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: FREDRIK LINDGREN

NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS 2016NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: RYE HOUSENATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn, Date TBCNATIONAL 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

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…

EDINBURGH bosses have eased supporters’ concerns over the club’s future following the shutdown of Greyhound racing at their Armadale home.Monarchs promoter Alex Harkess told the Edinburgh Evening News: “Nothing has changed at Armadale in terms of our speedway operation.“Armadale is safe for 2017 and every year after that and we’ll be deciding things on a year-to-year basis and that has always been our agreement in signaling our intention to run speedway at the stadium.”GLASGOW team manager Stewart Dickson says his side can’t afford to dwell on their League Cup Final defeat to Somerset – and insists they need to focus their attentions on the play-offs.The Tigers go head-to-head with Sheffield in the semi-finals, travelling to Owlerton on Wednesday before staging their home leg 24 hours later at Ashfield.Said Dickson: “Meetings are coming thick and fast at this time of year and we need to show a bit of character and bounce back, otherwise it’s going to fizzle out – and none of us want it to.“The guys want to win trophies as much as anyone else but it’s only us that can change it - they’re all good riders!”IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins has praised his side – despite falling to a 102-78 play-off semi-final defeat against Somerset.Said Hawkins: “After the start to the year we had, the effort they have given me has been brilliant and I have been proud to work with them all season. “We have come a long way to get to the semi-final which is not an easy feat although it is not the ultimate goal we wanted; but it's not been a disastrous season.“It is all ifs buts and maybes really; we did as well as we could have and we got as far as we could and that is the way it is."NEWCASTLE star Ludvig Lindgren feels his side have what it takes to overcome Glasgow and be crowned Premier League Knockout Cup winners.The Diamonds host the Tigers on Sunday before travelling to Scotland 24 hours later on Monday.Said Lindgren: “They've shown that they are far from unbeatable in the last few meetings and if we attack them with confidence then we know we can beat them.“When we have all been together we've shown what a strong team we are and we are more than capable of beating Glasgow over two legs.“We want to pick ourselves up from our play-off exit and there's no better way of doing that than lifting the Knockout Cup to end the season I guess.”SHEFFIELD boss Eric Boocock is backing his side to spring another surprise in their Premier League play-off semi-final against Glasgow.The injury-hit Yorkshire side will now stage the first leg at Owlerton on Wednesday with the return in Scotland the following night at Ashfield. Boocock said: “I suppose if we had a choice we’d have preferred the second leg at home, because then you know exactly what you have to do.“As it is we’ll try and win by as many points as we possibly can on Wednesday to put us in a good position heading up to Glasgow.“They’re a good team, but I don’t see why we can’t make it through to the Final.”SOMERSET ace Rohan Tungate is desperate to lift the Premier League trophy as he aims to add another honour next to his name after a first successful year at the Oaktree Arena.Said Tungate: “I’ve really enjoyed my season at Somerset and obviously winning the Pairs and League Cup has been brilliant. “But the league is the one you spend most of the year battling away for so that’s the one you want to wrap up more than anything else.“I’m pretty keen to play a big part in helping Somerset win the league now and it would be a first Premier League title win for me which would mean a lot too.”TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…

BELLE VUE skipper Matt Williamson is targeting two wins from their season-ending double header against Birmingham and Coventry on Friday (7pm).Williamson said: “Two meetings in one night is not ideal because the stresses place on both your body and your bike are quite considerable, especially around Belle Vue.“It’s a big, fast track that demands your respect. But we know we’ve got to do it. We want to complete our fixtures and I’m sure it’ll be a great challenge for myself and the boys to tackle.“They are two very different opponents we’ll be up against, at least on paper. But as we all know, given the way the season has gone, nothing can be taken for granted here. It’s a very fair circuit.“I think we’ve every chance of beating both Birmingham and Coventry on Friday. I wasn’t there the first time we raced the Brummies at home but I think we’ve shown we can beat anyone here.”BIRMINGHAM have finalised the dates for their Travel Plus National League Play-Off Final showdown against Eastbourne.The Surestop Brummies will travel to Arlington for the first leg on Sunday, October 23 with the crucial second leg being held at Perry Barr on Wednesday, October 26.The Brummies have also confirmed that they will stage their home leg of the Knockout Cup Final against Eastbourne on Wednesday, October 19 (7.30). BUXTON will be without Shelby Rutherford for their final meeting of the season against Rye House on Sunday (3pm).Rutherford said: “As much as my heart is telling me to race, my body and brain tell me otherwise. It sucks to not be out there with the boys for the last time this season and for the fans.“I will still be up at the track this weekend to support the boys and thank the fans for their amazing support this season.”CRADLEY saw their season come to a disappointing conclusion with a 62-27 defeat at Eastbourne in their Knockout Cup Semi-Final second leg.Skipper Max Clegg said: “It was a good night for myself, but it’s a bit frustrating for the team to lose so heavily.“We knew it was going to be tough but I don’t think we expected it to be that tough. Eastbourne were just a much better team than us and we can’t really have any complaints about the result.”EASTBOURNE boss Connor Dugard paid tribute to his side after they demolished Cradley 62-27 in the second leg of their Knockout Cup Semi-Final.Dugard siad: “It was another brilliant result. We got the job done pretty quickly with a powerful start which totally overwhelmed Cradley. The Eagles showed they can ride here on any track surface.”The Eagles will now take on Birmingham in the final of the competition. KING’S Lynn Young Stars picked up a hard-fought consolation point after a 48-42 defeat at Belle Vue on Friday.“It was one of those meetings that was always close,” team boss Dale Allitt said. “You always want more, and there were a couple of times when we got within touching distance.“There were some good performances. Taylor Hampshire rode well and showed what potential he has, Jon Armstrong was a superb No.1, Scott Campos did well and Nathan Greaves battled with bike problems all night but still scored good points.“It was a good team performance, and if you can’t win away you always want to come away with a point which we did.” STOKE rounded off their National Trophy campaign with a resounding 55-35 win over Buxton at Loomer Road on Saturday. Potters boss Malcolm Vasey said: “That was a convincing performance from the team, we were comfortable throughout and it’s always good to get the better of Buxton with the local rivalry.“I’d like to thank Mitchell (Davey) for such a superb performance as a guest, and I’m delighted with the overall display, with two riders unbeaten.“It’s been another tough year but it’s nice to finish off with some form, and hopefully we can continue that in next Saturday’s double-header.”

FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Sheffield v Glasgow 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Glasgow v Sheffield 7.30

FRIDAY OCTOBER 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Birmingham 7pm, Belle Vue v Coventry (follows previous fixture)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 5.30, Stoke v Mildenhall (follows previous fixture)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 23:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Eastbourne v Birmingham 6.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Rye House 3pm

MONDAY OCTOBER 24:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow v Newcastle 7.30

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 26:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30

THURSDAY OCTOBER 27:PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Somerset v Sheffield/Glasgow 7.30

SUNDAY OCTOBER 30:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Birmingham 6.30