BRITISH Speedway’s major events will be overseen by a new management team this year.
The series of six meetings throughout the UK will be in the hands of Glasgow’s Stewart Dickson, Sheffield promoter Damien Bates and Somerset’s Debbie Hancock.
They’re already working on sponsorship and marketing of the series with the best of British Speedway on show.
British Speedway Promoters’ Association vice-chairman Rob Godfrey said: “It’s an important role.
“The major events are important to the revenue stream within the sport and we need people who can dedicate their time to making sure they run like clockwork.
“I’ve been very impressed with the work that’s gone in already, there are sponsors on board for the series and a lot of effort will be going in to pull in as many people as possible and ensure entertainment value is there for every spectator.
“We are determined to make every major event a show, a spectacle.”
The major events kick off with the Premiership Riders’ Championship at Poole on May 9 – and the British Final stays at Belle Vue’s National Speedway Stadium for a third successive season on June 11.
Redcar have been awarded the Championship Fours on July 1, the Championship Pairs is again pencilled in for Somerset on July 20 – the night before the British Grand Prix at Cardiff.
And the Championship Riders’ individual (formerly PLRC) is back at Sheffield on September 2 after the event pulled in a fraction of the normal crowd level when it was moved last year.
A date and venue for the Premiership Pairs is to be confirmed.
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2018
PREMIERSHIP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole, May 9
BRITISH FINAL: Belle Vue, June 11
CHAMPIONSHIP FOURS: Redcar, July 1
CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS: Somerset, July 20
CHAMPIONSHIP RIDERS’ INDIVIDUAL: Sheffield, September 2
PREMIERSHIP PAIRS: TBC
OTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DATES
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Newcastle, April 8
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Birmingham, Date TBC
BRITISH SEMI-FINALS: Sheffield, May 10; Leicester, May 14
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: TBC