The King’s Lynn and Poole prospect delivered when it mattered most in the Final, making a superb start before slicing his way to the front on the opening lap. Once in control, Rushen never looked back as he raced clear of Jody Scott, with Ace Pijper and Will Cairns battling over the remaining podium position.

That contest came to an abrupt end on lap three when contact between Pijper and Cairns saw Pijper fall. With Rushen comfortably clear heading into the final stages, the race was stopped and the result awarded, giving the teenager the biggest title of his young career.

Scott was classified second, whilst Pijper completed the podium in third after Cairns was disqualified from the restart.

Speaking to British Speedway after his victory, an emotional Rushen admitted the result was a world away from the disappointment he experienced in the competition 12 months earlier.

“I think I’m in a dream at the minute,” he said.

“This event last year was kind of haunting me throughout the year. I had a terrible run at the Qualifier and never even made it through to the Final, so to get through this year was a bonus.

“Then to have a Final like that, out there with some of my best mates in speedway, ripping around the boards and enjoying what we’re doing – I’m happy for myself and happy for everyone competing.”

Rushen’s triumph caps a remarkable rise for one of British speedway’s brightest young talents and further underlines why he is regarded as one of the sport’s stars of the future.

Scorecard

Feature Image courtesy of Colin Poole

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Eight riders have already secured seeded places in the Final at Redcar on June 7, with the remaining eight spots to be decided at the Leicester qualifier.

The meeting features a number of riders currently competing in the Cab Direct Championship, including former Leicester Lion Cubs rider Cooper Rushen, who is also racing in the Premiership this season.

Leicester-based youngsters Ryan Ingram, Max Perry and Seth Norman are all included in the line-up, alongside former Fox Cub Jordy Loftus, as they look to secure progression to the Final.

Draw

Lee Harrison
Stene Pijper
Jordy Loftus
Jamie Etherington
Kenzie Cossey
Ollie Binns
Seth Norman
Ashton Vale
Cooper Rushen
Senna Summers
Max Perry
Harrison Rogers
Harry Fletcher
Charlie Southwick
Harry Sadler
Ryan Ingram

Reserves:
17. Owen Booth
18. Laylen Richardson

Seeded to Final (Redcar, June 7)

Luke Harrison
Luke Killeen
Will Cairns
Jody Scott
Ace Pijper
Ben Trigger
Vinnie Foord
Freddy Hodder

The Young Lions have also expressed their thanks to Leicester Speedway for their continued support of British youth development.

Feature Image courtesy of British Speedway 

The post 2026 British Under 21 Championship Qualifier – The Draw appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

Current Lion Cubs riders Max Perry, Ryan Ingram and Seth Norman are named in the line-up, along with Cooper Rushen, Jordy Loftus and Stene Pijper who appeared for the club at NDL/NDT level last year.

There are eight qualifying places available for the Final, joining the eight seeded riders to compete at Redcar on Sunday June 7.

Leicester co-promoter Jen Crossland said: “We’re very pleased to stage this event, and it’s good that there will be plenty of familiar faces for the supporters.

“Several of the riders have had good meetings here in the past and I’m sure it will be a competitive battle for the qualifying places.”

BRITISH U21 SEMI-FINAL: Max Perry, Jordy Loftus, Cooper Rushen, Senna Summers, Ashton Vale, Jamie Etherington, Ryan Ingram, Stene Pijper, Charlie Southwick, Harry Fletcher, Kenzie Cossey, Lee Harrison, Seth Norman, Ollie Binns, final two riders TBC.

Seeded to British U21 Final: Luke Harrison, Will Cairns, Ace Pijper, Jody Scott, Ben Trigger, Luke Killeen, Vinnie Foord, Freddy Hodder.

Words and Images by British Speedway

The post 2026 British Under 21 Semi Final date and Line up confirmed! appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

The prestigious national showpiece – featuring the country’s leading young talents – follows directly on from the two-night FIM Grand Prix of Manchester at Belle Vue on the Friday and Saturday, making it a standout few days for British speedway fans.

A new British Under-21 Champion is guaranteed to be crowned this year, with double winner Sam Hagon – victorious in 2024 and 2025 – now moving beyond the age limit for the competition.

Among the eight seeded riders already confirmed are last season’s third-place finisher Luke Harrison and fellow 2025 finalist Will Cairns. The seedings have been determined using Championship averages from the previous campaign.

The home club will be represented by Ace Pijper and Jody Scott, while Ben Trigger – set to race for Middlesbrough in the National Development League – is also included. Completing the seeded line-up are Luke Killeen, Vinnie Foord and Freddy Hodder.

The final eight spots on the grid will be decided via a Qualifier at Leicester, with the date for that meeting set to be announced.

With a national title on the line and a new name ready to be etched onto the trophy, Redcar’s June 7 showdown promises to be a fitting finale to a blockbuster weekend of speedway.

Feature Image courtesy of British Speedway

The post Redcar to cap British Grand Prix weekend with British Under-21 Final appeared first on Speedway Hub UK.

The Poole and Belle Vue Colts racer won the event for the second season running after also triumphing at Workington last year, and he will now look to make a major impression on the title itself at Glasgow on June 2.

Hagon was joined on the rostrum at the Coliseum by Leicester Lion Cubs rider Vinnie Foord who scored 12 whilst Berwick’s Freddy Hodder, who is also a Colts team-mate of Hagon, picked up 11.

The other six qualifiers for the Final were Ben Trigger, Luke Killeen, Ashton Boughen, Luke Harrison, Jody Scott, Max James and Mickie Simpson.

Official scorecard

Words by British Speedway – Photo credit: @GBYOUTHSPEEDWAY

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