(SPEEDWAY 1)

WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Fredrik Lindgren completed a memorable week for the club with victory in Saturday’s Elite League Riders’ Championship.Three nights after leading his side to title glory, Lindgren carried off the league’s big individual event at Coventry with a spectacular ride in the Final.Lindgren got the better of Niels-Kristian Iversen and Chris Harris on the first lap with Edward Kennett – who had led the qualifiers with 14 points – missing out in the decisive race.Kennett and Lindgren had qualified automatically for the Final and were joined by Harris and Kennett, who got the better of Kim Nilsson and Danny King in the semi.Lindgren said: “I was struggling a little midway through the meeting, but I got it together in the end and I’m super-pumped.“I made a lot of speed on the first lap of the Final so I was able to squeeze past Chris, and it was a good race.”(SPEEDWAY 2)

GLASGOW booked their place in the League Cup Final by midway through the second leg of their semi at Workington on Saturday.The Tigers took a massive 39-point lead into the meeting and were mathematically safe after Heat 8, although there was some consolation for the home side with a win on the night.The Comets won 47-43 in their final match of the season with Mason Campton top-scoring on 12+3. Richard Lawson scored 12+2 for the Tigers.Workington boss Tony Jackson said: “We knew that the aggregate score was a foregone conclusion in favour of Glasgow, but we just wanted to win on the night and restore some pride in the team after that dreadful first leg in the rain; and I am pleased to say we did that.“On a night of entertaining racing it was a good all round team performance to finish off the season and send the fans home happy, although the uncertainty about the clubs’ immediate future is obviously playing on everyone’s mind right now!”Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “It was job done, and we have seven fit riders for tomorrow (Sunday). The tie was really over a few races in.“Aaron Summers took a while to get into the groove, but he was winning heat 12 and blew his engine unfortunately. As much as he had a disappointing meeting, I said to him before heat 12, finish off with a win.“He was winning and on the last lap his engine blew up - so I believe he has work to do in the workshop tonight before tomorrow. He did feel good in his last two rides and he'll be fine tomorrow.“Nike Lunna came back well tonight - he looked like he had never been away. He had a stunning pass in heat eight on the opening bends and got himself paid seven - so he can be happy with that. The most important thing is that we're in one piece and we’re raring to go.”In the Knockout Cup, Rye House established a narrow advantage over Newcastle with a 47-43 win over the Diamonds at Hoddesdon.There were nine shared heats in a tight semi-final first leg, with the Rockets seeing a six point lead cut to four as Steve Worrall dominated the closing stages.Stuart Robson top-scored for the Rockets with 11+1 from five rides, whilst Worrall collected 13 for the visitors and reserve Ashley Morris added 11+1 – although Ludvig Lindgren was withdrawn due to the effects of a first-ride crash.Robson said: “We really had to fight for every single one of our points tonight. The Diamonds are a good team; we knew that they would go well around here, and they didn’t prove us wrong.“But we did well and we got the win. We had a good guest in Nikolaj (Busk Jakobsen), which helped us a lot – and everyone chipped in and really played their part. So, yes, it was a tough win – but a win’s a win.”Newcastle boss George English said: “That was a bit close for comfort, and was harder than it should have been.“But with our skipper picking up an injury in his opening ride and Matej (Kus) blowing his engine to bits in his third it really put our backs against the wall, plus our guest (Ben Barker) had a night I'm sure he will want to forget as it wasn't a good match for him.”In the Travel Plus National League, Stoke ended their winless run with a 54-33 victory over the Isle of Wight at Loomer Road.Ben Wilson and Tony Atkin both recorded 15-point maximums for the Potters and they were well supported by Paul Burnett on 9+2.Stoke boss Malcom Vasey said: “It was an all round team performance with everyone chipping in with at least a paid win. “Ben (Hopwood) suffered some mechanical gremlins but still scored some important points and it was pleasing to see both Tony and Ben record maximums on the night. “Paul Burnett had a very good evening, as did Chris Hay, and it shows what we could do should we all fire on the same night.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

NEWCASTLE boss George English hopes the return of Robert Lambert can inspire the Diamonds to reach the Premier League Knockout Cup Final.Lambert missed the first leg of the semi against Rye House, which resulted in a four-point lead for the Rockets as the teams prepare to meet again at Brough Park.But Rye themselves will have their No.1 back as Edward Kennett returns to the team, both riders having been absent on Saturday due to the Elite League Riders’ Championship.English said: “Robert is back for the second leg and will be keen to prove why he's our number one and take the Diamonds into the Final with Glasgow, although we will be sweating on a fitness report on Ludvig (Lindgren) beforehand.”Rye House star Stuart Robson said: “We’ve got to go there to win. Newcastle are especially strong around their home track, but Sheffield proved it can be done. We’ll be going there with the belief that we can do the same.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

GLASGOW have reported a clean bill of health ahead of the first leg of the League Cup Final against Somerset.The Tigers race the home leg at Ashfield on Sunday less than 24 hours after officially confirming their progression, with their semi-final at Workington seeing Nike Lunna return from injury, whilst Aaron Summers has shaken off the flu.Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “The first thing is that we want to win, but we won't set a figure, because if we reach it you don't want to think 'we're all right'.“We will try and do a professional job, score as many points as possible, and the riders know that every point in this stage of a Final is priceless. We can't go throwing any silly points away.“We will do what we've been doing all season at home and see where it takes us. The guys know (Sunday) is big and we'll be good for it.”It will be the second successive Sunday visit to Glasgow for Somerset, who won at Ashfield earlier in the season but were put out of the KO Cup last week.Josh Bates and Connor Coles come in as guest replacements for the Rebels’ injured reserves Bradley Wilson-Dean and Zach Wajtknecht, who have both been ruled out for the rest of the season.Rebels boss Garry May said: “Although that defeat was just a week ago, I don’t think that, nor our league win at Glasgow earlier in the season, has any bearing on (Sunday’s) match, it’s a different meeting on a different day and both sides start with the slate wiped clean.“It goes without saying that we will be travelling there with the aim of winning the match, but if that’s not to be the case, then it will be to minimise Glasgow’s lead ahead of Friday’s second leg back at the Oaktree Arena.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

BUXTON boss Jason Pipe is targeting a maximum haul of six points as the Hitmen stage a double-header at the D&P Raceway on Sunday.The Isle of Wight and King’s Lynn provide the opposition in Travel Plus National League fixtures, and Pipe is backing reserve duo Lee Geary and guest Joe Lawlor to make the difference – although they have to do without captain Ryan Blacklock who is unavailable.Pipe said: “I'm targeting two home wins on Sunday. There's no reason why we can't win both of these. No disrespect to both the Isle of Wight and King's Lynn, but these are two meetings we are well capable of winning. “What's scored by the reserves will have a big say in the outcome of the meetings. In my eyes the Buxton reserve pairing of Geary and Lawlor should be too strong around Buxton, compared to the reserves on the other sides.”King’s Lynn have drafted in former Buxton rider Tony Atkin, who scored a 15-point maximum for Stoke on Saturday, to guest for the injured Josh Bailey.Young Stars boss Dale Allitt said: “It’s a strange situation, because the season is pretty much over but we still have to get these last few meetings done. “Having said that the boys will be going there with the attitude that they always have, which is they want to win and give it their best. “We can’t take anything for granted, as we saw Buxton beat Eastbourne recently, but we’ll certainly be looking to try and come away with a good result.”

(FIXTURES)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 9:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Newcastle v Rye House 6.30LEAGUE CUP FINAL 1st leg: Glasgow v Somerset 3pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Isle of Wight 3pm, Buxton v King’s Lynn (follows previous fixture)

MONDAY OCTOBER 10:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Cradley v Birmingham 7.30

TUESDAY OCTOBER 11:RECYCLED AGGREGATE SERVICES OLYMPIQUE: Wolverhampton 7.30