Woffinden broke the news in a touching video on his social media accounts on Saturday, admitting that he needs surgery on the injuries he suffered in a crash at Polish club Ostrow on May 24. This follows the serious injuries he suffered in Krosno in March 2025, which sidelined him for the whole of last season.

The 11-time Speedway GP winner made his SGP debut in 2010, before returning for the 2013 series, storming to an astonishing Speedway GP World Championship win – despite being rated at odds of 500/1 with some bookmakers.

Woffinden followed up with gold medals in 2015 and 2018, becoming Britain’s first and only triple world champion, before he helped his country to 2021 FIM Speedway of Nations World Championship gold in Manchester – the nation’s first world team title since 1989.

Breaking the news, Woffinden said: “Hey, after more hospital scans yesterday, I have been told I need surgery following my latest crash in Poland. After a lot of thought, I have come to the decision that it’s time to retire from professional racing.

“To be honest, this isn’t an easy thing to say. For many years, this hasn’t just been what I do, it has been a huge part of who I am as a person.

“When I look back, I see five world titles, GP victories, national titles and team championships. But more than the trophies, I see the people, the friendships, the laughs, the tough days, the moments that tested me and the moments that remind me exactly why I fell in the love with the sport. What started as a dream became a life I could never have imagined, and I have been lucky enough to do something I truly loved, and I will never take that for granted.”

Woffinden paid tribute to his family, including wife Faye, who has been by his side throughout an incredible career at the highest level.

He said: “I have learned that nobody achieves anything on their own. Every step of this journey has been possible because of the incredible people around me.

“To my beautiful family, thank you. Thank you for every sacrifice you have made and for believing in me when I doubted myself, and for standing beside me in every high and every low.

“Faye, I could never truly put into words what you mean to me. I simply wouldn’t be here without you. To everyone I have worked with over the years – mechanics, teams, sponsors, managers and everyone behind the scenes – thank you. It has been an honour to share this journey with you. You have challenged, supported and inspired me and given me memories and friendships that I will carry with me forever.

“To everyone who followed my journey, who cheered me on or took the time to support me along the way, thank you. I will never forget the love and support you have shown.”

Woffinden’s burgeoning music career may keep him firmly in the spotlight, and there’s no doubt he will never be forgotten in a sport that his personality transcended.

Of his decision to call time on his career, the 35-year-old concluded: “I don’t think there is ever a perfect time, but eventually, you realise your body has given everything it has to give, and you can walk away feeling proud, grateful and at peace with that decision.

“It’s time for a new chapter, new adventures and more time with the people that matter the most. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me live this dream. It has been the privilege of my life, and I will be forever grateful. Here’s to the next chapter.”

Everyone involved with the FIM Speedway World Championships thanks Tai for his immense contribution to the sport and wishes him huge success in the next chapter of his life.

Woffy, Woffy, Woffy!

Words by FIM Speedway – Feature Image courtesy Taylor Lanning

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• FIM Women’s Speedway Academy gets the action under way in Croatia
• New FIM Women’s Speedway World Cup attracts sport’s fastest females
• International newcomers line up for FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy

Following a format revision after last year’s successful second edition of the WSGT, there is a huge amount of excitement surrounding the new WSWC for fast females aged sixteen and over on 500cc machines that has attracted a strong international entry from eight nations and two continents and will take place on 4 July.

However, before the tapes go up on this new competition, virtually the entire entry for the WSWC and WSGT – that will also be held on 4 July – will take part in the fifth edition of the WSA staged on 2-3 July.

Organised by the FIM Women’s Commission (CFM), the FIM Track Racing Commission (CCP) and the team behind FIM Speedway Grand Prix fixtures at the venue, the WSA is a ground-breaking initiative to promote gender inclusivity in the discipline that was first held in 2022.

A major feature of the WSA is expert tuition from some of the sport’s biggest names that since the first edition have included multi-time FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Champions Greg Hancock and Jason Crump. This year’s coaching duties will be undertaken by FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) Director Phil Morris, FIM Long Track Race Director Glen Phillips, CCP Director and multi-time Italian national champion Armando Castagna plus former SGP racer and two-time European champion Matej Zagar.

A comprehensive programme will take riders through aspects of the sport including riding technique, race craft, machine set-up and nutrition as well as physical and mental preparation and guidance on dealing with sponsors and the media. A content creation session will also be held to keep riders up to speed with social media skills.

With the WSA wrapped up for another year, riders will be given the opportunity to put their newly-polished skills into action in the WSWC and WSGT competitions.

Heading the WSWC entry is last year’s WSGT champion Hannah Grunwald. Just seventeen at the time of her victory, the fast-rising German talent remained unbeaten throughout the Heat stages before inflicting a rare defeat on her compatriot and women’s Speedway legend Celina Liebmann in the Final and with another twelve months of experience under her belt she could be hard to beat.

Liebmann, who won the inaugural event before competing with an injury last season, is hotly-tipped to be a front runner this time around in the WSWC, but the twenty-four-year-old is far too experienced to rest on her laurels and will undoubtedly bring her best riding to the Stadion Milenium. However, with a healthy number from the entry also having competed in last year’s WSGT, it is an experienced field and every point will be hard-fought.

A fighting fourth in the WSGT in 2025, Denmark’s Louise Funch-Larsen will have her sights fixed firmly on a WSWC podium finish and expect strong performances too from riders including Anna Hajkova from Slovakia and Australian Tayla Street who ended last season ranked fifth and sixth.

Also looking to improve in their finishes from 2025 are Poland’s Martyna Mroz, Katja Stoffer Jorgensen from Denmark, Nynke Sijbesma from the Netherlands and Germany’s Alina Zimmermann, while for Dutch racer Sanne Meijerink this will be her debut at this level.

Now intended for 250cc riders aged between thirteen and sixteen, the WSGT will be contested by riders new to the international stage, including Australian Ruby Chapman, Lenja Tebbe from Germany, Swede Indra Holmsten-Bister, Poland’s Maja Joma, Demi Blu Harris from Great Britain and Slovenia’s Tia Zorko.

The action from Donji Kraljevec gets under way on Saturday at 13:30 (local time) and will be followed by round four of the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship

Rider List

Words by FIM Track Racing – Jesper Veldhuizen

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Pawlicki dons the famous No.16 race jacket as he ends his nine-year exile from the sport’s biggest stage.

The 31-year-old was crowned FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship winner in 2014, and also won back-to-back FIM Speedway World Cup gold medals with Poland in 2016 and 2017.

He finished sixth in the 2016 Speedway GP World Championship, before taking victory at the 2017 FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Daugavpils, leading a Polish one-two-three with Patryk Dudek in second place and Maciej Janowski in third.

Pawlicki has been enjoying a fine season in Poland’s PGE Ekstraliga since returning to his boyhood club Leszno for 2026. He also races for Hallstavik club Rospiggarna in Sweden’s Bauhaus Elitserien.

He was named as Poland’s reserve rider for the 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations Final in Torun, but did not take a ride.

Pawlicki is joined in the Lodz line-up by track reserves Marcin Nowak and Szymon Szlauderbach. The pair compete for Lodz in Poland’s Metalkas 2. Ekstraliga and don the No.17 and No.18 race jackets respectively.

Ahead of Speedway GP action on Saturday, August 1, the Moto Arena Lodz will also host round two of the 2026 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship – the FIM SGP2 of Poland – Lodz on Friday, July 31.

Tickets for the city of Lodz’s biggest-ever weekend of racing are still available online. Book HERE now.

Words and Feature Image by FIM Speedway

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• SGP2 Qualifying rounds set for Saturday in the Czech Republic, Denmark and Slovenia
• Day of destiny for Speedway’s next generation of stars
• Ukrainian hero Nazar Parnitskyi gets his title defence under way

Giving riders under twenty-one years of age the opportunity to showcase their skills in the three-round Finals on the same stage as the FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship (SGP) elite, first the sport’s brightest up-and-coming talents must earn their places behind the tapes via the Qualifying rounds.

British hopes are Max Perry and Ace Pijper in the Czech Republic, Luke Kileen and Luke Harrison in Denmark and Will Cairns in Slovenia.

At stake at each Qualifying round are four priceless places at the Finals in Malilla, Sweden, on 10 July, Lodz in Poland on 31 July and Vojens in Denmark on 11 September and with such a potentially career-changing prize on the line, competition will be intense across a total of sixty Heat races with competitors from fifteen nations and three continents all chasing glory.

The action starts in Pardubice in the Plochodrážní Stadion Svítkov where defending champion Nazar Parnitskyi from the Ukraine will go head-to-head with 2024 champion Wiktor Przyjemski. While the pair – who ran one-two in last year’s championship – are both expected to put in strong performances, they cannot afford to rest on their laurels with a talent-packed entry all looking to progress to the Finals.

After placing fourth in last season’s SGP2 championship and narrowly missing out on a place in this year’s FIM SGP World Championship Challenge, Czech racer Adam Bubba Bednář is back for another title attempt along with Denmark’s William Drejer who was sixth in 2025, while Australian Mitchell McDiarmid also appeared in last year’s Finals.

The Qualifying rounds continue at Fjelsted in Denmark where Polish contenders Antoni Mencel and Kevin Malkiewicz – who both ended last season with top-ten SGP2 rankings – will get their campaigns under way and among other riders aiming to book their places in the Finals is home hopeful Bastian Pedersen, who was thirteenth last season, while American Slater Lightcap is back for the third successive year.

A potential top four from the third of this year’s Qualifying rounds in Krško’s Stadion Matija Gubec is too close to call, but Danish racer Villads Nagel and Sammy Van Dyck from Sweden will be looking to build on their appearances in last year’s Finals while Australian Beau Bailey – third in the 2025 FIM Speedway Youth World Championship (SGP3) – continues his mission to climb the Speedway ladder.

The action begins at 15:15 in the Czech Republic and 19:00 in Denmark with racing in Slovenia set to start at 19:15 (all local time) – so all is set for an incredible and packed day of competition.

Line ups

Czech Republic

9157810b_92b5_4ba1_8581_8a4e391bc66b_2026_507_01_starting_list

Denmark

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Slovenia

Words by FIM – Images by Jesper Veldhuizen

The post FIM Speedway Under 21 World Championship qualifiers take place this weekend – Rider Lists appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

Nilsson dons the No.16 race jacket after storming to his first national championship win in Karlstad on Tuesday, with his nomination for Malilla now ratified by the SGP Commission.

He overhauled former Speedway GP star Oliver Berntzon with a fine pass for the win to secure the Malilla wild card for the second straight season.

Nilsson was a full member of the Speedway GP line-up in 2023 after winning the 2022 FIM SGP Challenge in Glasgow, before serving as a series substitute for the 2024 season.

The line-up for Sweden’s biggest speedway event is completed by track reserves Jonathan Ejnermark and Avon van Dyck, who wear the No.17 and No.18 race jackets respectively.

The Malilla weekend features three huge world-championship events, also including the BST FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla – the opening round of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship – and the BST FIM SGP4 World Championship for riders aged 11-13.

Tickets for a huge weekend of racing are all available online HERE now.

Words and Images by SpeedwayGP

The post Kim Nilsson confirmed as Speedway GP of Sweden wildcard appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

Mayfield, parent company of FIM Speedway World Championships global promoter Mayfield Sports Events, has reached a world-first agreement that sees the storied PGE Ekstraliga club purchase a minority stake in the Foxhall side – an agreement that will see the Ipswich and Wrocław clubs join forces on and off the track.

The teams will share information and support each other in a wide range of areas including but not limited to youth development and training, promotion and marketing, sponsorship, event operations, ticketing, fan experience and building sustainable clubs at the heart of their communities that attract fans from a wide range of ages.

Mayfield founder and Witches chairman Richard Coleman remains in full control of the Witches, along with general manager Andrew Chisholm and team manager Paul Hurry.

In his time at the helm, Coleman has strived to take the 2025 Rowe Motor Oil Premiership champions to the next level, building a competitive side and improving the experience for fans at Foxhall and those who follow the club online, including the introduction of a big screen and a new streaming service.

He believes joining forces with one of the world’s biggest speedway clubs can only benefit Ipswich, both on and off the track. Coleman said: “If you look at the Ekstraliga, it’s the Champions League of speedway and there is a lot to be learned from that league. We had a chat with three clubs, but from my perspective, Wrocław was head and shoulders above the others and has a lot to offer. It’s a really well-run club – and not only financially. Every single league match is sold out and they really do care about the fan experience and the riders.

“The Rusko family also deeply cares about the sport of speedway. I think they share my vision and values as to where the sport needs to go in the next five years. They really understand that the sport of speedway outside of Poland is a concern, so their motives to join forces with us and improve this picture were the right ones.

“I am in a fortunate position where I don’t look at the Witches to necessarily make me money personally. But I also want to be in a position where I can invest back into the club and try to take things forward. I still have total control of the club. We certainly didn’t need any additional financing. My commitment and my team’s commitment to the Witches is as it was, and it is only furthered by this partnership.

“It was very much a question of whether it was the right fit strategically in the heart rather than in the wallet.

“Therefore, we were able to come to a view that a strategic partnership made sense.”

Coleman is delighted to be joining forces with Wrocław and its owners, the Rusko family – a family that he believes has the sport at heart.

He said: “Wrocław hasn’t always pursued financial gain over the bigger picture. They have been very active in attracting youth. It’s a very young demographic that they have in Wrocław. They are very active in their local community. I think there are a lot of things that we can learn from them. I am really excited about how this partnership can pan out in future years.

“Ultimately, it is very much Mayfield’s club. But we are really interested in how Wrocław can advise and help, and how we can collectively move the Witches forward.”

Coleman is encouraged by the success of multi-club ownership in other sports, not least football. He added: “That model is very tried and tested in football. It will be interesting to see how this progresses within speedway. I think Wrocław’s involvement with the Witches can only be overwhelmingly positive.

“We are going to have a commercial working group. The purpose of that is to look at how we can help each other, whether that be staging sparring/challenge matches in pre-season, or whether that’s initiatives across the board.

“The sport of speedway is huge in Poland, and within Britain, there is a diaspora of around a million Poles. There is clearly a Polish market within the UK and if Ipswich is the most open club to that, then we can only stand to benefit and gain.

“We will also have a sporting working group with our general manager and team manager and their opposite numbers in Poland. Together, we can have much more influence over the best engine tuners, the best riders and the best academies. There are lots of areas where we will be stronger together than we would be on our own. I am quite excited and enthused about the benefits that this strategic partnership can bring.”

Coleman hints that Wrocław’s support could play a role in helping Ipswich with constructing a strong side for the 2027 Premiership season.

He said: “I feel that Wrocław will be very helpful and involved in how we build our squad for 2027. Both clubs feel they are stronger together and it could create options or clever ways to do contracts. We will have to see how that plays out. I certainly don’t see any disadvantage – this can only be a good thing for Ipswich.”

WTS Sparta Wrocław club president Andrzej Rusko is delighted to join forces with the Witches. He said: “Speedway does not begin and end in Poland. I am fully aware that, for many years, we have had the strongest speedway league in the world.

“However, I view this sport from a global perspective, and I know that we must strengthen other leagues and continue developing the discipline in other key markets. This is essential if speedway is to experience a true global revival.

“England is the birthplace of speedway, and I have no doubt that this is where we must begin this new chapter of cooperation. Ipswich has always been a club close to my heart. Many years ago, John Louis showed me the direction in which speedway was heading and taught me so much about the sport. The lessons I learned from him helped us build and develop speedway in Poland.

“Now, we are returning in a new role. Our ambition is to help make speedway in England, just as it is in Poland, a premium sporting product once again, and for the Ipswich Witches to inspire and lead the way for other clubs across the country.

“I believe this marks the beginning of a shared journey. Together, we can open a new chapter that will help rebuild and strengthen speedway on a global scale in the years ahead.

“Richard Coleman is a man of vision, determination and strong leadership. I know he has a clear plan and the commitment to execute it step by step in order to develop the sport we all love. We want to support him in that mission and work together to promote speedway, helping it become an even stronger global brand within the international sporting landscape.”

Words and Images by Ipswich Speedway

The post Ipswich Witches forge strategic partnership with Polish giants Sparta Wroclaw appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

The 24-year-old comes into the Stars line-up as a replacement for Paco Castagna and will slot into the reserve berth following the latest average changes, with Cooper Rushen moving into the main body of the team.

Jenkins recently impressed while guesting for King’s Lynn at Ipswich and brings valuable Premiership experience, having previously raced for Peterborough under current Stars boss Rob Lyon. He was also part of Ipswich’s title-winning side last season.

After a difficult start to the 2026 campaign, a move to Berwick has helped reignite Jenkins’ form, with the rider producing a string of impressive performances for the Bandits, including several double-figure scores on home shale.

Speaking to the King’s Lynn Stars website, Jenkins said:

“I’m delighted to be signing for King’s Lynn. I’ve hit a good bit of form recently, and I’m really enjoying my riding at the moment, so I’m looking forward to being back in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.

“I’d like to thank the management for giving me this opportunity, and I’m excited to get started and do my best for the club.”

Castagna departs the club after joining the Stars ahead of the current season. The Italian suffered an injury earlier in the year following a heavy crash at Edinburgh and has struggled to consistently score points, particularly around the Adrian Flux Arena.

The club thanked Castagna for his efforts and wished him well for the remainder of the campaign.

Jenkins is expected to make his King’s Lynn debut at Belle Vue on June 29, with his first home meeting scheduled against his former club Ipswich on July 2.

Feature Image courtesy of Kings Lynn Speedway

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Club chairman Richard Coleman will address fans, sponsors and local media at 7pm after reaching an agreement which the club says will open “considerable opportunities” for the Witches moving forward.

While details of the announcement remain under wraps, the club is keen to share the news directly with the Witches community before it is released more widely.

The event will take place at Foxhall Stadium, with The Diner open from 6.30pm and a cash bar available. Supporters will also have the opportunity to put questions directly to Coleman following the announcement.

The news comes during another successful season for the Witches, who continue to compete at the top end of the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership and are preparing to face Belle Vue in league action on Thursday evening.

With the club describing the development as one that will create significant opportunities for the future, fans will undoubtedly be speculating on what the announcement could involve ahead of Wednesday night’s gathering.

Supporters wishing to attend are invited to be at Foxhall Stadium for the 7pm announcement.

Feature Image courtesy of Ipswich Speedway

The post Ipswich Witches tease major announcement about Club’s future appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

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 prestigious event, which crowns the FIM Speedway Youth World Champion for riders under the age of 16 on 250cc machinery, takes place at the famous Olympic Stadium just 24 hours before the DEWALT FIM Speedway GP of Poland.

Rolph booked his place in the Final with an impressive third-place finish in Semi-Final 2 at Pardubice in the Czech Republic, finishing behind highly-rated Polish duo Franciszek Szczyrba and Dawid Oscenda. The Chelmsford-based rider now gets the opportunity to test himself against the best young speedway talent from around the world.

The British prospect trains regularly with ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions Ipswich and is also part of the academy programme run by Witches team manager Paul Hurry and HG Aerospace. His progress this season has been impressive, and qualification for the World Championship Final marks another significant milestone in his development.

While much of the pre-event attention will focus on the strong Polish challenge led by reigning European 250cc Champion Szczyrba and runner-up Oscenda, Rolph heads into the event with confidence after his podium finish in qualification.

The 16-rider field features competitors from 10 nations, including former SGP4 champions Brady Landon of the USA and Denmark’s Elias Jamil Jensen, alongside unbeaten Semi-Final 1 winner Marek Ziman of Slovakia.

Australia’s Cooper Antone also makes his SGP3 Final debut, while Latvia, Ukraine, Sweden and Germany are all represented in what promises to be a highly competitive contest for youth speedway’s biggest prize.

More than 2,000 spectators are expected to attend the event at Wroclaw’s iconic Olympic Stadium, with the world’s best young riders aiming to take the next step towards a future career at Speedway GP level.

For Rolph, Friday’s Final presents an opportunity to showcase British speedway on the world stage and continue his rise amongst the sport’s most exciting young prospects.

Feature Image by Petr Makusev

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