Skip to content

Speedway team aims for revival at home track

Getty Images A Mildenhall Fen Tiger speedway rider is pictured mid-race making his way around a corner on a dirt track. He has a yellow helmet and black racing suit on with various designs and patterns on it. Another rider is behind him also making his way around a corner.Getty Images
The Mildenhall Fen Tigers aim to be back racing in 2025 as the stadium celebrates 50 years of speedway

Plans to revive speedway racing at a stadium have been unveiled.

The Mildenhall Fen Tigers based at West Row, Suffolk, last raced in 2023 before sitting out the 2024 season due to "reduced competition" and a "large period of inactivity".

Club owner Greg Palmer said at the time it was a "tough call" to decide against competing, but was confident of a 2025 return.

A steering committee to bring speedway back to the Mildenhall Stadium has been formed and Steve Ribbons, the man behind the plan, said it was hoping to adopt a supporters' trust business model.

"We have a plan to bring speedway back," he explained.

"We do realise that there is no white knight galloping over the horizon to come to the Fen Tigers' rescue.

"So using a model of some of the smaller local football clubs who set up supporters' clubs and are run by supporters' clubs, we've decided to try that on a speedway basis and we would be the first ones to do that.

"We believe it is a business model that can be achieved."

Brandon Fire Station A firefighter sprays water on a section of the Mildenhall Stadium during a fire.Brandon Fire Station
Mildenhall Stadium was damaged last year during a fire

The full plans for the supporters' trust will be laid out during a public meeting at West Row Village Hall on 2 February from 15:00 GMT.

"Because it's going to be a supporters' trust, there will be no secrets," Mr Ribbons added.

"All the finances will be unveiled and we will be looking for people to come and join us."

Mr Ribbons said there had been "very positive" feedback on the idea so far.

This year also marks 50 years of speedway at Mildenhall Stadium and the team hoped they would be back racing for this golden anniversary.

Formal applications have been entered to the British Speedway authorities and the Fen Tigers aim to enter the National Development Trophy for 2025.

Getty Images A speedway rider is pictured riding his bike mid-race. He is manoeuvring around a corner on the dirt track as other drivers race behind him.Getty Images
Mr Ribbons said he had a team of riders ready which would be revealed during the first public meeting

"I've got enough riders to fill a team already," Mr Ribbons continued.

"Riders have already asked me to come and ride at Mildenhall - they are very, very keen.

"It's quite an honour to have people phone me up and say 'I want to ride for you', so we've got a team."

The stadium was damaged last year during a fire, but owner of the stadium, Spedeworth Motorsports, said repair work would be completed by March and it had been working positively with the club to bring back speedway.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links