(SPEEDWAY 1)
SOMERSET moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 52-41 win over Scunthorpe at the Oaktree Arena.The Rebels made it 14 successive league victories this season although the visitors did have their moments, notably an 8-1 in Heat 11 which cut the gap to three points.But the home side finished strongly with Rohan Tungate collecting 13 points and Josh Grajczonek 10+1, whilst Michael Palm Toft led the way for the Scorpions with 10+2.Somerset boss Garry May said: “With the start of the match being a bit disjointed with so many re-starts, I think it took a time for the boys to get into their stride.“But once they did, they controlled the match, and we were never really in any danger of Scunthorpe causing an upset.“Even when the Scorpions hit home that 8-1 I wasn’t particularly worried as I knew we had the greater strength in the remaining heats to see us home, and we hit back with those two maximum race wins in Heats 12 and 13 put everything to bed nice and early as far as the match and our three league points were concerned.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
FORMER Cradley rider Steve Worrall was crowned F.A.S.T Golden Hammer Champion for a second time after a dramatic victory at Monmore Green.The 2014 Heathens title winner finished level on points with Wolverhampton and Sheffield racer Kyle Howarth after their five programmed rides and then overtook his rival in a run-off. Josh Bates finished third, ahead of Ashley Morris on count-back.Said Worrall: “It's an honour to win the Golden Hammer for a second time in front of the Heathens fans.“It was a much tougher line-up this year and while I wish I could have gone through the card, it was still a good ride to beat Kyle in the run-off.“I won the Golden Hammer in 2014 and I had some great memories with the Heathens here that same year. It was great to race in front of the Cradley fans again; they were amazing as always and I'm glad we all put on a good show for them.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
POOLE will climb into second place in the Elite League table if they can overcome King’s Lynn at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.Bjarne Pedersen returns to a full-strength Pirates team after suffering a family bereavement last week, whilst the Stars have booked Chris Harris to guest for the unavailable Niels-Kristian Iversen.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “It is clear that with so few home fixtures remaining and a very tough away programme still to fulfil we need to claim all three home points and try and pick up something on Thursday. “It is a very tough league this year and Belle Vue certainly signalled their intent on Monday with that massive win at Wolves. We want that fourth straight title but to get it will certainly require us to continually raise our game.”King’s Lynn promoter Keith Chapman said: “While it’s still mathematically possible, we will give it everything we’ve got to try and sneak in to those top four places.“We’ve got a significant number of meetings in hand and our destiny is also in our own hands I guess!“We’d be happy to get any sort of result down at Poole but we will be keen to get a win at home on Thursday whether we win, lose or draw at Wimborne Road.”In the Travel Plus National League, leaders Birmingham host Coventry in the re-staging of a meeting cut short by rain last month.Both sides are without their No.1 riders due to injury with the Brummies bringing in Luke Chessell to guest for Zach Wajtknecht, whilst Ellis Perks guests for Dan Greenwood for the Storm.Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We always look forward to meetings against Coventry and they usually prove to be very entertaining evenings.“We want to keep the momentum going and we would naturally welcome another three National League points to add to our tally,”Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “We were doing well there the other week without Jamie Halder, and we’ll go there to hopefully surprise them. Jamie came back very well at Buxton.“It’s a shame about Dan but when I looked at the averages it was clear that Ellis fits nicely, and he’s ridden there before so hopefully he will produce the goods for us.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
REDCAR have announced the signing of Jye Etheridge with Simon Nielsen taking a break from British speedway.Etheridge started the season with Edinburgh but will now make his Bears debut against Workington on Thursday subject to BSPA approval.He said: “I'm stoked to be riding for Redcar, the track is amazing and the club is run pretty professional. “It was a tough start to the season, going to a track that never suited me but the Redcar track suits me a bit better so hopefully it's a good end to the season.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
KENT’S injury problems have worsened with David Mason and Jack Thomas both hurt in their win over King’s Lynn on Monday.Mason suffered concussion in a Heat 5 crash whilst Thomas raced on after being catapulted over the air-fence in the same incident, but has now been diagnosed with a broken tibia and possible broken elbow.Kent promoter Len Silver said: “The sheer guts and determination that Jack showed leads me even more to be so happy that he decided to throw in his lot with the Kings at the end of 2015.“I am convinced that Jack will turn out to be one of the best riders I have ever discovered in over 50 years of promoting and I pray he gets back to fitness very soon.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
BIRMINGHAM and Kent have clashed over the postponement for the first leg of their National League KO Cup semi-final at Central Park.The meeting was to take place on August 22 but the Kings have announced their home tie will now be moved to September as they are decimated by injuries with at least four riders out of contention.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “They may have a number of injuries right now and I generally sympathise with any side who is weakened by injury.“However, we at Birmingham Speedway received an e-mail from Kent on Monday, August 8 which stated they ‘have just learned that David Mason is unavailable on Monday, August 22 as he has booked a holiday for his young family… we could not consider undertaking an important KO Cup semi-final on the proposed date.’“For an agreement to be cancelled and a meeting postponed because a rider is on holiday is ludicrous and I have done my utmost to get this overruled.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 11:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Scunthorpe 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Somerset 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Buxton 7pm
FRIDAY AUGUST 12:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Peterborough 7.30, Plymouth v Glasgow 7.15, Somerset v Sheffield 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Rye House 7.30
