Local hero Charles Wright is more than happy to sacrifice a mid-season holiday for the ultimate staycation after sealing the wild cards for the ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester double-header on June 13 and 14.
Born in nearby Stockport, Wright finished second to Speedway GP star Robert Lambert in an unforgettable British Championship Final at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday night.
Wright looked on course to win his second British title, adding to the championship he won in Manchester in 2019, which earned him that season's FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff wild card. But he will only have to travel 15 minutes from home for his latest Speedway GP date.
Wright hit the front in a jaw-dropping grand final, which saw all four riders lead at least once. Lambert roared around Oxford and Redcar rider Wright on the last corner to win his first British title since 2018, with Speedway GP rider Dan Bewley third and triple British champion Chris Harris fourth.
While Wright had to settle for second spot, he received the ultimate consolation prize of wild card places for rounds four and five of the 2025 Speedway GP World Championship at the National Speedway Stadium next month.
Lining up against the top 15 riders in the world, including Lambert and Bewley, is quite a change from Wright’s original plan for the weekend of June 13 and 14.
He said:“I was actually planning on going away because I had a week off originally. But now I will be here, and I am looking forward to it.
“We hadn’t decided a destination, and I hadn’t booked it, but I knew we had a week off, so me and my missus were planning something. I think that’s cancelled now!
"I am pleased to be in the Grand Prix again. It’s a brilliant feeling to do this in my local town. To do it in front of my home fans means a lot. I am sure I will have a lot of support on the weekend of the GPs.”
Asked how he plans to prepare for taking on the likes of world No.2 Lambert and world No.4 Bewley, Wright joked: “I’ll probably borrow one of these boys’ engines – one of the 18 they have sat in the workshop!”
He hopes the three seasons he spent racing for Manchester club Belle Vue from 2021 to 2023 will give him some inside knowledge of the National Speedway Stadium circuit.
He said:“I rode for this club for three years. I sort of know my setup and gearing for the place. But I will be against the top 15 riders in the world, so I am maybe going to have to invest in a couple of motors because they are going to be fast, and I have to be on it.
“I know it’s going to be tough, but as long as I can put on a show and not disgrace myself, that’s the main thing.
“I will come in with no expectations on my shoulders. I’ll just go into it, see what happens and battle with the best.”
Wright scored a healthy five championship points on his last Speedway GP appearance in Cardiff in 2019, achieving two second places and a third. And he can’t wait to mix it with the best riders in the world. He said:“I’m there to enjoy the experience, but if I am there or thereabouts and I have the speed, I can be just as good as anyone on my day, so I will see what happens. I’m sure my family will be coming and my Redcar and Oxford supporters too. The Redcar fans were out in force on Monday, cheering me on. It means a lot.”
Two-time British champion Lambert was elated to end his seven-year wait for a second national crown. He said:“When I had an interview, they pointed out that it had been seven years, so that’s a long time. It doesn’t feel that long ago, so I must be getting old! It’s nice to get my hands on this famous trophy again. I am super happy about it and what a race that final was. I can’t wait to watch it back. You needed to be a little bit hard and think where you needed to put the back wheel. But it worked out well in the end.”
Catch wild card Wright, Lambert and Bewley in action at Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium on June 13 and 14. Limited tickets are still available HERE now.