Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix set to raise the roof in Cardiff this July
The Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix returns on Saturday 22 July for its 17th year in the Welsh capital and looks set to be one of the most thrilling SGPs ever with multiple World Champions competing including Great Britain’s double series winner, Tai Woffinden. In what is set to be one of the closest seasons to date, Scunthorpe-born Tai will be eager to secure his first ever home win inside Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium and claw back the trophy. Meanwhile reigning champ, Greg Hancock, will be going all out to maintain his top title and 2012 World Champion, Chris Holder, is fighting fit following a series of injuries. After a successful start to the season in 2016, fellow Australian, Jason Doyle, will be raring to redeem his rightful place on the podium following his early exit last year. With Swede Freddie Lindgren, showing a promising start, along with returning star Martin Vaculik, it really could be anyone’s game and no-one should be ruled out for title contention.
Preparation will soon get underway for the sixth round of the FIM Speedway World Championship, and one of the most anticipated SGPs of the year. Following a fresh partnership agreed last year, the SGP is guaranteed to take place at Principality Stadium until at least 2021, making it the longest-standing third party event in the stadium’s calendar. Taking 400 man hours and around 3,500 tonnes of bespoke track material transported in 140 lorry loads, the venue will once again be transformed into the pitch perfect track. 15 permanent riders will compete on 500cc bikes with no gears and no brakes over 23 exhilarating heats until the winner is decided in the final, nail-biting race. Fans from across the globe descend on Cardiff to watch the action-packed event, while 114 territories worldwide tune in for the action. Outside of the stadium, Cardiff city centre will come alive with a carnival atmosphere as it plays host to the hugely popular and family friendly fanzone on City Hall Lawn. With free entry for all from 11am until 4pm, the fanzone will feature among other activities, racing bike simulators, freestyle mountain bike stunt performers, Monster Energy entertainment, Capital FM’s Matt Lissack and the chance to meet and greet the stars of the SGP.
Tickets for the 2017 Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix start at just £25 and can be purchased at http://speedwaygp.seetickets.com. Family tickets and VIP packages are also available. Further information about the event can be found at speedwaygp.com.
Speedway Fast Facts
- 16 riders – 15 permanent and 1 wild card – plus track reserves compete at each Grand Prix meeting, over 23 heats
- Each rider races 5 times and meets every other rider in the meeting at least once
- All heats are run with a maximum of 4 riders over 4 laps
- 23 starts, 23 finishes: you don't know who has won until the final second
- 500cc bikes with no brakes
- Bikes run on methanol – an environmentally friendly fuel made from potatoes!
- This is the seventeenth consecutive year that the British SGP has been held at the Principality Stadium, the first was on 9th June 2001
- Approximately 3,500 tonnes of bespoke track material originating from a quarry in Derbyshire stored permanently in a 6,500m3 warehouse transported by 140 lorry loads to the stadium covering a cumulative distance of approximately 300 miles
- Nearly 400 man hours to construct track from start to finish
- Two wheel based loaders, two tracked excavators, one grader, two vibrating compactors, two tractors, two vibrating plates, one forklift and an experienced labour crew all work together within the confines of the stadium during construction over a period of four days
- Length of inside curb = 265.65m
- Length of outside perimeter (safety fence) = 344.36m
- Total track area = 3,582.62m2
- FIM Track Length = 271.93m
