About Us

The Amateur Motorcycle Speedway Academy… (AMSA) was set up in 2012 initially at Buxton Speedway, but now runs at Scunthorpe and Leicester. The aim is to offer affordable tuition to small groups of riders of all ages and all levels of ability with an emphasis on improving technique and skills in a safe and well managed setting.

AMSA is successful because of the tuition which is tailored to each individual riders needs with ample track time to hone their skills.

We also offer a bike hire service to riders from other motorcycle disciplines looking to enter the sport…. Try before you buy!

Meet the team.

Ian Batley

Heather

I have followed and loved speedway for many years and first caught the bug at Belle Vue. Since then I have supported many teams, depending on where I was living at the time. At the present time I regularly attend Scunthorpe and Sheffield. I first “Had a Go” in 2011 and absolutely loved it, so, […]

Gary O’Hare

I’ve been racing for 35 years, I started in ’81 at Belle Vue and signed for Stoke 82, racing through 83 but broke my femur in the British Junior Championships so missed most of 84. After a few teams, I signed for Ellesmere Port and won a league championship 85. I rode for Newcastle 86/7 […]

Ian Barney

I have been riding since 1977, my passion started in 1971 as a Peterborough Panthers fan. My first ride was at Mildenhall in 1977, then on to Peterborough for 1978 as a junior, I then progressed into the main team. In my time I have broken track records, four team tournament successes, won […]

Brian Clark

I’ve been involved in speedway all my life, having been a rider and subsequently a mechanic to various riders. Briefly, my first ride was at Rye House, with Mike Broadbank’s training school in 1965, I then went on to do second halves at various tracks 1968-1970. Then I raced in Canada/East Coast USA 1974-1978, and […]

Graham Malpass

I first started watching speedway as a young man back in the late 70s where I followed my home team (Ellesmere Port Gunners). In 2017 I suffered a bit of a health scare and I decided to grab life with both hands and live the dream to have a go on a speedway bike. Both […]

Jen Dowd

I’ve been actively involved in motorsports for nearly 20 years (OMG that makes me feel old!). I’ve been involved in rally, circuit racing, sprint meetings, grass track, short track, flat track and obviously speedway. I ride a Kawasaki z1000 road bike whenever I can get out on it. I’m currently a 3rd year student paramedic […]

Steve Cook

Started riding 1973, first ride was at Coventry. Was a Crewe junior from 1975 until it folded. Retired in 1978 and became a fireman for the next 30 years, retired in 2007. Started riding again in 1989 on the grass, still passenger on sidecars on occasions. Have won 3 sand racing championships and was twice […]

Dan Palmer

I first started going to speedway when my Dad was helping to build the track at Scunthorpe, in 2004 (I think it was), before getting hooked on watching the racing from 2005 to the present day. I am an almost ever present attendee at Scunthorpe home league meetings and training days, but generally happy to […]

Billy (Scipspics)

My connection with speedway started way back when I was a nipper, with my dad being a friend and mechanic to the late Arnold Haley, where we spent many a Sunday at Sheffield practice days. Travelling in the back of Arnie’s Morris Minor van with his bike, the smell of Castor R was impregnated into […]

Derek Hunt

Speedway: My story; I was first introduced to the sport in the mid 60’s. My first attempt at Speedway at the age of 15 was at Hackney Wick stadium training school run by Colin Pratt, a star of that era. I purchased a 500cc JAP speedway bike in my early 20’s & rode […]

Tom Sipos

I’ve followed speedway since an early age at Coventry and Peterborough. Back in 2012, I decided to have a go at AMSA and during my 5 years in speedway rode in amateur meetings/second halves and the odd national league appearance. The success of this was down to the guys at AMSA. I’m […]

Maciej Wrobel

Motorbikes have been my passion since my teenage years. I became interested in speedway pretty late (2018), unfortunately it was limited to watching TV broadcasts, which was extremely insufficient for me until 2020, when I was honoured with the possibility of becoming an AMSA mechanic, where at the beginning I was allowed to look […]

Meet Ian Batley

I am a former British League II rider (probably equivalent to today’s National League), having ridden for Oxford and Coventry in the mid 80′s, a relative late starter to speedway but did enjoy some success and regularly featured as the number 8 for the Oxford senior team at a time when it included riders such as Hans Nielsen, the late great Simon Wigg, Marvyn Cox, Andy Grahame and other greats, all of which were on hand to provide much needed help and advice.

In 2010 I developed my mid life crisis and had a year of amateur racing with the Southern Track Riders Club and Dragons Club and managed to win most of the events I entered which rekindled my enthusiasm.

Happy to pass on advice and encouragement and I enjoy seeing riders progress, what ever level and ambitions they may have, speedway is there to be enjoyed as well as the cut and thrust of racing action.

Meet Heather

I first “Had a Go” in 2011 and absolutely loved it, so, when I wasn’t riding I went to help out. This then gradually developed into the AMSA training school. I am now Jack Of All Trades. I do all the admin, take bookings, manage the kit, take photographs, do the refreshments and anything else that may need doing.

I enjoy every minute of it and love to see riders and friends getting so much pleasure from our days. The comradeship of the speedway family is second to none!

Meet Gary O’Hare

I’ve been racing for 35 years, I started in ’81 at Belle Vue and signed for Stoke 82, racing through 83 but broke my femur in the British Junior Championships so missed most of 84.

After a few teams, I signed for Ellesmere Port and won a league championship 85. I rode for Newcastle 86/7 then Long Eaton 88 to 92 .

Then I stayed away from tracks but still rode on grass and the beach, I’ve been an amateur since 2008 and have won the British Veteran Championship 5 years on the trot..and seven times in total, with more to come hopefully!

Meet Ian Barney

I have been riding since 1977, my passion started in 1971 as a Peterborough Panthers fan.

My first ride was at Mildenhall in 1977, then on to Peterborough for 1978 as a junior, I then progressed into the main team.

In my time I have broken track records, four team tournament successes, won the NLRC in 1984 which was one I’ll never forget! Was runner up in the best pairs in 1987 and many other great meetings which are great memories.

I rode in Australia which was one big experience every rider should try and also rode in Poland.

I had a spell in the conference league where I helped Peterborough Pumas win that year, loved working with some great kids with Daniel King coming through from a Puma junior.

Now I just ride for fun which is why I started riding in the first place, for fun.

Meet Brian Clark

Then I raced in Canada/East Coast USA 1974-1978, and was the Canadian speedway high point scorer in 1976. Currently proud to be a part of Tom Bacon’s pit crew and of course AMSA.

Meet Graham Malpass

I first started watching speedway as a young man back in the late 70s where I followed my home team (Ellesmere Port Gunners).

In 2017 I suffered a bit of a health scare and I decided to grab life with both hands and live the dream to have a go on a speedway bike. Both myself and a colleague booked in with AMSA and I have never looked back. The team made me feel very welcome and gave time, patience and advice in such a professional manner. In less than 12 months I have made so many fantastic friends who continue to provide guidance to drive my passion for speedway.

I am extremely proud and humbled to be asked to be part of the AMSA team. Thank you to all involved to help me continue to Live the Dream. From watching Gary O’Hare riding for Ellesmere Port back in 1985 and has now become a great friend. My goal is to see people experience the enjoyment and thrill it’s giving me and to continue to enjoy my riding.

Meet Jen Dowd

I’ve been actively involved in motorsports for nearly 20 years (OMG that makes me feel old!).

I’ve been involved in rally, circuit racing, sprint meetings, grass track, short track, flat track and obviously speedway.

I ride a Kawasaki z1000 road bike whenever I can get out on it. I’m currently a 3rd year student paramedic and hopefully qualify summer 2021.

I absolutely love the speedway “family” and can’t think of a better place to spend my free time.

Meet Steve Cook

Started riding 1973, first ride was at Coventry.

Was a Crewe junior from 1975 until it folded. Retired in 1978 and became a fireman for the next 30 years, retired in 2007.

Started riding again in 1989 on the grass, still passenger on sidecars on occasions. Have won 3 sand racing championships and was twice over 50s champion.

Meet Dan Palmer

I first started going to speedway when my Dad was helping to build the track at Scunthorpe, in 2004 (I think it was), before getting hooked on watching the racing from 2005 to the present day.

I am an almost ever present attendee at Scunthorpe home league meetings and training days, but generally happy to see speedway anywhere.

I joined the amateur speedway meetings support team at Scunthorpe in late 2012. I have now progressed to join the AMSA team, who welcomed me with open arms in 2019 (if I remember correctly ha ha!) and haven’t looked back since. Great days with great people 🙂

Meet Billy (Scipspics)

My photography started at Odsal stadium with the F1 stock cars, developing and printing my own black and white prints for their programmes. After the digital boom I travelled to motorsport events throughout the UK supplying my images to riders, teams and clubs, anything from BSB to Lawn Mower Racing, if it had wheels and an engine I’d be there…. I am honoured and privileged to be part of the team and hope I can capture some of your memorable times…

Meet Derek Hunt

Speedway: My story;

I was first introduced to the sport in the mid 60’s. My first attempt at Speedway at the age of 15 was at Hackney Wick stadium training school run by Colin Pratt, a star of that era.

I purchased a 500cc JAP speedway bike in my early 20’s & rode at training schools run at Coventry & Wolverhampton.

Deciding that my skills didn’t match my ambitions I sold the bike!

Fast forward to 2012 & suffering a (late) midlife crisis I purchased a lay down speedway bike. I entered a few amateur meetings at Scunthorpe, loved every minute of it (well almost), had great fun & met some great people.

I am now content to help out the AMSA crew.

Speedway, it gets into your blood!

Meet Tom Sipos

I’ve followed speedway since an early age at Coventry and Peterborough.

Back in 2012, I decided to have a go at AMSA and during my 5 years in speedway rode in amateur meetings/second halves and the odd national league appearance.

The success of this was down to the guys at AMSA.

I’m very honoured to join a great team at AMSA and look forward to helping out in the future.

Meet Maciej Wrobel

Motorbikes have been my passion since my teenage years.

I became interested in speedway pretty late (2018), unfortunately it was limited to watching TV broadcasts, which was extremely insufficient for me until 2020, when I was honoured with the possibility of becoming an AMSA mechanic, where at the beginning I was allowed to look after our small motorbikes.

In 2021, I decided to buy my own bike and experience speedway from the rider’s perspective, which only fuelled my addiction to speedway and to this day I attend AMSA sessions where I am pleased to support the team and participants and I regularly feed my hunger for speedway and I am extremely pleased and grateful.