(SPEEDWAY 1)
BELLE Vue stage the British Final at the National Speedway Stadium on Monday with hopes high for a memorable event.The new circuit has attracted rave reviews after recent league matches and co-promoter David Gordon is delighted to bring the showpiece event to Manchester.Home skipper Scott Nicholls is looking to add to his seven titles, whilst team-mate Craig Cook has been runner-up in the past two seasons. Coventry’s Chris Harris has three wins to his name.Gordon said: “The British Final is without question the biggest meeting on the national calendar and Belle Vue Speedway is highly honoured to be hosting such a significant meeting right here in the city.“As a club we’ve always had a close association with the British Championships that extends back to our golden years at Hyde Road, so to return this event to Manchester is a very proud moment.“Four of the club’s own riders will be taking part. That’s a quarter of the field taken by a Belle Vue man which is a tremendous achievement, and we hope the fans turn out in force to support them.”The highest finisher with the exception of Grand Prix regular Harris will join him as the Wild Card at Cardiff next month.Supporters are advised to arrive early as Heat 1 will commence at 7.30pm sharp.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
GLASGOW returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 53-38 win over Berwick at Ashfield.Home skipper Aaron Summers collected a paid maximum from five rides with Richie Worrall on 12 and Richard Lawson 10+1 – whilst reserve Coty Garcia escaped from a heavy crash to score 8+1. Theo Pijper and Kevin Doolan both won two races on their way to 10-point scores for the visitors.Garcia said: “The track was a little bit greasy and the guy in front just locked up the bike. I came in with the speed and I found his bike in the middle of the corner and hit it with my front wheel.“My shoulder is really painful and my nose is too - I don't know if the crash was good to watch or not but it was hard.”Berwick boss Scott Courtney said: “Matches are always going to be hard without your top man in action as a guest is rarely going to match Seb Alden's firepower, although Stuart Robson did take one win this afternoon. “I thought early on that the guys had it in them to hold the match close enough to take at least one or maybe two league points but Glasgow are a classy side, especially round Ashfield, as they proved.”In the Travel Plus National League, Kent extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches in all competitions with an emphatic 57-32 win at Buxton.Captain Luke Bowen top-scored with 13+1 whilst guest Georgie Wood added 10+1 and James Shanes 10, with home guest Ellis Perks scoring 12.(SPEEDWAY 3)
CRADLEY are targeting a place in the next round of the National League Knockout Cup when they host Buxton on Monday.The aggregate scores are tied after a 44-44 draw between the sides at the D&P Raceway in last month’s first leg.The Heathens hand a debut to new signing Layne Cupitt with Bradley Andrews dropping to the No.8 position, whilst ex-Cradley rider Ellis Perks makes a guest appearance for the Hitmen.Cupitt said: “To come to a club like Cradley is huge for me. This is a great chance for me to get things back on track and hopefully I can help the team get some good results for the rest of the season."Buxton have got a few injuries at the minute so we’ll be looking to use that to our advantage. I know I can beat some of their riders so hopefully that’s the way things will turn out and I can have a good first meeting.”Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “I'm disappointed we couldn't have taken a bit of a lead in to the second leg, and Cradley will start as favourites for this one. “We will go there and try our best to sneak a win and make sure Cradley know they've been in a meeting.”Meanwhile in the Travel Plus National League Kent can move into second place with a win over Rye House at Central Park.It is the third match in four days for the Kings, who have already won at Coventry (in the KO Cup) and Buxton over the weekend to make it 13 wins and one draw in all competitions so far this season.
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY JUNE 13:BRITISH FINAL: Belle Vue 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Cradley v Buxton 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Rye House 6.30
TUESDAY JUNE 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Workington 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7pm
WEDNESDAY JUNE 15:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30
