A WORLD-CLASS line-up of speedway riders will start their bid for world glory in Glasgow on Saturday as the city hosts its first-ever Grand Prix qualifier.
Glasgow Tigers’ Peugeot Ashfield Stadium will be entertained by the likes of current world championship stars Niels-Kristian Iversen and Robert Lambert, 2012 world gold medallist Chris Holder and the reigning World Under-21 Champion Bartosz Smektala in a star-studded event.
Also featuring will be Glasgow’s captain Craig Cook – himself a GP rider last season – as well as stars of this season’s Speedway of Nations including American Austin Novratil, France’s Dimitri Berge and Nico Covatti from Italy.
It is arguably the most important speedway meeting ever held in Scotland in terms of what it means for the competitors, who are just two good performances away from making the coveted 2020 Grand Prix series – and the chance to appear in front of sell-out crowds across Europe.
Glasgow’s Peter Facenna said: “The Grand Prix really are on another level to domestic speedway – evidenced by the 58,000 capacity stadium that watched the first round in Warsaw a couple of weeks ago.
“For a relatively small club like Glasgow to host this event is truly remarkable and provides what is potentially a once-in-a-generation chance to see some of the world’s best begin their journey to global stardom.
“The likes of Iversen is in contention to win this year’s series, while Lambert is equal on points with the reigning World Champion, so the calibre of rider on show is sensational.
“We also can’t wait to see the Polish rider Smektala making his debut here – speedway is said by many to be Poland’s national sport and Smektala is the next big thing to come out of that country, so it’s a thrill to have him coming to Ashfield.
“Of course, we also hope Craig can do it for the home fans and seal his place back in the series next season after so cruelly missing out on this year’s in a race-off.
“Many superlatives have been used in the last few years at Ashfield for various reasons – none more so than when we hosted the Great Britain versus Australia test match in August – but that was a friendly; this is the real deal and no competition in world speedway means more to the riders than the Grand Prix.
“The rate of advance ticket sales for the meeting shows how popular it is among speedway fans old and new, and we would encourage anyone coming along to book up early and get there sharp on the night to pick a prime spot to watch some of the best racing ever seen in this city.”
The top four from the meeting, and three others being held elsewhere on the continent, go through to the Grand Prix Challenge meeting – with three from that sealing their place in next year’s series.
Iversen sits fifth in the current Grand Prix standings, seven points behind leader Bartosz Zmarzlik, and Lambert – the reigning British Champion at both senior and under-21 levels – is ninth.
Multiple Grand Prix winner Hans Andersen may have to miss out on the event after suffering a broken shoulder blade in a crash last week, with his replacement from Denmark yet to be confirmed.
Glasgow was chosen to host the event by FIM, the international motorcycle sport governing body, after impressing when hosting a round of the World Under-21 Team Cup last year.
The meeting starts at 7pm and tickets can be booked HERE.