THE British Speedway Grand Prix – the fifth of 11 rounds in the FIM Speedway World Championships – is being held at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Sat 25 June. The event is marketed as “a unique experience for all the family”, but pictures of big bikes, the smell of petrol and the promise of full-throttle motorsport action may suggest that this is an event geared slightly more toward the men.
However, with closer inspection its clear to see that this year’s British Speedway GP really will be packed with excited whether you’re a speedway fan or not. 16 world-class riders compete in the tournament; racing four at a time, and completing four laps of an international-sized arena in less than a minute. The bikes they ride are powered by 500cc engines, weigh no less than 80kg, and do not have brakes. To recap: 500cc engines with NO brakes!
All 16 competitors taking part in this month’s British Grand Prix event have undergone a rigorous selection process. All are undeniably the best in the world, and this year the event looks to be more exciting than ever before as four World Champions return to race. This year’s British representative, Chris Harris, who won the Grand Prix in Cardiff in 2007, is determined to perform to the same standard this year: “Becoming World No.1 is still the ultimate dream and 2011 could certainly be the year to achieve it”, he said.
Paul Bellamy, Managing Director of BSI Speedway, commended the level of support at each British Grand Prix event and the electrifying atmosphere created by the fans: “Their passionate and noisy support is second to none,” said Bellamy. “Winning the British GP is every rider’s dream; the welcome given to them by the fans makes the hairs on their neck stand on end when they come out on parade.” And as if the evening’s 23 death-defying races aren’t enough, the event will be hotting up beforehand with wheel to wheel racing and a spectacular firework display.
It seems that the British Speedway Grand Prix is more than a boy’s trip out: an evening of world-class biking, singed with the smell of petrol and an infectiously charged atmosphere, it looks to be a unique experience, and definitely worth a shot. MILLIE SCHURCH
British Speedway Grand Prix, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 25 June. Tickets: ÂŁ29/ÂŁ18. Info: 0871 2307155 / www.speedwaygp.com
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Q: In which direction do speedway riders go round the track?