(SPEEDWAY 1)

KING’S Lynn promoter Keith Chapman expects an open contest for the National League Pairs title.Ten of the third-tier clubs are competing at the Adrian Flux Arena on Saturday with a 24-race programme planned involving most of the league’s top riders.Chapman said: “The field shows just how strong and competitive the league has been this year as a whole and there’s just as many good riders who aren’t involved who will go on to have successful careers in the sport.“As I often bring up, Robert Lambert was a product of our National League side just a few years ago – now he’s mixing it up on the continent and is fast becoming a regular in the Great Britain World Cup squad as well.“These Pairs meetings are always eventful and I’m sure everyone is in for a proper treat. I wouldn’t like to have to predict a winner because it really is a wide open line-up.”(SPEEDWAY 2)

COVENTRY raced to another convincing home win to put a dent in Lakeside’s Elite League play-off aspirations at Brandon.The Bees triumphed 57-33 with British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates keeping up his fine run of form with 14+2 from six rides, whilst Jason Garrity scored 13.Edward Kennett scored 9+1 for the Hammers who now face a crunch trip to King’s Lynn next Thursday as they look to salvage a top-four finish.Bates said: “I wasn’t making good starts tonight, but the engine I’ve got from Brian Karger is working really well around here at the moment.“I’m happy to get double figures again especially as it’s my last meeting at home, but I really want to be back here next year – we’ll have to see what Mick Horton says!”Stand-in Hammers boss Paul Hurry said: “We obviously didn’t have a full strength team so we were up against it to start with. “Coventry are full of confidence at home, they are on the crest of a wave and they got the job done.“It puts a bit more pressure on the King’s Lynn meetings next week, and we’ll be hoping the boys pull their fingers out.”In the Premier League, Newcastle charged up into third place with an emphatic 54-38 win at Peterborough – who are left in a nervous sixth position.Craig Cook scored 17 for the Panthers but was left alone in the scorechart as the Diamonds dominated elsewhere with multiple race wins for double-figure scorers Ludvig Lindgren (12+2), Matej Kus (10+1) and Steve Worrall (10).Newcastle boss George English said: “Had anyone said we would have taken this match in this manner before the start, I don't think many of us would have believed it.“It was an excellent show from the lads who raced to the match of their season, and took the most deserved points they've won so far this season. This really boosts our play-off chances beyond any doubt.”Somerset signed off their regular home campaign with a 57-35 win over Plymouth to close in on a place in the play-off semi-finals.In-form Rohan Tungate raced to a 15-point maximum for the Rebels with Bradley Wilson-Dean (11+1) and Josh Grajczonek (10+2) also impressing, whilst Jack Holder top-scored for the Devils on 11.Somerset boss Garry May said: “The boys did another great job tonight and if it hadn't been for machine problems for Starkey (Paul Starke) and Jake (Allen) then we could well have hit the 60 plus mark. “It was important for us to ensure we took the full three points from this one as although the play-offs determine the champions we want to finish the league in top spot and go straight through to the semi-finals. “The first and second placed clubs do that, but we want to be doing so as the club that finishes first.”Glasgow are through to the Premier League KO Cup semi-finals despite a 41-48 defeat at Edinburgh.The Tigers still progressed by a comfortable 17-point aggregate margin thanks to their hefty first leg victory which they were able to defend at Armadale.Sam Masters led the Monarchs’ scoring on 13+1 with Richie Worrall picking up 13 for the Tigers.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “I was disappointed with our performance, too many riders throwing in bad rides and not performing as they should be capable of. We were well beaten overall.”In the Travel Plus National League, Kent recorded a 50-40 win at Belle Vue on a night where tempers flared on-track and in the pits.James Shanes piled up 16 points for the Kings after an early incident with Colts guest Nathan Greaves, who subsequently clashed with opposing No.1 Rob Branford and then team-mate Lee Payne.Belle Vue captain Matt Willamson said: “It’s not what we want, especially amongst ourselves. But there’s so much testosterone flying around and when tempers run high, you can sometimes get passionate about what you say.“I've done it myself and I’m not proud of it but in the heat of the moment you can’t help your actions. Once the boys have calmed down things will get back to normal. It’s one of those things.”The National League match between Coventry and Mildenhall was marred by a serious Heat 6 crash which resulted in Fen Tigers reserve Sam Bebee being taken to hospital.Bebee flew over the fence on the back straight and suffered suspected leg and arm fractures.With only ten races possible due to the lengthy delay, Mildenhall collected a 32-28 win with Dan Halsey scoring a 12-point maximum.Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “It was a very nasty crash with the way Sam went flying through the air, and we send our best wishes to him. “At one stage it looked like we might have to end the meeting, but we did get to Heat 10 and it did like we could pull something back if we’d been able to continue.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SOMERSET can guarantee their place in the Premier League play-off semi-finals with maximum returns from their trip to Plymouth on Saturday.The Rebels defeated the Devils 57-35 at the Oaktree Arena on Friday and now face a rapid return against their local rivals.Four points from the meeting will guarantee a top-two finish for the current league leaders, thus avoiding the need to race in the quarter-finals.Meanwhile Berwick and Workington contest the second leg of the Border Trophy in an event held over from early-season due to the weather.The home side bring in Ryan Douglas to guest for Theo Pijper, who has a long track commitment, whilst Mitchell Davey guests at reserve for the visitors with Matt Williamson on NL Pairs duty.The Comets won 37-22 at Derwent Park, and Bandits boss Scott Courtney is looking for a repeat of their heavy home win in the Premier League to turn around the deficit.Courtney said: “We need to claw back those 15 points, but if our performance on Sky Sports against the Comets is anything to go by we are capable of achieving that, and getting our hands on the Trophy!”Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “Workington and Berwick have contested the Border Trophy on and off since the early 1970’s, but since it was revived in 2014 we have won it on both occasions.“However, with the first leg having been abandoned due to rain after only 10 heats we only have a 15-point lead, which we obviously feel would have been greater had the match gone the distance.“With that in mind we will certainly have to improve on our recent away form, including our televised heavy defeat at Berwick in late June, if we are to keep the trophy in our possession for another year!”

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KING’S Lynn are set to make a team change for the closing weeks of the Elite League campaign – with club asset Nicklas Porsing returning to the side.Porsing, who rode for the Stars in 2013-15, is to come in for captain Rory Schlein, who will be released and made available to other clubs.Co-promoter Dale Allitt said: “It’s never nice to have to make this sort of decision, especially when we all know what Rory has been through over the last couple of years and how hard he’s worked to get back, but there’s no doubt it has been difficult for him.“We hope he gets fixed up elsewhere, and we would like to place on record our thanks to him for still making himself available to ride at Wolves despite being informed of the change.“Nicklas missed out on a team place over the winter but he’s still our asset and a rider with a great deal of potential. He’s available for our remaining fixtures and obviously it gives him the chance to stake a claim for next year as well.”

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PETERBOROUGH have brought Danish Grand Prix wildcard Anders Thomsen back for a second spell with the club as part of a double team switch.Thomsen will be joined by red-hot National League rider Danny Halsey in the Panthers fold, with Emil Grondal and Tom Perry the men to make way.Promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We simply could not allow the dreadful run of results at home to go on any longer and we’ve had to act with our place in the play-offs now under serious threat.“Anders is a proven rider at much higher levels. Hopefully his return will give us a boost and I’ll be delighted if Danny can chip in with a few points at reserve.“Of course it is never nice to have to release riders, but Emil and Tom were both understanding of the situation were find ourselves in.“Emil has actually increased his average during the season after spending thousands of pounds on equipment while trying to find the right mechanical set-up. As we all know, Tom is a huge victim of his own success and it is with a very heavy heart that we have had to let him go.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

REDCAR stage the eighth and final round of the British Youth Championship at the Media Prime Arena on Saturday (2pm).Kyle Bickley and Leon Flint were crowned champions in the 500cc and 250cc classes respectively last weekend, and will be amongst 37 riders competing in a total of 41 races.In the 150cc support class, Nathan Ablitt will attempt to create history as he has won all 35 of his races so far and will look to remain unbeaten throughout the entire series.GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “This has been an incredible series, and we have been so lucky this year to run such a fantastic series over eight rounds whereas in previous years the series was run over six.“We have been to some amazing venues this season, and many of the riders have visited tracks for the first time such as Belle Vue, Glasgow and Kings Lynn which has been really exciting for everyone including myself, I have loved every minute of it.“This is a great opportunity for the Redcar and North East speedway fans to come and see the first appearance of the two new British Champions, along with Dan Thompson who won the 125cc title just up the road at Berwick last month, so a rare opportunity to witness three current British Champions competing in one meeting.”(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY AUGUST 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Somerset 7.15NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn 7pmBORDER TROPHY 2nd leg: Berwick v Workington 7pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 8: Redcar 2pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30, Workington v Berwick 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Rye House 3.30

MONDAY AUGUST 29:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 12pm, Leicester v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 6.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon (follows previous fixture)PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Redcar 7pm, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 3pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Rye House v Berwick 3pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Eastbourne 3pm, Rye House v Buxton 5pmMIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe 4.30