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BRITISH sensation Zach Wajtknecht admits he was shocked to be named as Wild Card for tonight’s opening round of the FIM World Under-21 Final at King's Lynn.It completes a memorable couple of weeks for the 18-year-old who also received a late call-up to the Great Britain Under-21 World Team Cup semi-final side on June 4.Wajtknecht said: “It means a lot to be getting recognised by a lot of people at such an early stage of my career and it shows I’ve made a good start to speedway life.“I’ve gone from having hardly anything to representing my country twice in the space of a couple of weeks now!“These experiences are going to prove huge further down the line and that is the key thing I aim to make the most of.”Admission for Saturday's meeting is as follows: Adults £20, Concessions £15, Juniors £10, 11 years and under free.Grandstand seating will also be available at £5 per seat all classes.A 56-page bumper programme has also been produced for the event which features exclusive interviews with Tai Woffinden, Darcy Ward, Robert Lambert plus many more. This will be available at the track for £5.(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue moved into the Elite League’s play-off positions with a comfortable 56-37 home win over Wolverhampton.The Aces hit top form at the National Speedway Stadium with in-form Australian youngster Max Fricke dropping just one point from five rides, whilst reserve Joe Jacobs enjoyed his best display for the club with 7+2.Wolves were weakened by the absence of Sam Masters and Peter Karlsson, with Jacob Thorssell top-scoring on 11.Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “The shining light for us tonight was Joe Jacobs. The reserves are critical to the team and to see him winning races and come back into the pits smiling gives the whole camp a real lift.“He’s persevered and I hope he’s as proud of himself as we are of him. I have to give credit to all the boys for the way they went about their job today. It was their team work that secured the win.”Thorssell said: “We need to beat them on Monday and I believe we can. We should be at full strength. If we are then we can beat them at home, but they are a good side and deserved the win.“It was my first time on the new track, it's a great venue but I know next time I go there I will be much better and so will the team.”Meanwhile a Somerset Select team defeated their National League Select opponents 50-39 in a challenge match at the Oaktree Arena.The regular Rebels top-scored in the meeting with Paul Starke on 14 and Bradley Wilson-Dean 12+2 for the ‘home’ side, whilst Jake Allen scored 10 for the ‘visitors.’Somerset boss Garry May said: “That was a good little meeting and it was ideal for Jake, Bradley and Paul to get some extra track time. “It was a bit scary in Heat 13 and I am sure poor Debbie (Hancock, promoter) was watching it through her fingers, and she probably couldn't bear to watch at all in the re-match of the final heat.”
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LEICESTER hand a debut to new signing Ludvig Lindgren in their Elite League clash with Belle Vue at Beaumont Park on Saturday.Lindgren slots into the Lions side at reserve having come in to replace Davey Watt, but they are still without Szymon Wozniak due to issues with his Polish club.Eight of the sixteen British Finalists will be on show at the meeting, with the Aces tracking Chris Harris as a guest for Matej Zagar who is racing in the Slovenian Championship.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “Fortunately as the rules stand we can operate with a guest rider for Szymon whilst he is out of the team and I have secured the services of Jason Garrity on Saturday. “I think the move for Aaron Summers into a support role will help him and the team somewhat and hopefully Nicolai (Klindt) can keep his form up in what is a more demanding role.”In the Premier League, Berwick will look to make ground on the top four when they host Ipswich at Shielfield Park.New signing Daniel Gappmaier makes his debut for the Bandits, whilst club asset David Bellego slots in at No.1 as a guest for Sebastian Alden. The Witches bring in Danyon Hume at reserve for concussion victim Oliver Greenwood.Berwick chief John Anderson said: “We've had teams from Ipswich who've come here and more or less rolled over - and then the same team, in the same season, have come back and rolled right over us!“This time, on Saturday we will be aiming to do the rolling, and maintain our top six momentum.”Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I don't know how good Daniel Gappmaier is so we don't know how well he is going to go, but we've got riders that should be really good round Berwick. “Berwick was made for our top three heat leaders so we should be a strong side round there.”Meanwhile Plymouth face Edinburgh at the St Boniface Arena with rider-replacement in operation for Jack Holder, who is involved in the World Under-21 Final.Edinburgh are without Erik Riss and Max Clegg for the same reason, with Michael Palm Toft and Luke Chessell confirmed as the Monarchs’ guests.Devils boss Lee Trigger said: “Jack is second in our averages so everyone can take his rides and everyone fires at home, so I am confident we will be OK with the rider replacement.”
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STOKE boss Malcolm Vasey has clashed with his Buxton counterpart Jason Pipe ahead of their Travel Plus National League encounter at Loomer Road.Pipe is keen to repeat the Hitmen’s victory in the corresponding fixture last season, and has booked Josh Bailey and Danny Ayres to guest for injured top two Oliver Greenwood and Jade Mudgway.Pipe said: “We are looking for a repeat of our last performance there last season, when we won by a single point. After our performance away at Cradley on Monday evening, we go into the meeting full of confidence and we can't see any reason why we can't get something.“One point minimum is what I'm demanding from the lads and as long as we don't have any silly mechanical breakdowns or slide-offs, then I can't see any reason why we can't.”Vasey hit back: “My team talk is a pretty easy one after Jason called us the worst team in the league and that we will finish bottom of the league – well, I will be reminding the lads of this before the meeting. “I’ve seen that he’s also said that he is looking for at least a point after winning here last season, but what he has failed to mention was that we lost both our reserves in that meeting and rode several races with just one rider.”Meanwhile Eastbourne have drafted in Dan Greenwood and former Eagle Kelsey Dugard for their fixture with Rye House at Arlington.The Eagles have been forced into changes as they are without Adam Ellis, Ellis Perks and Gary Cottham.Team boss Connor Dugard said: “The keys to success will be to keep races where the Rye House top boys are racing to at least 3-3s.“If we do that, we must then score heat advantages in the reserves’ and second-string heats. That is what will bring us the victory.”(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JUNE 18:WORLD UNDER-21 FINAL Round 1: King’s Lynn 7.30ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Ipswich 7pm, Plymouth v Edinburgh 7.15TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Rye House 7.30, Stoke v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 19:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Ipswich 6.30, Scunthorpe v Rye House 6.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Cradley 3.30
MONDAY JUNE 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd round 1st leg: Kent v Coventry 6.30
TUESDAY JUNE 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Plymouth 7.30
