Show Notes
Phil Lanning is a multi award winning journalist and sports publicist, during his career he has written for The Sun newspaper for over 25 years, as well as writing leading articles for the Speedway Star, and working directly alongside names such as Tai Woffinden, Jason Crump and Gary Havelock in managing their PR and publicity coverage.He’s also the youngest son of legendary commentator Dave Lanning, the voice the vast majority of speedway fans will have grown up with, and so it’s little surprise that Phil continues his dad’s work reporting on and promoting the sports of Speedway and Darts.We’ll get to know a little more about what it was like growing up in a family so dedicated to speedway and surrounded by well known names. From watching racing on Neil Middleditch’s shoulders to Bruce Penhall lending his jacket. We’ll also look at how tough it is for speedway to make an impression in the national press, and how today’s young riders can make themselves stars.Plus Phil will also be describing his own dream speedway meeting before the end too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Humans of Speedway
Simply one of the greatest riders of the modern era, Jason Crump not only claimed 3 World Individual speedway championships, but also finsihed on the SGP podium every year for 10 years, which when you remember this was the era of Tony Rickardsson, Nicki Pedersen, Tomasz Gollob & Greg Hancock, makes it no small feat!
The British Speedway season is almost back, and after a long winter the first official action of 2026 takes place at King's Lynn's Adrian Flux Arena on March 15th.
Rory Schlein is a modern day British Speedway legend, who despite retiring a few years back, came back for more!
He conquered the world of Speedway, then he conquered TV screens across the World. 🇺🇸🏍️
Celina Liebmann is a trail blazer in speedway, becoming the first female rider to race in an FIM World Speedway Championship event competing in SGP2 in 2022. And in 2024 she will become the first female rider to race in a professional British league when she joins the Workington Comets on the Cab Direct Championship. With speedway being a male dominated world, she's had no shortage of advice from online experts, but as you'll hear, she doesn't care what anyone thinks. Celina has been riding a speedway bike for 18 of her 23 years, and comes from a family of motorcycle racers. Her dad was a top German Ice Speedway rider, and her mum competed in Moto X, and so in her words "we know how to ride a bike". In addition to British league racing she will also have the chance to face some of the finest riders in world speedway in the season opening Peter Craven Memorial meeting in Manchester UK, at the National Speedway Stadium.