GET READY TO RUMBLE!
World Championship International Speedway returns to Dublin for the first time since the 1950's
The Carole Nash Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show 2009 brings you all the unique excitement of this global sport with demonstration races between top English, Polish, Scottish and guest Irish riders including, Stuart Robson, Ben Barker and Stan Burza.
Never been to speedway? Don't worry, it's simple to follow. Four riders keep turning left over four laps of an oval track and each race is over in less than a minute. It's hectic, dangerous and exciting… to get around tight corners at such high speeds the riders actually have to accelerate to bring the rear wheel out and initiate a sliding "skid!" Speedway racing is the world’s most unique motorsport with riders racing each other at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour with no brakes!
The Machines
Fueled by methanol, the bikes weigh just 185 pounds and develop over 80 horsepower. They have a power-to-weight ratio similar to that of a Formula One car and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than three seconds. They have a top speed in excess of 100 mph, but have no gears and no brakes!
Speedway in Europe is mainly found in England, Denmark, Poland and Sweden with huge popularity also in Croatia, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Russia and as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and the USA.
Ireland last saw world class speedway in the 1950's when the sport attracted huge crowds at Shelbourne Park and visiting World champion riders were presented to the lord mayor. A rival circuit was opened in Chapelizod and team names like the Shelbourne Tigers and the Dublin Eagles are an evocative part of Irelands motorcycle racing heritage.
Speedway is a major form of television entertainment and last year saw a crowd of 45,000 fans filling the Cardiff stadium for the 2008 British Grand Prix. It is the national sport of Poland and the top riders in Europe have footballer style superstar status and are national sporting heroes.
A family sport with legions of fans who follow specific teams and have all the team regalia and favourtite riders. At grass roots level countries run speedway leagues, that attract the same fervor and passion as G.A. A and soccer leagues, with supporters travelling the country to cheer their heroes on in inter team match races. Then there are the speedway Grand Prix and World Championship races similar in concept to Formula 1.
The demonstration races at The Carole Nash Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show are intended as top class show visitor entertainment and also as food for thought. They could also be viewed in the light of being a major future opportunity both to our motorcycle industry and Ireland as a whole. We feel the time is right to bring a Speedway Grand Prix and World Champion riders to our island.
SPEEDWAY RACERS' BIOGS
TOMMY ALLEN: The younger brother of Elite League rider Ollie Allen of Coventry and the son of former rider Dave Allen: 24-year-old Tommy has established himself as a key member of the Rye House Rockets' Premier League multi-title team in recent seasons. Started his career with Mildenhall's conference League team in season 2002 and rode for Swindon at Premier League level in 2003 before linking with Len Silver at Rye House from season 2004.
BEN BARKER: 20-year-old Ben has progrssed his career through the three tiers of British Speedway having started with Oxford's Conference League team in 2003 and recently signed to race Elite League racing with the Coventry Bees for the 2009 campaign having become Stoke Potters' top rider at Premier League level in 2008. Spectacular racer with bags of personality.
STANISLAW BURZA: He first began racing Speedway at 18 at Polish training schools in 1986. His natural ability taking him only three short months to gain his licence as opposed to the normal twenty four! A loyal servant of the Tarnow Extra League team in his home country and appropriately the winner of the last-heat decider that took Tarnow to the league championship in 2001. 'Stan' has also appeared for the Berwick Bandits at Premier League level in the UK.
STUART ROBSON: The 32-year-old is returning to full-time speedway in 2009 after suffering life-threatening injuries at Mildenhall Speedway in 2007 while skipper of the Rye House Rockets. Stuart will ride at Elite League level for the Lakeside Hammers based at Arena Essex in 2009 having proved his fitness by competing in several individual meetings at various tracks in October 2008. Stuart had a consistent career at the highest level with Coventry before joining Rye House in season 2005 and leading them to many victories.
CRAIG WATSON: Craig made his British Speedway debut with the only Welsh club the Newport Wasps in 1997. The Austalian from Sydney has spent the bulk of his career with Newport for whom he will spearhead their impending revival after closure. Craig has also ridden for Glasgow and Birmingham in the Premier League for short spells plus Poole and Belle Vue in the Elite League for similar periods. Also a very capable Longtrack rider who has won his national title as well as reaching the World Longtrack Final in 2001 and 2003. |
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