(SPEEDWAY 1)
WOLVERHAMPTON gave their Elite League title hopes a huge boost with a 54-36 Grand Final first leg victory over Belle Vue at Monmore Green.The home side started and finished strongly to inflict the Aces’ heaviest defeat of the season ahead of Wednesday’s return at the National Speedway Stadium.Wolves raced into a 21-9 lead after five races, and the Aces’ bid for double points with Matej Zagar failed as he finished last in Heat 6.Although the visitors reeled off a succession of heat wins in mid-meeting, Wolves ran just one last place all evening – and ended the first leg with two 4-2s and a 5-1 from the final three races to extend their advantage.In-form Kyle Howarth was key at reserve for Wolves with 12+1, whilst Jacob Thorssell (9+2) and Tai Woffinden (8+2) were also paid for double figures, whilst Craig Cook top-scored for the Aces on 10.Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “We're obviously very pleased and the team deserve a lot of credit to come away with such a lead.“After last week against Poole I was a little bit fearful that we may have peaked too early, but the team proved me wrong on that one tonight and it was another impressive performance.“But the job's not done yet; we still have to go to Belle Vue and give a professional account of ourselves.”Belle Vue manager Mark Lemon said: “Wolves are very strong around Monmore Green and it was always going to be a tough job but I believe that we can recover from this, and I don’t believe there will be any added pressure on us.“In fact, I think it’ll be quite the opposite. There are those who would say 18 points is not achievable but if these boys go out there and race their hearts out, as they always do, anything’s possible.“We had a little chat in the changing room after the meeting. Our heads haven’t dropped. Max (Fricke) and Joe (Jacobs) didn’t have a great night but then we know just how good they are around our home track.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
GLASGOW hope to be at full strength for their prospective League Cup Final first leg against Somerset this weekend.The Tigers still have to officially confirm their place in the Final – they defend a massive 64-25 advantage at Workington on Saturday – and have seen several of their riders involved in heavy crashes in recent weeks.Nike Lunna has been out with a hand injury for a fortnight whilst Rene Bach and Fernando Garcia were both hurt at Ashfield on Sunday.Manager Stewart Dickson said: “Things can change very quickly but we're hopeful they'll be OK. Nike should be back at the weekend and it would be nice to get back to seven riders.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
EDINBURGH will acknowledge the contribution of supporters to their survival this season by making Friday’s Premier League finale the ‘Thank The Fans Night.’The Monarchs have suffered an unprecedented number of postponements due to the weather, and following the clash with Glasgow there will be champagne served in the stadium bar.Co-promoter Alex Harkess said: “It’s been unbelievable how many wet Fridays we have had, including the nine rain-offs. As John Campbell said from the centre green last week, I don’t know if we would have made it to the end of the season without the support we have had.”“We’ve set an unenviable record for rain-offs, but also another for the fans’ contribution through the Monarchs’ Fans Trust, the Monarchs’ Grand Draw, the Monarchs 100, the Half Cut Draw and everything else that has been done, including just turning up in fair weather and foul – mostly the latter!”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
POOLE will take a look at some new faces when they complete their season with the Blue Riband on October 14.Frederick Jacobsen and Adrian Cyfer are included in the line-up for the Wimborne Road event, along with former Pirates Kacper Gomolski and Adam Skornicki, and fellow Pole Grzegorz Zengota, who have not raced in the UK this season.Promoter Matt Ford said: “There are some names in the list that I am particularly interested in seeing and hopefully our fans will be keen to see too. “It promises to be an evenly balanced field, full of riders who are all very keen to go out and win the Blue Riband title. It will be good to see the new faces of Adam Cyfer and Frederik Jacobsen along with some familiar faces.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 5:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 6:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Somerset v Ipswich 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Kent 8pm
