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KING’S Lynn star Niels-Kristian Iversen is determined to add the Elite League Riders’ Championship to his list of honours on Saturday.The Danish star, who was a Grand Prix winner at Torun last weekend, lines up at Coventry looking to go one step better than his runners-up finishes in both 2013 and 2015 ELRCs.Iversen said: “I’ve never won it before, and I’ve finished runner-up a few times before so it’s a meeting I’d love to finally win.“It’d be a nice one to win at the end of the season in the UK, so I’m looking forward to it and I hope I can do well. “Like I say, I’ve come close before and I’d like to finally go one better, but it will be a strong field so it won’t be easy that’s for sure.”
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BELLE Vue skipper Scott Nicholls insists his side can recover from Monday’s 18-point defeat at Wolverhampton when they stage the second leg of the Elite League Grand Final.The Aces host the decisive return fixture at the National Speedway Stadium on Wednesday and require the largest turnaround in play-off history to take the title.But having romped to a 63-28 home win over Lakeside in the semi-finals last week, Nicholls says the tie is still alive.He said: “We know we have a big job ahead of us but it’s not an impossible one, and myself and the boys don’t need any more motivation to go out there and prove we can turn this around.“We are quite capable of putting in a powerful performance at our own place and Wolverhampton would be fools to come here thinking they’ve got the title in the bag. That’s not how it works.“Anything can happen and they know that deep down, and we’re determined to turn this negative into a positive. Defeatist isn’t in our attitude so we’re going to go out there and do the best we can.”Wolves skipper Fredrik Lindgren said: “We feel like we’ve given ourselves a great opportunity to bring the title back to Wolverhampton but we’ve still got to get over the line first.“Belle Vue are very strong at home so we need to stay professional and we know we’ve still got a big job to do.“We can’t get too carried away because if they sense that then they’ll be more determined to hit us hard early on. So it would be nice to open up with a couple of race wins and a couple of heat advantages and that would help us settle down nicely.“We’re remaining fully focused on the task in hand and hopefully we can bring the title home.”
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PLYMOUTH co-promoter Ashley Taylor says he still hopes speedway can continue into 2017 at the St Boniface Arena – despite the trading company being placed into liquidation.The Devils did complete the season after securing fresh investment in the early weeks of the campaign, but a club takeover was not completed.Taylor said: “The financial situation of the club has been well documented during the season. Unfortunately the necessity to liquidate has been brought about by another season of losses. “In the previous three seasons the losses have been funded by the Directors and Shareholders, well in excess of a six figure sum and despite the best efforts of the ‘Plymouth Fanzone’ raising a considerable sum of money, without which we would not have been able to complete the season.“Speedway returned to Plymouth in 2006 after an absence of 36 years, and the current period of operation of 11 years has been the longest period of continuous operation in its entire history. Hopefully this period will not be interrupted and continue in 2017.”
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SWINDON captain Jason Doyle has confirmed his withdrawal from the season-ending Australian Grand Prix later this month.Doyle suffered multiple injuries in an horrific crash at Torun last weekend, ending the Robins star’s chances of winning the World Championship. He said: “I would just like to let everyone know first-hand that sadly I have had to withdraw from the Melbourne GP.“I have punctured my left lung and badly traumatised my right lung. My right elbow is also shattered and I dislocated my left shoulder. I am unable to fly due to my lungs and have to wait for surgery on my elbow once my lungs are healed. “I would like to again thank everyone for their kind messages, I have got time to read them all! I will concentrate on my health and recovery to be ready for 2017.”
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SAM Masters is set for an even busier end to the season – after receiving a call-up to the Australian Grand Prix.But the Wolverhampton and Edinburgh man insists he will still be fully focused on business in the UK before lining up in Melbourne as a replacement for injured countryman Jason Doyle.Masters said: “It's not the best circumstances in which to get a GP place. Doyley looked as though he would go on and win the series, and every Australian was willing him to be crowned World Champion.“Now I hope I can go in there and enjoy the experience of being part of another Grand Prix. But I have some big meetings coming up before I head out to Melbourne.“Tonight against Belle Vue is huge and on Saturday I really want to give a good showing in the Elite League Riders’ Championship at Coventry. Add to that a Scottish derby and it becomes a huge month.”
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BUXTON have suffered a further blow with mid-season signing David Wallinger ruled out of their final meetings of the year.Wallinger rode against Birmingham last weekend at short notice despite illness, but will not appear for the Hitmen again in 2016.Manager Jason Pipe said: “Davey has had to stop riding at the moment because of his personal circumstances outside of speedway that have just recently changed. “I'm sure this isn't the last we have seen of Davey on a speedway bike and hopefully sometime in the future we'll see him back on a bike again. “Joe Lawlor has agreed to come in at reserve and cover for Davey in our last four meetings this season.”(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 OFFPREMIER 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
