Swindon Speedway pulls-out from 2021 season with 'regret and huge disappointment'
The club says it hopes to return to action in 2022
Last updated 11th Jan 2021
It's been confirmed that Swindon Speedway won't be competing in 2021.
According to The Robins, it's due to uncertainty surrounding the sport this year - as well as the planned Abbey Stadium upgrade works.
The club said the decision was made with "regret and huge disappointment", but hoped to return to racing in 2022.
'It's impossible to plan and commit to racing'
Terry Russell, Chairman at Swindon Speedway, added in a statement:
“In my opinion, UK Speedway is very unlikely to be able to function with a full complement of spectators through the 2021 season.
“The economics of the sport which relies so much on the paying spectator are not robust enough to take any downturn in revenue particularly after the cancelation of the 2020 season.
"Our government is not able to provide any indication of the timing or the steps of lifting the restrictions, which is not a criticism, just a fact. With this in front of us, it is impossible to plan and commit for racing at the Abbey in 2021.
"If we add to this the likely disruption to spectator facilities during the stadium rebuild, we have no alternative but to withdraw from the league this season and to come back in 2022 when we all hope the future will be looking much brighter".
The firm which operates the Abbey, Stadia UK, hopes its redevelopment will get underway "soon" and be completed by next winter.
Russell has now asked for the "understanding of supporters, sponsors, riders and all those involved with the Club".
'We'll be back'
Clarke Osborne, Chairman of Stadia UK, said that despite "looking for light at the end of this horrible tunnel", he could not "see an end to the restrictions for many, many months".
Swindon Speedway's Co-Promoter has also shared his response to the announcement: