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SHEFFIELD are gearing up for one of the biggest evenings of the season as they host the Premier League Riders’ Championship on Sunday (5.30).A star-studded field featuring the top riders in the second tier will descend on Owlerton to battle for the prestigious crown.Four World Cup finalists will be in action, including Great Britain’s silver medal heroes Danny King and Craig Cook.The late withdrawal of Robert Lambert means defending Champion Ulrich Ostergaard will now have a chance to retain his title. The Tigers’ flag will be flown by Simon Stead, who is desperate to regain the crown he won in breathtaking fashion back in 2014.“It’s a massive meeting and I really can’t wait,” said Stead. “My form probably isn’t as good as it was when I won it, but I know on my day I can raise my game at Sheffield.“To win the PLRC after everything that happened last year would just be incredible and a massive achievement for myself.“It’s going to be extremely tough in that line-up, but I’ll certainly be giving it my best shot and hopefully things go well for me.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
GLASGOW became the first visiting side in over two years to win a Premier League away match at Workington on Saturday.The Tigers triumped 51-39 at Derwent Park to bring the Comets’ record to an end – ironically 24 hours after the Cumbrians had put a stop to their own record of away defeats, which stretched back a similar period.Rene Bach scored 14 points for the visitors and was beaten just once on his former track, with fellow ex-Comet Richard Lawson scoring 10+1.Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “I'm 50 tomorrow (Sunday) so that was a nice early present for me tonight. It gets my special day off to a good start.“It was a great team effort right through - the spirit was fantastic. We got an early lead and they came back at us, but we had a chat after heat 10 when we were six up and said to keep doing what we were doing and stay very professional right up to the end.“We were marvellously backed by a massive Glasgow support. It was one of the biggest I've seen down there in a long time from us. It was very rewarding for them.”Berwick signed off their 2016 campaign with a 56-37 home win over Rye House – and now await news as to whether a buyer can be found to take the club forward.Thomas Jorgensen led the way for the Bandits with 13 points with reserves Liam Carr and Tom Perry both impressing, whilst Stuart Robson scored 14+1 for the Rockets.Berwick boss Scott Courtney said: “That was a brilliant meeting, and while I really don't like to single out one as we are a team of seven who work as single machine, young Tom Perry's passing tonight was right out of Thomas Jorgensen's top drawer proving he was a great guy to bring to Berwick as his riding seems to suit Shielfield perfectly. “All the guys, as ever, were magnificent as a unit to defeat a very lively set of Rockets and we certainly deserved the win which was very satisfying.”Rye House manager Peter Schroeck said: “We were getting closer and closer – and then we got burned with 5-1s again. I hate those things.“There were a few positives to take away, however, most particularly through Robbo (Stuart Robson) and Branny (Rob Branford), while Eddie (Edward Kennett) did his best despite the discomfort of his knee injury.”In the Travel Plus National League, Cradley boosted their play-off chances with a 49-41 win at Stoke to take all four points available.Heathens skipper Max Clegg completed a 15-point maximum in the final race to secure the maximum haul for the Heathens.Manager Will Pottinger said: “It was important that we got a win this evening, and it keeps our chances of getting into the play-offs high.“It was good to get all four points in the last race, and it was a great ride from Max Clegg to get to the front on a night when passing was at a premium.“Max was superb, and everyone contributed to the win. Every point was vital in the end and it was a good performance.”Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “Although it was disappointing to lose we battled extremely hard and pushed them all the way. “We had a superb guest in Danyon Hume who did an excellent job for us and it was good to see Tony (Atkin) top-scoring for us. All the team fought hard and there was some good racing tonight, and despite the result I hope the supporters enjoyed the meeting.”
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CRADLEY will look to take another huge step towards the National League play-offs as they head to bottom club Buxton on Sunday.The Heathens battled to a 49-41 triumph at Stoke on Saturday night and will now aim to make it two away wins within the space of two days.Boss Will Pottinger said: “I think we’re more than capable of winning at Buxton, so we’ll be looking to pick up where we left off at Stoke.“Another victory would give us a good chance of making the top four before our next home meeting against Kent.”Buxton manager Jason Pipe said: “The biggest danger from Cradley comes from their two big hitters in (Ashley) Morris and (Max) Clegg. The rest of their team are so inconsistent, just like ourselves, but if we can keep the races to 3-3's at least, when Morris and Clegg are in them, then look at sneaking some heat advantages in the other races, then we may just pip them! “Our job is made that bit harder on Sunday because at present we haven't been able to bring in a guest, which isn't good news because we are really going to be up against it if we have to run with r/r at number one.”Eastbourne look to consolidate their position in the top three with a home match against Stoke at Arlington.The Potters bring in Danny Ayres to guest for the unavailable Ben Wilson, whilst the home side again operate rider-replacement for Gary Cottham.Eastbourne boss Connor Dugard said: “We have to be on top of our game every time we race now and we can’t afford any silly slip-ups.“Ben Hopwood knows the track well and Tony Atkin put in a good shift last year at Arlington when he rode for Buxton. We must not go into the match and think we will have an easy ride. Stoke can make it very awkward for us.” Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “It will be a very difficult meeting against a very good Eastbourne team who have a very good home record, but we do have riders who have ridden Arlington and are capable of scoring some good points.”Rye House stage a double-header at Hoddesdon with King’s Lynn and Mildenhall providing the opposition.And the meeting is preceded by the one-off British 150cc Final, with 12-year-old Nathan Albitt the strong favourite to take the title after his dominant showings in the support events to the British Youth Championships.Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “The boys have come good over the last few weeks, and not just at the top end of the team. “They gave great performances at Mildenhall and against Buxton over the Bank Holiday weekend, and there’s no reason why they can’t do the same on Sunday to help push us up the League ladder.”
(FIXTURES)
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: Peterborough v Rye House 7.30, Newcastle v Workington 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Kent v Birmingham 6.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Sheffield 7.30CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v British Young Lions U23 7pm
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14:BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Birmingham 7.30ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.30
