MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…SHEFFIELD skipper Simon Stead is determined to put in a strong challenge for another Premier League Riders’ Championship title.The Owlerton hero lines up in the showpiece event on Sunday September 11 (5.30pm) looking to repeat his 2014 triumph after serious injury prevented him from defending the crown last year.But Stead knows he faces a tough test in one of the strongest-ever line-ups for the competition, including three of Great Britain’s World Cup silver medallists.Ipswich skipper Danny King, Peterborough’s Craig Cook and Newcastle starlet Robert Lambert will all be highly fancied for glory, and Cook is another previous winner of the event.Stead said: “I’m definitely looking forward to the PLRC. It’s the pinnacle individual event at this level, so I’ll be going all out to try and perform well.“It was really frustrating not to be able to take part due to injury last year, especially after winning it the year before.“It’s the toughest line-up I think I’ve seen for a long time, and looking through the line-up you just can’t pick a winner.“With the talent that’s in there it’s clear it’s going to be a very difficult meeting, and I know I’m going to have to be at my very, very best to have a chance.“I’ll keep taking one meeting at a time for Sheffield and keep working on things so that hopefully I’m firing on all cylinders come September 11.“It's been an up and down season and I've been having a few issues, but I feel although I'm getting there, especially at home, in the last few weeks.“I know that on my day I'm capable of beating anyone at Owlerton, but it will be one of those where I need everything to come together pretty perfectly on the night if I'm going to come out on top.”Stead is one of two Sheffield riders in the meeting with the spectacular Jason Garrity also expected to be amongst the challengers.Newcastle and Glasgow also have two riders with Lambert to be joined by Steve Worrall for the Diamonds, whilst Aaron Summers and Richard Lawson both line up for Glasgow. All 13 Premier League clubs are represented.

DRAW: 1. Steve Worrall (Newcastle), 2. Craig Cook (Peterborough), 3. Jack Holder (Plymouth), 4. Edward Kennett (Rye House), 5. Sam Masters (Edinburgh), 6. Jason Garrity (Sheffield), 7. Danny King (Ipswich), 8. Aaron Summers (Glasgow), 9. David Bellego (Redcar), 10. Richard Lawson (Glasgow), 11. Robert Lambert (Newcastle), 12. Josh Auty (Scunthorpe), 13. Kevin Doolan (Berwick), 14. Simon Stead (Sheffield), 15. Josh Grajczonek (Somerset), 16. Ricky Wells (Workington).BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2016BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: JOSH BATESBRITISH FINAL: DANNY KINGPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: SOMERSETPREMIER LEAGUE FOURS WEEKEND: PLYMOUTHPREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, September 11ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, October 8

NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS 2016NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: RYE HOUSENATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn, Date TBCNATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester, September 17

BRITISH SPEEDWAY FIM EVENTS 2016:WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER: FREDRIK LINDGRENWORLD UNDER-21 QUALIFIER: DIMITRI BERGEWORLD UNDER-21 FINAL Round 1: KRYSTIAN PIESZCZEK

ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…

BELLE VUE boosted their hopes of finishing the regular Elite League campaign in top spot with a 49-41 win over rivals Poole on Bank Holiday Monday.Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “There was unspoken pressure floating around in the pits. The atmosphere was very heated, almost concerning to the point where you had to ensure to keep your finger on the pulse.“But that’s what the Elite League is all about. We want to be involved in these titanic clashes. We know what Poole are capable of. They’ve been British Speedway’s benchmark for many years.“They brought their A-Game on Monday but so did we, and coming off of such a poor night at the office against King’s Lynn last week really gave our guys that extra incentive to fight for the victory.”COVENTRY boss Gary Havelock is delighted with the progress of British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates, who has piled up double figures in his last two home matches.Havelock said: “Josh got a new engine not so long back, he’s really happy with it, and when you’re happy with your equipment it makes it a lot easier to go out and score points.“But the points he’s been scoring and the riders he’s been beating around Coventry have been nothing short of phenomenal lately.”KING’S LYNN will recall Nicklas Porsing to their Elite League line-up this week with skipper Rory Schlein released after a tough run of results this season.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.“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.”LAKESIDE are facing crunch time in their bid for a play-off place with Friday’s heavy defeat at Coventry placing mounting pressure on their home clashes against King’s Lynn this week.Hammers stand-in boss Paul Hurry said: “All the boys did the best they could, so full credit to them for their efforts. A couple of them had some problems and struggled a little bit, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.“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.”LEICESTER made it four successive home wins with their impressive 52-38 victory over reigning champions Poole at Beaumont Park on Monday.Boss Norrie Allan said: “A win against Poole was a long time in the making but all credit to the lads they showed real character against the Pirates who despite a few problems of their own kept coming back at us. “We have improved as a team lately at home having now won our last four matches and tonight was an example of how far we have moved forward.”POOLE have major concerns over the fitness of skipper Hans Andersen after a crash at Leicester on Monday.Promoter Matt Ford told the Bournemouth Echo: “I only know Hans has a broken finger on his left hand. We are waiting for a proper diagnosis because he also hit his head quite badly.“The loss of Hans, which we believe will probably be his season’s end, is a major loss. There’s never a good time for these things but of course when we can’t bring anyone in at this point, it does make life very difficult.”SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter says some members of his team need to step up as the business end of the season approaches.Rossiter said: “Monday night at Wolverhampton was a much better performance than the last time we were there, but it was still frustrating because we’re at that time of year when we need a couple of the boys to really step up to the mark.“There’s no point in working hard to get ourselves into the play-offs only to just get beaten in the semi-finals, which is what’s happened in the last three years and I’m getting sick of that!”WOLVERHAMPTON secured their place in the play-offs with a convincing Bank Holiday double, scoring 61 against King’s Lynn and then defeating Swindon by a 12-point margin at Monmore Green.Boss Peter Adams said: “Tai (Woffinden) has come in and lifted everything which is plain for all to see, and he’s definitely strengthened the team.“We did what we had to do against King’s Lynn, and Swindon are scrapping for their lives so that was a tough meeting.“We threw away a lot of points with falls and mechanical issues, so I think to still win as comfortably as we did sends a pretty powerful signal to opposing teams that we’ll be difficult to beat here.”

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…

BERWICK were edged out of the Knockout Cup as they after a 54-36 defeat at Rye House.The Bandits held a 16 point lead from the first leg, but narrowly missed out on the semi-finals of the competition losing 91-89 on aggregate.Team Manager Scott Courtney said: "We were always up against it if we didn't make better ground earlier in the match and while we had our good moments, sadly Rye just edged it at the very climax of the match."EDINBURGH picked up a consolation point at Newcastle on Sunday - a meeting cut short after being marred by crashes.The meeting was abandoned after ten races with the Monarchs trailing by six (33-27).Teenage sensation Dan Bewley suffered concussion while the Monarchs are sweating on the fitness of Aussie ace Sam Masters who is struggling to put any weight on his right foot.GLASGOW dumped Scottish rivals Edinburgh out of the Knockout Cup - despite losing the second leg 48-41 on Friday.The Tigers took a 24 point advantage to Armadale and the aggregate scoreline never looked in danger.A 13 point haul from Richie Worrall helped the Tigers move one step closer to the KO Cup final as they kept their silverware treble hopes alive.IPSWICH will face two crunch meetings in two days as they chase the play-offs when their season resumes on September 8 at home to Sheffield, with a trip to Redcar the following evening.NEWCASTLE moved up to third in the Premier League table after a 33-27 home win over Edinburgh - but their win came at a cost.Diamonds star Lewis Rose suffered shoulder and collarbone damage and faces a spell on the sidelines.Team boss George English said: "We took three league points but there was a cost to pay which we hope won't bite us back as the season rolls on."PETERBOROUGH have made their Premier League ambitions clear by making four changes to their line-up.Danish World Cup winner Kenneth Bjerre and 2006 league Champion Richard Hall rejoin the Panthers while Anders Thomsen also returns with Danny Halsey.Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen, Emil Grondal, Ashley Morris and Tom Perry are the riders to make way.Promoter Ged Rathbone said: "The challenge now is to all move forward together – supporters, management, riders and staff – to do everything we can to make 2016 a success.”PLYMOUTH manager Lee Trigger is hoping Steve Boxall's drop to reserve can have an impact when they head to Edinburgh on Friday for their final away meeting of the season.Said Trigger: "We have not yet seen Steve achieve what he can do; to be fair, he has had a lot of catching up to do as he has not been riding all season. "If he finds his true form, he can be a trump card for us at reserve.”REDCAR pulled off one of their most impressive results of the season as they secured a 45-45 draw at play-off chasing Peterborough on Monday.Bears No. 1 David Bellego continued his fine form as he finished the meeting with three straight wins to secure two league points for the visitors.RYE HOUSE won their first meeting in over two months - and qualified for the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup in the process.The Rockets defied all the odds to overturn a 16 point first leg deficit against Berwick as the Hoddesdon outfit triumphed for the first time in nine meetings.Team manager Peter Schroeck said: "It's absolutely marvellous what we've achieved, we're absolutely buzzing!"SCUNTHORPE ended Newcastle's run of six straight wins with an impressive 54-38 win over the Diamonds on Monday.Ryan Douglas top scored for the Scorpions and he is happy with the progress he has made individually.Said Douglas: "I’m starting to feel confident and I’m riding the dirt again. "At the start of the year, I was a bit tentative (after missing most of 2015 through injury) and I wasn’t really relaxing on the bike, but I’m now feeling like my old self again and feeling comfortable doing it."SHEFFIELD reserve Nathan Greaves is confident he can end his season on a high note with the Tigers.Greaves told the Sheffield Star: "I’ve had a few ups and downs, and I’ve had a few problems which I’m trying to sort with bikes and setups. “Hopefully we’ll find something that works and I can find a bit more consistency to end the season well.”SOMERSET secured their place in the Premier League play-off semi-finals after a fine 47-43 win at Plymouth on Saturday.Rebels boss Garry May said: "The team had to really work hard as the Devils made things as difficult as possible but I had faith in these lads and knew that points were there for the taking."Now we just have to take this form through to those play-offs and win that title!"WORKINGTON put their disappointing away form behind them to register another home victory with a 50-40 win over Berwick.Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: "It was good to get three more league points on the board after our well-documented troubles on the road. "Once again it was another solid home performance and although the Bandits came back at us to draw level after seven heats we were able to pull away in the second half of the meeting with a real team effort."TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…

BUXTON were left lamenting the return of their injury curse as they went down 56-34 at Rye House on Monday.Hitmen boss Jason Pipe said: “The injury-jinx continues! Aside from Ryan Blacklock’s injury (suspected broken collarbone), Ryan Burton has a lacerated buttock, David Wallinger is pretty shaken up.“He collided with the air fence in a freak accident after his race had finished, and Lee Dicken also has a tyre burn on his thigh after laying the bike down to avoid Shelby (Rutherford) in heat 13.“I’m proud of them as they kept on going and did what was asked of them. We will re-group for Sunday against Kings Lynn. “There will be changes as the new averages take effect and Shelby goes into the team proper. I will assess the injury list and see who is available.” COVENTRY Storm’s 32-28 win over Mildenhall was marred by a serious accident involving Fen Tigers youngster Sam Bebee.Storm 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.“So it’s disappointing, but none of us want to see riders hurt and we’ll hope for some good news from the hospital.”CRADLEY boss Will Pottinger admits he would be willing to make changes if better options became available.“It’s not an easy situation with James (Purchase) out injured because there aren’t a great deal of riders around on his average who could come in and score points right from the off,” he said.“The directors are happy for us to make a change but we have to find the right alternative. At this stage of the season it’s not that simple.“We certainly don’t want our season to be over in September, we want to be in the play-offs and we need to riders to step up and earn the points to get us there.” EASTBOURNE team manager Connor Dugard is desperate to see them secure their top four spot heading into a hectic spell of fixtures.“We are now getting down to the business end of the season,” said Dugard. “Obviously the first aim is to secure sufficient points to ensure we are in the top four to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs, which will get under way in October.”ISLE OF WIGHT reserve Nathan Stoneman believes a relaxed approach has paid dividends following his successful comeback.Stoneman said: “To be honest I wasn’t going out and expecting to score as well as I have done, but I was never putting any pressure on myself.“I’m just going out to enjoy myself, and I think if I didn’t approach it like that I probably wouldn’t have scored as well as I have.” KENT edged a 47-42 win over Eastbourne at Central Park on Monday.Luke Bowen struck 16 points to lead the Kings to a tremendous victory to boost their National League play-off hopes.They will travel to Stoke on Friday before hosting play-off chasing Cradley at Central Park on Monday (6.30). KING'S Lynn Young Stars have secured the services of Taylor Hampshire for the remainder of the season.The 15-year-old made a fine impression during his club debut as a guest earlier this month against the Coventry Storm.With Shane Hazelden ruled out with leg injuries, the Young Stars have moved to snap up the youngster for their final nine meetings of the campaign.Team boss Dale Allitt said: “Taylor was very keen to join us and we were very keen to include him in our line-up so it's a perfect match really.“He's a local lad with plenty of potential and we look forward to working with him for the rest of the season.”MILDENHALL Chairman Kevin Jolly is refusing to give up on their play-off hopes.The Fen Tigers continued a fine run of home form with a hard fought 47-43 win over Rye House at West Row with Dan Halsey continuing his fine form with 13 and Connor Coles notched 12.Said Jolly: “I thought the lads on both sides were excellent, no fuss from any of them they just wanted to get on with the meeting and put on a show for the supporters.“It was a shame the rain came when it did as the track was superb and was providing some fine racing with quick times.“We have to be happy with another win and although it is an outside chance I know we will continue to push on for a play-off place until mathematically impossible.”RYE HOUSE roared to their biggest win of the season with a 56-34 triumph over Buxton on Monday.Raiders’ skipper Luke Priest said: “There was a real feel-good factor out there today. We’ve been getting stronger and stronger these last few meetings.“It’s been great for the confidence of the lads, and everyone chipped in and had a good meeting. Everyone’s doing well now, and we’re on a bit of a roll – we like it!” STOKE youngster Danny Phillips is confident he is making progress during his first season as a doubling-up rider in the Premier League.Phillips told Speedway Star: “Every first time Premier League rider must go through peaks and troughs and I’ve been no different, but I do feel I’m making progress and on the right side of things.”

FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Isle of Wight 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Lakeside 7.30, Poole v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Rye House 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Eastbourne 7pm

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30, Lakeside v King’s Lynn 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Redcar 7pm, Edinburgh v Plymouth (follows previous fixture)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Somerset 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30, Stoke v Kent 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 3pm, Newcastle v Somerset 6.30, Peterborough v Rye House 2.30, Peterborough v Workington 5pm, Scunthorpe v Redcar 6.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v King’s Lynn 3pm, Mildenhall v Eastbourne 3.30

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5: ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Somerset 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Cradley 6.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Stoke 7.30, Isle of Wight v King’s Lynn 7pm

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30, Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Birmingham v Kent 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30CHALLENGE: Swindon v NL Select 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Newcastle 7.15, Redcar v Ipswich 7.30, Scunthorpe v Rye House 7.30LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Somerset v Sheffield 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Buxton 7.30, Coventry v Isle of Wight 7pm, Coventry v Kent (follows previous fixture

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Rye House 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Cradley 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11:PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 5.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Cradley 3pm, Eastbourne v Stoke 3.30, Rye House v King’s Lynn 4pm, Rye House v Mildenhall (follows previous fixture)BRITISH 150cc FINAL: Rye House 2.30

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Workington 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Kent v Birmingham 6.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Sheffield 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14:BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Birmingham 7.30ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.30