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SOMERSET promoter Debbie Hancock is relishing the latest staging of one of the most popular events of the season – the Premier League Pairs.Fans from all over the country are set to visit the Oaktree Arena on Friday in the traditional curtain-raiser to British Grand Prix weekend, with ten pairings in action.Hancock said: “We are honoured to, once again, be staging this prestigious event. It has always proved to be a great night of speedway action played out in front of a packed Oaktree Arena.“Naturally enough, I am somewhat biased in hoping that Josh (Grajczonek) and Rohan (Tungate) go all the way and we’ll see the Pairs trophy residing in the Oaktree come the end of the meeting, but that aside, I hope that everyone attending Friday’s meeting has a great night and may the best team win!”Rye House have been forced into a late change with Edward Kennett ruled out due to injury and illness, and his place is taken by Cameron Heeps.The pre-meeting rider presentation and parade will take place at 6.45pm with Heat 1 starting at 7pm sharp.
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SWINDON closed the gap on Wolverhampton at the top of the Elite League to just two points with a 50-41 home win over the leaders.The Robins picked up their second impressive victory at the Abbey this week as they extended their winning streak to four straight matches.Stefan Nielsen crashed out in Heat 2 with a thumb injury but reserve colleague Charles Wright scored 10+1 to back up skipper Jason Doyle on 14.Fredrik Lindgren scored 10 for the visitors, who were frustrated by a re-run of Heat 15 when Doyle had come to grief on the first bend as they were going for a league point.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It was a good all-round team effort, especially covering for Stefan from Heat 2.“I don't think Wolves are quite on top of their game like they were at the start of the year; don't get me wrong, they're still an exceptional team but I always felt we could win this one tonight.“We've got time now to take stock, get engines and equipment sorted and then try and establish our strong position in a busy period for the team.”Lindgren said: “For me it was a controversial decision because me and Sam (Masters) gated and Jason was nowhere to be seen. Neither of us were close to him so he must have come down on his own.“But it happens so many times in speedway; he was allowed back in and he won the re-run. We won't think about tonight too much because we're pretty satisfied with how this busy week has gone.”
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DANNY King raced to a 15-point maximum for Ipswich in their 48-45 home win over Rye House in the Premier League.King, who appears in Saturday’s British Grand Prix as a Wild Card, reeled off five straight wins as the Witches held off the Rockets’ challenge with the visitors doing enough for a point.Stuart Robson led the way for Rye House with 10 as they remained close despite No.1 Edward Kennett suffering from illness which limited him to 7+1 – including six in one race as a tactical ride!Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “We made it real close again and we dropped away a bit. Obviously the double points worked well for them but we made it hard for ourselves. However, we got the win and we'd prefer to win by a bigger margin but it is what it is.“I think this year we are not dominant at home for a number of factors. We've got a lot of new riders and we've not had regular fixtures at home, so they haven't had chance to get that home track advantage."Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “Edward struggled manfully with an ear infection all night, and a fall in Heat 13 didn’t help his shoulder, but he came good when we really needed him with six points on a tactical ride. That really helped to swing the match around. “I feel in my heart that if he had been fully fit we would definitely have won here tonight, but to come from ten points down to at least take a match point was a deserved reward for a great team effort.”Meanwhile the basement battle at Redcar went the home side’s way as the Bears got the better of Scunthope 48-41.The Scorpions were fell just short of a league point although their top two of Ryan Douglas (12+2) and Josh Auty (10+1) were both in-form, whilst Jonas B Andersen scored 10+1 for the home side.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I’m gutted that we were one point away from taking the league point we deserved but the massive positive now is we seem to have found a natural number one in Ryan Douglas and Josh Auty has returned to enjoying his speedway and winning races. “When you build a team like us, Heats 13 and 15 can sometimes be a problem so to take 5-1s from the last four of these racings is fantastic. We really just need the middle order to produce a little more.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
KING’S Lynn skipper Rory Schlein is looking to help bolster their push for a play-off place as he prepares for his long-awaited comeback. The popular Australian suffered a serious shoulder injury in a horrific crash against Coventry back in April and admits his season could well have been over – but will now return for the Stars as they face the Bees at Brandon on Monday.Schlein said: “I think I was at a point where I could have possibly sat out the season and come back next year, but I went and got some private treatment done and surprisingly I got some better results than I was expecting.“I’ve healed a lot quicker than I thought I would originally, and two weeks ago we decided to have a crack at having a skid.“Hopefully I can come in and perform well and all the lads can pick themselves up a little bit. It’s going to need a big effort from everybody to make the top four, but it’s all still to play for and I’m looking forward to being involved over the rest of the season.”
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PETERBOROUGH star Simon Lambert is determined to stay positive despite seeing a stunning run of form interrupted by serious injury for the second successive season.Lambert, who was also impressing at Elite League level for King’s Lynn, faces at least six weeks out after suffering a broken left hand in a crash during the club's Premier League KO Cup exit at the hands of holders Somerset.He said: “Last season I was told I would be out for eight weeks and managed to get back in five, but it looks like I won't be able to rush back from a broken hand.“It is one of those injuries where I just have to sit and wait which is really frustrating and boring. I took a big bang to the head as well and I've got to have another MRI scan before I come back.“I'm certain we will be in the play-offs and I'm determined to be back for them.”(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY JULY 8:PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset 7pm
SATURDAY JULY 9:BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 5pm
SUNDAY JULY 10:PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Glasgow 4pm
