(SPEEDWAY 1)
EDINBURGH edged to a dramatic 45-44 win at Scunthorpe on Sunday with the meeting ending in heartbreak for the home side.The Scorpions led 44-40 going into Heat 15 but remarkably the Monarchs carded a 5-0 after both home riders, Lewis Kerr and Ryan Douglas, were disqualified in separate incidents.Michael Palm Toft continued his fine form at reserve for the home side with 12+2 and Kerr scored 11+2, whilst Erik Riss won three races for the visitors on his way to 12.Edinburgh boss John Campbell said: “It was a great performance and everyone in both teams deserves great credit.”Scunthorpe manager Dave Peet said: “I’m really gutted about losing the meeting the way that we did in Heat 15.“It was one of those meetings where you simply could not predict the result of a race. It was unpredictable throughout, and unfortunately for us, that included Heat 15. It was a shame after the lads put in so much effort earlier on.”It was also confirmed that Scunthorpe rode the meeting under protest in a dispute over the eligibility of the Monarchs’ guest No.7 Mitchell Davey.Peet said: “It was quite clear to us that his inclusion was illegal. We rode under protest regarding his eligibility, so we’ll wait and see how that goes.”Campbell said: “The BSPA issue National League green sheets which clearly indicate Mitchell was eligible. That’s what we all work from.”Meanwhile Glasgow went top of the table with a 54-36 win over Rye House at Ashfield.Rene Bach gave his best showing since joining the Tigers as he dropped just one point in four races, whilst Richard Lawson struck a five-ride paid maximum and Aaron Summers added 13 with Richie Worrall on 10+1. Guest Ricky Wells top-scored for the Rockets on 8, and they have a concern over Cameron Heeps who left with his arm in a sling after a Heat 12 crash.Bach said: “It went pretty well. I tried a different engine and it felt pretty good all day.“The team did well and we got a good win. There are no real easy meetings this year - and I think that we are still missing Nike Lunna, who we need to be back for us.”Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “It looked at first as though we could get something out of today, with a good early run from Rob (Branford) and Ben (Morley) at reserve and Robbo (Stuart Robson) riding his heart out, but Glasgow came into their own in the second half of the match with their sharper gating.“It has been a long weekend, but although we ultimately did only marginally better points-wise today than at Workington last night, we’ve scored a lot more at Ashfield than some of the other teams that have been here, and we’ll take that as a positive to build on going forward.”Newcastle are in control of their KO Cup tie against Sheffield after running up a 62-28 first leg win over the Tigers at Brough Park.Victor Palovaara raced to his first paid maximum with 13+2 from five rides, and Ludvig Lindgren was also unbeaten on 12+3, whilst Kyle Howarth scored eight on a tough night for the visitors.Newcastle boss George English said: “We wanted a decent win, but in all honesty we were hoping for nearer a 20-point lead let alone the 34-point lead these lads managed which was exceptional tonight. “The determination is high and we look forward to Thursday's second leg.”Sheffield co-promoter Peter Mole said: “It didn’t go to plan for us, and it’s difficult to say if we were poor or Newcastle were very good.“It was probably a combination of both in the end. We were below par and it was a very disappointing performance, but Newcastle rode very well and showed how strong they are at home.“There were a few surprising refereeing decisions, but it was a bad night at the office for us and not the result we wanted from the first leg.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue closed in on the top four in the Travel Plus National League with a convincing 53-37 win at Buxton on Sunday.The injury-hit Hitmen remained in contention until halfway before the Colts pulled clear, led by Dan Bewley on 13 points and former Buxton rider Matt Williamson on 10+1. Reserve Shelby Rutherford scored 12+1 for the home side.Belle Vue co-promoter George Carswell said: “Buxton is not the easiest track to ride and we thought with Tom Bacon guesting, who scored 12 against us at Birmingham, that things would be more difficult.“They aren’t having much luck with their riders at the moment and that’s something we had to capitalise on, which the boys did and their reward was to come away with all four league points.”Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “Right now no-one is hurting more than me. I love this club and I’m determined to put this right for all the people who have supported me. That’s the thing that’s driving me on. “We move on to next Sunday now, but I've now got to seriously look at putting out the strongest teams I possibly can and the best ways in which to do it for the sake of the club.”Meanwhile Mildenhall raced back into action with a dominant 62-28 win over the Isle of Wight at West Row.Connor Mountain (14), Connor Coles (12+2) and Jon Armstrong (10+1) were all in double figures for the Fen Tigers, whilst Warriors guest Zach Wajtknecht scored 12.Mildenhall promoter Kevin Jolly said: “It was great to be back on track at home today and the lads responded in style. If they can ride like this regularly we can surely beat anyone anywhere, from one to seven they were excellent. “The track produced some superb racing I felt, and although the victory was 34 points there was some close racing for the fans to enjoy with some excellent moves from our lads.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
WOLVERHAMPTON are expecting their toughest Monmore Green test of the season when they host third-placed Swindon in the Elite League on Monday.The leaders will once again be without Joonas Kylmakorpi (knee injury) and will operate rider replacement to cover his absence.They will otherwise be at full strength, whilst the Robins have drafted in former British Under 21 Champion Robert Branford to guest for the injured Stefan Nielsen.Wolves reserve Max Clegg said: “We’ve been riding great at home, and although Swindon are a good side I think we’ll be able to get the win.“We’ve had some tough away meetings recently, so it will be good to get back in front of our home fans in such a big meeting.”Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “We’ve got quite a few meetings this week, so we want to get off to a good start and put in a good performance. “We’ll be going there to get something, and a win is certainly possible. It’s going to be tough, they are top of the league for a reason and they have plenty of quality, especially at home.”Meanwhile National League leaders Birmingham head to Kent, but will be missing skipper Tom Perry due to work commitments.The Kings return to full strength as Luke Bowen and Luke Clifton are both back from recent injury lay-offs.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “Tom has got a very good daytime job and unfortunately, despite his best efforts, on this occasion he is unable to get the time off.“Obviously it's a bit of a blow and not ideal but we're still confident of going to Kent and getting something. We'll be using rider replacement and that allows any other member of our team apart from Zach (Wajtknecht) to take his rides.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
BUXTON have announced the signing of Lee Dicken to join the club from next weekend.Dicken, who last rode competitively in 2011, began his career with the Hitmen in 1994 and is set to plug one of the gaps left by the recent departures of Oliver Greenwood and Jade Mudgway, subject to BSPA approval.Dicken said: “‘I’m only making a comeback because its Buxton, it’s a great little club and if I can help then I’ve told Jason (Pipe) I will. “I’ve had a spin around and the bikes are ready, plus I have the back up of (son) Kean’s which are probably better than mine!”(FIXTURES)
MONDAY JULY 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Birmingham 6.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 20:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Coventry 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Stoke 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 21:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Sheffield v Newcastle 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Coventry 7pmJULIE LEWIS MEMORIAL: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 7.30, Lakeside v Swindon 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30, Plymouth v Redcar 7.15, Somerset v Workington 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Eastbourne 7.30