(SPEEDWAY 1)

GREAT Britain youngster Robert Lambert is through to the Grand Prix Challenge after negotiating Saturday’s semi-final in Italy.Lambert scored six points from three rides before heavy rain forced the curtailment of the event after Heat 12 – meaning the King’s Lynn and Newcastle rider is now just five rides away from the 2017 GP series.The abandonment did, however, spell frustration for Craig Cook who was just one point adrift of the qualifying mark after his three rides.Other British League regulars to go through were Belle Vue’s Max Fricke, Nico Covatti of Ipswich and Poole and Plymouth racer Brady Kurtz.

(SPEEDWAY 2)

LEICESTER made it back-to-back home wins by defeating Elite League leaders Wolverhampton 47-43 at Beaumont Park on Saturday.The Lions secured two mid-meeting 5-1s to overturn a four-point deficit but were taken into a last-heat decider when they conceded maximum points in Heat 14.But Wolves’ hopes of snatching a draw ended when Jacob Thorssell fell, although the impressive Sam Masters (15) defeated Patrick Hougaard (11) and Szymon Wozniak in the re-run to secure a league point for the visitors.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “We are starting to put some consistent home form together with two wins in five days which makes all the difference to our self-esteem and I believe that we can continue to give a good account of ourselves in our remaining home fixtures. “The team pulled together against Wolverhampton who are currently one of the in-form clubs so we are delighted with the result tonight.”Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “This was our first of four big meetings in an important spell for the team and a point certainly gives us something to build on.“It adds what could be another crucial point to our total and we've extended our lead at the top.“Just because Leicester are bottom of the league, it doesn't make it any easier; they always seem to run the opposition close here and so that proved again tonight.”Berwick are up to second position in the Premier League thanks to a 40-32 home win over Plymouth in a meeting curtailed after Heat 12 due to the curfew.The Bandits’ track covering system ensured the meeting could take place after rain during the day but they lost guest reserve Simon Nielsen in a Heat 1 crash with a series of other incidents causing delays.Theo Pijper top-scored for the Bandits with 12, whilst the Devils were well-served by their guests including Ben Barker on 10.Berwick boss Scott Courtney said: “I have to firstly thank all the track staff who helped up put the covers down this morning, a move that definitely saved tonight’s meeting which would have been postponed had we not taken that action.“It was a match that had a bit of everything, and sadly the delays proved too costly as the clock ran out with three races not run, but it was another vital three league points for us.”In the Travel Plus National League, Birmingham’s unbeaten run is finally over after they were beaten 46-43 in a dramatic contest at Eastbourne.The Eagles saw 15-year-old debutant Tom Brennan crash out in his first ride, suffering a suspected broken collarbone, but rallied to pull back from six points down.The home side carded vital 5-1s from maximum man Adam Ellis and skipper Jake Knight in Heats 13 and 15 whilst the Brummies were left to rue a Heat 14 fall whilst leading for Jack Smith.Knight said: “To go down to a five-man team and be losing for most of the meeting but to pull it back and win is probably one of the best things we have done so far this year.“It was a good end of the meeting for me but I was a bit annoyed with myself when I fell off in my first ride. I said to myself ‘right you have to go through the rest of the card unbeaten” and luckily we managed to get the results where we needed to.”Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We knew Heat 14 was always going to be a critical one, and when Darryl Ritchings and Jack Smith were on a 5-1 it looked like we were going to win it.“Unfortunately Jack fell on the very last bend of the last lap, and that proved costly in the end. That’s the nature of the National League though, it’s all about young riders gaining experience and I’m sure Jack will learn from it.“We can’t have any complaints, it was a tremendous match and to take Eastbourne to the last heat at Arlington was a great effort from everybody.”(SPEEDWAY 3)NEWCASTLE are set to return to home track action after a five-week break when they host Plymouth in the Premier League on Sunday.The Diamonds have suffered from a spate of postponements and co-promoter Alan Hedley admits it has been a tough time for the club.He said: “Our club has been placed under a great strain logistically but more importantly financially. But we are ready to resume our challenge in the Premier League with riders who are so keen to ride and a management team who have battled the problems of the last horrendous month.“It will be like starting again on Sunday but it won’t take long for our team to get back in the groove and they all know the importance of getting back on track with three league points against a talented Devils side.”Meanwhile two of the current bottom three meet at the Eddie Wright Raceway with Scunthorpe taking on Ipswich in a clash which hit the headlines last season.Ryan Douglas moves up to the No.1 position for the Scorpions with Michael Palm Toft dropping to reserve, whilst new signing Joe Jacobs makes his debut for the Witches, who are looking for a second successive away win.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It promises to be a meeting with some fabulous racing; there’s out-and-out racers on both sides. You’re almost guaranteed a humdinger of a race, when Josh Auty and Ben Barker are racing against each other.“And, of course, we all remember last summer’s home match against Ipswich, which was ‘lively’ to say the least, so let’s hope for a repeat of that in the entertainment stakes, with the right result this time.”Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “Plymouth can't be a one-off, the lads have put in good performances in the past and then not followed it up so we can't afford any more slip ups.“If we ride like we did last week, we have to look to get the win. We have to make sure we carry that form on, there are no easy meetings. It doesn't matter that they are bottom of the league, we have to make sure we are as fired up as last time.”Meanwhile Peterborough and Somerset complete their KO Cup quarter-final at the Showground with the Rebels taking a comfortable 62-28 scoreline into the meeting.Panthers promoter Ged Rathbone is urging his team to pull off a miracle, but also to improve their recent home record against their opponents.He said: “The first leg has been and gone and we have left ourselves with a massive mountain to climb, but miracles do happen in sport and we'll be doing our utmost to produce one.“We are out to prove that it was a freak result in freak conditions down at Somerset. Our form had been very pleasing in our previous run of six victories in a row and we need to get back into the groove.“Somerset have had far too much success at the Showground for my liking in the last couple of years, and we need to change that.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

RYE House and Cradley are anticipating an exciting Travel Plus National League fixture at Hoddesdon on Sunday.The Raiders are second from bottom but picked up a point at Eastbourne in their last outing, whilst the Heathens are yet to score a point on their travels – but both sides have strong top-orders.Matt Saul makes his debut for the Raiders, who are without Macauley Leek due to bruising, whilst Bradley Andrews stands in for concussion victim Ben Basford for the Heathens.Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “It should be an intriguing meeting on two levels: the head-to-heads between the big guns and the battles of the less experienced riders.“Matt Saul will be determined to slot in straight away on his debut, and hopefully he will help give our heat leaders a bit more back-up alongside George Hunter.”Cradley No.1 Ashley Morris said: “Rye House have got some good, fast heat-leaders and there should be some good racing between their top three and me, Max (Clegg) and Luke (Chessell).“On paper our lower end looks stronger and hopefully that will be the case on Sunday so we can pick up our first away win of the year.”Meanwhile bottom-placed Buxton host Stoke in a local derby at the D&P Raceway.The injury-hit Hitmen bring in their former rider Liam Carr to guest for the unavailable Oliver Greenwood, whilst the Potters are at full strength.Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “These two meetings in two days are going to be very hard for us, especially when we have to go in to both meetings a heat-leader short and having to use r/r for the now retired Jade Mudgway.“Personally I can't wait to get these two meetings out of the way, as I'm looking further ahead to our meeting at home to Belle Vue on July 17, as this is the day when we can get rid of having to use rider replacement and we can bring in our new heat-leader and No.1 and hopefully become a stronger team.”Stoke manager Malcolm Vasey said: “I know we have beaten Buxton earlier in the season, but we will be giving them our full respect and not taking anything for granted. “They have had their problems since we last met, but it is a new meeting and a different challenge and we will be going to Buxton looking to win as we do going to any track.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

BERWICK are to host the British 125cc Final on Saturday July 16.The event will take place as part of the Bandits' ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ event at Shielfield Park and will feature eight of the country’s top young talents.The declared riders are: Joe Thompson , Dan Thompson, Harry McGurk, Jordan Palin, Mickie Simpson, Sam McGurk, Corbin Pavitt and Luke Harrison.GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “In recent years we have run the event with 12 riders, but this year we have two extra rounds of the British Youth Championship of which the 125cc is run as a support class, so there are plenty of meetings for riders to compete at.“It would be fair to say the eight riders who will compete for the British title are the top eight from the rounds that have been competed this year.“The Young Lions would like to thank the Berwick promotion for agreeing to host the Final, and the BSPA for their support.”

(FIXTURES)

SUNDAY JULY 3:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield OFF, 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

WEDNESDAY JULY 6:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Kent 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30