Courtney reflected on how far the club has come since speedway returned to Oxford, whilst also acknowledging the challenges that remain behind the scenes in running a modern speedway club.

One key announcement from the club is the introduction of a match-night box office from this Wednesday, allowing supporters to purchase tickets by cash or card on race nights after feedback from fans.

The full statement from Jamie Courtney is below:

Words from Jamie Courtney

A touch of reality — after every revolution comes a moment for evolution.

Just over five years ago, the stadium at Cowley was a shell of its former self. Derelict, crumbling, and slowly being reclaimed by weeds. Its future looked bleak, despite the determination of many who refused to let it become just another housing estate.

Fast-forward to today and we have a vibrant, modern stadium full of life. A place where riders young and old chase their dreams, where families come together, and where the greatest show on shale once again belongs to Oxford.

From mascots taking their first steps on their journey, to rising talents like Jody Scott, Luke Killeen and Mitch McDairmid, right through to international riders such as Sam Masters, the BetGoodwin Stadium is alive again.

But the loss of greyhound racing, and the turbulence that followed earlier this year, reminded us all that nothing should ever be taken for granted.

Thanks to the investment and commitment of Mike Austin and Spencer Timmo, we’ve been able to put Oxford Speedway on firmer ground and focus on securing its long-term future. But I want to be honest about something: keeping this club alive and moving forward takes an enormous amount of work behind the scenes by a small army of people.

The reality of running a speedway club is long days, late nights, and a huge personal and financial commitment. But I do it because I believe in this club, in this city, and because I believe in the people who support it.

Everyone has a part to play in our future here at Oxford. Our job as management is to build competitive, entertaining teams; prepare a circuit that brings out the best in our riders; deliver a slick, professional show that gives supporters real value for their hard-earned money; and continue raising the standard of what we offer.

And because we’ve listened to you, we’re making an important change.

Starting this Wednesday, we’re introducing a match-night box office at the stadium, where supporters will be able to purchase tickets by cash or card. Many of you told us that the lack of an on-the-night payment option has been a barrier, and we want to remove that barrier completely. We hope this comes as welcome news. Full details on how the box office will operate will be shared in the coming days, ready for this Wednesday’s meeting.

But above everything else, I want to say this clearly: thank you. To every supporter who stands by us, week in and week out. To every sponsor who believes in what we’re building. Your encouragement, your passion, your loyalty, it genuinely keeps this club alive. When things get tough, it’s your positive voices, your helpful messages, and your presence on the terraces that remind us why we fight so hard for Oxford Speedway. We are truly grateful for every bit of support you give us.

You, the fans, are the heartbeat of this club. Without you, professional sport simply cannot exist.

As the season heats up, with the Cheetahs pushing for the play-offs and the Chargers defending their National League title, make sure you don’t miss a moment — and just as importantly, spread the word across the city and beyond.

Wednesday nights were made for speedway.

Oxford Speedway needs you!

Feature Image courtesy of Oxford Speedway – Steve Edmunds

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The 23-year-old arrives at the GT Tyres Arena with a wealth of experience despite his age. A former British Youth Champion and three-time British Under-19 Champion, Kemp has competed at the highest levels of British Speedway and brings proven race-winning ability to the GT Tyres Comets’ side.

Supporters will be well aware of Drew’s capabilities around the GT Tyres Arena. Riding for the Berwick Bandits in 2025, he produced an impressive 12-point performance at Northside in September and finished the campaign as the Bandits’ number one.

In 2026, Kemp has been competing in the Premiership with Leicester Lions, and the Comets promotion believe he has all the attributes required to strengthen the side as the season enters a crucial period.

GT Tyres Comets Team manager James Denham said:

“Drew is a rider we feel can make an immediate impact. He’s shown over the last couple of seasons what he is capable of, and importantly he already knows the GT Tyres Arena well and has produced some excellent performances here.

“We’ve looked carefully at the options available and we believe Drew gives us the best opportunity to move forward. There’s still a lot of racing left this season and we feel the team has not yet reached its full potential. Drew is hungry to prove himself and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the club.”

Workington Speedway promoter Andrew Bain added:

“This was an important decision for the club. We felt we needed to make a change if we were to give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our objectives this season, and Drew was a rider we identified as someone capable of making a real difference.

“He’s still young, but he already has a tremendous amount of experience and we’re pleased to bring him to Workington and we’re excited to see him in action on Saturday.”

Drew joins the GT Tyres Comets with immediate effect on a 8.07 average, and will make his HOME debut this Saturday against Glasgow*.

*Subject to BSPL approval.

Words and Image by Workington Speedway

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The club confirmed the news on Monday, citing the challenges of operating with the Rider Replacement facility and the difficulties of securing suitable guest riders as key factors behind the decision.

In a statement published on the Workington Speedway website, the club said:

“Workington Speedway can confirm that Craig Cook has been released from the club with immediate effect.

Out of respect for Craig and the circumstances, the club will not be commenting further on the matter.

However, after careful consideration, the promotion has concluded that it can no longer continue operating with the Rider Replacement facility on a regular basis. The ongoing shortage of suitable guest options has also presented significant challenges in recent weeks and has made it increasingly difficult to field the strongest possible side.

The promotion firmly believes that supporters, who spend their hard-earned money following the Comets, deserve to see a complete one-to-seven line-up every week. Unfortunately, due to injuries and other circumstances, we have been unable to provide that consistency since our opening meeting at Redcar.

With a substantial portion of the season still remaining, the promotion has taken the difficult decision to make a change in order to give the team the best possible opportunity to achieve its objectives. While there have been encouraging signs, recent close results have highlighted that the team has not yet been able to fulfil its potential.

This was a tough decision to make by the promotion. Craig’s performances during his time have been excellent and that’s evident in his scores, but we need a consistent team – so we would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Craig for all of his efforts in Comets colours and we wish him well for the future.

The promotion would also like to thank supporters for their continued backing and patience. A further announcement will be made very soon.”

The Comets have indicated that a further announcement regarding the team’s future plans will follow shortly.

Statement and Image courtesy of Workington Speedway.

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Hopes were high that Riss would be in a position to return to the Cheetahs side this week however, as Team Manager Peter Schroeck explains, Riss needs more time and less pressure
“Erik’s progress to full health is slow and very frustrating for both parties. After much discussion, Erik is on board with our decision as he wants the best for us as a Club, and it gives him more time to recover.”

Edward Kennett has not ridden in British Speedway since injury in 2022 however, he has maintained his fitness riding grass-track and has also recently signed for the Ipswich Witches in the Premiership

“Edward’s decision to make a comeback to Racing is no surprise to me. We are very excited to give him the opportunity to join Oxford Cheetahs and knowing he will give his best efforts to the club” Schroeck concluded.

The Kennett name is no stranger to Oxford, with Edward’s uncle ‘Gordon Kennett’ a regular for the Oxford Rebels between 1972 and 1975, as well as guesting as a team manager, when Oxford were in the wilderness and riding invitational challenge meetings. Another uncle, Barney Kennett joined his brother Gordon at Oxford in 1975 and is a regular visitor to Sandy Lane whilst also currently being the World Speedway Riders Association President.

The Oxford Cheetahs will line up against the Redcar Bears on Wednesday June 3rd, tickets are on sale at www.oxfordspeedway.club/tickets . A full preview of the fixture will follow.

Words and Feature Image by Oxford Speedway

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The Comets have moved to fill the vacant reserve berth with 19-year-old Perry, who arrives with previous Championship experience after riding for Glasgow Tigers last season.

Perry Joins Comets Line-Up

Perry, from Hungerford, narrowly missed out on securing a place in the Championship at the start of the current campaign but now gets his opportunity with Workington.

The club believe he can provide valuable points from the reserve position and strengthen the side in that department, while his previous form at the GT Tyres Arena is expected to help him settle quickly.

Workington promoter Andrew Bain said:

“Max is someone we’ve been keeping an eye on, and when the opportunity came up we felt it was the right move for both the rider and the club.

He’s shown he can compete at this level and we believe he can come in and score the points we need from reserve.

He’s hungry to get going and he also has a good track record around Northside, and we’re confident he’ll settle in quickly and make a positive contribution to the team.”

Perry is set to make his debut for the Comets this Friday (May 1) away at Scunthorpe in the BSN Series, subject to BSPL approval.

Etherington Departs by Mutual Agreement

The move follows confirmation that the club and Jamie Etherington have mutually agreed to part ways.

It is understood that the step up to Championship level proved challenging for the young rider, and after discussions following the recent MAXiCab Knockout Cup fixtures against Berwick, both parties agreed that a change was in the best interests of his long-term development.

Workington reiterated their commitment to supporting British talent, with the decision taken to ensure Etherington’s progression in the sport is not affected.

The club thanked Etherington for his efforts in Comets colours and wished him well for the future.

The changes see Workington bring in fresh options at reserve, with Perry given an opportunity to establish himself at Championship level, while Etherington looks to continue his development elsewhere.

Images courtesy of Workington Speedway

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The Bandits built a decisive advantage with a dominant first-leg performance at Shielfield Park before the Comets responded with a home win in the return fixture, although the deficit proved too large to overturn.

First Leg: Berwick Take Control

Berwick produced a powerful display on home shale to record a 58-32 victory, establishing a commanding lead in the tie.

A run of 5-1 advantages in the opening stages saw the Bandits surge ahead, opening up a significant gap that ultimately proved decisive.

The meeting included several key incidents, including a controversial Heat 4 decision which saw Craig Cook excluded after a referee review, and a heavy crash in Heat 8 involving Niklas Holm Jakobsen and Reid Battye, with both riders withdrawn.

Peter Kildemand led the scoring for Berwick with a 12-point maximum, while Victor Palovaara (11) and Nick Morris (9) also contributed strongly. For Workington, Jonas Jeppesen top scored with 9, supported by Dayle Wood on 8+2.

Second Leg: Comets Hit Back

Workington responded with a 48-42 victory in the second leg at the GT Tyres Arena, but Berwick’s first-leg advantage ensured progression.

Despite being without Craig Cook and Niklas Holm Jakobsen, the Comets produced a strong team performance, led by Jonas Jeppesen, who delivered a faultless 18-point maximum.
Troy Batchelor (12) and Tate Zischke (11+1) provided key support as Workington attempted to reduce the aggregate deficit.

Berwick, however, remained composed, with Peter Kildemand again leading the way with 10+1, while Jye Etheridge, Victor Palovaara and Lasse Fredriksen all added solid scores.

The Bandits confirmed their progression in Heat 11, with a 4-2 from Kildemand and Etheridge securing the aggregate result.

🗣️ Reaction

Workington temporary team boss Baz Collins reflected on a challenging weekend but praised his team’s response:

“It was a night to forget at Berwick, we just weren’t getting out the starts in the first half of the meeting which seemed crucial.

“We had some torrid luck regarding the Heat 4 decision and then obviously the injury to Niklas and Craig – but I was proud of the lads in the second half of the meeting to actually outscore the hosts.

“I was pleased with how the lads responded on Sunday, the odds were very much against us with a patched up side, but they all delivered a great team effort.

“An 18-point maximum from Jonas was unbelievable and to do it in those circumstances in Heat 15 was something special.”

Berwick team manager Stewart Dickson said his side showed professionalism to complete the job:

“We were focused and professional about it and got the job done.

“It’s been a long time since the club reached the latter stages of the Cup but we are certainly not there to make up the numbers.

“It was a good all-round performance and we need to keep it going.”

Scores

First Leg
Berwick 58: Peter Kildemand 12, Victor Palovaara 11, Nick Morris 9, Jye Etheridge 8+2, Jack Smith 7+1, Reid Battye 6+3, Lasse Fredriksen 5+3
Workington 32: Jonas Jeppesen 9, Dayle Wood 8+2, Troy Batchelor 5+1, Craig Cook 5, Tate Zischke 4, Jamie Etherington 1, Niklas Holm Jakobsen 0

Second Leg
Workington 48: Jonas Jeppesen 18, Troy Batchelor 12, Tate Zischke 11+1, Mitchell Cluff 4+1, Dayle Wood 3, Jamie Etherington 0, Craig Cook r/r
Berwick 42: Peter Kildemand 10+1, Jye Etheridge 7+1, Victor Palovaara 7, Lasse Fredriksen 7+1, Jordy Loftus 5+1, Nick Morris 4, Jack Smith 2+2

Images courtesy of Keith Hamblin

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The result leaves Oxford well placed in the Southern Section, with qualification for the semi-finals still within reach heading into their final fixture at Poole.

Oxford made a fast start to the meeting, taking control early with back-to-back 5-1 heat advantages in Heats 2 and 3. Dayle Wood and Daryl Ritchings combined for the first maximum, before Anders Rowe and Mitch McDiarmid extended the lead in the following race.

Both heats saw incidents, with Daniel Klima falling in Heat 2 before the restart saw Oxford repeat the 5-1, while Anze Grmek led briefly in Heat 3 before being overtaken and later falling, with the race awarded.

The home side continued to build momentum through the middle stages, with further heat advantages coming from Luke Killeen and Sam Masters, including a notable Heat 8 where Killeen made an impressive move to pass both Plymouth riders.

By the interval, Oxford had established a commanding 41-19 lead, putting themselves in a strong position to take the win.

Plymouth responded in the latter stages with a pair of 5-1s, including a strong ride from Scott Nicholls in Heat 13, helping the visitors secure the aggregate point across the two meetings.

Oxford, however, maintained control of the match result, finishing with a series of solid races to close out the victory.

Mitch McDiarmid impressed for the Cheetahs, notably producing two last-to-first rides during the meeting, while Sam Masters led the scoring for the home side with 10+2.

For Plymouth, Danny King top scored with 12+1, supported by contributions from Ben Barker and Scott Nicholls.

Oxford Cheetahs 55 Plymouth Gladiators 45

Feature Image courtesy of British Speedway – Steve Edmunds

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The two-time World Longtrack Champion started the season with an encouraging 13-point tally for the Cheetahs in a home challenge match against Coventry. But following a 4+1 return at Plymouth, when he was feeling under the weather with a virus, things started to go wrong for Riss when he travelled to Poland the following day.

Riss posted online: “Unfortunately health issues with my eyes returned last weekend and I haven’t been able to race since. I will have to take another forced break from racing until my vision goes back to normal.

“I am very sorry to my clubs and fans for this situation. I was confident that these issues were behind me and did not expect to be back in this position.

“Considering I had been doing everything that I was told by doctors, this is a big shock to me and quite a defeating feeling. I’m already seeking more professional help to try and get more closure on the issue and hopefully find a long-term solution.

“At this moment in time I am not able to put an estimate on how long I will have to take a break from racing for.”

The Oxford management have backed Riss.

Team manager Peter Schroeck says: “The most important thing is that we give Erik full support.

“I’ve spoken to him and I know how gutted he is. His health and recovery come first – and we know he’s doing everything possible to get back to full fitness.

“Things could change very quickly, or it might take longer, so we need to be patient.”

Cheetahs have booked Nick Morris as a guest for Riss for the BSN Series clash against Plymouth Gladiators at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on Wednesday evening (April 22) at 7.30pm. Cheetahs scored a hugely encouraging 51-39 win over arch-rivals Poole Pirates last week and are seeking another positive result.

Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Any tickets for the original planned staging on April 8 have been transferred to this new date. If anyone would like a refund rather than their ticket transferred to Wednesday, they need to contact Ticket Source using the details in the email they received informing them of the postponement. Ticket Source will then issue the refund.

There are two home meetings at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium this week, since the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers, the defending WSRA National League champions, make their opening appearance of the season on Sunday (April 26) at 3pm. Tickets for this meeting are also on sale on the club website.

Words and Images by Oxford Speedway

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Grmek will be arriving in the UK shortly, to take the Team place that has become available following the very unfortunate injury suffered by Danish rider Tobias Thomsen in the OBM Plymouth Gladiators first Fixture of the season on Good Friday. Tobias continues his slow recovery from very serious injuries and everyone at the Club, and the wider British Speedway fraternity will wish him well in his long term recovery, and The Gladiators will continue to update supporters of his progress back to full health and fitness.

Club Owner and Director Maexplained a little more about the new signing and the importance of replacing Tobias at the first and most respectful opportunity.

“Everyone remains focused on supporting Tobias and his family during what will be a slow but hopefully steady recovery and we look forward to the day when we can welcome Tobias and his family back to Plymouth to meet the OBM Gladiators supporters once again.

In the meantime, we will shortly be commencing our League and Cup programme and it is important that we found a suitable replacement for Tobias for the remainder of the season.

Anze is a 21 year old who is very highly regarded in both Slovenia and European Speedway circles. He has gained significant experience across Europe, competing in the Polish Leagues and at home in Slovenia and has been involved in the SGP2 Series and been very competitive against riders based in the UK and further afield, and shown more than enough to suggest that once he becomes acclimatised, he can better his initial starting Match Average of 4 points.

He has represented Slovenia at Team and Individual levels and at 21 years of age is very keen to come to the UK to further his experience and to improve himself as a rider. He comes to us very highly recommended by some significant observers, including my good friend and former Trelawny Tigers star Matej Zagar.

Once all of formalities have been completed, we look forward to Anze making his OBM Gladiators debut next week, and he is in the process of traveling over to the UK in the next few days in order to get settled in his Cornish base and the get in some practise laps at the Coliseum and other UK Tracks.

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A statement from Oxford promoter Jamie Courtney reads: “You will be aware that over the weekend there have been a series of meetings following the termination of the deal between SIS and Oxford Greyhounds to stream racing from the BetGoodwin Stadium.

“Inevitably that decision and subsequent ongoing negotiations impact on Oxford Speedway and I can confirm that Wednesday’s BSN Series meeting between the Cheetahs and Plymouth will not go ahead.

“We will, however, travel to the Coliseum on Saturday night to face Plymouth Gladiators, with the visit of Poole next Wednesday opening the official home season at the BetGoodwin Stadium.

“Plymouth – and I must thank Mark Phillips for his understanding and co-operation on this – will now visit Cowley on April 22 to compete the BSN Southern Section fixtures – a date Berwick were due to travel south to fulfil a Championship fixture on.

“The Berwick fixture will be re-arranged for later in the season.

“With complex and involved negotiations between a number of stakeholders, including ourselves, on-going and the added inconvenience of a double Bank Holiday, I did not feel it was possible to run Wednesday’s meeting.

“I firmly believe that it is short-term inconvenience which will have long-term and far-reaching benefits for Oxford Speedway and Oxford Stadium.

“British Speedway Promoters Ltd and the Speedway Control Bureau have been kept updated regarding the situation, as has Oxford Greyhounds.

“I know there has been much online speculation and a lot of misinformation posted ‘as fact’. We will keep our loyal supporters and sponsors updated via the club’s official channels.”

Words and Images by Oxford Speedway

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