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 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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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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The Dane joins the GT Tyres Comets in 2026 having already enjoyed a successful visit to the GT Tyres Arena last season, where he recorded a paid maximum — and he says he is looking forward to returning, but in Comets colours.

“It feels pretty good. It seems like a very nice place with good people around it and the team is looking pretty strong and I think there’s some boys that we could have a good laugh with during this season – so I’m just excited to get going.”

Reflecting on his previous experience of the Northside track, he added:

“It’s a really cool track with lots of racing lines and plenty of room for good racing,” he explained. “The day I scored the paid maximum the conditions were a bit different because of the weather, but it’s definitely a track I enjoy. I’m looking forward to coming back and learning even more about it.”

Looking ahead to his equipment for the new campaign, the Dane is looking for continuity with his equipment, with a focus on improving himself as a rider.

“The bikes will pretty much be the same for the 2026 season. Hopefully I can bring in some new engines I started using last season but ultimately it will be pretty much the same. I’ll definitely be working a bit more on my style and my gating.”

Jonas is also set for another busy year across Europe, alongside his Comets commitments.

“I’ve got Workington, and then I’ve got Region Varde as well in Denmark and Opole in Poland so I hope I’ll be quite busy and hopefully something in the Premiership will come as well so I’m expecting to be flat-out racing.”

On his first impressions of the Comets’ 2026 side, he believes there is a strong foundation in place for success:

“We’ve got some young blood in and we got some of the guys with more experience so I think we are in a good place with riders.”

In terms of his own targets, Jonas is aiming for consistency and further development.

“My personal goal for this season would just be to be around the same average that I finished with last year and just improve on all the tracks I’ve been to, and just improve my weaknesses over last season. I would like to have a really good Polish season and Danish season as well and just build a lot of confidence in myself and the team.”

Jeppesen believes the GT Tyres Comets can challenge strongly if everything comes together as it’s expected:

“I think we can go as far as we want if we stand together and do our job. We need to be strong home and away, score points consistently, and support each other. For me, the goal is to help the Comets reach the play-offs — and if we get there, anything can happen.”

Words and Images by Workington Speedway

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Ross Eco Technologies are a leading renewable energy contractor specialising in solar PV, ground source heating, and air source heating, as well as underfloor heating installation and plumbing services.

Company boss Fraser Ross has been serving as a leading plumbing and heating contractor since 1995, and installed his first ground source heat pump in 2007 which is still going strong today.

Fraser is a more recent convert to speedway, having started following the sport four years ago, and is delighted to become main sponsor of the Monarchs for 2026, “We are absolutely honoured to be main team sponsor. We were introduced to the sport through Kye Thomson maybe four years ago and since then we have been hooked.

“It was amazing when we started to tell people about the sport how many of them said they used to come along. We are always trying to bring a few new people along to show them how great it is.

“When our name was drawn out to be main sponsor we were absolutely thrilled. We genuinely hope the team progress and do well this season. It is a strong looking team and we will be backing them all the way!”

Monarchs Co-Promoter Alex Harkess is delighted to welcome Ross Eco Technologies on board, “The support of our sponsors is tremendous and it is a great pleasure to welcome Fraser and Ross Eco Technologies as our main sponsor this season.

“It will be a new adventure for them which we hope they enjoy thoroughly. We will proudly wear their name front and centre on our race suits this season.

“I must also thank all of our new Club Sponsors that took up the opportunity to enter the draw to become main sponsor. The enthusiasm shown by all eight businesses demonstrates the strength of the Monarchs network and the value of community partnership.

“All of your support is vital and I look forward to seeing you at Armadale this season.”

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Lambert has been a familiar figure in the side over recent seasons but found 2025 a challenging campaign by his usual standards. Both rider and club will be keen to see him quickly rediscover the level of performance supporters know he is capable of producing.

Promoter David Howe explained that the make-up of the team, and the points limit, ultimately steered them toward bringing Lambert back.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Howe said:

“After last season, Rob and I were not 100% sure which way we wanted to go with the team, so apart from Luke, who I always wanted back, it was a bit of a blank sheet. Signing Josh forced the direction of team building because you can’t have it all ways; we had to lose some points somewhere.

“As the team came together, we could see that Simon fitted that final spot pretty perfectly, and I’m not sure that there are many more capable riders on that average. I had a few long conversations with Simon, and he told me how he felt, and I was honest with him and my expectations on and off track.

“Scunthorpe are usually very loyal to their riders, but this wasn’t loyalty; this was maths, and also I didn’t want another club to benefit from Simon having a bad year last year. He is on a bargain average, but it’s only a bargain if it was a blip and not his level; it’s now in Simon’s hands to show us that it’s a bargain.

“I am also aware of how much Simon has given the club behind the scenes. I’d like him to take a step back from that and his other responsibilities and solely focus on riding. Having Josh as captain will help with that as he is a natural in that role.

“The way the team is built, we need riders who are good at home and also riders that have scope to improve their averages; Simon and Tofty fit that bill perfectly.”

Away from team matters, the Scorpions are also inviting supporters to become part of the race-night set-up. The club is seeking someone to coordinate music and the scoreboard during meetings, and anyone interested is asked to contact Gail Godfrey via email.

Feature Image courtesy of Scunthorpe Speedway – Ian Rispin

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The 16-year-old from Kent rode in the NDL and NDT last season for the Scunthorpe/Sheffield Steelers and Kent respectively, and truly came of age in British Speedway. One of the standout performances of the 2025 season was his outstanding 20+1 paid maximum for the Steelers against Oxford. Even more impressive was the young Brit doubling his starting NDL average.

Etherington finished runner-up to Will Cairns in the 2024 British Youth Championships. He will also line up for the returning Buxton side this season in the NDL, ensuring he gets plenty of valuable track time throughout the season.

Promoter Andrew Bain insists there is no pressure on the young Brit to deliver “match-winning” performances in his debut Championship season:

“Jamie is a really exciting talent and we are delighted to welcome him to Workington this season. He will be part of an exciting and very experienced team.”

“We have built the team with three of the best heat leaders and two solid second strings in Niklas and Tate. I’ve made it clear to him there is no pressure to deliver match-winning performances, but we feel he certainly has the capability to score valuable points from reserve alongside Vinnie.”

“Being in a team with Craig, Troy and Jonas — who have been there and done it at the highest level — I believe both we and Jamie will reap the rewards from that.”

Speaking about the completed 2026 side, Bain believes his new-look team has the balance of experience, youth and strength needed to compete for success:

“Overall, we are thrilled with the team we’ve assembled. We had to make some tough decisions and many riders wanted to return this season, but for various reasons it wasn’t possible.”

“Our strength-in-depth approach last season didn’t work away from home and ultimately cost us a play-off place. This year, however, I believe we have the right balance of youth and experience that we’ve seen in trophy-winning teams of the past, and the fans can expect a really exciting season.”

Jamie completes the 2026 GT Tyres Comets on a starting average of 2.00.

2026 Workington GT Tyres Comets:

Jonas Jeppesen – 8.20, Craig Cook – 7.99, Troy Batchelor – 7.10, Tate Zischke – 5.76, Niklas Holm Jakobsen – 5.00, Vinnie Foord – 3.68, Jamie Etherington – 2.00

Words and Feature Image by Workington Speedway

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Ablitt, who last rode for the Scorpions in 2024, returns for his second stint in the team, and the management are sure that he will become a favourite with the fans and teammates alike.

Their Team Manager, David Howe, says he’s really pleased that he’s back in the team. “I never wanted to lose Nathan. In his time in the team, he had really improved, and it was only because certain signings were made early on that he had to miss out, something that I never wanted. Nathan has had a rough deal since joining the Championship. Well, I feel that anyway, and his time at the club before he settled down and was improving all the time. I tried to get him back in the team last season. He was riding really well at the time, and it was very close, but then that week he got injured, so it put a stop to it.

“I hope that Nathan takes this opportunity with both hands and continues his upward progression and makes himself indispensable. He has great equipment, a good backup team, and I know how well he fits into the team, and that is another important factor for me. I think Luke, Nathan, and Ryan will be good for each other, and then having more experienced riders like Josh, Connor, and Tofty to learn from, if they keep their eyes and ears open and ask questions, it will only help them.

“Also, Josh will be team captain this year. He picks himself with his attitude and personality and has experience in that role, and I think he enjoys it too.”

Ablitt joins Josh Pickering, Ryan Ingram, Luke Harrison, Connor Mountain and Michael Palm Toft in the Scorpions 2026 line-up.

Words by Scunthorpe Speedway – Images by Ian Rispin

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Defending champions Poole begin their title defence in the Preliminary Round, where they face Scunthorpe in a repeat of the dramatic 2023 Final – a contest the Scorpions won in memorable fashion.

The winners of that tie will progress to a quarter-final clash with Oxford, while last season’s beaten finalists Redcar enter the competition at the last-eight stage against Edinburgh.

Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, Berwick host Workington, with Bandits skipper Jye Etheridge and Comets new recruit Jonas Jeppesen both facing their former clubs. Plymouth and Glasgow complete the line-up in a long-distance quarter-final encounter.

All ties will be contested over two legs.

PRELIMINARY ROUND
Scunthorpe v Poole

QUARTER-FINALS
Scunthorpe/Poole v Oxford
Edinburgh v Redcar
Berwick v Workington
Plymouth v Glasgow

Feature Image courtesy of British Speedway

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