BIG EVENT LATEST…
THE countdown is on to the restaging of the Elite League Riders' Championship at Birmingham
.It will take place at Perry Barr on Wednesday, October 8, and club officials are urging fans to arrive early.
A host of Grand Prix stars will do battle for the prestigious title with the likes of Jason Crump, Leigh Adams and Bjarne Pedersen all relishing the prospect of their Birmingham debut.
Swindon star Adams said: "When we were there for the original staging I liked the look of the track, the shape was excellent and I was disappointed that we couldn't go out there and race.
"The weather was the winner on that occasion! but I'm looking forward to going back there for the restaging and it would be lovely to take the title for Swindon."
The full and confirmed line-up will be issued in due course but once again the big names will be out in force and fans will travel to the plush venue for a big night of racing."The stadium looked lovely as well with some top facilities," said Adams. "I hope we have better luck with the weather and that we can put on a good show for the fans."
SUPER 7EVEN REMAINING EVENT: Elite League Riders' Championship, Birmingham - Wednesday October 8. 7.30pm.
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST
BELLE VUE manager Chris Morton has confirmed that club asset Tomasz Jedrzejak, who has recently joined Lakeside on loan, could be in the Aces' plans for next season.Morton said: "He is looking to come back to race in England next season and he is one of our options. He is a Belle Vue asset and anyone on our books will be considered. "Tomasz has a str! ong case as he is almost a Grand Prix rider and would be a good signing as he is only on a five-point average. Now we will have a chance to look at his performances at Lakeside between now and the end of the season."
COVENTRY skipper Chris Harris was delighted with the Bees' away win at Eastbourne - one of several improved results which appear to have taken the reigning champions away from relegation danger.Harris said: "The boys who came in did a fantastic job. I know people didn't expect us to win there with the team we had, but it was a great way to do it in a last-heat decider."It was good to see so many of our fans down there too. They've stuck by us in a difficult year and the win was as much for them as the riders."
EASTBOURNE skipper Lee Richardson is hoping to bounce back from a shock home defeat by Coventry when the Eagles face Poole next month in the Knockout Cup Final.Richardson has cast some doubt on his plans for the 2009 season but in! sists he is focused on securing some silverware at Arlington.He said: "Winning the Cup would help Eastbourne Speedway and Martin (Dugard) a bit financially."
IPSWICH need to convincingly win both halves of their double header against Poole and Coventry on Thursday to overhaul Swindon for third place in the table - and they will have to do it without Jarek Hampel due to a Polish fixture clash.Club skipper Chris Louis said: "There is absolutely nothing we can do about the situation. We can try and make Jarek ride, but firstly he won't, and secondly the repercussions for him in Poland would probably see him banned from riding for us again this season."It's a big shame of course and one of the pitfalls of having a mainly Polish team because the PZM have no agreement with the BSPA over this type of ruling."
LAKESIDE are likely to be facing Swindon in the play-off semi-finals - and should that be the case, the Hammers are keen to erase the memories of the! ir home defeat against the Robins.Promoter Stuart Douglas said: "Professionally I am duty bound to say that I don't mind who we face, but I know the fans are eager to gain revenge on Swindon for the shock defeat they inflicted upon us earlier in the year - our only home league defeat of the entire campaign."Above all, I'm just proud that this club has proven what an amazing sport speedway can be - transforming from basement boys to Elite League Championship contenders in just two short years."
PETERBOROUGH have performed a dramatic U-turn by re-instating Karol Zabik and confirming his signing for 2009 just a day after axing the Polish rider.Promoter Mick Bratley said: "After discussions with Karol, he has convinced us that he wants his future in British Speedway to be with Peterborough. To this extent, he has signed a contract with our club for the 2009 season."He is fully aware that he will become a Peterborough asset and has stated that this is ! what he wants. We have invested a lot of time, effort and money in Karol, both in 2006 and this season and we obviously want a return on that investment."
POOLE star Adam Skornicki says his best could be yet to come as the Pirates prepare for their biggest matches of the season.Skornicki said: "It's always good to be in a team that keeps winning, but the main thing is the play-offs. I hope my best performances for Poole come in the play-off matches."I enjoy the atmosphere and everything about the Poole club, and I'm glad I came to ride for them."
SWINDON have been hit with an injury setback on the eve of the play-offs with Sebastian Alden suffering a suspected broken collarbone in a crash at Coventry on Monday.Alden clipped the rear wheel of the Bees' Olly Allen during Heat 8 at Brandon and fell heavily, with his stricken machine being hit by James Wright.The Robins have already made a change to their squad with fit-again Cory Gathercole res! uming his role as No.8 in place of Joel Parsons, who stood in during Gathercole's recent injury absence.
WOLVERHAMPTON will recall David Howe for Thursday's trip to Peterborough - the start of a vital sequence of fixtures for the Monmore club, who will shortly discover their opponents in the relegation race-off.Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: "David will be in the team for Peterborough and then we have some big decisions to make going into some of the most important meetings of all my time in the sport. "We don’t want to be in the Premier League and we have to avoid that at all costs. We have to decide with David what is the best course of action and we will continue in dialogue with him."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...
BERWICK reserve Guglielmo Franchetti had a miracle escape from a horror crash in the Bandits' weekend win over Redcar - even being able to continue in the meeting.Promoter Peter Waite said: "To crash at speed headlong ! over the fence into a pylon and calmly walk back and continue racing was the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever seen in speedway. It was miraculous."
BIRMINGHAM manager Graham Drury says plans for 2009 are already being put in place at Perry Barr - with several riders under consideration for team places.Drury said: "It would be nice to have a couple of riders sorted out before the end of the season but there are a lot of riders who like to keep their options open for as long as possible. As a former rider I can see it from both sides!"
EDINBURGH are on the verge of the Premier League title after a 15-point win over local rivals Glasgow ensured that Somerset cannot afford to drop any more points to have a chance of catching them.Monarchs director Mike Hunter said: "It wasn't an easy night but that made it 15 home league wins out of 15 for the season."
GLASGOW have handed Rory Schlein the chance to complete a unique double of wins in open meetings in! Scotland - as, having won Edinburgh's Scottish Open in July, the Australian competes in the Ashfield Classic on Sunday.Tigers co-promoter Alan Dick said: "Last season we had a few new faces in the field but this time we have gone for the tried and tested method of track specialists. The addition of the three Elite League riders is an exciting move and there will be plenty of the Premier riders believing that they can come out on top in this open field."
ISLE OF WIGHT promoter Dave Pavitt says disappointing away form is the reason why the Islanders find themselves in mid-table as the Premier League season draws to a conclusion.Pavitt said: "We'd have loved to be up there jousting for positions in the top four, but we just haven't got things together on our travels this year. But we're determined to preserve our unbeaten home record."
KING'S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman believes the line-up for this week's Pride of the East at the Norfolk Arena is one of! the best in the event's 43-year history.Chapman said: "Half of the field are good quality Elite League riders and the other half are some of the best riders the Premier League has to offer. There are easily nine or ten riders who are all favourites to win the meeting."
MILDENHALL have signed Travis McGowan for their last meeting of the season in a determined bid to land their first Premier League win at the 30th attempt against Stoke on Sunday.Manager Richard Knight said: "Just looking at that team puts some life back into it all for me and gets me excited, and if we can actually go out and do the business on Sunday, like I believe we can, then it will feel like we have won the league, not just a meeting!"
NEWCASTLE'S new signing Kenni Larsen made an outstanding home debut with two race wins in the Diamonds' win over the Isle of Wight.Manager George English said: "Kenni is a real gem of a find and I think we have a massive new prospect in our ranks! especially as we will be planning for 2009 in the very near future. This kid is a brilliant new talent to the British scene and I’m delighted he is racing in the Black and White."
READING will be without promising reserve Nicki Glanz for the remainder of the season - dealing a blow to the Racers' hopes in the Young Shield.Promoter Malcolm Holloway said: "He was really starting to make a name for himself, but his own health is the most important thing and we don't want to rush him back and make things worse."
REDCAR manager Brian Havelock is supremely confident of the Bears' ability to retain the Young Shield title after seeing his side finish the League campaign in strong form.Havelock said: "I don’t think anyone would want to meet us over two legs. If anyone picks us, they’re off their trolleys because they’ll just put themselves out of the competition early doors."
RYE HOUSE youngster Tai Woffinden secured another landmark national title w! ith victory in the Premier League Riders' Championship at Sheffield last Sunday.Woffinden said: "It means so much to do it at a track like Sheffield. I had to work hard for it and I'm delighted to win the meeting."
SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey was philosophical after seeing his side well beaten at home by in-form Rye House - and he says the Scorpions can still make an impact in the Young Shield.Godfrey said: "It is really, really tough to take but we have to learn from it and move on. It sounds like we are to be selected by Workington in the Young Shield and we went well in the PL Fours up there. First of all though we have to put tonight behind us and the only way to do that is to beat Reading next week."
SHEFFIELD have released Kyle Hughes for the closing weeks of the campaign and will include David Speight for Thursday's clash with Stoke at Owlerton.Promoter Neil Machin said: "Kyle did find it hard going and it was hard work coming up here fro! m his southern base each week. David has been around a long time and we feel that he's a real trier and we have nothing to lose by giving him another chance."
SOMERSET know that nothing less than two away wins this week will be enough to force Edinburgh to clinch the Premier League title with an away win of their own at Glasgow.Manager Steve Bishop said: "We won't give up hope whilst it is still mathematically possible for us to pip the Monarchs at the post, and whatever the outcome it has been a fantastic season as far as the Premier League title has been concerned."
STOKE skipper Ben Barker roared to a 15-point maximum at home to Newcastle - giving him a total of paid 40 from three Potters meetings in three nights.Barker said: "It was good to keep my own form going, though as captain I'm really pleased to see everyone chipping in and putting in some strong rides. Our defeats at Redcar and Workington were disappointing, but at least we gave our home supp! orters plenty of entertainment and a good win."
WORKINGTON seem likely to have to settle for a place in the Young Shield with Rye House's late run of form likely to take them into the top four play-offs.Manager Ian Thomas said: "Whatever happens both ourselves and Rye House are going to have another competition to look forward to. I’d rather like a crack at the top four but I know a few fans have been suggesting we would have our best chance of winning a seven-man competition if we are in the Young Shield."
FIXTURE PICTURE...
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24:PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Somerset 7.45PRIDE OF THE EAST: King's Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Poole 7pm, Ipswich v Coventry (follows previous fixture), Peterborough v Wolverhampton 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Stoke 7.45CONFERENCE L! EAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI FINAL: Redcar v Boston 7.30BRITISH SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHP FINAL: Swindon 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Newcastle 7pm, Scunthorpe v Reading 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30UNDER-23 TEST: England v Australia, Somerset 7.30CHALLENGE: Weymouth v Exeter 7.15
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Stoke v Isle of Wight 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Workington v Edinburgh 7pmBORDERNAPOLIS: Berwick 7pmCONFERENCE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Stoke 4.30PREMIER TROPHY FINAL: Birmingham v Edinburgh 6pmASHFIELD CLASSIC: Glasgow 4pmINDIVIDUAL OPEN: Newcastle 5.30CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Sittingbourne v Rye House 12pmCONFERENCE LEAGUE KO CUP: Boston v Scunthorpe 7pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29:ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: Poole v Ipswich OR Sw! indon 7.30, Lakeside v Ipswich OR Swindon 7.30SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1:SECOND CITY TROPHY: Birmingham 7.45
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2:KIM JANSSON BENEFIT: Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 3:CONFERNCE LEAGUE KO CUP: Scunthorpe v Boston 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 4:PREMIER LEAGUE: Stoke v Reading 7.30CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Weymouth 7pmARLINGTON TROPHY: Eastbourne 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 5:SCOTTISH CUP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4.30CONFERENCE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL: Boston v Redcar 7pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 6:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg 7.30pm
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8:ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham 7.30
