The 2025 speedway season is set to roar into action this weekend with some thrilling action.
Tomorrow, all eyes will be on Workington’s GT Tyres Arena as it hosts the prestigious Cab Direct Championship Pairs.
The event will see top riders from across the league battling for glory, with reigning champions Redcar Bears aiming to defend their crown and the Comets play host to a potential seventh victory in the event.
All nine Cab Direct Championship clubs compete in the Pairs, and as in recent years there will be no group stage as all teams race four times in an 18-heat schedule.
The top four Pairs, on the 4-3-2-0 scoring system, qualify for the semi-finals, with the winners of those races then meeting in the final.
This highly anticipated curtain-raiser promises a fierce contest, as each club has now declared its duo for the competition.
Redcar, the defending champions, once again feature Charles Wright, this time alongside returning German ace Erik Riss, as they look to secure a third Pairs title in four seasons.
Workington Comets, will be strongly represented by new team captain Troy Batchelor and highly rated young talent Tate Zischke, who is eager to make an impact after injury curtailed his 2024 season.
New skipper Batchelor, will be leading the Comets in their pursuit of early-season silverware.
His partnership with Zischke will hopefully set the stage for a record seventh Comets victory in the Pairs event as the duo will be looking to make an immediate statement in front of the hopeful Comets fans and set the tone for a successful season.
Glasgow, winners of the event in 2023, will rely on the experienced talisman Chris Harris and new signing Kyle Howarth as they bid to reclaim the title, while least season’s runners up, Oxford, bring in newly appointed captain Sam Masters alongside promising British young gun Jordan Jenkins.
A late change for Berwick sees their skipper Danyon Hume replace Craig Cook in the line-up alongside Drew Kemp, who steps in for Peter Kildemand, sidelined with concussion.
Meanwhile, Saturday also marks the first appearances of 2025 for Nicolai Klindt (Plymouth), Lewis Kerr (Poole), and Steve Worrall (Scunthorpe), Kyle Howarth (Glasgow) for their respective new clubs.
Workington speedway promoter Andrew Bain said: “It’s the biggest event we’ve held since we’ve come back in the last three years, we’re all looking forward to it and I’m sure there’s going to be some really exciting racing.
“It’s going to be a big one and the weather looks good so hopefully we’ll get plenty of fans coming.
“There are a lot of riders coming back who rode really well here last year, and I think it’s going to be very interesting.
“There’s a lot of history with the Pairs around Workington and it’s really good to get it back here.”
Line-up
A: PLYMOUTH: Nicolai Klindt & Ben Barker
B: WORKINGTON: Troy Batchelor & Tate Zischke
C: BERWICK: Drew Kemp & Danyon Hume
D: GLASGOW: Chris Harris & Kyle Howarth
E: OXFORD: Sam Masters & Jordan Jenkins
F: SCUNTHORPE: Steve Worrall & Simon Lambert
G: REDCAR: Charles Wright & Erik Riss
H: POOLE: Lewis Kerr & Zach Cook
I: EDINBURGH: Justin Sedgmen & Paco Castagna
Admission
- Adult: £22
- Child (aged 6-16): £6
- Child (Under 6): Free
- Student (Aged 16-18): £12 *Students required to show valid student ID on entry.
- Family (2 Adults & 3 Children): £47
Parking: £1
Workington Comets’ GT Tyres Arena is cash only
