Speedway celebration in Manchester. Lambert on top, Harris one step away from sensation

On Sunday evening, the eyes of the speedway world were focused on Manchester, where the best British riders were fighting for the title of the British Individual Champion. Emotions were running high – not only was the prestigious crown and a place on the podium at stake, but also an extremely valuable wild card entitling you to start in two rounds of the Grand Prix series, which will also take place on the Manchester track.

The favourite for the competition was the defending champion from last year, Dan Bewley, who wanted to confirm his dominance in front of his home crowd. Another representative of Great Britain in the Grand Prix series, Robert Lambert, was also fighting for the victory, thus announcing the internal competition at the highest level.

A surprising leader and a quiet revelation of the competition

The beginning of the competition went as expected – Dan Bewley and Robert Lambert, two participants of the Grand Prix series, presented excellent form and successfully scored points in the first races. However, after two series of races, the fans were rubbing their eyes with amazement. At the head of the classification was an unexpected leader – Anders Rowe, who was the only one to have a full set of points. What is more, this competitor had already defeated the defending champion in a direct duel.

It was one of the biggest surprises of the evening – Rowe, who had scored just 36 points in 21 British League matches so far, suddenly took off and became the hero of the first half of the competition. His driving was confident, dynamic and error-free, raising questions: was this just a flash in the pan or the beginning of a new chapter in his career?

Rowe loses lead, favourites accelerate

The third series was full of emotions – Anders Rowe rode brilliantly again and led the field in race number 10. However, after an extremely close fight, he lost the leading position, allowing all his rivals to overtake him and ending up at the end of the field. This was the first serious blow to his unexpected march to the final – but also confirmation that despite a great start, competition at the highest level does not forgive the slightest mistakes.

Meanwhile, the favourites – Bewley and Lambert – did not disappoint. Both recorded further victories, strengthening their position at the top of the classification. Charles Wright also joined the fight for the highest positions, thanks to a valuable victory moving up to third place in the table. Tom Brennan's performance was a negative surprise. Although the day before he had performed very well in the Metalkas 2nd Ekstraliga match in Bydgoszcz, where he scored 10 points with a bonus, this time after three starts he had only 4 "points" on his account, which separated him from the fight for the final.

Bewley's Show, Harris' Fight, and Lambert's Magic Maneuver

The pace of the competition increased with each successive series, and the fans in Manchester were able to enjoy speedway at the highest level. Heat 13 brought a real display of riding from Dan Bewley. Although he lost the start, he quickly regained control of the situation - his brilliant attack on Adam Ellis was one of the most beautiful maneuvers of the evening and secured him another victory.

Race 14 provided even more excitement, with a fierce battle between Daniel King and Chris Harris throughout the course, with the competitors shuffling each other on almost every bend, but ultimately it was the experienced Ipswich Witches captain who managed to cross the line first, to much applause from the stands.

Robert Lambert also did not disappoint in the next race. Although the start did not go as he had planned, he did not lose his cool. On the third lap, after a phenomenal attack on the outside, he overtook two rivals at once and took the lead, adding another three valuable points to his tally. This was the moment when he confirmed that his goal was nothing other than gold.

The final showdown is getting closer

The final series of the regular round brought no major surprises – the favourites confirmed their dominance. Dan Bewley and Robert Lambert won their heats convincingly, securing direct qualification to the grand final. Their ride was a display of maturity, composure and concentration – exactly what is required to fight for the British title.

Adam Ellis, Charles Wright, Anders Rowe and Chris Harris had to fight for a place in the decisive race in a play-off. For Rowe, who was sensationally leading the pack at the beginning of the competition, this was the last moment to get back into the game for the podium. Harris and Wright, experienced and brave, knew well how to cope under pressure in decisive moments.

The disappointment of the evening was the performance of Tom Brennan, who after excellent league performances, especially the day before in Bydgoszcz, failed to find his rhythm on the home track. With only 6 points, he was placed in a distant 11th place - a result definitely below expectations.

Harris and Wright are in the final – with not only a medal at stake, but also the Grand Prix

The play-off race was a display of determination and experience from two veterans of British speedway. Chris Harris and Charles Wright rode flawlessly, effectively fending off attacks from Anders Rowe and Adam Ellis. They controlled the situation from start to finish, earning themselves coveted places in the grand finale.

Their promotion meant not only a chance at a medal, but also something that electrified the fans – a wild card for two rounds of the Grand Prix series, which would also take place in Manchester. It was already known that it would be Harris or Wright who would become the hero of national speedway, getting the chance to compete with the elite of world speedway.

New British Champion! Lambert reigns supreme in Manchester

The grand finale was a fitting culmination of an exciting evening in Manchester. When the tapes went up, Robert Lambert immediately took the initiative. After a perfect start and a flawless ride over the distance, he gave his rivals no chance, confidently reaching for the title of the British Individual Champion. For Lambert, it is confirmation of his class and aspirations in the upcoming Grand Prix rounds.

The second place of Charles Wright was a huge surprise. The rider, who started his fight for the final only in the play-off, used the opportunity to the maximum – he reached for silver and, what is equally important, won a wild card for two rounds of the Grand Prix series in Manchester. His solid, consistent ride brought a spectacular effect.

Defending champion Dan Bewley had to settle for third place on the podium this time. Although he rode confidently and spectacularly for most of the event, he lacked a bit of speed in the deciding race to challenge the excellently prepared Lambert.

Chris Harris, despite a great performance in the play-off, was unable to fight for a medal in the final and finished the competition just off the podium.

BRITISH INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL - Manchester

Monday (12 May 2025)