MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
MAX Clegg is celebrating a dream double after winning two major titles in the space of four days!Clegg’s first triumph came at Birmingham when he clinched the British Under-19 title in his last year in the competition.He scored a 15-point maximum at Perry Barr although the meeting went right to the wire as he passed James Shanes off the final bend of Heat 20 when a second place would have put him into a run-off with Ellis Perks. Home rider Jack Smith completed the rostrum finishers.Clegg said: “Fair play to James - him, Ellis and the two Jacks (Smith and Parkinson-Blackburn) were riding awesome, so there was some tough competition and they made me work overtime. “I can’t really say the words I was thinking during the race, but I wasn’t panicking, I was just keeping cool, and I knew if I finished behind him I would have had a run-off anyway for first and second. “I had to be a bit hard on him like he was hard on me in the first lap, and I got it so a run-off wasn’t necessary, and I’m happy to win the meeting on a maximum.”Clegg followed up that success with victory in the National League Riders’ Championship at Leicester last Saturday.This time he finished three points clear of his nearest rivals with a 14-point haul, with defending champion Ben Morley (Rye House) defeating Birmingham skipper Tom Perry in a run-off for second place.Clegg said: “I had a drama in my last ride with bike problems, I had to jump on my second bike for the re-run and luckily I got the second place I needed.“This has been the best week of my career, to win two major titles so close together is unbelievable.”Clegg is one of the busiest riders in the sport as he races in all three leagues for Wolverhampton, Edinburgh and Cradley – and all three clubs are set to compete in their respective play-offs as the domestic season comes to a conclusion.There is also one Major Event remaining as the big guns clash in the Elite League Riders’ Championship at Coventry on Saturday October 8 with line-up details expected soon.The re-staging of the National League Pairs at King’s Lynn, which was rained-off last month, will take place on Sunday October 16. BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2016BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: JOSH BATESBRITISH FINAL: DANNY KINGPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: SOMERSETPREMIER LEAGUE FOURS WEEKEND: PLYMOUTHPREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: SIMON STEADELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, October 8
NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS 2016NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: RYE HOUSENATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn, October 16NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: MAX CLEGG
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 star Max Fricke is hungry to go one step further than last year when the Aces contest the Elite League play-offs – starting with their semi-final clash with Lakeside.Fricke said: “We saw how well they did against Swindon. They knew the play-offs were on the line and they really stepped up their game, so we’ll need to do likewise if we’re to bring home a favourable result.“We’ve got a good team here at Belle Vue though. We’ve proved our worth by finishing top of the table and now we want to go ahead and finish the job, and I really want to do my bit for the boys.“I can’t wait to get started come Wednesday. We were so close to that title last year and to miss out by two points was heart-breaking. That’s definitely something we want to rectify this season.”COVENTRY captain Chris Harris will be racing elsewhere in 2017 after informing the Bees he wishes for a change of club.Harris has spent eleven of the last thirteen seasons at Brandon having first ridden for the club in 2004.Promoter Mick Horton said: “Chris has sent me a very nicely worded letter expressing his wish to move on next year. He clearly feels that at this stage of his career it’s time for a change, and we as a club accept that. “Chris been here a very long time and he has had a phenomenal career with Coventry, which I’m sure everyone will want to thank him for. There are no issues between us, he has gone about this in the right way.”KING’S LYNN enjoyed a late season boost with a 48-41 win at Coventry to move up to sixth place in the Elite League table.Stars boss Rob Lyon said: “It was nice to experience that winning feeling once again and that's two successful visits to Coventry this season.“We certainly know how Coventry feel having to run without a recognised number one but we had a job to do and the team responded in a positive manner.“Another away win at Leicester when it's re-arranged will send everyone into the winter break in a more positive frame of mind.”LAKESIDE could have skipper Andreas Jonsson back in their line-up for the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Belle Vue – with Krzysztof Kasprzak on stand-by to guest if the Swede does not make it.Co-promoter Jon Cook said: “We were happy with the rider we had lined up but AJ is confident he can make it back, certainly for the Final if we make it and more than likely for the second leg of the semi-final, which is terrific news. “Having Krzysztof on stand-by is a strong position to be in, although unfortunately he can’t race in the home fixture on Wednesday due to a Polish commitment.”LEICESTER have one Elite League match remaining with a date awaited for their twice-postponed Beaumont Park clash with King’s Lynn.POOLE promoter Matt Ford expects Antonio Lindback to provide the Pirates with the points they need to replace injured skipper Hans Andersen in the forthcoming play-off campaign.Ford said: “Whilst I am sorry not to have Hans in the team and able to finish the season, as he has delivered so many important scores for us this year, I believe Antonio will make the perfect replacement. “I am sure he will give us the boost we need going into the play-offs and hopefully his presence in the Poole team will add even further spice to the semi-finals which are now upon us.”SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter anticipates a major shake-up in the Robins’ team for next season after their failure to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2011.Rossiter said: “To be honest, we were lacking in support at second string and heat leader to back up Doyley (Jason Doyle) all year and our reserves struggled towards the end of the season. “One rider would have a good meeting, another would have a poor one and it would swap around from week to week. We didn’t click all at once and if we had, we would have battered teams.“It is all very raw at the moment but we are already starting to work on building a team around Doyley for next season.”WOLVERHAMPTON promoter Chris Van Straaten says the club’s play-off semi-final against Poole is a mouth-watering prospect – and is targeting a good first leg result at Wimborne Road.Van Straaten said: “We need to be in a position where we can see the job through on our own track and I’m confident we have the riders who can win the tie over two legs.“The addition of (Antonio) Lindback makes the clash even more attractive for fans with him, Chris Holder and our own Freddie Lindgren and Tai Woffinden all involved. It’s going to be exciting and everyone at the club is looking forward to it.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
EDINBURGH have confirmed that teenager Dan Bewley is 'unlikely' to race again this season.The Monarchs reserve crashed in their fixture at Newcastle and hasn't ridden since after suffering head injuries.Promoter John Campbell said: “We firmly believed last Wednesday after talking with Dan that he was ready to return for last Friday’s visit of Somerset, but he was asked by his doctor the next day to delay pending a further hospital visit.“I think we are all agreed that he needs to be very cautious after what was a potentially serious injury; following a head injury with concussion you cannot be too careful.”GLASGOW reserve Coty Garcia believes his side's team spirit will help see them through to the finals of two competitions this weekend.The Tigers take on Somerset in the Knockout Cup before travelling to Workington in the League Cup.Said Garcia: "It's one of the best feelings to have a winning team - and everyone is enjoying themselves every single meeting. Whenever someone has a bad race or a crash, everyone is there to help."IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins is confident his side can gain an advantage from their play-off quarter final first leg tie at home to Edinburgh on Thursday.Said Hawkins: "They are the reigning champions and won't want to lose that title easily but I think we are coming into the Play-Offs in the best form that I've known at the club since I have been involved."Everyone has been under a lot of pressure to win meetings and get us in the Play-Offs but we just want to carry on our good form because we've been riding so well."NEWCASTLE continued their stunning home form with a 55-37 win over Ipswich.Diamonds team manager George English said: "We really deserved the victory with Ludvig (Lindgren) being on tenterhooks as he was on the verge of becoming a daddy, so while he was racing he was certainly thinking about things elsewhere. "It was good to get a win for Danny (Phillips) as well, but the lads are really pulling together as a team - so let the play-offs begin!"PETERBOROUGH have missed out on a play-off spot after they failed to agree a date prior to the cut-off for their trip to Edinburgh.The fixture will take place on Friday (September 23) - five days after the eligible date.Panthers promoter Ged Rathbone said: "It means the meeting at Edinburgh is completely pointless, but we will still go there with the aim of winning and ending our season on a successful note."RYE HOUSE star Edward Kennett is hoping a 48-45 home win over Scunthorpe will stand them in good stead for their Knockout Cup semi-final clash against Newcastle.Said Kennett: "It was nice to finish with a win in the League; now we have three weeks to psych ourselves up for the Cup Semi-Final. "As I’ve said before, if we can all fire together we can pull off a big score in the first leg to take up to Newcastle."SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey believes his side deserved even more than the one league consolation point they picked up from their 48-45 defeat at Rye House on Monday."It could have so easily been more, and then we’d have had every chance of finishing ahead of Rye House in the final league table as well," said Godfrey."Had the dice fallen slightly differently, we could have won the meeting."SHEFFIELD ace Josh Bates hope his performances can continue to improve during the business end of the season.Talking ahead of Thursday's League Cup clash against Somerset, Bates told the Sheffield Star: "I’ve had some problems and things haven’t always been going my way but I think I’m over that now. "We have some big meetings coming up so hopefully I can put together a run of form and do a good job for the team.”SOMERSET can reach the League Cup Final if they hold on to their 18-point lead when they travel to Sheffield on Thursday.Rebels team manager Garry May said: "It has never been my way to go and try to defend a lead, but with the more positive attitude of trying to win the match."We put in a good performance when we were recently at Sheffield in the league and were a bit unlucky that night, so we aim to put that knowledge to good use in Thursday’s match."WORKINGTON team manager Tony Jackson has told his riders to race for pride when they host Glasgow in the League Cup this weekend.The Comets trail 64-25 from Sunday's first leg - something which Jackson admits is more than likely too big an ask.He said: "After Glasgow’s league success at Derwent Park two weeks ago we obviously realise that we face an almost impossible task of Everest proportions."But the lads still have their pride at stake and will be keen to at least gain revenge for the costly league reverse of a fortnight ago, which ended our play-off hopes for this season!”
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE suffered back to back away defeats as their play-off hopes came to an end over the weekend.The Colts were beaten 51-39 at Coventry on Friday before going down by the same scoreline at Eastbourne on Sunday.Although their top four chances have been ended, the Manchester outfit will host Cradley at the National Speedway Stadium on Friday.BIRMINGHAM will go head-to-head with Midland rivals Cradley in the National League play-off semi-finals.The Surestop Brummies will stage their home leg on Wednesday, September 28 before travelling to Monmore Green on Monday, October 10. Team boss Graham Drury stated: “Whoever you get in the play-offs, it's going to be close because everyone has got to this stage of the season on merit.“There's nothing like two rivals taking each other on in speedway and it will certainly be one our fans will be up for as well as our riders.“It's got all the ingredients of being a classic tie over 30 races and we'd love to see Perry Barr packed out next Wednesday with both regular and non-regular supporters donning the famous red and yellow!”BUXTON will return to action as they host Eastbourne on Sunday.The Hitmen are still chasing a first home win of the National League season having gone down to Cradley in their most recent recent fixture at the D&P Raceway. COVENTRY Storm were beaten 54-36 at play-off bound Eastbourne in their penultimate away fixture of the season on Sunday – after racing to an impressive home win over Belle Vue two days earlier. Manager Laurence Rogers said: “It was a battling performance and the final scoreline did not reflect the efforts of the Storm boys.“Although in pain, Liam (Carr) notched two fine wins before crashing out in Heat 6 when in a comfortable lead, thankfully with no ill effects, and ended the meeting with a superb Heat 15 win when Callum (Walker) was on the tail of Perks and Wood.“Tom Woolley was a good guest battling away to paid eight, so overall it was another pleasing performance.”CRADLEY pulled off an impressive late show against Kent to secure a 53-37 home win and seal their place in the play-offs.Team manager Will Pottinger said: “We always expected a tight meeting and that's exactly what we got right until the latter stages.“We were keen to get another win on the board and it certainly keeps our momentum going. There were plenty of positives to take from the meeting and there were encouraging signs from all of our riders.“It means we head into the play-offs with some good form behind us, but before that we've got to focus on our Knockout Cup fixture against Eastbourne which is another big meeting for us.”EASTBOURNE team boss Connor Dugard praised his side for a job well done after two convincing home wins on Sunday.“Six league points in the bag and that’s the play offs,” Dugard commented. “From the start of the season, our aim has been to make the play offs and then see what happens.“The boys did a professional job against both Coventry Storm and Belle Vue Colts and secured the results we wanted.“Unsurprisingly men and machines tired towards the end of the second match but by then the points were secure. It was a great afternoon and just shows the commitment we have in this team.”ISLE OF WIGHT brought the curtain down on their home fixtures with a 53-36 success over a Great Britain Young Lions Under 23 side last Wednesday.After a successful return of the sport at Smallbrook this season, Warriors co-promoter Barry Bishop is already looking ahead to 2017.Said Bishop: “I cannot believe the season has gone so quickly and my mind is already racing onto 2017. “We have already started to speak with some of our sponsors for next season and these discussions are progressing well with many of them continuing the Warrior Way.” KENT experienced a mixed weekend on their travels with one win and one defeat.The play-off bound Kings edged a hard-fought 46-43 triumph at Stoke on Sunday but went down 53-37 at Cradley the following evening.The Central Park outfit are now set to do battle with Eastbourne in the semi-finals, whilst they will also host the Kent County Fours on Friday.KING’S LYNN Young Stars put in a determined display to pick up a consolation point despite a 47-43 defeat at Mildenhall on Sunday.Team boss Dale Allitt said: “It's never ideal to go into any meeting with riders missing but we put up a good fight today and I think we deserved our point.“After conceding a 5-1 in the first race, we were always chasing the meeting, but credit to the lads, they held their own from there on in.“Mildenhall are a good team, especially around their own track, so to come away with something from the meeting gives us plenty of encouragement ahead of our home meeting against Rye House on Wednesday.”MILDENHALL wrapped up their home schedule with a hard-fought 47-43 win over local rivals King’s Lynn at West Row on Sunday.“It is good to finish the home league season with another victory,” Chairman Kevin Jolly said. “It was a lot closer than expected but we did throw away too many points and Kings Lynn rode with plenty of spirit. “We could never build a lead but it was another three points and with the cut off next weekend it looks like we will finish sixth at worst which I feel is a very creditable effort when you consider we have lost Connor Mountain, Kyle Hughes and Sam Bebee in the later part of the season.” RYE HOUSE skipper Luke Priest is keen to end their National League campaign on a high with three away meetings remaining.The Raiders wrapped up their home programme with a comfortable 54-36 win over Isle of Wight on Sunday. Priest said: “We are on the crest of a wave at the moment. We’re high, we’re feeling that way, and you can’t argue that we deserved to win.“Overall, it was a great team performance, and if we can do this in the last three away meetings we’ll be really happy.”STOKE saw their tough run of form continue as they slipped to a 46-43 defeat at home against Kent on Sunday.The struggling Potters were undone in a tight encounter which leaves them 11th in the table and without a win in their last nine outings.Despite not tasting victory since July, the Loomer Road outfit will look to turn things around as they travel to Coventry on Friday before hosting Mildenhall on Saturday, October 1.
FIXTURE PICTURE…
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21:ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Lakeside v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Sheffield v Somerset 7.30TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Peterborough 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Somerset v Glasgow 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Cradley 7.30, Coventry v Stoke 7pm, Coventry v Rye House (follows previous fixture)KENT COUNTY FOURS: Kent 6.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24:LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Workington v Glasgow 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v King’s Lynn 7.30
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Glasgow v Somerset 3pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Eastbourne 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26:ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Cradley v Eastbourne 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 28:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29:CHALLENGE: Redcar Cubs v Buxton 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 1:PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Redcar 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 2:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm
FRIDAY OCTOBER 7:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F: Eastbourne v Kent 8pmRICO AUTUMN CLASSIC: Lakeside 8pm
