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JOSH Bates joined Adam Ellis in the World Under-21 Final after safely negotiating his qualifier in Germany on Saturday.Bates scored 12 points at Pocking and becomes the second Great Britain rider to reach the three-round Final series, which gets underway at King’s Lynn next month.He said: “I can't believe it, I'm so happy, it's a massive thing for me to get to a World Final.“It was tough out there and when I had three second places on the board I knew I was still in with a chance. There was pressure on but I just got on with it, I wanted to get out there and do the business, I couldn't wait.“I gave it everything and I'm so pleased to get through. Thanks to everyone who's supported me, it's unbelievable.”But there was frustration for Robert Lambert at Belle Vue as he was left just one point short of the qualification mark when the meeting was abandoned after twelve races due to heavy rain.Lambert was classified fifth with six points as several of the fancied riders missed out with Brady Kurtz and Pawel Przedpelski also finishing outside the top four.Sheffield’s Dimitri Berge led the qualifiers with a nine-point maximum, with Plymouth’s Jack Holder second on eight – whilst Erik Riss of Edinburgh and Danish rider Mikkel B Andersen took the final two places on seven.Berge said: “Conditions got a little bit more grippy after the rain started falling so I knew that making good starts would be crucial. Getting into the first corner ahead of the rest made things much easier.“I’m really happy with my performance tonight and I’ve achieved my goal of qualifying through to the finals. I’m looking forward to that and I will give it my best as I always do when I’m racing.”
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WOLVERHAMPTON surged back to the top of the Elite League table with a powerful finale to win 51-39 at Leicester on Saturday.The scores were level after twelve races but the visitors finished with three 5-1s from a meeting raced in tricky conditions to bank all four Elite League points.Ex-Leicester rider Sam Masters top-scored for Wolves with 14, and skipper Fredrik Lindgren added 10+3, whilst the home reserves accounted for 20 of the their team’s total with Paul Starke piling up 12.Lindgren said: “Tonight was really tricky with the rain we had, and it was a tight match for a long time with only a couple of points in it.“We knew we had to avoid the last places for a while which we managed to do, and in the end it was a really good effort to get the 5-1s in the last few heats to get the win.”Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “We were trailing Wolverhampton for much of the match and did well to pull level with three races to go, but they had so much top-end strength that it fell away for us at the end.”Meanwhile Lakeside gained revenge on Coventry for their defeat at Brandon on Friday with a thumping 60-33 win at Purfleet in the return fixture.Reserve Lewis Kerr scored a paid maximum (10+2) for the Hammers with Lewis Bridger (12+2) and Andreas Jonsson (11+2) also in double figures, whilst Danny King led the way for the Bees on 13+1, with Jason Garrity missing the match for the visitors with bruising from a crash on Friday.Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook said: “It was a tremendous performance, and we were absolutely delighted to see Lewis Kerr and Lewis Bridger in such fantastic form.“It's good to be busy, and we're already looking forward to our meeting against Leicester on Friday where we'll be looking to build on tonight's great win.”Coventry manager Gary Havelock said: “It’s really disappointing. We weren’t at the races at all today, probably with the exception of Danny.“It was always going to be difficult when Jason pulled out this morning because he’s such a good rider on these small, technical tracks, but we just didn’t get at them.”The Cumberland Pairs Championship at Workington was won by Steve Worrall and Adam Roynon, who defeated the Craig Cook/Dan Bewley pairing in the Final.
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SCUNTHORPE hand seasonal debuts to Michael Palm Toft and Andreas Lyager in their Premier League local derby with Sheffield on Sunday.Palm Toft and Lyager have both returned to the Eddie Wright Raceway with promoter Rob Godfrey making team changes, although reserve Carl Wilkinson has been ruled out with wrist damage from a crash at Swindon on Thursday.Stefan Nielsen guests for the Scorpions, whilst the Tigers are looking for a second win at the venue this season after their earlier triumph in the League Cup.Godfrey said: “Of course, it's a blow to be without Wilko, but I believe we've booked the very best guest available in Stefan Nielsen. He's been in fine form for Plymouth recently and I believe he can do the job.“The Sheffield side contains a number of riders who are track specialists around the Eddie Wright Raceway, and the meeting is just about as tough as they come in terms of a home meeting for us.“But we are capable enough of winning the meeting. And if we beat Sheffield around our place, then we can beat anyone.”Sheffield skipper Simon Stead said: “We go to Scunthorpe feeling confident after two great performances, and having already won there once this year we’ll be looking to do the same again.“They’ve made a couple of changes so they’ll no doubt be a tough challenge, but if we all pick up where we left off I can’t see why we can’t get another victory.”Elsewhere, Rye House boss Peter Schroeck is calling on his team to keep up their positive momentum with a home win over champions Edinburgh.The Rockets knocked Ipswich out of the Cup on their last Hoddesdon appearance and Schroeck is relishing the challenge of the Monarchs.He said: “If we can perform the way we did last week against Ipswich, we can definitely get the result. There’s no reason why we can’t.“Beating the League Champions would also lay down a little marker, and help put us on the map. It would make people sit up and give credit.”In the Knockout Cup, Glasgow are looking to secure a significant first leg advantage from their first leg against Redcar at Ashfield.Tigers reserve Fernando Garcia insists he’s enjoying life with the Scottish club and feels they can maintain their home dominance.He said: “We know that we have four top riders and they are doing a really good job. Obviously everyone has had their problems, like at Sheffield and Somerset, but it's early days in the season. The next time we'll know how to ride there, so we will learn from our mistakes.“Plus with Glasgow's track being the grippiest in the Premier League, that sometimes gives a home advantage. Not everyone can ride here.”In the League Cup, Peterborough hand debuts to Craig Cook and Tom Stokes in their home clash with Ipswich.Neither side can progress to the semi-finals but both clubs expect a competitive meeting, with the Panthers again bringing in Kenneth Hansen to guest for the injured Nikolaj B Jakobsen, whilst rider replacement operates for Tom Perry.Peterborough boss Jason Attwood said: “It is still an important meeting for both clubs. We will both be very determined to win while getting dialled into the track for the league meeting in a few days’ time.“It also gives our two new signings, Craig and Tom, vital time on the Showground track and hopefully the supporters are as excited about the new-look team as I am.”Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It's a chance for the boys to try some new things and try and get themselves ready for the next meeting. They've also still got to go out and prove to Chris (Louis) and I that they deserve to be wearing the Witches badge. “The results are not good and there is no covering that up so it's a chance for them to go out and show us that they deserve to be here wearing the badge.”In the Travel Plus National League, Mildenhall have been boosted by the likely return of Jon Armstrong for the clash with Belle Vue – although No.1 Danny Halsey is a doubt after aggravating a back injury at the Isle of Wight on Thursday.Promoter Kevin Jolly said: “I was impressed with the lads on the Isle of Wight, they dug in and showed the type of spirit we have been asking of them. They all scored points and did their bit on and off the track.“We need to carry this on when Belle Vue visit on Sunday and get our first points on the board in the league. I have no doubt that with a similar display we can do it and put smile back on our loyal supporters’ faces.”(FIXTURES)SUNDAY MAY 22:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Edinburgh 6pm, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Glasgow v Redcar 3pmLEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Ipswich 5pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Belle Vue 3.30
MONDAY MAY 23:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Newcastle v Redcar 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Coventry 7.30CRAYFORD INVICTA PAIRS: Kent 6.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 25:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Rye House 7.30, King’s Lynn v Buxton 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Stoke 7.30
