(SPEEDWAY 1)

REIGNING top-flight champions Wolverhampton moved to the SGB Premiership summit with victory at Somerset on Friday.
The visitors overcame the absence of three of their regular riders to notch a 49-44 success, which in the process condemned the home side to a third successive Oaktree Arena defeat.
And Rebels boss Garry May has hinted changes could be on the cards as the club consider their options during a quiet spell of fixtures this month.
Recent signing Rory Schlein led the way for Wolves with 11 points, backed up by Jacob Thorssell on 8+3 – whilst Josh Grajczonek (15) and Patrick Hougaard (10) dominated the Rebels’ scoring.
Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “Somerset isn't an easy place to come to, especially when you've got a chunk of your own team missing, but our replacements in Richie Worrall, Robert Lambert and Ellis Perks did us proud and they supported our regular riders superbly.
“This is Somerset's biggest home defeat so far this season which tells you a lot, so we're certainly very happy.
“We'll be even happier when we look at the league table and see ourselves sitting at the top. We're on a good run - but now the challenge is to keep that ball rolling for as long as we can.”
May said: “We paid the price for some inconsistent gating, and with some below-par scores from within the team we just did not have enough fire-power to counter Wolves, and all credit to them on their win.
“We now have to go to Wolverhampton on Monday for the return fixture, after which we have the best part of two weeks before our next home match, so before then we will sit down and take stock of where we are with things before deciding where we need to go from here in order to get back to winning ways.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

EDINBURGH overcame the absence of star reserve Mark Riss to return to the top of the SGB Championship with a home win over Workington.
The Monarchs triumphed 52-40 in front of what was reported to be the biggest Armadale crowd of the season by far.
The hosts covered for Riss missing the meeting due to his GP Qualifier this weekend, helped by the fact that Craig Cook was also absent for the Comets – and his guest replacement Steve Worrall suffered mechanical problems after a Heat 1 crash.
Ricky Wells kept up his strong form for the Monarchs with 14, with skipper Sam Masters adding 11+1, whilst Thomas Jorgensen notched 13 for the Comets.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “I was happy we took the early lead because we were never strong enough without Mark Riss to kill the match off, but equally I felt we were always in control.
“I wish Josh Pickering could gate, but full marks to him for getting through the match with his hand injury.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

FORM man Danny Ayres raced to his second successive 15-point maximum on the road to inspire Cradley to the top of the National League table.
Ayres, who had gone through the card at Eastbourne last weekend, did it again at Plymouth on Friday as the Heathens took all four available league points with a 51-39 win.
Ayres was well backed up by fellow heat-leaders Dan Greenwood (11) and guest Ben Wilson (10). Steve Boxall scored 11 for the Devils, who still await their first league win.
Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “We're over the moon to leave Plymouth with four league points and they were fully deserved too.
“When we did the track walk, you could tell that the lads were really up for it and they were determined to get the win.
“Danny was fantastic once again tonight and we're really happy for him on getting the maximum. He, Dan Greenwood and Ben Wilson all rode magnificently and scored 36 points between them.”
Meanwhile Lakeside’s big guns Ben Morley and Zach Wajtknecht held their nerve to end Belle Vue’s winning run in a competitive clash at Purfleet.
Morley completed a 15-point maximum in Heat 15 and with Wajtknecht overhauling visiting duo Kyle Bickley and guest Ben Hopwood, it prevented the Colts from taking a league point – when their late comeback had put them in with a chance of snatching a draw.
Wajktnecht scored 12+1 for the Hammers in their 49-41 victory whilst reserve ace Bickley notched 12+1 for the Colts with Hopwood on 11 as they suffered their first defeat of the season.
Lakeside boss Kelvin Tatum said: “We were under no illusions that they'd be a good side and that proved to be the case.
“Fortunately we managed to come out on top in a last heat decider, and that was a great result for us.
“It was a tough meeting but we managed to get the job done, and we'll look forward to our next meeting now."
Belle Vue manager Graham Goodwin said: “Lakeside is a tricky track to come to and I don’t think there will be many teams this year who will come to Arena Essex and leave with a point, or even a win.
“Kyle Bickley was sensational. He took to the place very well. He was gating well, riding a good line and had cracked the set-ups. It was frustrating for the others but we’re not worried by this result.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

STOKE star Luke Priest insists his side have the belief to defeat defending champions Birmingham when the sides clash at Loomer Road on Saturday.
The Potters narrowly lost their Travel Plus National League opener at home to Belle Vue but responded with a big KO Cup victory at Buxton last weekend.
The Brummies hand a full debut to recent signing Kyle Roberts but will operate R/R for the injured Danyon Hume as his replacement Liam Carr does not become eligible until Sunday.
Priest said: “The start of the season has seen a real belief that we can challenge anyone this year and that we can beat anyone on our day.
“We have had some good scores from our reserves this season and hopefully they can continue that on Saturday. If the rest of the lads can come up with the scores we are all capable of achieving we may well surprise a few people.”
Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “I think Dave Tattum and Malcolm Vasey have put together a very competitive team – particularly at the top end.
“Obviously we’ll now have to run rider replacement for Danyon so it’s down to the other six lads to come up with the points.
“We have got a good record against Stoke since we joined the National League, but this is a new season now and we’ll have to be on it on Saturday.”
In the National Trophy, Eastbourne host Mildenhall a fortnight after going down 29-61 in the reverse fixture at West Row.
But boss Connor Dugard, who names a full-strength side, insists the match is not about “revenge” although they now have little room for further error in the group.
Dugard said: “We just had an off-day there and we are determined to prove our critics wrong. The lads were back in the groove against Cradley and the aim is to build on that and keep moving forward.
“We are up for this and want to win the National Trophy. Everyone knows how important it is to win (on Saturday), and our two matches against Kent in the competition during the summer.”
Leicester will be led by their regular Premiership man Josh Bates for Saturday’s Ivor Brown Trophy clash with Cradley at Beaumont Park.
The home side have also recruited Matt Williamson and Kyle Bickley amongst their septet for the match, whilst Max Clegg makes a return to Heathens colours in place of the unavailable Luke Harris.
Bates said: “I'm looking forward to it. It should be an exciting meeting between two big clubs, and hopefully we get a big crowd in.
“I haven't done a challenge match in a while, so it will be nice to race against some guys I haven't ridden against in a while.
Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “This will be a good workout for our lads involved and it's a meeting we're really looking forward to as a club.
“Leicester have put together a competitive line-up too so it should be an entertaining night for the supporters.
“We'd like to win the trophy and hopefully we'll have a lot of our supporters there cheering us on.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

GLASGOW boss Stewart Dickson insists there is “more to come” from his side as they look to establish their SGB Championship title credentials.
Dickson’s side picked up a point at Ipswich on Thursday and are second in the league table after seven matches – with their next fixture being a trip to leaders and local rivals Edinburgh next Friday.
Dickson said: “We'll not start criticising people. We'll be working with the guys.
“Next week, Jack Smith is coming up to Ashfield and myself and Aaron (Summers) will be there on track, working with him, and giving him lots of track time, because he needs that.
“That's what we're going to do at Glasgow, keep working until we get it right with the guys that it's not really happening for.”

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY MAY 6:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Birmingham 7pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Eastbourne v Mildenhall 7.30
IVOR BROWN TROPHY: Leicester v Cradley 7.30

SUNDAY MAY 7:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Edinburgh 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Belle Vue 3pm, Mildenhall v King’s Lynn 3pm

MONDAY MAY 8:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Wolverhampton v Somerset 7.30
INVICTA PAIRS: Kent 6.30

WEDNESDAY MAY 10:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Poole v Rye House 7.30, King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30, Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30

Results :Friday May 5, 2017;

SGB PREMIERSHIP

Somerset 44 (Josh Grajczonek 15)
Wolverhampton 49 (Rory Schlein 11)
Premiership points: Somerset 0 Wolverhampton 3

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP

Edinburgh 52 (Ricky Wells 14)
Workington 40 (Thomas Jorgensen 13)
Championship points: Edinburgh 3 Workington 0

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE

Lakeside 49 (Ben Morley 15)
Belle Vue 41 (Kyle Bickley 12+1)
National League points: Lakeside 3 Belle Vue 0

Plymouth 39 (Steve Boxall 11)
Cradley 51 (Danny Ayres 15)
National League points: Plymouth 0 Cradley 4