British Speedway will return to free-to-air television for the first time since 1985 this weekend, as the Cab Direct British Championship Final is broadcast live on ITV4 and ITVX from the National Speedway Stadium at Belle Vue in Manchester.
Sports presenter Emma Louise Jones, known for her work on BBC's MOTDx, DAZN and RaceDay TV, will front coverage of the event, which starts at 7pm on Saturday. Top British star Robert Lambert will bid to retain his British crown against former champions Chris Harris, Adam Ellis, Danny King and Charles Wright.
A Sport of Speed and Danger
Speedway bikes are built for one purpose: turning left on a shale track. They have no brakes, and riders can hit 60mph in two seconds – quicker than an F1 car – as they race towards the first corner without the ability to slow down. This explains why crashes and serious injuries are common, and why riders turn corners with their front wheel in an unconventional way.
The bikes have a single fixed gear and run on pure methanol, which allows for higher compression ratios and more power than standard petrol. Four riders compete in each heat, starting at the tapes, with the allocated gate often key to their start. Four laps are completed in an anti-clockwise formation.
Scoring and Strategy
In an individual meeting like the British Final, scoring works like a league table: three points for a win, two for second, one for third, and nothing for last. In a team meeting, riders' scores are combined – so a first and second place results in a 5-1 heat win. A team meeting has 15 heats, with red and blue for the home team and white and yellow for the away team.
Speedway is far from boring, despite the simple format of four laps. Tracks often have multiple 'lines', and riders must find the grip to propel their bikes forward. Last year's British Final at Belle Vue saw seventeen overtakes in the final race alone, and the track is widely considered one of the most exciting in the world. In team meetings, riders may work together to block opponents' paths, making it a highly strategic sport.
Live coverage on ITV4 and ITVX begins at 7pm, with the opening race at 7.15pm on Saturday, August 15.
