(SPEEDWAY 1)
PETERBOROUGH stage the British Under-21 semi-final at the Showground on Tuesday.
Panthers promoter Ged Rathbone has reduced admission prices to £10 for adults (children 12-16 £5, accompanied under-12s free) for a meeting which features some of the country’s most talented youngsters.
Riders are battling for ten qualifying places to join the six seeds in the Final at Poole on April 26.
Six of Tuesday’s competitors currently have team places in the SGB Premiership, and the line-up also includes Jack Parkinson-Blackburn who finished a sensational fourth in last year’s Final at the age of 15.
Semi-final line-up: 1 Jack Smith (Belle Vue, Glasgow & Belle Vue Colts), 2 Kelsey Dugard (Eastbourne), 3 James Shanes (Poole), 4 Zach Wajtknecht (Swindon/Lakeside), 5 Luke Harris (Cradley), 6 Nathan Greaves (Wolverhampton/Isle of Wight), 7 Connor Mountain (Ipswich/Mildenhall), 8 Ellis Perks (Rye House, Redcar & Buxton), 9 Jack Thomas (Kent), 10 Josh Bailey (Kings' Lynn, Scunthorpe & King's Lynn Young Stars), 11 Jack Parkinson-Blackburn (Sheffield/Birmingham), 12 Danny Phillips (Newcastle/King's Lynn Young Stars), 13 Danno Verge (Mildenhall), 14 Nathan Stoneman (Kent), 15 Alfie Bowtell (Lakeside), 16 Danyon Hume (Ipswich/Birmingham). Reserves: 17 Joe Lawlor (Cradley), 18 Jamie Halder (unattached).
(SPEEDWAY 2)
WOLVERHAMPTON claimed a 53-39 win over Coventry in their Keep The Bees On Track challenge match at Monmore Green.
Their Wolves top five were all in impressive form to power them to victory on a night which featured some close racing and a big travelling Coventry contingent.
Swedish duo Freddie Lindgren and Jacob Thorssell top-scored, suffering just one defeat apiece on their way to scores of 13+1, and they joined forces for a 5-1 in the final race.
Coventry called up Stefan Nielsen for a late-notice guest booking after Josh Bates withdrew due to a weekend crash, and the former British Under-19 Champion sent out a timely reminder to other clubs with an impressive 8+1 haul as he looks to put himself in the shop window for a team place.
Wolves star Kyle Howarth said: “It was a good night. We always knew it was going to be tough but we got the job done and the boys performed well.
“It was a good effort from the team, and it’s always nice to be back racing at Monmore winning some races.
“It was good to see the turnout from Coventry fans. Having raced there in the past I want to see the club back and I hope they sort things out there in the near future.”
Coventry captain Danny King said: “It was a tough meeting and I struggled a bit myself, I couldn’t seem to make any clean starts early on.
“It’s a shame I didn’t score as many points as I’d have liked to, but that’s speedway sometimes.
“It was nice to get back on track and put the Bee on my chest again, and it was good to see so many fans there.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BELLE Vue youngster Dan Bewley says he already feels he belongs in the SGB Premiership after three successful appearances so far.
The 17-year-old is only in his second season of speedway but has scored a total of 16+5 points in the Aces’ early fixtures, defeating the likes of Nicolai Klindt and Brady Kurtz along the way.
Bewley said: “I’m really enjoying my racing with the Aces. I feel comfortable and I feel like I belong in this league. It’s been a great start to the season.
“I actually feel like I’m making better progress in this league already so hopefully I can keep it up.
“I had some good rides and some decent times. Riding all three leagues means a lot of meetings for me this year. But Steve [Worrall] has done it, and learned a lot, so hopefully I can do the same.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins is confident his side can pick up where they left off when they launch a busy Easter period this week.
The Witches enjoyed a positive start to the season but have not raced since making progress in the KO Cup on April 1.
Hawkins said: “When you have a big break between meetings it’s something that can go against you but we are very lucky that all seven of our boys have raced whilst we have been off.
“I was worried Cam (Heeps) might be the only one not to get any meetings but at least he got a meeting Sunday. Everyone has been racing and I think they’ll all be raring to go for our busy period ahead.”
(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY APRIL 11:
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Peterborough 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 12:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Birmingham 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 13:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Swindon v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Redcar v Peterborough 7.30
VINCE MAPLEY MEMORIAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight 7pm
Results Monday April 10, 2017
CHALLENGE
Wolverhampton 53 (Freddie Lindgren 13+1/Jacob Thorssell 13+1)
Coventry 39 (Stefan Nielsen 8+1)
