Buxton return to British Speedway in the WSRA National League in 2026 and have named their first signing and captain, Jack Smith.

The 27-year-old is back at Berwick in 2026, having settled in well there last year. The former Belle Vue racer, who started his career at Birmingham in 2016 being part of the National Trophy and League Championship-winning side. He moved on to Belle Vue in 2017, winning the KO Cup with the Aces and tasted success in the League with the Colts. He is looking forward to leading the Bulls and bringing success to the club in their reopening season.

“When I heard Buxton was coming back, I was interested in being part of it. I don’t live far away from there, so despite being at Berwick on a Saturday night, home travel on a Sunday is not too bad. It’s an honour to be asked to captain the DUCTAIR Bulls, and I am sure we will put together a good side to challenge for honours. The work the volunteers have been doing is quite amazing, and fans will be pleasantly surprised by how it all looks with the promotion doing all they can to make the place spick and span. The stands on the home straight look great, and they are also having a disabled / wheelchair area built.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing who else we will have in the side as we aim to be up there challenging for the title.”

Promoter Laurence Rogers is highly pleased with the capture of the talented Stoke-on-Trent native “Jack has impressed me with his enthusiasm for riding for us, and we had no hesitation in offering him the role of captain. He wants success, and that fits in with our aims. So that’s one down and six more to sort and announce.”

DATE OF BIRTH: 17 December 1998, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

BRITISH CAREER: (2016) Birmingham; (2017) Belle Vue, Glasgow, Belle Vue II; (2018) Swindon, Sheffield, Belle Vue II; (2019) Redcar, Cradley; (2021) Glasgow, Plymouth, Belle Vue II; (2022) Newcastle, Belle Vue II; (2023) Belle Vue II; (2024) Glasgow, Scunthorpe/Sheffield II; (2025-26) Berwick.

CLUB HONOURS: National Trophy winner: 2016 [Birmingham]; League Championship winner: 2016 [Birmingham], 2017 [Belle Vue II]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2017 [Belle Vue].

RIDER LINK: Son of Andy Smith (born: 25 May 1966, York, North Yorkshire). Nephew of Paul Smith (born: 17 July 1970, York, North Yorkshire