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KING’S Lynn and Newcastle’s Robert Lambert is well-placed in his World Under-21 title bid after a sensational display in Round 1 of the Final at the Adrian Flux Arena on Saturday.Lambert finished runner-up on the night to fast-gating Pole Krystian Pieszczek, just failing to catch his rival on the finish line after a race-long chase.But in the bigger picture of the three-round series, the two riders have stolen a march on their rivals with Lambert one point adrift of Pieszczek and a six-point gap already opened up to third-placed Jack Holder – with British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates only one behind Holder after a strong performance of his own.Lambert said: “It was a hard night with a lot of tough races, and I nearly managed to go through the card and get a maximum.“I thought gate four was going to be the one for me in the Final, but I just didn’t quite get to the corner first, which is always a chase to the dirt.“I’m not disappointed with my first Final, I just need to move on. There are two more rounds and I need to build on tonight.”
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BELLE Vue advanced to third place in the Elite League table with a 47-43 win at Leicester on Saturday – their fourth victory on the road this season.Captain Scott Nicholls led the way for the Aces with 14+1 whilst Craig Cook lowered the track record on the circuit modified last winter, with the two riders securing a 3-3 in Heat 15 to ensure an away win.Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “Obviously it would have been nice to get the four points in the bag but we’re very happy to take the three nonetheless. It’s a credit to the boys’ overall performance as a team that we earned them.“Everyone chipped in and did their job. Bomber (Chris Harris) was a star guest, dropping just the one point all evening and it was great to see Scott back up there scoring the double figures.”In the Premier League, Berwick consolidated their fifth position with a thumping 60-33 home win over Ipswich.Matthew Wethers headed up a super-solid display from the home side with 10+3, whilst debutant Daniel Gappmaier recorded paid wins in his first two rides on his way to 5+2. Danny King was left alone at the top of the Witches’ scorechart on 14+1.Berwick boss Scott Courtney said: “We seem to have had everything thrown at us in recent weeks with injuries, retirements and all, yet these guys just keep bouncing back for us.“Tonight was an expert demonstration of being a team in the truest sense of the word, which means things can only get better as we run towards our live-on-Sky Sports match on June 27 against Workington.”Ipswich promoter Chris Louis said: “I honestly don't know what to say. We were well beaten in every department. Man for man, whether it be starting or track craft, they were better. “It was the most lacklustre performance I have seen from a Witches side in all my time with the club. There are no excuses - we were extremely poor.”Meanwhile Plymouth made it four home wins out of four when they beat Edinburgh 52-41 at the St Boniface Arena.The Devils turned in a sound all-round performance with recent signing Brady Kurtz, skipper Kyle Newman and reserve Stefan Nielsen all scoring 11 points while Sam Simota and Todd Kurtz contributed eight each as they covered for the absence of World Under-21 Final competitor Jack Holder.The Monarchs, meanwhile, relied heavily on Kevin Wolbert and Sam Masters who scored 27 of their points between them.Plymouth boss Lee Trigger said: “It was good that all the team were scoring points. Even reserve Ellis Perks avoided any last places and finished with paid four points from his three rides.“We continued our unbeaten home league record and took another three points. Now we have to start picking up some points away from home, starting with Tuesday’s visit to Peterborough.”Edinburgh boss John Campbell said: “We probably should have got a point out of it. Unfortunately we replaced two missing riders who scored 15 between them last time there with two guests who got three.“Even on the night we had no luck. We had a 5-1 tied up in the last race until Sam’s chain came off, and back in heat 5 I felt the referee had got things wrong – Simota came off under a challenge from Mark Riss, but Sam had passed Todd Kurtz before it was stopped. We should have had a 4-2 but it became a 2-4. But we can’t do it with just two riders against a solid team.”In the Travel Plus National League, Eastbourne held on for a 48-42 home win over Rye House, who gained a league point thanks to terrific displays from their heat-leaders.Jake Knight (12+1) and reserve Charley Powell (10+3) led the way for the Eagles, whilst the Raiders’ top three of Ben Morley, Robert Branford and Luke Priest accounted for 36 points between them.Eastbourne boss Connor Dugard said: “That was really tough. The gap we have had in the fixtures played a part. Jake came in after Heat 13 and said he was really tentative. He hadn't been on a bike for so long, it feels like an eternity.“I said pre-meeting we wanted at least 3-3s in the races where their top lads were riding and then to pick up points in the other races, which we did.”Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “All I can say is that to come down here and lose by just six points is a wonderful achievement.“Our big hitters did everything we expected them to do, and but for a few hiccoughs when we were caught out by falls, we might even have sneaked the win. We could tell we had Eastbourne worried - and I told the boys that, which fired them up even more.”Meanwhile Stoke got the better of Buxton with a 51-39 win in their local derby at Loomer Road.Ben Wilson and Danny Phillips topped the scorechart for the Potters with 11 points apiece as they made it four wins in succession with a solid team display, hitting back from an early six-point deficit.Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “It wasn’t a very satisfactory start for us, but we got the bit between our teeth and came back very strongly and in the end we were comfortable and deserved winners.“There was an amazing race between Tony Atkin and Ryan Blacklock where they seemed to change positions more times than people change their mind on what they are voting for in the upcoming referendum!”
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THREE of the top four riders in the British Final will be on show in Sunday’s Premier League clash between Newcastle and Ipswich.Home favourites Robert Lambert and Steve Worrall make their first appearances at Brough Park since finishing third and fourth at Belle Vue, whilst ex-Diamond and new British Champion Danny King leads the Witches.A win for the home side could take them into the top six, whilst the visitors are desperate for points after a heavy defeat at Berwick on Saturday.Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We are more than capable, so we can get a result anywhere. It's a matter of getting everyone going at the same time."We need as many points as possible as we are playing catch-up massively now and we need big results.”Meanwhile Scunthorpe are looking to move off the bottom of the table in their home match with Rye House.Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey says it’s vital his team gets back on the winning track against a Rockets side who have yet to complete an away match in the league.Godfrey said: “Our defeat at Workington last week was our fifth on the bounce, so it's certainly about time that we called a halt to that bad run and got another three points on the board by beating Rye House.“They are a good side and are sure to give us a great match on Sunday, but if we can get everyone firing, we are fully capable of winning and starting to climb up the table.”Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “The boys are ready; they’re hyped up and can’t wait to get out there. If we can get our gating boots on, there is no reason why we can’t get the win.“We’ve been to Ipswich, Plymouth and Somerset already (in the KO and League Cup) and shown what we can do away, and we are determined to get a result that will put us on the map again.”In the Travel Plus National League, Mildenhall host Cradley in a match which revives memories of previous title-deciding and Cup Final clashes between the clubs.Both sides are just outside the top four at this stage, although the Heathens are without James Purchase due to injury with Bradley Andrews returning to the team in his place.Fen Tigers promoter Kevin Jolly said: “The Heathens are, as usual, a power-packed side at the top end with Max Clegg and Ashley Morris leading the team.“But a slightly weaker lower end in order to accommodate these two has seen them struggle to date to win away from Monmore Green. We will be doing all we can to ensure that struggle continues on Sunday afternoon!”Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “It's going to be difficult as Mildenhall are a solid side, but if we want to make the play-offs we need to get some points from these sorts of meetings. “We've got to try and start meetings better away from home, because we've forever been playing catch-up which is never ideal and makes things very difficult.”
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WOLVERHAMPTON are aiming to move back to the top of the Elite League when they host Belle Vue on Monday.A win or a draw would see the home side leapfrog Lakeside as they look to extend their unbeaten run at Monmore Green – but the Aces can also hit the summit with a maximum-points away win.Wolves will be back at full strength with Peter Karlsson, Sam Masters and Max Clegg all returning to the side after missing Friday's fixture at the National Speedway Stadium.Skipper Fredrik Lindgren said: “Our home form was always going to be very important and we need to keep that going against Belle Vue."They're a very strong team, as they showed on Friday, and we need to make sure we get off to a good start from the first race.”Belle Vue star Steve Worrall said: “Last year’s Belle Vue team went there and had a fantastic couple of meetings and this season we’re practically the same side, and man for man I believe we stack right up to the Wolves.“Realistically I don’t see why we can’t win. It’s true, the Wolves are strong at home but from 1-7 we’re just as solid all the way through and like I said, most of our boys enjoy riding that track.”Meanwhile Kent take a 22-point advantage into the second leg of their National League KO Cup quarter-final tie with Coventry.The sides meet at Central Park which means Storm No.1 Dan Greenwood returns to the venue where he broke the track record last month.With Kings skipper Luke Bowen having come close to Greenwood’s mark last week, supporters and sponsors have offered a cash prize to any home rider who can reclaim the record.Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “Obviously it’s a really difficult one because Kent are flying this season and we’re struggling with lack of bodies at the moment!“The boys will go there to do their best, and it’s good for us to have Liam (Carr) back as he missed our last trip there, and he scored nine paid ten for Berwick on Saturday.”
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RYE House are set for a busy summer of travelling – after being frustrated by the rain yet again on Sunday.The abandonment of the Rockets’ Premier League match at Scunthorpe after two races means they have completed just three competitive fixtures on the road this season, none of them in the league.Manager Peter Schroeck said: “The rain hit just before the first heat. It wasn’t the track that was the problem; the riders just couldn’t see. Even Ben (Morley) had a problem with visibility – and he was in the lead.“To say it was all very frustrating, especially after what had been a dry afternoon, is an understatement. But we’ll channel that frustration into our next match at Somerset on Friday, and we’ll start again there.”
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BUXTON boss Jason Pipe is assessing his options for changes after a troubled recent run for the Hitmen.Pipe’s side currently prop up the National League table having suffered several recent injury blows.He said: “(Saturday) was the cut-off for averages effective in July and I’m working on things in the background. “Ollie (Greenwood) will be back next week against Rye House a meeting we should be looking to win. Stevie Jones and Jade Mudgway are looking like long-term absentees. “I am talking to a couple of riders about joining us, but nothing concrete as yet. I can assure supporters I’m not frightened to make unpopular decisions for the good of this club.”
(FIXTURES)
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
WEDNESDAY JUNE 22:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY FINAL 1st leg: Birmingham v Kent 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 23:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Redcar 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Kent 7pm
