BRITISH SPEEDWAY TO BE EXCLUSIVELY LIVE ON BT SPORT
BT SPORT have unveiled their opening set of fixtures for an exciting summer of domestic Speedway in the UK.
All eight Premiership clubs will feature as the battle for a top four spot intensifies on BT Sport, which will also be showing the FIM Speedway Grand Prix and Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup for a second season.
The move means BT Sport is the new home of speedway on British TV with 34 speedway events broadcast live during 2017, 18 British Speedway fixtures live starting with the British final on the 19th June in Manchester, 12 Speedway Grand Prix and 4 Speedway World Cup.
BT Sport’s speedway team will include Natalie Quirk and Suzi Perry presenting, Scott Nicholls as analyst for the Speedway Grand Prix and World Cup and former British and Commonwealth champion Kelvin Tatum as analyst and commentator along with Nigel Pearson.
Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “This is superb news for speedway fans. We’re thrilled to make BT Sport the home of British Speedway. We think fans will relish our coverage and we hope BT Sport will be able convert many more viewers into fans of the sport when they see how exciting and exhilarating it is.”
Keith Chapman, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters’ Association, said: “We’re delighted to welcome BT Sport as our broadcast partners for the 2017 season. They successfully hosted the Grand Prix and World Cup last year and we’re pleased to showcase Speedway on the same channel alongside those tournaments.
“This is great news for British TV viewers who will now be able to see regular speedway, both at league and international level. We’re expecting an exciting and entertaining season that will once again show a wider audience what a thrilling spectacle the sport is.”
Terry Russell, of Go Speed International Ltd who negotiated the new deal, said: "We're extremely pleased British Speedway has a home on BT Sport alongside the GP and World Cup. It's good news for the sport and I'm sure our fans will enjoy the coverage BT Sport provides.
"The meetings scheduled look great, including of course the play-offs, which always provide great drama and TV entertainment”
British Speedway is the latest motorsport to be added to the wide range of motorsport that BT Sport broadcasts from around the world including MotoGP, World Rally Championship and the Indycar Series.
British Speedway Premiership fixtures 2017 Calendar
Mon 19th June - British Final - Belle Vue
Mon 26th June - Poole v Belle Vue
Mon 10th July - Wolverhampton v Rye House
Mon 17th July - Leicester v Swindon
Mon 24th July - Belle Vue v Wolverhampton
Mon 31st July - Reserved
Mon 7th August - King’s Lynn v Somerset
Mon 14th August - Somerset v Leicester
Mon 21st August - Swindon v King’s Lynn
Mon 28th August - Rye House v Poole
Mon 4th September - TBC
Mon 11th September - Premiership Semi Final 1 Leg 1
Mon 18th September - Premiership Semi Final 2 Leg 1
Mon 25th September - Premiership Semi Finals 1 AND 2 Leg 2
Mon 2nd October - Playoff Leg 1 (Promotion/Relegation Playoff)
Wed 4th October - Playoff Leg 2 (Promotion/Relegation Playoff)
Mon 9th October - Premiership Grand Final Leg 1
Wed 11th October - Premiership Grand Final Leg 2
FIM Speedway Grand Prix 2017 Calendar
29 April - Slovenian FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Krsko, Slovenia
13 May - Warsaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland @ Warsaw, Poland
29 May - Latvian FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Daugavpils, Latvia
10 June - Czech Republic FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Prague, Czech Republic
24 June - Danish FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Horsens, Denmark
22 July - British FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Cardiff, Great Britain
12 August - Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Malilla, Sweden
26 August - Gorzow FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland @ Gorzow, Poland
5 September - German FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Teterow, Germany
23 September - Stockholm FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Stockholm, Sweden
7 October - Torun FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland @ Torun, Poland
28 October - Australian FIM Speedway Grand Prix @ Melbourne, Australia
Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup 2017 Calendar
1 July - Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Event 1
4 July - Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Event 2
7 July - Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Event 3 ‘Race-Off’
8 July - Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Event 4 ‘Final’
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(SPEEDWAY 1)
PETERBOROUGH chief Ged Rathbone has slashed admission prices in a bid to attract the best possible backing for the next generation of British talent.
The Panthers stage the British Under-21 semi-final at the East of England Showground on Tuesday, and Rathbone is hopeful of a bumper turnout for a meeting which falls in the Easter school holidays.
He has cut entry to £10 for adults and £5 for children aged 12 to 16. Accompanied kids under the age of 12 are admitted free, and Panthers season-ticket holders qualify for half-priced entry of £5.
Rathbone said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to stage the meeting at Peterborough – now we need supporters to turn out in force.
“We've priced the meeting as attractively as we possibly can and hopefully that will persuade fans to come along.
“It is vital that we show our backing to the next generation of young British riders and I’m excited to see them in action at the Showground.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
KING’S Lynn welcomed in a new era for the club by brushing aside SGB Premiership newcomers Somerset 53-37 at the Adrian Flux Arena.
The Stars delivered a strong all-round display headlined by a 13+1 haul for Troy Batchelor, whilst captain Robert Lambert added 10 with Lewis Rose impressing on 9+2.
New Rebels signing Patrick Hougaard scored 12+1 but the visitors suffered a blow when Josh Grajczonek was withdrawn with a suspected broken thumb having come to grief in Heat 7.
King’s Lynn co-promoter Rob Lyon said: “It was a really pleasing night in so many ways.
“The team were solid which is good to see, it was always important to kick the season off in a positive way and the boys have done that.
“I’d also like to thank the fans, we had a very healthy opening crowd and we hope they continue to support us for the rest of the season. A pleasing night.”
Somerset boss Garry May said: “I think we gave a good account of ourselves, especially considering that Rohan [Tungate] was suffering mechanically all night and we lost the services of Josh just short of the half-way stage of the match.
“But although we were always chasing the match, the boys never gave up, and continued to battle away, and with a bit more luck and rub of the green with one or two of the decisions, I think we could have nicked a point.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
POOLE were held to a narrow 46-44 win over Belle Vue in the first leg of their Premiership KO Cup tie at Wimborne Road.
And the Aces went agonisingly close to an away win as race leader Kenneth Bjerre suffered mechanical failure in Heat 15, allowing Brady Kurtz and Krzysztof Kasprzak to record a 4-2 for a win on the night.
Kurtz scored 13 in an impressive show for the Pirates whilst reserve Nicolai Klindt added 11+2, with captain Craig Cook top-scoring for the Aces on 11.
And visiting boss Mark Lemon was delighted with the performance of his side ahead of the return fixture in Manchester on Friday.
Lemon said: “There was a calmness and an assertiveness about them. I think the Pirates were quite surprised considering last week they had such a triumphant home win against Wolverhampton.
“I was delighted with the start we had, and to maintain that slim lead for as long as we did. We were just very unfortunate in Heat 15 when Kenneth Bjerre’s engine expired while leading!
“Had it not, we would have won the match. But that’s speedway and we’re still in a great position going into the home leg. We’re two points down and I believe we’re capable of recovering that.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
CRADLEY beat Birmingham in a last heat decider to clinch the West Midlands Trophy 47-43 at Perry Barr.
With the scores level going into Heat 15, Danny Ayres and club captain Tom Perry team rode superbly to secure a 5-1 maximum over Brummies duo Danyon Hume and Jack Parkinson-Blackburn.
The match had been evenly contested with the home side overturning the Heathens’ early six-point lead, whilst an on-the-line verdict for Luke Harris passing Layne Cupitt in Heat 14 took his side into the last race all-square.
Ayres dropped just one point from five rides for the visitors on 12+2 with Perry adding 12, whilst Hume also scored 12 for the Brummies.
Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “It is a bit of a relief to finally get one over the Brummies. They've had a brilliant run against us in recent times and it's good to finally have the bragging rights back.
“It may have only been a bit of a challenge fixture, but you could still see what it meant to everyone with the celebrations after Heat 15.
“We should have really won by a few more points had luck been on our side, but we're definitely happy to keep our unbeaten start going.”
Birmingham manager Graham Drury said: “At the end of the day, this was our first meeting as a team and to run Cradley close was a good effort under the circumstances.
“Cradley raced at Perry Barr last week and thrashed King's Lynn - and having that extra meeting under their belt gave them an advantage I feel.
“While it's always nice to beat your local rivals, this was a challenge meeting and it was about blowing the cobwebs away ahead of our first league fixture next week.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter is warning his side about ex-Robins riding into town on Thursday!
The Abbey Stadium side open their home SGB Premiership programme against Belle Vue, who include former Swindon men Steve Worrall and Justin Sedgmen.
The Robins are much-changed from 2016 with only skipper Jason Doyle and Nick Morris returning, whilst the Aces will take confidence from their impressive show at Poole on Wednesday.
Rossiter said: “The two lads will be up for it and we have to make sure we are up for the challenge.
“Justin did a good job for us last season and he was really unlucky not to be back with us, but we all know it’s a numbers game and this has been more and more relevant during the winter with new averages. I’m pleased he got sorted out when Belle Vue called him into their side.
“I’m a big admirer of Stevie Worrall, he’s come on leaps and bounds the last couple of years since his season with Swindon.”
Sedgmen said: “Being ex-Robins riders, myself and Steve certainly know the track well and the likes of Craig [Cook], Max [Fricke] and Kenneth [Bjerre] have ample experience between them.
“I see no reason why we can’t go there and put in a performance worthy of victory. I personally felt I deserved more points from the Poole meeting so of course I want to improve on that at Swindon.
“We’re all up for it. I know Alun Rossiter is cautioning his side where Belle Vue’s concerned but we’re not one to underestimate his guys. There’s some pretty strong characters in that team.”
In the SGB Championship, Sheffield have called upon Brady Kurtz to guest at No.1 with Josh Grajczonek ruled out of their opening home league fixture against Berwick.
Grajczonek is on the sidelines after a crash at King’s Lynn on Wednesday and the Tigers are awaiting news of his likely time out of action.
Meanwhile the Bandits return to their full one-to-seven as reserves Dany Gappmaier and Ryan Blacklock are back after short injury lay-offs.
Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates said: “Brady is very popular here at Sheffield and we're pleased to have him back for tonight.
“That said, it's obviously a blow to lose Josh. He crashed out of Somerset's meeting at King's Lynn last night and has a problem with his hand.
“We should know more later today what the full extent of the injury is but naturally we are hoping it's nothing serious.”
Berwick boss Gary Havelock said: “These tight technical tracks like Newcastle, Ipswich and Edinburgh are out of our comfort zone, but elsewhere I think we're going to prove what we can do and Sheffield is our first chance to do this.
“We should be able to keep it close tonight as all the lads ride big tracks well, and Dimitri Berge is an ex-Tiger so maybe he can drop a few pointers in the direction of the other guys.”
Redcar continue their Championship preparations with a challenge match which sees several former Bears riders forming a Russ Hodgson Select side to honour a popular former rider and spectator.
Tobias Busch has withdrawn from the Redcar side due to bruising in an Ice Speedway crash last week, whilst the visitors are led by Richard Lawson and Thomas Jorgensen.
Redcar boss Jitendra Duffill said: “Kev (Keay) and myself were keen to give our team as much track time as possible before our official fixtures kick in.
“The Russ Hodgson Select team should provide a good challenge for us and will lay down a benchmark. The opposition are full of riders with plenty of experience of the Media Prima Arena.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY APRIL 6:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Berwick 7.30
CHALLENGE: Redcar v Ex-Bears 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 7:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, 1st leg: Somerset v Leicester 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 8:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Poole 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Rye House v Swindon 7pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Glasgow v Newcastle 7pm, Workington v Sheffield 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 9:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 5.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Peterborough v Redcar 5pm
FEN FOURS: Mildenhall 3pm
PRIDE OF THE POTTERIES: Stoke 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 (500cc/250cc): Peterborough (follows KOC fixture)
Results Wednesday April 5, 2017
SGB PREMIERSHIP
King’s Lynn 53 (Troy Batchelor 13+1)
Somerset 37 (Patrick Hougaard 12+1)
SGB Premiership points: King’s Lynn 3 Somerset 0
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP, 1st leg
Poole 46 (Brady Kurtz 13)
Belle Vue 44 (Craig Cook 11)
WEST MIDLANDS TROPHY
Birmingham 43 (Danyon Hume 12)
Cradley 47 (Danny Ayres 12+2)
