Like many speedway fans, up and down the country and beyond, I had decided to mark the welcome return of the FIM British Grand Prix to The Principality with a long weekend stay in glorious South Wales.
Based in Swansea, the buzz of the Cardiff carnival on Saturday was only a short train journey away. I was fortunate to get a privileged peek behind the scenes and a catch up with the British lads and GP leader Bartosz Zmarzlik at the Friday afternoon press conference. After the necessary, but predictable, preamble of the more technical questions, I was keen to lighten the atmosphere and get the lowdown on some of the more intriguing matters. First up was Tai Woffinden:
“My partner’s 3-year-old grandson, Arthur, will be attending his first meeting tomorrow at The Principality. He loves to ride his balance bike. What advice would you give his parents in order to nurture a future speedway career?”
After an understandable pause, our top performer gave the sagest of statements, “Don’t stop him from doing dangerous stuff safely. Basically, if a kid is doing something dangerous but they are doing it safely that’s where they are growing, so you shouldn’t stop them just because you think they may fall.”
My follow up question was more direct. “Can you sum up the Cardiff experience in three words?” Tai was laser like with his response, “I can’t. Come check it out. Those are my four words.” Feeling generous, and in the company of our stella Brit, how could I not give Woofy an extra word? He continued, “Because you can’t explain it until you witness it. Buy a ticket and come. No matter what I say, when you get here, and the riders are being announced or I win a race – it’s just unreal.” I couldn’t disagree. The only sporting event where you purchase a ticket for a seat you only require for 20% of the time you are there.
Next, Bartosz Zmarzlik: “Welcome back to Wales! Top of the charts! What’s your favourite music track and do you ever sing it when you are racing?” The Polish hit man was, understandably, perplexed by my opening salvo, although Tai couldn’t resist announcing that it was “Backstreet’s Back – alright!” Bartosz revealed that he had a more varied playlist without an established GP winning favourite. To be fair, he doesn’t often have to make a song and dance out on track since his riding is probably the best harmonic ever.
In summing up the Cardiff experience he was, as we have all come to expect, gracious, grateful, and grounded, adding that his family would be joining him in this “very special place.”
Dan Bewley: “I’m a passionate Notts County fan and we will be away at Borehamwood tomorrow, so I’ll be checking the score on the Sky Sports App. Which football team do you follow and what’s your go to App on your mobile?” Straight from the more conventional style of the previous BBC interview Dan smiled and spoke from the heart, “I don’t really follow football to be honest, but if I had to name a team it would be Carlisle United.” Dan has style! The closest football league team to his place of birth in Maryport, Cumbria, and a few rungs above my lot. His primary App is YouTube and, no doubt, he has relived the ultimate Cardiff outcome a fair few times since on this particular platform! Ever the entrepreneur Dan’s use of a hyphenated word met my three-word challenge to capture the Cardiff blockbuster: “Buy my T-shirt!”
Adam Ellis: “COVID-19 robbed you of a chance to appear in last year’s British GP, and after an intriguing night in Manchester you are here as the wild card. How would you sum up your feelings and have these events been positive or negative in terms of how you prepare for tomorrow?”
Before I could get into my stride Adam interrupted – he didn’t seem keen on revisiting the recent dramatic events in the North-West. I persevered, and to his credit he didn’t shy away. “I’m pretty happy. The main goal was to win the British Championship, and this is just a perk of it. I am happy to get another shot at the British title. I am really excited to be here and to be fair the preparation hasn’t changed that much, other than a few things being a bit last minute.” Adam’s take on the Cardiff vibe? “Loud, exciting and big!”
Robert Lambert: “Some forecasting from you please. Who’s your money on to lift this year’s British Premiership title and who do you predict will be lining up with you in the Grand Final tomorrow?” Robert’s cash was on the Belle Vue Aces – the closest Premiership track to one of his major sponsors. Robert was more coy about the second part of the question, “It would be great to get onto the podium but it’s a long road ahead with five tough qualifying heats, the semis, and the final.” Summing up the Cardiff experience Robert’s assessment was, “Energy, atmosphere – you must be here!”
All five athletes are crucial assets to the sport – heroic on track but nonetheless humble with the helmet off. As I travelled back to Swansea on the train, I wondered if the sport could better harness their incredible energy, wisdom, and often wry sense of humour, delivered with a modesty that is often missing in other elite sports.
The big day arrived, and the centre of Cardiff was the usual magnificent Mardi Gras. Speedway fans – many bedecked in the striking club colours of current and defunct tracks – popped up in every bar, with never a hint of anti-social behaviour, and enjoyed the bustling fans zone. After being introduced to a “turbo shandy” by an excited first timer to speedway at the nearby Prince of Wales and shooting the breeze with other fans it was time to enter the theatre of dreams.
As for the action, if you were there in person, or watching on Eurosport, you will have your own thoughts, but there is no doubt that the outcome was pretty special and as the fireworks erupted, I made a beeline for the media room to ensure that I could get a front seat.
In true Murray Walker style, I made sure that our British GP champ, Dan Bewley, reflected upon my excited opening question before taking any more from the floor. “Congratulations Dan! Tonight, you put the great back in Great Britain – how do you feel?” With the broadest grin in the UK at that particular moment, Dan – as unassuming as ever even though he had just romped to victory on the biggest domestic stage – replied, “I wouldn’t go that drastic but it’s pretty cool. To get the win here is special, and there is no better place to register my first GP title.”
My follow up was unrelenting, “And what would you like to say to the British fans who rode every heat with you tonight?” Dan refused to let the occasion overwhelm him, “Thanks for sticking by me and it was pretty funny how many people were tipping me to win tonight. They were right and maybe I should listen to the fans more often!” Enquiring as to how he would celebrate the win, Dan finally disclosed what it was really like to be a rock and roll speedway champion, “A couple of Monster mixes ─ and I’ll be in bed by midnight as I have motocross in the morning.”
My GP weekend came to a close the following day but not before I had spoken to Arthur’s mum – and speedway newbie – Emma.
What are your thoughts about Tai’s advice?
I sensed that this question caused Emma a degree of anxiety since a parent’s natural instinct is to protect their offspring. “It’s quite sensible advice in trying to encourage a child to learn properly and push boundaries more and, as Tai said, if they are doing it safely then they shouldn’t – hopefully – come to any harm. However, watching Arthur walk up a slide the wrong way for the first time, or jump from height, was still a petrifying experience! Perhaps as parents we sometimes want to wrap them up in cotton wool, but as Tai says, they won’t develop and grow if we keep them in that state.”
This was yours and Arthur’s first taste of speedway. What were you expecting?
“To be honest, my expectations weren’t that high! But we really enjoyed it! It was a great atmosphere, really entertaining and great fun. So much so that we are planning to go to Poole Pirates.”
In your opinion, was the event family friendly?
“I appreciate that many sporting venues, including football, aren’t necessarily aiming to make the experience child friendly, but I felt the ticket price for a middle tier seat for a 3-year-old was extremely expensive – with no concession on the day. We could have gone higher or even lower for cheaper seating but for a young child neither of those options was a good choice. It is always going to be difficult to keep a 3-year-old fully engaged for two hours or so although Arthur was able to burn off some energy by running along the concourse! The fans sitting proximate to us were absolutely brilliant and regularly returned Arthur’s speedway balloon to him!”
What was Arthur’s take, and did he remain engaged throughout?
“Arthur really enjoyed it, and since he’s been home, he has been out on his balance bike talking about speedway, revving his hands, and pretending that the tapes are about to fly up! So, he clearly observed the racing and took a lot in.”
Will you be booking your tickets for Cardiff in 2023?
“I would definitely go again. Would I pay £85 for a ticket? Probably not, and I would happily sit a little higher. The whole atmosphere of Cardiff was a fun afternoon and evening out but maybe not with Arthur in tow ─ for a least a few more years ─ since it’s a long day when they are so young. But somewhere more local for us would be ideal.”
So, the overall Trip Advisor rating from Arthur and his mum was a solid four out of five stars with – perhaps – another Tai, Dan, Adam, or Robert in the making.
As for me, and in classic Terminator style, “I’ll be back!” But perhaps speedway’s top brass needs to take more heed of the famous BT slogan, for those on both sides of the air fence, “it’s good to talk.” After all, feedback is the food of champions.
See you all in Cardiff on Saturday 2nd September 2023!
© Ian Kirke 2022 & all photographs
@ianjkirke