FIM WOMEN’S ACADEMY LAUNCH

BELLE Vue have this morning (Monday) hosted the official launch of the 2023 FIM Women’s Speedway Academy.

The event, which made its debut at German venue Diedenbergen last year, comes to the UK on August 4-5 as part of a big weekend in Manchester.

The National Speedway Stadium will also play host to the FIM Flat Track World Championship on August 5.

Present at the WSA launch were Great Britain’s top female rider Katie Gordon, her German counterpart Celina Liebmann who races in the Polish Under-24 Esktraliga and has experience in SGP2 as a Wild Card last year, and FIM Enduro World Champion Jane Daniels, who will also be taking part in the Academy.

Tuition at the WSA Academy is led by three-time speedway World Champion Jason Crump and FIM Race Director Phil Morris, who were both present in Manchester alongside Aces CEO Mark Lemon.

Morris said: “Obviously diversifying the sport and getting more women involved is a big thing both from the FIM side and from British Speedway.

“When Celina was in Australia last year there was a training camp not specifically for girls or women, and I think five of the 20 riders were female, so to have 25 per cent in that was really good.

“This is something we’re trying to push the sport forward with, and we want to make it as easy and accessible as possible, and to give opportunities.

“We want to be as inclusive as anyone from top to bottom, where if you go to your local club they’ll be appreciative and try to get you involved.

“It’s good to see the top women in the world advocating this for the up-and-coming riders as well.”

Photos credit: IAN CHARLES