2026 News

The Young Lions are delighted to welcome a new partner supporting both the British Youth Championship and Young Lions events for the 2026 season.

SmartCo Consulting, who are based in Richmond in London, have come on board to support the development of British Speedway and we are delighted to welcome them.

SmartCo Managing Director Oliver Kane commented;

“Speedway is such an exciting sport and we at SmartCo were keen to get involved and where better than the grassroots supporting the next generation of speedway superstars.

Young Lions boss Neil Vatcher added;

“Once again we have had some fantastic support from our loyal partners in 2026 and it is always great to welcome new people to our wonderful sport and to have such a prestigious consultancy company such as SmartCo now involved it is a credit to the Young Lions.

We look forward to seeing Oliver and his team at some of our events during the season and of course thank them for their support in 2026.”

To learn more about SmartCo click here

Image credit: Ian Charles

Glasgow stage the first round of the 2026 British Youth Championship this afternoon (Sunday) with a 1pm start time.

25 qualifying races will be taking place across the 4 classes of 500cc, 250cc, 125cc and 125cc Support, with each class also having a winner-takes-all Final.

In the 500cc class NDL riders Stene Pijper, Charlie Southwick and Ollie Binns will be hoping to get off to a winning start to the series to put a marker down.

Last year’s 250cc Bronze medallist Archie Rolph will be hot favourite to claim the Championship again in 2026, but he will have stiff opposition from both Demi Blu Harris and Kane Newby this afternoon. 

There is plenty of local interest in the 125cc class with Northen Junior League riders Douglas and Ella Marshall racing on their home circuit, as well as the reigning British Champion Lewis Hague and his brother Callum who represent the Edinburgh club West Lothian. Completing this class are 2025 silver and bronze medallists winners Fraser Buckle and Oscar Berwick respectively. 

The 125cc Support class includes three new riders to the series in 2026 – Junior Travers, Erza McNair and George Climo.

The Young Lions would like to thank their series sponsors for their continued support in 2026 Allied Mobility, Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, Northern Scaffolding Solutions, Ignite Insurance Brokers,  Wessex Marine, Friends of Speedway, HG Aerospace Ltd, Royle T Racing, Rentruck and Arnie Gibbons, as well as the Glasgow club and their owners.

SCB Referee: Willie Dishington

Dates have been confirmed for British Youth Championship rounds at Leicester and Redcar.

The series will visit the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park on Saturday July 4 and the Ecco Arena on Saturday July 18, both meetings featuring all classes.

It means the 2026 schedule, which gets underway at Glasgow later this month, is nearly complete with just a date required for the round at Oxford.

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP 2026:

Glasgow – April 12 – All Classes

Buxton – May 3 – All Classes

Workington – May 9 (500cc and 250cc only)

Belle Vue – May 10 (500cc and 250cc only)

Leicester – July 4 – All Classes

Redcar – July 18 – All Classes

Belle Vue – July 19 – (125cc Classes only)

Workington – August 2 (125cc Classes only)

Edinburgh – September 12 – All Classes

Glasgow – September 13 – All Classes

The Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund hold their annual Ben Fund Bonanza meeting this evening at Glasgow Tigers Allied Ashfield Stadium (tapes up 6pm), with British Youth Riders once again taking part.

In a slightly different format this year, the Youth Riders will be racing in a team event with riders representing Scotland and England in a 4 heat, mini test match challenge.

Current British 125cc Champion Lewis Hague along with the Marshall siblings Douglas and Ella will be representing the Home Nation of Scotland.

Up against the Scottish team will be 9 year old Oscar Berwick, who claimed the bronze medal in the 2025 British 125cc Youth Championship and Callum Hague who qualifies representing England through parental heritage, even though his older brother will be in the Scotland team. 

Young Lions would like to thank the SRBF for their continued support of British Youth Speedway and wish everyone a successful event.

The meeting will be streamed live by the British Speedway Network. Full details are available here.

Leicester have announced a date of Sunday May 24 (3pm) for their staging of the British Under-21 semi-final.

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.

British Youth Championship dates have been confirmed for six of the nine tracks who will be staging rounds this season.

The title race in all categories will start and end at Glasgow, whilst the rounds at Belle Vue and Workington will be split over two meetings.

British Youth boss Neil  Vatcher said: “Due to other fixtures in the higher leagues only just being confirmed, this winter we have had to be patient with our announcement.

“I know riders and parents involved in the Youth Championship have been keen for us to confirm the dates and the venues as soon as we had them.

“There is still Redcar, Leicester and Oxford to confirm their dates; however, I’m pleased to be able to confirm six out of the nine venues.”

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP 2026: Glasgow – Sunday April 12; Buxton – Sunday May 3; Workington – Saturday May 9 (500cc/250cc); Belle Vue – Sunday May 10 (500cc/250cc); Belle Vue – Sunday July 19 (125cc); Workington – Sunday August 2 (125cc); Edinburgh – Saturday September 12; Glasgow – Sunday September 13. TBC: Redcar, Leicester, Oxford.

Image Credit Ian Charles

The Young Lions held a successful two-day training camp at Glasgow earlier this week for 25 riders who will be competing in this year’s British Youth Championship across the three classes of 500cc, 250cc and 125cc.

British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “Conditions were cold of course, being in Glasgow in the middle of February, and the track had received a lot of rain over the weekend prior to the training camp.

“But as always the Glasgow track staff did a fantastic job on the track, which enabled all riders to do start practice on day one, and a full day of track work on day two.

“As well as the track work, which of course was all riders’ favourite part of the camp, also plenty of knowledge was gained not by just the riders but by the parents as well with a classroom session discussing numerous subjects such as bike set-up and pre-meeting preparation.

“Fitness coach James Luckman was also in attendance discussing fitness regimes and putting the riders through their paces, as well as expert on and off track advice over the two days from both Tom Brennan and Leon Flint passing on valuable knowledge of track skills and having the correct mindsets.

“This was another great start to the year for the riders who were able to attend, and sets them up nicely for what looks to be a busy year for the Young Lions, who hope to hold a minimum of nine Youth Championship rounds across the season.”

The Young Lions would like to thank Tom, Leon and Allied Mobility and the Glasgow club and their staff who all worked extremely hard for their support in hosting the camp over the two days.

The Young Lions will now be working with the clubs who will be hosting rounds of the British Youth Championship in 2026 to announce some dates over the next couple of weeks.

Image credits: Taylor Lanning

Redcar will complete a spectacular weekend of racing with the British Under-21 Final at the ECCO Arena on Sunday June 7 (7.30pm).

The major national event featuring all of Great Britain’s top youngsters will take place immediately following the two-day FIM Grand Prix of Manchester at Belle Vue on the Friday and Saturday.

A new British Under-21 Champion will be crowned as Sam Hagon, who triumphed at Glasgow in 2024 and 2025, is now outside the age range to compete.

Last year’s third place finisher Luke Harrison and fellow finalist Will Cairns are included in the list of eight seeded riders, which have been compiled on the basis of Championship averages from last season.

Home duo Ace Pijper and Jody Scott are also confirmed starters along with Ben Trigger who will be racing for Middlesbrough in the NDL, with the seeds completed by Luke Killeen, Vinnie Foord and Freddy Hodder.

The remaining eight places will be determined by the results of the Qualifier which is due to take place at Leicester on a date to be confirmed.

Glasgow Speedway host the Young Lions over the next two days (Monday February 16 and Tuesday February 17) for a pre-season training camp for over twenty riders who will be competing in this year’s British Youth Championship.

Former British Youth Champions Tom Brennan and Leon Flint will be in attendance to provide the riders tips and advice not only on track, but also through classroom sessions, where discussions regarding fitness, nutrition and bike preparation will also be taking place.

The Young Lions would like to thank Glasgow Tigers Speedway for hosting the event, as well as our series partners Allied Mobility, Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, Wessex Marine, Northern Scaffolding Solutions, Royle T Racing, Rentruck, Friends of Speedway, Ignite Insurance Brokers, HG Aerospace, Europress Peterborough and Arnie Gibbons for their continued support. 

Ahead of the 2026 Speedway season, the Young Lions are delighted to confirm the riders who will be competing in this season’s British Youth Championship.

British Youth boss Neil Vatcher commented “It’s another great turnout of riders, with a whole host of new 125cc riders which is really exciting and we cannot wait for the season to start. The clubs this season have really got on board with The British Youth Championship again, and all being well we will be running a minimum of 9 rounds.”

The confirmed list of riders across the classes are shown below. If any riders are currently not listed and would like to be included, please contact Neil via email: neil@scbgb.co.uk

2) Emerson Betty, 3) Archie Rolph, 4) Finley Theobald, 6) Seth Norman, 7) Rocco Webb, 8) Kayden Mundy, 12) Ella Marshall,13) John Cox, 14) Kane Newby, 15) Oliver Bovingdon, 19) Dylan Huthwaite, 22) Demi Blu Harris, 23) Harry Fletcher, 44) Charlie Southwick, 51) Liam Morris, 54) Albie South, 57) Seb Kelly, 61) Jessica Cox, 68) Oscar Berwick, 83) George Climo,91) Ollie Binns, 99) Douglas Marshall, 123) Charlie Fletcher, 159) Stene Pijper, 162) Cody Smith, 183) Cody Evans, 222) Jayden Bailey, 247) Junior Travers, 322) Lewis Hague, 343) Erza Fisher, 367) Charlie Luckman, 505) Casper Kluczniak, 555) Fraser Buckle, 809) Callum Hague, 917) Ruben Courtney, 991) Rex Austin.

Any companies or individuals who would like to support the British Youth Championship and become a partner of the Young Lions, are also asked to contact Neil Vatcher by email at neil@scbgb.co.uk

Image credit: Brett Thurlow