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SOMERSET star Josh Grajczonek is desperate to get his hands back onto the Premier League Pairs trophy at the Oaktree Arena on Friday.Grajczonek won the silverware with Jason Doyle for the Rebels in 2013 but subsequently finished runner-up last year, and ironically will be now partnered by Rohan Tungate – who was part of the victorious Ipswich combination in 2015!Grajczonek said: “We got second last year and we were disappointed with that. Brady (Kurtz) crashed in the Final which was pretty frustrating, because no matter what I did in the re-run it didn’t make any difference.“After that I want to come back and win it this year, so I’m really excited to try and make up for what happened last year.“I won it a few years ago with Doyley and that was an awesome feeling. It was a big highlight for me, so I really want to try and have that feeling again this year.
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BELLE Vue are targeting a repeat of one of their best results of the season when they host Wolverhampton at the National Speedway Stadium on Wednesday.The Aces notched a 56-37 victory when the sides met last month, and will go back into second place in the Elite League table with another win.The home team are at full strength whilst the visitors bring in British sensation Robert Lambert as a guest with Joonas Kylmakorpi out injured.Belle Vue skipper Scott Nicholls said: “It wasn’t so long ago that the Wolves were last here so I’ve no doubt they’ll still be quite fresh to the track, but I daresay conditions will be different because it is still changing daily.“It’ll take time for the circuit to be more consistent but having said that we’ve been bagging the points at home and having won over them here last time we want to repeat that on Wednesday.”Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “It’ll be different this time because we’ll have a full team which we didn’t have a few weeks ago, and we’ve been there once so we know a bit more about the track.“If we take the right size sprockets with us this time we should be OK, and it would be great if we could come away with something.”
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KING'S Lynn Young Stars boss Dale Allitt has called on his side to pick up where they left off when they return to home action against Kent on Wednesday.The home side stormed to a superb 51-39 win over Cradley in their last Travel Plus National League outing at the Adrian Flux Arena back on June 8, and now face a Kings team who are still unbeaten in the league.The visitors have brought in Robert Branford to replace the injured Luke Bowen whilst the rider-replacement facility is in operation for David Mason, and Luke Clifton is also ruled out.Allitt said: “It almost feels like starting again as it’s a month since we’ve last raced at home, which was the excellent win over Cradley.“We are in for a difficult meeting against a Kent team who are going extraordinarily well, and they certainly won’t be weakened by bringing in Rob Branford. They have riders who go well around our place, but we need to get back up the league table and the boys will be ready for it.”Meanwhile Birmingham and Belle Vue switch their attentions to the Knockout Cup with their first leg tie taking place at Perry Barr.The Brummies saw their 16-match unbeaten run ended in a narrow defeat at Eastbourne on Saturday but are now targeting a lead to take to Manchester next month.Boss Graham Drury said: “I know everyone was a bit gutted about losing at Eastbourne in the manner that we did but there won’t be many teams who go there and come away with a league point.“There were still plenty of encouraging signs from our riders and we now put those back into practice against Belle Vue.“They’ve got some good riders on paper and it should prove to be a highly entertaining meeting as was our league fixture at Perry Barr in May.”
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FORMER British Under-19 Champion Oliver Greenwood is to take time out of the sport.Greenwood has vacated his team positions with Ipswich in the Premier League and Buxton in the National League.The Witches plan to announce his replacement in due course and are still to confirm their No.7 for Thursday’s home clash with Rye House, whilst the Hitmen have also faced the task of replacing fellow heat-leader Jade Mudgway.Greenwood said: “Possibly due to previous injuries and after banging my head at Buxton I didn't feel the same on the bike and it's taken the fun out of what I used to love doing - riding my bike. “When I question myself about how much time, money and effort I’m putting into racing in addition to working full-time and riding in two leagues I came up blank. “On Monday at Kent even when I was winning races I wasn't enjoying it and it's something that’s been slowly building up this season due to a combination of reasons.”
(FIXTURES)
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
THURSDAY JULY 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 8:PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset 7pm
