Press Release 2003
The World Cycle Speedway Championships are to be held in the North West of England this year. Over the first weekend of August 2003, riders and supporters will travel from the Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales) to be joined by competitors and officials from Poland, USA, Australia and The Netherlands
The action begins on Friday 1st August, where afternoon racing at both Bury and Astley & Tyldesley will see the first qualifying rounds for the World Individual Championships. Riders from all of the competing nations will be organised into groups of sixteen, each of them looking to join the eight seeded riders in the semi-finals on Sunday.
On Saturday 2nd August the World Team Cup will take place at Astley & Tyldesley, with England and Poland starting as the favourites for the overall title. Each of the competing nations will field a team of four riders plus one reserve, racing over twenty-eight heats in total. The fledgling USA Cycle Speedway outfit will not compete in this open age competition on this occasion, but in years to come will surely provide some very stiff competition for the more established countries. Start time for the big event is 3pm.
Concluding the Saturday racing will be the World's party and disco at Astley & Tyldesley - all riders, spectators and officials will be welcome.
Sunday 3rd August sees the action move to Bury for the semi-finals and final of the World Individual Championships. Defending champion, Dave Hemsley, from Leicester will look to emulate his victory in Australia two years ago. Amongst those looking to take Hemsley's crown will be current European Champion, Poland's Karol Szymanski, as well as British title holder, Gavin Wheeler, from the Southampton club and other top Polish riders including former number one, Damian Wozny. Initially, qualification will be the key objective with the top thirty-two being reduced to sixteen - then it's all out for the title. The semi-finals will start in the morning, progressing into the early afternoon, with the big final again starting at 3pm.
The Champions will need to master the varied conditions at the two host venues, combining the precision and control of Stephen Hendry with the power and aggression of Lennox Lewis. The Astley circuit is long and relatively narrow, the tight turns providing a challenge for riders from any country. The Bury oval is big and wide, allowing for some really quick action. The best riders will use all parts of the circuit to gain an advantage.
In recent years both of the staging clubs have gained a strong reputation for the professionalism of their promotions, with numerous British Championship events and Internationals being held at the two circuits in the last seven or eight years.
For action packed family entertainment, this weekend is one not to be missed.
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