(SPEEDWAY 1)
EDINBURGH are back on top of the SGB Championship after a remarkable 53-37 win at Scunthorpe on Sunday.
The Monarchs trailed by eight points after six races but then hit unstoppable form to win each of the remaining nine heats and collect all four league points.
Riss brothers Erik and Mark scored 12+1 and 11+1 respectively for the visitors with Ricky Wells adding 12, whilst Michael Palm Toft and guest Dimitri Berge both scored eight for the injury-hit Scorpions.
Edinburgh boss John Campbell said: “I thought we were dead and gone when we were eight points down, and I couldn’t see where we were going to get a race win from.
“They have turned it around completely, it must be one of the biggest turnarounds ever in an away match to be eight points down and win by 16 - absolutely amazing. “Josh’s (Pickering) ride in Heat 8 was a catalyst that got the boys going, and when they got going there was just no stopping them.”
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I knew before the meeting we were up against it. But then our lads got off to a great start and I started to think we could get something out of the meeting. The final scoreline doesn’t tell the story that we led for two-thirds of this match.
“Edinburgh came to us at the right time. They are a quality team and they took advantage of our missing riders at the end of the match, while we had a bit of bad luck in the final few races.”
Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson hailed the result rather than the performance – and an epic race in Heat 13 – as the Tigers edged out Workington 46-44 at Ashfield.
Aaron Summers joined Richie Worrall for a 3-3 behind in the final race to get the home side over the line, Summers having got the better of Cook in a battle royal in their previous clash.
Summers (12+1), Worrall (11) and Richard Lawson (11) collected the bulk of Glasgow’s points, with Cook on 13 for the Comets whilst reserve Matt Williamson impressed on 9+1 as the visitors took a league point.
Dickson said: “We weren't quite ourselves and it was difficult to put our finger on it exactly. It was a strange sort of meeting - we just didn't ride the way we thought we would.
“A special mention for Heat 13 - one of the best races probably ever seen at Ashfield - with Aaron Summers and Craig Cook. They were both hard but fair - but it was a tough, tough race. It was the highlight of the meeting.
“It wasn't a classic, but we won, and I'm thankful for that. We didn't race great, they rode pretty well, and we still won.”
Workington boss Tony Jackson said: “Although it is very disappointing to have just missed out on what would have been a great result, we have to take the positives from this display where we showed that we are working well as a team, and if we can put in performances like this on the road then we should be okay.
“We are all definitely encouraged by this performance and we feel that there is still improvement to come. There won't be many teams come to Glasgow and leave with anything to show for their efforts as it is a tough place to visit, and the Tigers will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.”
Newcastle picked up a 52-38 win over Ipswich at Brough Park with the visitors seeing their middle-order further depleted early in the meeting.
Already using rider-replacement for Nico Covatti, guest Josh Bates suffered a hand injury in a Heat 3 crash and could take no further part.
Steve Worrall (12+1) and Robert Lambert (11) led the way for the Diamonds whilst former Newcastle man Danny King top-scored for the Witches on 13+1 from six rides.
Newcastle boss George English said: “Early on in the meeting Ipswich kept it tight, but to be fair with their resources being stretched with the withdrawal of their guest, their task became harder
“But our lads also turned on the style with some excellent and determined racing, especially after Heat 9 which gave us a handsome victory in the end.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
MILDENHALL raced to an emphatic 61-29 home win over Eastbourne in a flying start to their National Trophy campaign.
Guest Danny Ayres stepped in for Connor Mountain with a paid maximum (13+2) whilst Danny Halsey (11+2) and Jon Armstrong (10+1) also struck double figures in a totally dominant display.
Young reserve Tom Brennan, with 13, scored nearly half of the Eagles’ points on his own as they were brought down to earth following their big win at Plymouth on Friday.
Mildenhall manager Robert Henry said: “This has been a pretty special few days, the lads are doing everything we are asking of them and the team spirit amongst them is better than I can remember.
“It is very early days though, with meetings coming thick and fast and we need to prepare for a difficult meeting at Belle Vue on Friday and not get ahead of ourselves.
“This was a decent Eastbourne side, make no mistake, but we put them to the sword today and this win sets us up nicely in our National Trophy group.”
Eastbourne boss Connor Dugard said: “Obviously, it has been a very disappointing afternoon for us, especially coming after such a convincing win at Plymouth on Friday night.
“We were unable to force our way into the match, and Mildenhall controlled things from the off.
“We will head home and get things back together again in readiness to take on Cradley at home on Saturday.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
NEW boy Rory Schlein is looking to “hit the ground running” as he makes his Wolverhampton debut against Rye House at Monmore Green tonight (Monday).
Schlein comes into the side alongside fellow new signing Mark Riss for their encounter with the SGB Premiership newcomers.
The Rockets are racing their first away match of the league campaign and include a host of Monmore specialists, with former Wolves rider Ricky Wells a recent addition to their ranks.
Schlein said: “I’m just grateful to Wolves for giving me a chance, and I’m ready to hit the ground running on Monday now.
“I think the changes are very positive and aggressive to show the rest of the league that Wolves want to hang onto the title.
“Hopefully we can get off to a good start with the new team by getting a win on Monday against Rye House then just march on from there.”
Rye House star Stuart Robson said: “It’s a great track, and consistently good for a long time now. All the boys like it, and obviously Ricky has been a Wolves asset for quite a few years now, and it will be good to get a few tips from him as to what the home boys might use and do in order to help us!
“We all like Wolverhampton, and we’ve had good meetings there as individuals. It’s down to what happens on the night. We just need to go there and start off well, guns blazing at the beginning.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SWINDON have announced six of the seven riders who will represent them in the National Trophy competition.
The Sprockets have to build to the National League points limit from riders not competing elsewhere in the Trophy.
They will be led by current Robins reserve Zach Wajtknecht along with club asset Darryl Ritchings and two of their former riders in Dan Greenwood and David Mason, Youngsters Layne Cupitt and Taylor Hampshire will line up at reserve, with one spot to fill.
Manager Lee Kilby said: “After initially scanning the averages, there were five or six riders that I knew of quite well and that I wanted in the team. When I made contact with them, all were up for it which was just terrific.
“All being well the core of the team will ride in all four of our round-robin fixtures so the Swindon supporters can get behind the boys and make a connection with them.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
GREAT Britain Under 21s have received a major boost ahead of their Under-21 World Team Cup Semi-Final in Germany on June 3.
The Young Lions have received backing from Direct Digital Controls Ltd and Wessex Marine for the second consecutive season to enable all five members to wear team suits when they head to Pocking next month.
Team boss Neil Vatcher has praised the companies, based in Brierley Hill in the West Midlands and Poole respectively, for their support in their quest for World Cup glory.
Said Vatcher: “Mr Bob Taylor from Direct Digital and Mr Dave Adams from Wessex Marine have again stepped forward to make sure that the British team go to Pocking fully prepared.
“This year’s competition enables teams to have a reserve who we can use at any time, so there will be five riders in this year’s team, where as in recent seasons there has only been four.
“We believe with the talent that is coming through the ranks, and if everyone stays fit we really do have a genuine chance to qualify for our first World Cup Final since 2010, when as host we were seeded.
“Of course the help we get from our sponsors is so valuable, and if any other companies would like to get involved in supporting the Young Lions we would be delighted to hear from them.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY APRIL 24:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Wolverhampton v Rye House 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 26:
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Poole 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 27:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich v Berwick 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7pm
FRIDAY APRIL 28:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Somerset v King’s Lynn 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Mildenhall 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Plymouth v Isle of Wight 7.15
Results Sunday April 23, 2017
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Glasgow 46 – Aaron Summers 12+1
Workington 44 – Craig Cook 13
Championship points: Glasgow 3 Workington 1
Newcastle 52 – Steve Worrall 12+1
Ipswich 38 – Danny King 13+1
Championship points: Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0
Scunthorpe 37 – Michael Palm Toft 8/Dimitri Berge 8
Edinburgh 53 – Erik Riss 12+1
Championship points: Scunthorpe 0 Edinburgh 4
NATIONAL TROPHY
Mildenhall 61 – Danny Ayres 13+2
Eastbourne 29 – Tom Brennan 13
National Trophy points: Mildenhall 3 Eastbourne 0.
