Buzz Magazine Buzz Magazine - July Issue | Page 48

sport
GRAND PRIX
PICKS
UP SPEED
As the high-energy,
nerve wracking British
Speedway Grand
Prix returns to Cardiff,
Courtney Bridge gets
up to speed with the
competition.
THE Millennium Stadium holds its 14th consecutive
British Speedway Grand Prix in 2014. That’s right!
The Speedway Grand Prix is coming to Cardiff again!
The first FIM British Speedway Grand Prix held in
the Millennium Stadium took place in 2001 and 13
years on, now a teenager, the speedway returns for
another wild weekend in the city.
If you’re new to the world of speedway it is a pretty
clear concept: riders mount their motorbikes, hit
an oval track and try and get round it four times as
quickly as possible. Though the premise is simple,
speedway certainly isn’t for the riders who have
to race on 500cc single-geared machines with no
brakes.
It’s a nervewracking, nailbiting and downright
exciting sport – and that’s just the spectators.

pic: HUW EVANS AGENCY

The Grand Prix will be bringing together a variety
of nationalities with riders visiting from as far away
as New Zealand, the United States and many other
corners of the world.
In the event’s 13-year history only one British rider
has won at the Millennium Stadium, Chris Harris
in 2007. Harris is only the second British ride to
win the British Grand Prix overall, with Martin
Dugard taking first place back in 2000. With such
a long stretch without a local winner we have high
hopes that this year all that will change.
Returning this year will be Australian Chris Holder,
who won the Grand Prix in 2010 and 2013, and
America’s Greg Hancock who took gold in 2011.
Leading the way this year, however, is Britain’s very
own Tai Woffinden. The son of former speedway

pic: HUW EVANS AGENCY

rider Rob Woffinden, Tia’s chances are looking good
and so far he has won first place twice this season.
FIM Speedway Grand Prix, Millennium
Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 12 July. Tickets: £19£98. Info: www.speedwaygp.com

THE GRAND PRIX OF THE SEA
Rhianon Holley gets her sea legs ready for wettest
high-speed race in Wales.
WITH its fast pace and highly charged nature, this
new addition to the Cardiff water sports calendar
will have you gripped, but if you were hoping to
glimpse Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg taking
part in this event, you might be disappointed.
Marking its debut in Cardiff this month, the
exhilarating P1 Welsh Grand Prix Of The Sea is
made up of the P1 SuperStock offshore powerboat
racing series and the AquaX Jet Ski series. Both
the races will grace Cardiff Bay’s freshwater lake
for round three of the UK tour. Hailed as the next
generation of marine motorsport, and designed
by the best race engineers in the industry,
competitors will have to pit their wits against each
other in a challenging new environment for the
duration of this weekend long event.
Ten teams will compete in up to three races lasting
20 minutes each over the weekend with a fast,
exciting course designed to test the limits of the

BUZZ 48

drivers and navigators. The
weekend action begins in style
with a Jet Ski freestyle and rib
display. From Mermaid Quay
to the Barrage, ensure the best
vantage point for the fast-paced
free event along the scenic
Cardiff Bay waterfront.
There will also be opportunities
to meet the SuperStock and
AquaX riders during the weekend, and for those of
you who are not yet familiar with the sport there will
be live race commentary to keep you up to speed with
proceedings.
Should the adrenalin-filled racing overwhelm you,
Cardiff Beach Festival will be open so sit back and
relax on a deckchair with a cocktail on the sand.
With stages having already taken place in
Bournemouth and Hull, the series moves on to

Torquay before the season finale in Gosport.
Destined to be a great spectacle – if you’re seeking
a team to cheer look no further than the visitwales.
com team who are taking part in the series for the
first time.
P1 Welsh Grand Prix Of The Sea, Cardiff
Bay, Sat 26 + Sun 27 July. Admission:
free. Info: www.p1superstock.co.uk