either DY10 4QX or what three words //cared.helpless.flush.

Practice for the event will starts at 10.30am with the first race due off at 12.45pm. Admission costs are Adults £12, Concessions £10 and Under 16’s FREE with a programme costing £3.

Camping is also available at the site from 12 noon on Saturday.

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Words and Images by Mike Wood

For Bantasia 2024 there’s three classes of racing for 250cc solo, 500cc solo and of course those 1,000cc Right-Hand Sidecars. Starting with the 250cc lads, there’s definitely going to be a new Bantasia Champion in this class as previous double winner Cameron Taylor as now moved up into the 500cc brigade. Once again, the 250cc competition throws up that intriguing mix as the experienced riders take on the talented, exuberant younger brigade. Racing in the experience camp there’s the likes of Tim Greig, Richie Knight, Kevin Gwillam and Bantasia debutant David Knowles whilst the Youth challenge is led by Charlie Wood, Austin Riches, Hayden Watts, Harrison Rogers, Max Derrick and Aidan Arthurs.

Having recently won the season opener at Tallington, multi–British Champion Paul Cooper tops the 500cc entry list. Like the 250cc contest though this class looks wide open, full of high quality and quite likely to produce plenty of outstanding action! Also, in the 24-rider line-up and looking to challenge Cooperman are the likes of Arran Butcher, Dave Mears, Ryan and Liam Ashcroft, Charley Powell, Jack Roberts the afore mentioned Cameron Taylor and Luke Harris for starters. Both Cameron and Luke have predominately spent their time racing on 250cc and 350cc machines but can certainly not be discounted in the hot race for honours at this year’s Bantasia! Then there’s also the lads mixing their 2024 grass racing schedule with exploits on the shale as Jake Mulford, Mickie Simpson, Alfie Bowtell and the always exciting Chad Wirtzfeld come to the tapes to chase glory. Chad in particular always goes well at Whaddon Farm and should start as one of the favourites!

Double Bantasia Champion Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth are certainly the crew to beat again in the eagerly anticipated 1,000cc Right-Hand Sidecars contest. Just about every top crew in the Country have entered the 2024 Bantasia resulting in the need for each leg to consist of four heats! Such is the quality again that it’s very difficult to pick out potential challengers. Could it be coming from Terry Saunters/ Liam Brown, Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb, Matt Fumarola/Andi Wilson and Michael Austin/Vinny Branch or could it come from a surprise contender for whom the stars align on raceday? Well, the only way to find out is to be at Whaddon Farm and witness the great Bantasia action yourselves!

Practice is at 11am with the first race at 12.30pm. Admission costs are Adults £15, Concessions £13 and Under 16’s FREE. If you want to enjoy the Bantasia experience for the whole weekend then camping is FREE with also hot food and a bar also available on-site.

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The club have worked hard to secure a 2nd track to run alongside Abingdon to provide more variation and flexibility moving forward.  The venue is Spring Bank, Aston Tirrold near Didcot and the event will run there on the 7th July.

Classes for this event include:

500 solo
1000cc RH sidecars
Uprights
Old & new sidecars
Youth
Intermediate
Juniors
Auto/cadets

Regs will be available shortly…

Keep up to date with the club via >> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076323150137

Feature Image courtesy of Mike Wood

The post Dalton Grasstrack to race at new venue in July appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

On Sunday 23rd June, at the promotion’s ‘Bantasia Raceway’ in Owslebury, Hampshire, the first ‘Track Racing Team Tournament’ is being planned. Five team managers have been recruited by Grasstrack Banter Promotions to lead five teams to victory at the inaugural event. Discussions and ideas have been taking place to ensure that the event is as accessible to fans as possible, with some big plans to make spectator interaction a key part of the event.

Obvious comparisons of the old ACU Inter Centre Championships will be drawn by fans of grasstrack who have been around the sport for sometime, and there is no doubt that some elements of the format for the event are taken from the Inter Centre, which was hugely successful for many years. Grasstrack Banter Promotions chairman Gareth Bemister is responsible for getting the ball rolling for the new event and coming up with the initial format. He expanded on the comparisons with the Inter Centre.

“We all have fond memories of the team racing that the Inter Centre provided, and I am too young to have seen it in its real heyday. To run the same format with 20 or so teams simply wouldn’t work in today’s climate. However, we have come up with a way to make sure that the spread of riders is more evenly distributed whilst keeping the element of having ‘regional’ teams.”

Teams from the North, East, West, Midlands and South will be branded with team colours, logos and team merchandise all available for both riders and fans alike. Catchy team names will be used for each team as fans from all around the country will come together to support the Northern Knights, Southern Stags, Eastern Eagles, Western Warriors and the Midland Missiles.

“We want the crowd to support their team. In the same way that speedway fans might follow their teams and riders, we want spectators to feel a part of the team and have riders to cheer on in every single race. There are so many races that just pass the average spectator by as they have no vested interest. If you come along to the Team Tournament as a Midland Missiles fan, you will have riders in every race to cheer on and back. You can go and meet your team in the pits and give them words of encouragement. You can purchase a shirt, a hoodie or some other merch in your team’s colours with your team’s logo on. Or you could just turn up wearing the colours of your team. We want the crowd to be involved and have a purpose to watch every race that comes to tapes. I believe that this is a way of doing that.”

The Promotion have selected team managers for each of the five teams who comprise forward-thinking riders, race organisers and knowledgeable grasstrack mainstays. Team managers will be contacting their chosen riders over the coming weeks to put together the strongest teams in the 250cc solos, 350cc solos, 500cc solos, GT140 solos and 1000cc right hand sidecar competitions. There will be a new system for deciding the overall winning team, with the team being awarded the Team Shield. If there is a tie for the overall victory, the tantalizing prospect of an end-of-day ‘super heat’ could also add interest. The identity of the team managers will be released in due time, but riders may hear from them in the coming weeks!

Solo teams will comprise 4 riders (and managers are also allowed to include a reserve), with riders racing in pairs throughout the day. In the sidecars, teams will be built with 3 crews together. All team members will receive at least four races in the day.

There are lots of other plans for the event to make it special, but Bemister is keen to point out that there are bound to be some creases to iron out in the initial running of the event.

“My aim is that this is just the beginning. Next season it is our aim to have another club run a round elsewhere in the country so it becomes multi-round. The ultimate goal is to have five clubs from each of the teams hosting their own ‘home’ meeting, and the winner being crowned at the end of five fantastic meetings. However, this year is going to be the trial, to see how it all pans out. There’ll be rules and regulations that we will not have thought of that will need to be written in. The good thing is we have the right team managers on board who share the same vision as us at this stage- to make the event a success.”

Over the course of the coming months, plenty more updates will be made public as the promotion and managers prepare for the meeting. Teams are currently looking for any financial backers to support with the purchase of race bibs and other ‘extras’ to ensure that the teams look professional. In the meantime, the promotion are busy putting together the finishing touches for Bantasia 3 which will take place on Sunday 5th May at the Bantasia Arena, Whaddon Farm, Owslebury.

Words by Grasstrack Banter Promotions – Feature Image by Mike Wood

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Feature Image by Mike Wood

Organisers Grasstrack Banter Promotions have already been sending out invites for the 500cc solos & 1000cc Sidecars, with some exciting names already signed up.

Support classes are 250 solos who can enter here >> https://www.grasstrackbanter.com/product/250ccsolo

and Old and New Sidecars who can enter here >> https://www.grasstrackbanter.com/product/oldnewsidecar/

For more info on the event and club go to thier Facebook page >> https://www.facebook.com/grasstrackbanterpromotions

The post 2024 Bantasia Grasstrack – Support Class entries open! appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

– Formula Grasstrack Association dates added
– JCR Promo date added (28th April)
– 500cc Sidecar Association Date change from 7th July to 14th July
– Pre 75 Championship being hosted by Cheshire on 14th July
– New Stars Grasstrack Club date added Sunday 28th July

Feature Image courtesy of Mike Wood

The post ACU 2024 Grasstrack Fixture Update appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

Round 1 – Saturday 20th April 2024 @ Malpas (new venue) SY14 8JQ – Featuring the John Madeley Memorial.

Full address – Beechcroft, Hampton Heath, Malpas SY14 8JQ

Round 2 – Saturday 4th May 2024 @ Alveley, DY12 1SU – Featuring the Steve Mildoon Memorial.

Round 3 – Saturday 1st June 2024 @ Ledbury, HR7 4SL

Round 4 – Saturday 15th June 2024 @ Pontesbury, SY5 0QX – Featuring the Tom Thomas Memorial (TBC)

Team / Pairs Event (TBC) – Sun 16th June 2024 @ Pontesbury, SY5 0QX

Round 5 – Saturday 27th July 2024 @ Hampton Hall @ SY14 8JS – Featuring the Jonathon Rodgers memorial

Round 6 – Saturday 24th August 2024 @ Hampton Hall @ SY14 8JS – Featuring the Martin Parry Rosebowl

Round 7 – Saturday 21st September 2024 @ Alveley, DY12 1SU

Round 8 – Saturday 5th October 2024 @ Pontesbury, SY5 0QX – Featuring the John Broadhurst & Geoff Adams Memorial.

For more info on the championship visit >> https://formulagrasstrack.com/

Feature Image courtesy of Formula Grasstrack

The post 2024 Formula Grasstrack Championship Calendar appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

With 50 riders expected and almost 50 races programmed, speedway, flat-track and grasstrack are fully represented as the racers take advantage of some early competitive training ahead of the 2024 track season.

Wightlink Warriors co-owner Barry Bishop was clearly looking forward to his club hosting the event as he said,

“We all thoroughly enjoyed our first training meeting, and the quality of the racing was excellent. The feedback from everyone involved was that even in the drizzle it was a fabulous event and similar action would be very welcome and so in addition to the returning classes we have taken the opportunity to include some speedway action on the older two valve and four valve machines.

“I know all the varied classes will keep everyone entertained and for just £5.00 for adults it represents outstanding value for money. Youngsters 16 and under will, as usual, be free and we have all our usual refreshment outlets operational. It’s looking like another bumper bundle of excitement, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds”.

Image courtesy of Sportography shows Jamie Sealey who will be in action at Smallbrook this Saturday

The post Wightlink Warriors back this Saturday with their second Winter Warmer event! appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

Feature Image courtesy of Mike Wood – Words by ACU Track Racing Department

The ACU Championship Events are as follows:

Sunday 3rd August | Youth & GT140 British Championship | Southend
Sunday 18th August | ACU Old & New Sidecar Gold Cup | Mid Cornwall Premier Motorcycle Club
Sunday 8th September | British Upright | Cheshire
Sunday 15th September | British Masters | Astra
Sunday 29th September | British Championship | Frittenden

The committee would like to congratulate the clubs who have been awarded the respective championship events and we wish all organisers all the very best for the forthcoming season.

At the time of releasing this we can confirm that Cheshire have also agreed to host the British Pre 75 championship with the date to be confirmed & Dates are currently being confirmed by Dalton Grasstrack Club.

*Fixtures subject to change, please check with the organising club before travelling to avoid disappointment.

The post 2024 British Grasstrack Calendar appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

Once again classes will be Flat Track, GT140, Youth and Speedway Open class, with some possible additions.

If you would like to ride, please register your interest asap (closing date for entry 11th Jan – due to ferry booking)

Entry is £45 plus a day license if required, plus ferry, which varies depending on the Vehicle size.

GT140 – contact Adam Hawker
Flat Track – contact Anthony Brown
Speedway and Youth Speedway contact Barry Bishop

The event will once again be open to fans and entry is £5.

The action will kick off at 11.00am.

Feature Image by Wightlink Warriors

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