MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…

QUALIFYING teams have been revealed for next month’s showpiece Premier League Pairs Championship at Somerset.The event takes place on Friday, July 8 – the night before the British Speedway Grand Prix at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.A bumper crowd is expected once again for what is always a spectacular night of speedway and one of the most prestigious occasions on the British racing calendar.Ipswich are defending Champions, and have been drawn in Group 2, whilst hosts Somerset who were runners-up last year are in Group 1.Witches skipper and newly-crowned British Champion Danny King teamed up with Rohan Tungate to win the 2015 prize.They got the better of Josh Grajczonek and Brady Kurtz in the decider – but this year Tungate has ironically switched clubs to the Rebels and could therefore line up for the home side.Somerset will face Glasgow, Workington, Newcastle and Peterborough in Group 1, with Ipswich going up against Sheffield, Edinburgh, Rye House and Plymouth in Group 2.The top two pairings in each group progress to the semi-finals, with the winner of each semi competing in the decisive Final race.Scoring is over the 4-3-2-0 format, meaning team riding is of paramount importance, especially in the knockout races with second and third places being more valuable than first and fourth.Each club was due to declare their two competitors from their top three eligible riders earlier this week, and the full line-up will be available to the public in the near future.PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS GROUPS:GROUP 1: Glasgow, Workington, Somerset, Newcastle, Peterborough.GROUP 2: Sheffield, Edinburgh, Ipswich, Rye House, Plymouth.

BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2016BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: JOSH BATESBRITISH FINAL: DANNY KINGPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, July 8PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS WEEKEND: Peterborough, July 23/24PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, September 11ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, Date TBC

NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS 2016NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry, August 14NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn, August 27NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester, September 17

BRITISH SPEEDWAY FIM EVENTS 2016:WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER: FREDRIK LINDGRENWORLD UNDER-21 QUALIFIER: DIMITRI BERGEWORLD UNDER-21 FINAL Round 1: KRYSTIAN PIESZCZEK

ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…

BELLE VUE skipper Scott Nicholls was satisfied with a point from the Aces’ trip to Wolverhampton on Monday, making it four points from two meetings against the Monmore club.Nicholls said: “Coming away with something rather than nothing was the main thing for us and we're just happy that we have that consolation point to show for our efforts.“Things at the top of the table are getting tight and the only downside for us is that we still don't have a real home track advantage. I'm not sure if we will all season but if we can get the track riding consistently that'll help us get dialled in.”COVENTRY promoter Mick Horton hopes the British Final win for Danny King can give the team as a whole a boost as their Elite League schedule reaches the halfway stage.Horton said: “It was just a shame that we weren’t able to welcome Danny back with the home meeting against King’s Lynn being called off, but we’ll parade him before the Swindon match on July 1.“Before that, we really do need to get some points away from home if we’re going to keep in touch with the top four, and the boys are aware of what’s required.”KING’S LYNN boss Rob Lyon says Simon Lambert will get his chance to impress at reserve in the Stars’ upcoming fixtures.Lyon said: “We’ve made the decision to bring Simon in for some meetings. Simon is riding very well for Peterborough with a string of double-figure scores, and we just couldn’t ignore that.“We’ve decided to rest Carl Wilkinson for a few matches and really it’s all part of what having a mini-squad is all about, and I would certainly like to also introduce Nikolaj (Busk Jakobsen) at some point.”LAKESIDE star Richard Lawson knows this Thursday’s trip to Swindon could prove vital in the race for the Elite League play-offs.Lawson said: “Our form has been great at home but we can’t take anything for granted, we just have to keep the same approach and ride as we have been.“We’ve all seen that it usually goes down to the wire, and if we are battling with Swindon for one of those top four places then this meeting could make all the difference.”LEICESTER are set to welcome back Polish youngster Szymon Wozniak for their home clash with Coventry next Monday.Boss Norrie Allan told Speedway Star: “I texted Szymon and he sent one back to say 100 per cent he’ll be here on Monday, he’s free to come back. Everything is lifted at the end of this week.“We’re very much looking forward to the Coventry match, and I do feel we can beat them – even though Bomber (Chris Harris) guested for Belle Vue on Saturday and rode ever so well.”POOLE are set to return to action next week after being inactive for almost the whole of the month.The Pirates last raced on June 1 when they defeated Swindon at Wimborne Road, and they resume their title challenge on June 29 with a home clash against King’s Lynn.SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter says it is important for his side to return to winning ways at home after being defeated three times at Blunsdon this season.Rossiter said: “Clearly our home record so far this season is something of a concern, it’s unusual for Swindon teams to be beaten around the Abbey and we are desperate to get back to winning ways at home.“We respect (Thursday’s opponents) Lakeside as we do with all visiting teams, and obviously they have kept going at the top so far this season.”WOLVERHAMPTON captain Fredrik Lindgren praised the Monmore track staff for providing a good racing surface despite heavy rain for the home win over Belle Vue on Monday.Lindgren said: “We're very lucky at Wolverhampton to have one of the best track teams in the country and they deserve a lot of good words for all of their hard work just to get the meeting on."They didn't just get the meeting on, the created a surface that gave us some great racing and it was a really good meeting as we expected.“We knew it was always going to be tough, but another win is all that matters and we're happy to be back at the top of the league.”

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…

BERWICK team manager Scott Courtney praised the determination of his side following their 60-33 home win over Ipswich on Saturday.It was a third successive victory at Shielfield Park for the Bandits - despite being dealt a number of team blows.Said Courtney: "That was an expert demonstration of being a team in the truest sense of the word."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."EDINBURGH boss John Campbell admits he was disappointed to leave Plymouth empty handed on Saturday.The Monarchs went down 52-41 at the St. Boniface Arena as they suffered their sixth straight defeat on their travels."We probably should have got a point out of it," Campbell said."Unfortunately we replaced two missing riders who scored 15 between them last time there with two guests who got three."GLASGOW are sweating on the fitness of Nike Lunna ahead of back-to-back derbies against Scottish rivals Edinburgh.The Tigers travel to Armadale on Friday before hosting the Monarchs at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium on Wednesday, June 29.Lunna underwent an operation last week after discovering he'd been racing several meetings with a broken bone in his hand.IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins has received the backing of promoter Chris Louis despite a disappointing few opening months to the campaign.Hawkins is making his debut as team manager in 2016 and things haven't exactly gone to plan, with the Witches winning just two of their last eight meetings.Said Louis: "I still have 100 per cent faith in Ritchie and I'm certain that the current team have faith in him too. "There's absolutely no issues between club and manager and team and manager and I'm happy that we have a really good dynamic in the whole team."NEWCASTLE team manager George English has expressed his delight for Swedish star Ludvig Lindgren who has secured a doubling-up role with Leicester.The 25-year-old has been a solid performer once again for the Diamonds in 2016 and English believes his side can benefit from Lindgren's top flight experience.Said English: “We are pleased that Ludvig has found a place in the Elite League with Leicester as it will give him more meetings in this country to keep him sharp and ready for the Diamonds matches.”PETERBOROUGH boss Jason Attwood has warned his riders against any complacency when they host Plymouth tonight (Tuesday).A win would see the Panthers move back to the top of the Premier League but Attwood believes the Devils will be desperate to be spoilers.Said Attwood: "They are full of riders who can excel at our track and showed their liking for it with their performances here last season.“I imagine they will be coming here with the target of at least collecting a point, but we can’t be having that; we want to send them home with nothing!"PLYMOUTH boss Lee Trigger believes his side are more than capable of getting a result at high-flying Peterborough tonight (Tuesday).The Devils will be at full-strength for the first time on their travels this season and Trigger thinks that could be a big factor.He said: "If all seven ride to their full potential, we will be optimistic of coming away with something from Peterborough and start getting some points on the board away from home.”REDCAR aim to restore a bit of pride when they face back-to-back meetings against an in-form Sheffield side later this week.The Bears travel to Owlerton on Thursday before hosting the Tigers on Friday.Jitendra Duffill's men will be looking to add points to their Premier League tally as they are without a win in ten meetings.RYE HOUSE are still yet to complete an away fixture in 2016 after their meeting at Scunthorpe on Sunday was abandoned after just two heats!A heavy downpour hit the track early in the meeting leaving the referee with no option but to call the clash off.Rockets team boss Peter Schroeck said: "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.” SCUNTHORPE will offer supporters free re-admission for those who attended Sunday's rain affected meeting with Rye House.Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: "We did incur a number of costs by getting as far as we did, but Scunthorpe Speedway never have and never will be about ripping off the fans."I believe it's about looking after the fans, and I hope they will appreciate this gesture."SHEFFIELD co-promoter Peter Mole feels the management have achieved one of their goals for 2016 by building an entertaining, winning team.The Tigers have lost just one of their last seven meetings and are in a solid position towards the top of the Premier League.Mole told the Sheffield Star: "When we sat down to decide on our team plans for this season we had several permutations but it was vital to have two main issues – winning and entertainment."We’ve achieved both those so far this season and we will move forward from here and continue to press for home wins and as many points as we can away."SOMERSET are keen to continue their impressive form when they host Rye House on Friday.The Rebels have won their last nine competitive fixtures and are living up to their expectations after being labelled as one of the pre-season favourites for the 2016 campaign.Team manager Garry May said: "We’ll be looking to maintain our unbeaten league record and bag another three league points in order to keep the pressure on other at the top of the Premier League table.”WORKINGTON boss Tony Jackson insists revenge is the aim when they host Somerset on Saturday.The Comets suffered their first home defeat in almost two years when they faced the Rebels in the Knockout Cup earlier this season.Said Jackson: "We had a few mechanical issues that night, which cost us vital points and a possible victory - hopefully that won’t happen again and we can get a result on Saturday, along with the league points that come with it."We will certainly be looking to make up for that two-point home cup defeat!"

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…

BELLE VUE Colts will face two big meetings with Stoke when they return to action following a quiet spell.Having seen their last home meeting with King's Lynn postponed, Graham Goodwin's side will have had almost a month out of action when they host the Potters on Friday (7.30).They will then head to Loomer Road for the return fixture 24 hours later as they look for two positive results.BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury is anticipating an exhilarating clash when they host Kent in the first leg of the National Trophy Final at Perry Barr on Wednesday (7.30)."Our draw at home to Kent earlier in the year was one of the meetings of the season and this could be even better!" Said Drury."Two strong teams, who are both on top-form, full of riders who will give it their all for the cause."Nothing will be won or lost in the first leg regardless of what the final score is. In an ideal world, we could take a healthy lead to Central Park - that would enable us to ride more sensibly and would be a big confidence boost for the lads. "It's going to be a fabulous fixture and I hope we have a bumper crowd to give the boys as much encouragement as possible."BUXTON manager Jason Pipe is assessing his options for changes after a troubled recent run for the Hitmen.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.”COVENTRY Storm suffered a 56-34 defeat against in-form Kent in the second leg of their Knockout Cup tie at Central Park on Monday.Team manager Laurence Rogers said: "We were only eight points down at halfway before they banged in a couple of 5-1s and 4-2s, but it was a much better performance than last time“I feel if we didn’t have bad luck we wouldn’t have any luck, and now we left waiting on Conor (Dwyer) who has gone for x-rays. He’d had a good win in Heat 8 and I don’t really know what Luke Clifton did.“Obviously we have to hope Conor will be fit for Sunday, but he may not be, in which case it would be rider replacement again.”CRADLEY new boy Richard Andrews is likely to make his debut when they host former club Eastbourne at Monmore Green on Monday (7.30).Heathens co-promoter Gary Patchett said: “We knew Richard was edging closer and closer to a return to racing and once he was given the green light by doctors, we acted quickly."He’s keen to get going again, he’s got a number of practice sessions at various tracks booked in and in an ideal world he’ll be ready to line-up in our next home meeting at Monmore on Monday, June 27 which is ironically against his old club Eastbourne!“He’s been around the National League a fair amount of time now and he’s proved he can be a very consistent, reliable performer at this level.“That’s what we’ve been missing in the middle order of our team right and he will give us that bit of needed stability to bridge the gap between our heat-leaders and reserves.”EASTBOURNE boss Connor Dugard was relieved to see his side edge a 48-42 triumph in an entertaining clash with Rye House at Arlington on Saturday.Dugard said: "That was really tough. The gap we have had in the fixtures played a part."Jake (Knight) 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.ISLE OF WIGHT snatched a dramatic 45-44 win from a thrilling encounter with Mildenhall at Smallbrook last week.Having earned three hard-fought National League points, the Warriors will return to action when they host high-flying Kent on Thursday (7.30).KENT booked their place in the next round of the Knockout Cup with a comfortable 56-34 second leg win over Coventry at Central Park on Monday.After extending their remarkable unbeaten run to 15 meetings, they will now gear up for their toughest test when they travel to Birmingham for the first leg of the National Trophy Final on Wednesday (7.30).They will then be back in home action when they host the second leg against the Brummies next Monday (6.30), where riders will be boosted by a cash incentive offered by sponsors CTA Fire Detection to anyone who breaks the Central Park track record!KING’S LYNN Young Stars have been left frustrated by two successive rain-offs.Their trips to Belle Vue and Birmingham both fell foul of the wet weather, meaning they must now wait until they travel to Eastbourne on Sunday (3.30) to get back on track.MILDENHALL offered an apology to supporters after their clash with Cradley at West Row was postponed on Sunday.A club statement read: "Mildenhall Speedway would like to apologise to Officials, riders and supporters of both clubs for this afternoons meeting being called off."Following a recent build up of personal and club issues over recent weeks, club promoter Kevin Jolly made a ‘heat of the moment’ decision that he regretted straight away."He will now be taking a brief rest from the sport but hopes to return for the meeting on Sunday July 17 when the Isle of Wight are due to visit West Row."RYE HOUSE boss Peter Schroeck was full of praise for his Raiders side after they claimed a National League point from their narrow 48-42 defeat at Eastbourne on Saturday."All I can say is that to come down here and lose by just six points is a wonderful achievement," said Schroeck.“Our big hitters did everything we expected them to do, and but for a few hiccups 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. "Every one of them put everything into it, and you can’t ask for more than that."STOKE earned their fourth successive win with a 51-39 triumph over Buxton at Loomer Road on Saturday.Team manager Malcolm Vasey said: said “It wasn’t a very satisfactory start for us tonight, but we got the bit between our teeth and came back very strongly and in the end we were comfortable winners 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. "We now look forward to our trip to the National Speedway Stadium to face Belle Vue Colts at their magnificent stadium, on a track we’ve already been to and won at with a great performance."

FIXTURE PICTURE…

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

FRIDAY JUNE 24:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Ipswich 7.15, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Stoke 7.30

SATURDAY JUNE 25:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Somerset 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Belle Vue 7pm

SUNDAY JUNE 26:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 5pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Scunthorpe (follows PL fixture)TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Rye House 3pm, Coventry v Birmingham 4pm, Eastbourne v King’s Lynn 3.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Rye House 2pm

MONDAY JUNE 27:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Workington 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Eastbourne 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY FINAL 2nd leg: Kent v Birmingham 6.30

TUESDAY JUNE 28:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Somerset v Peterborough 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v King’s Lynn 7pm

WEDNESDAY JUNE 29:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Mildenhall 7.30

THURSDAY JUNE 30:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Rye House 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Plymouth v Somerset 7.15CHALLENGE: Sheffield Select v Cradley 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 1:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 7.30, Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30, Stoke v King’s Lynn 7pm

SUNDAY JULY 3:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 3pm, Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30, Scunthorpe v Ipswich 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Peterborough v Somerset 5pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Rye House v Cradley 6pm

MONDAY JULY 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Leicester 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Buxton 6.30