NEW British Grand Prix winner Dan Bewley heads a star-studded line-up as one of speedway’s most prestigious meetings comes to Glasgow – in what club bosses say is a “dream come true”.
Sixteen of the world’s best riders will go head-to-head in the Grand Prix Challenge at Ashfield on Saturday, with the top three becoming full-time participants in the 2023 series.
Among them is Englishman Bewley, fresh from his sensational win at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital at the weekend.
Anders Thomsen (Denmark) and Max Fricke (Australia) have also won Grand Prix meetings this season and are joined by the likes of Aussies Chris Holder – who won the world title a decade ago – and younger brother Jack, recently crowned Speedway of Nations winner alongside Fricke.
Thomsen and Bewley are two of four former Glasgow riders taking part – with Rasmus Jensen (Denmark) and David Bellego (France) also set to get plenty of home backing.
In addition, fans will get to see rare British appearances for Polish stars Dominik Kubera and Szymon Wozniak, who ply their trade in front of big crowds in the Ekstraliga, along with Great Britain’s Robert Lambert.
Tigers owner Gerry Facenna said: “It’s a dream come true to be hosting what is possibly the most prestigious meeting in Scottish speedway’s 90-year history.
“There have been many important domestic and international events held in Scotland through the decades but none has offered such a big prize, with the Grand Prix series now broadcast around the world and raced in big stadiums across Europe.
“We believe Saturday night will be a real festival of speedway featuring many of the world’s best riders. Every one could stake a claim for winning it and we know we can provide an exciting racetrack on which they can compete.
“There’s also a sense of great pride that a quarter of the field are former Glasgow riders.
“Dan Bewley’s win at the British GP in Cardiff at the weekend is just the icing on the cake and I’m sure there will be a huge turnout from the British fans keen to see him and Robert Lambert on the rostrum.”
With a large crowd expected, spectators are being encouraged to book their tickets in advance online.
The action gets under way at 7pm.
Full line-up:
1 Oliver Berntzon (Sweden)
2 Vaclav Milik (Czech Republic)
3 Dan Bewley (Great Britain)
4 Max Fricke (Australia)
5 Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia)
6 Rasmus Jensen (Denmark)
7 David Bellego (France)
8 Anders Thomsen (Denmark)
9 Symon Wozniak (Poland)
10 Chris Holder (Australia)
11 Rohan Tungate (Australia)
12 Robert Lambert (Great Britain)
13 Jack Holder (Australia)
14 Dominik Kubera (Poland)
15 Michael Jepsen Jensen (Denmark)
16 Kim Nilsson (Sweden)