Brought to book

Exciting times for us speedway anoraks with the publication of the 2025 SCB Speedway Regulations – a glorious 185 pages of rules, definitions and detailed explanatory diagrams.

Available for download from scbgb.co.uk/regulations this is, in truth, not an edition to set the pulses racing with generally only minor tweaks to existing regulations.

“Interesting and informative rather than ground-breaking and stunning in its originality” would be a reasonable review blurb.

But if you don’t want to plough through the pages then let me be your guide.

For a supposedly simple sport – “four riders, four motorbikes, four laps, keep turning left” there’s enough contained within the PDF pages to keep the technical team – joined this year by Ipswich legend and World Team Cup winner Jeremy Doncaster, busy.

One long-term change highlighted is that from 2027 the upper age limit for referees drops from the current 70 years to 68, although track officials and members of the press can stay in situ until 70.

Referees also now need to be on site two hours before a meeting is due to start and among the checks to make is that the now obligatory padding protection on the starting gate stanchions is in place.

A dirt deflector coming detached for any reason other than being hit by an opponents machine or coming adrift in an accident now leads to an exclusion, something those of us around when silencers were introduced in the 1970s will be only too familiar with.

New for 2025 is a rule that all 500cc (and 250) must (previously it was optional) incorporate an ignition system with a rev limiter set at 13,500. Engines can be checked at any meeting.

Other previously optional rules which become compulsory for 2025 is the fitting of working transponders in the rear pocket of the fork cover on all Premiership and Championship machines and the use of an FIM or SCB approved random starting procedure to release the tapes.

For many years now clubs have been required to provide changing facilities for 20 riders including showers and or baths with hot and cold water. This year’s rulebook for the first time stipulates that they t  they must be in a clean condition!

Proposed changes to government minimum standards regarding medical facilities at public events are anticipated by the strong suggestion that they are Quality Care Commission registered by 2028, although there is a possibility of an earlier government mandate.

Tidying up around the mandatory concussion suspensions sees clarification that the suspension begins the day following an accident.

Calculated match averages will continue to be based on 20 rolling meetings covering 2025, 2024 and 2023.

Any rider returning on an established CMA achieved prior to 2023 will be given an update match average after six meetings while any rider not eligible for one of the British development leagues cannot drop below 3.00.

A reduced facility (a guest of up to 75%) only will be allowed riders named in a redeclared team who do not make an appearance following the redeclaration.

And finally the thorny issue of guests in the play-offs. Once a rider guests for a team in a league play-off semi-final they cannot guest for any other team in the semi-final or finals.

No doubt the regulations will be tested thoroughly and at time stretched to breaking point in true speedway tradition.

Not a bestseller by any means but at least we know what the 2026 sequel will be.