British Speedway plans for 2021
Bears bosses Jitendra Duffill and Jamie Swales attended a British Speedway Promoters Ltd (BSPL) meeting today to discuss plans for the 2021 season. The 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid-19, but the roll out of a new vaccine in the UK has left British Speedway Promoters feeling positive that the sport will come to the tapes again this Spring.
BSPL tonight released a statement revealing that plans have been put in place for a May start date, with fixtures to be published next week for both the Premiership and Championship Leagues. They also revealed that both leagues will introduce a new concept, with “a clear pathway for the development of British Speedway and young British riders, not just in 2021 but in the years ahead.”
Bears’ co-promoter Jitendra Duffill added, “British Speedway has faced some pretty major challenges over the last year and they will continue into 2021. The current situation with Covid-19 is fluid and we are very aware that we cannot guarantee anything for the foreseeable future. However, we are committed and determined to staging league racing this year and our meeting today was a step further to making that happen. Everything depends on the constantly changing situation with Covid-19 and the government will decide what is and isn’t possible come May. However, we will be ready to go when we are allowed and started putting changes in place to facilitate that in the safest way possible last year.”
British Speedway was dealt 2 major blows over the last few days with the withdrawal of Premiership Champions Swindon, and Championship side Somerset from the 2021 season. However, it was confirmed today that both clubs intend to return in 2022 and will be welcomed back by the BSPL. BSPL also stated that Somerset’s place may be taken by another club that have expressed an interest in joining the league. Duffill commented, “I was saddened to hear that both Swindon and Somerset had to withdraw this year. They are both great clubs and I really feel for their promotions, riders, sponsors and supporters who will all be heartbroken that this decision had to be made. I’d like to reassure our supporters and sponsors that Redcar Speedway will be running in May if we are able and we will do what we can to make that happen.”
Duffill continued, “I’m very happy to see that British Speedway will be looking to implement a long-term plan to develop it’s young riders as that is something I have been a huge advocate of for some time. With the problems we face due to Brexit, Covid-19 and Poland’s recent ruling, there has never been a more important time to maximise the opportunities we offer to British youth and I hope that our supporters will share this view.”
British Speedway bosses finished by stating that details regarding the 2021 season will be revealed alongside their broadcast partners Eurosport in the coming days. Duffill’s final message to the club’s supporters and sponsors was, “I’d like to thank everybody for their patience and support of the club again over the last year. There is some light at the end of the tunnel with the roll out of the new vaccine and I send our best wishes to everybody who has suffered throughout this pandemic. It’s been a tragic year and we have all faced our own battles, some lifechanging, but I know that the love we all hold for our club and for speedway can give many of us something to look forward to. Redcar Speedway is more than just a sports club, it’s a community and feels like family to a lot of us. That is why the promotion here at Redcar Bears Speedway will do everything we can to bring some normality back into people’s lives and to do what we can to ensure we go racing as soon as it is safe to do so. Stay safe, stay positive and please don’t hesitate to reach out to the club or others if you need to!”