(SPEEDWAY 1)
ELITE League leaders Belle Vue are expecting a stern test from third-placed Lakeside at the National Speedway Stadium on Wednesday.The Aces went into the World Cup break with back-to-back away wins to take over at the top, with the Hammers themselves needing wins on the road to consolidate their position.The home side bring in British Champion Danny King to guest for Max Fricke, who is out with shoulder damage after a crash when representing Australia in the Race-Off last Friday.Boss Mark Lemon said: “At this point we don’t have a definitive answer as to when Max will be back after his crash at the weekend, but in the meantime we’ll be bringing in Danny to deputise at No.3.“He’s a good guy who seems to have taken a real liking to this track, and I feel he was the ideal replacement. When I looked at the averages I couldn’t see anyone else who would fit the gig.“I expect Lakeside to do nothing but push us. They’ll be wanting to bolster their Elite League ranking with points in the same respect we do, and we all know they’ve travelled well this year.”Hammers coach Kelvin Tatum said: “We need to try our very best because points on the road will be key. We’ve been saying that all season long, but it hasn’t changed. “Every meeting away from home is an opportunity, and we’ll be going to Belle Vue looking to take the opportunity.”Meanwhile Poole stage the first of two matches in two days with second-placed Wolverhampton at Wimborne Road, with Pirates legend Darcy Ward also in attendance.After the meeting, Ward and partner Lizzie will hold a Q&A session with supporters in the main grandstand.Pirates promoter Matt Ford said: “It is going to be a tough meeting on Wednesday as the Wolves are performing very well this season. “We were the first club to beat them when they visited us back in May and we must go out and do the same this time around. They made life difficult last time and I see no reason why they won't be pushing us throughout again.”Wolves skipper Fredrik Lindgren said: “When you go to Poole you know you are always going to be in for a tough meeting, so we’ll have to be on the top of our game. “Obviously we are getting closer to the play-offs, and we want to make sure we get there and are in good form as well. “It’s going to be an important away meeting for us to try and get some more points, and then we have to focus on keeping our good home run going against Belle Vue on Monday.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury wants to see a packed out Perry Barr as their Kids Go Free promotion gets underway with a mouth-watering clash against King’s Lynn on Wednesday.The reigning National League Champions will be admitting all under-16’s free of charge for their four home meetings in August as they aim to get the next generation of supporters onto the terraces, with supporters invited to walk the track with the home team at 6.30pm.Drury said: “This is a great opportunity for the youngsters to step onto the track and feel what a speedway surface is really like. All of our riders will be walking round with them and they’ll be explaining the different conditions.“We’ve got a good bunch of lads and they’ll be happy to answer any questions supporters have on the walk and will be more than happy to pose for a few photographs on the track itself as well.“This should be another terrific advert for National League racing and hopefully we’ll have plenty of support on the terraces to spur the boys on.”King’s Lynn boss Dale Allitt said: “We all know the trip to Birmingham is going to be tough but we'll go there with an open mind and I know the lads will give it nothing less than 100 per cent.“As are Birmingham, we are strong all the way through and we'd love to go there and give them a run for their money.“In an ideal world, we'll be able to make some good starts and that will help us in our quest for at least one league point.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
PLYMOUTH have announced the signing of Steve Boxall with Brady Kurtz’s time with the Devils coming to an end.Kurtz, a successful mid-season signing, has left the club in order to concentrate on his international, continental and Elite League commitments.Boxall is set to make his debut in Friday’s home clash with Berwick, subject to BSPA approval, with Jack Holder taking over in the No.1 race-jacket.
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Leicester 7.30, Swindon v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Cradley 7pm
FRIDAY AUGUST 5:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Leicester 7.30, Lakeside v Belle Vue 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Rye House 7.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7.15, Somerset v Peterborough 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30
