BRITISH Speedway’s Championship league is delighted to confirm an extension of its title sponsorship deal with Cab Direct.

The partnership with the UK’s favourite taxi supplier will move into a third season in 2025, and it will once more cover the league and KO Cup competitions.

Nine clubs will once again be vying for the Cab Direct Championship title with Poole the current holders, whilst the KO Cup will take on a new title as Cab Direct launches the revolutionary Ford MAXiCab in early 2025.

Designed exclusively for the UK taxi market and developed in collaboration with Ford, the black cab combines cutting-edge technology, driver-friendly features, and a commitment to sustainability, with both PHEV and fully electric BEV engine options.

MAXiCab has been designed with accessibility at its core, and it offers unparalleled comfort and space for wheelchair users.

The battle will therefore be on in 2025 to win the MAXiCab Knockout Cup, with holders Poole kicking off their defence in the quarter finals against Plymouth.

Cab Direct’s Head of Marketing Lisa Keir said: “We are delighted to renew our sponsorship of the British Speedway Championship and to support the new MAXiCab Knockout Cup.

“The Championship has gone from strength to strength over the last few years, and sponsorship provides an amazing opportunity to support this fantastic sport. 

“With competitions taking place at venues across the UK, from Glasgow to Plymouth, it’s an honour to be part of such an exciting sporting calendar.

“We’re looking forward to another thrilling year filled with fierce competition and incredible racing action.”

With the majority of Cab Direct Championship clubs having announced their intended line-ups for 2025, and the Christmas and New Year festivities now at an end, the countdown to spring and the new campaign is very much on.

British Speedway chairman and Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We’re extremely pleased to continue our partnership with Cab Direct and we thank them for their continued support.

“It’s clearly beneficial to all parties and it was great news for the league as a whole that we knew from an early stage that they would be back on board once again in 2025.

“I’m sure we are shaping up for another very competitive season of racing, and with Cab Direct serving the taxi trade all over the UK, it’s another really positive way of spreading the word of our sport.”

Plymouth Gladiators are delighted to announce a marquee signing as their new No 1 for the 2025 season

Club Owner Mark Phillips and Team Manager and Promoter Gary May have confirmed that following a late change to their plans; and an opportunity they could not miss; will see the arrival of Danish Star Nicolai Klindt on an average of 9.88 points.

Both Phillips and May are both delighted that after a frustrating few years where they have tried to sign a genuine Championship Level superstar at number 1; that in Klindt they have found the sort of talisman that can front any Team on and off the Track. Klindt was the spearhead of the Treble winning Workington Comets Team the last time he rode at Championship Level in 2018 and brings with him an outstanding CV in the top Leagues in Poland, Sweden, Denmark and the UK and well as International Team experience.

Mark Phillips explained the late change in plans that Klindt's availability offered to the Club.

"We had planned to have a very solid 1-7 with a couple of riders with combined averages of just under 14 points that would have seen us just inside the 40 point Team Limit. Whilst we felt that may have left us a bit light in the key Heats 13 and 15, we felt that the all round solidity of the Team would compensate elsewhere, and this is still the case.

The opportunity to acquire a genuine Number 1 rider who can take on and beat any rider in the League on any Track is an option that we have sought since we returned to this level in 2021 but have been thwarted in finding due to circumstances beyond our control . 

When I look at the comparative Premier League averages of those riders doubling up in the Championship this season, only Richard Lawson and Sam Masters have higher PL averages and I also feel that Nicolai has more scope to improve on his current PL average once fully race fit and dialled in. Both Gary and myself are delighted with his signing and I am sure that all of our very loyal and wonderful supporters will cheer this signing to the rafters". I think that Nicolai can be the best rider in the 2025 Championship bar none!

The signing of Klindt, which leaves the Club with just under 4 points to use to be within the 40 point average limit and the Club are currently looking at options to enable them to complete the Team with a No 7 in the next few weeks.

Phillips concluded in a positive but pragmatic tone.

"Gary and I are delighted that the team we're putting together on a budget that is a fraction of what some of the big hitters can afford. We will be seeking to punch and counterpunch well above our weight with a top class no 1 and a solid team of potential improvers all 100% committed. 

Our plans did change at a late stage but I think overall we will be stronger for it.

What we do need now is to find a lot more Sponsorship and Advertisers to assist us and for our loyal fans and new or returning fans to come to Meetings in greater numbers so that we can look back on 2025 as a year of growth and success on and off the Track.

These are difficult times for our Sport and many other Sports but we want to be the most successful Sporting Team in Plymouth and Devon and Cornwall and we have a real opportunity to do that with this septet. We are proud to showcase the South West and hopefully everyone will support us on and off the Track so that we can continue to hold this torch for many years to come.

If anyone can help with Sponsorship or Advertising support please contact Mark at mark@plymouth-speedway.com or admin@plymouth-speedway.com with a reminder that Season Tickets are now available here