SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENTS

WEDNESDAY MAY 17

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Ipswich v Sheffield - OFF

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Birmingham v Buxton - OFF
To be re-staged on Wednesday May 24

King's Lynn v Kent - OFF

(SPEEDWAY 1)

WOLVERHAMPTON surged eight points clear at the top of the SGB Premiership with an emphatic away win at Leicester on Monday.
The reigning champions had three unbeaten riders and recorded all but two of the race wins in their 57-36 victory at Beaumont Park.
World Championship leader Fredrik Lindgren reeled off his fifth straight domestic maximum, with fellow Swede Jacob Thorssell also on the 12-point mark from four rides – whilst early-season signing Rory Schlein notched a paid maximum from five outings (12+3).
To emphasise their side’s dominance, Sam Masters (10+2) and reserve Mark Riss (9+1) were also in the major points in a comprehensive Wolves performance.
There were slim pickings for the Lions, whose only successes came from Kim Nilsson and Erik Riss, who collected six points from a tactical ride on his way to top-scoring with eight overall.
Lindgren said: “To win away from home so comfortably is always brilliant but it really was an awesome performance from the whole team.
“Quick gating and smart first and second turns were where we won this meeting so impressively tonight and it was just another unbelievable effort from all of the team.
“It's another four huge points for us to add onto our total at the top of the table and we can't ask for much more right now.”
Leicester newcomer Jason Garrity said: “At the end of the day, they've got a good strong team, they were way better than us tonight and we didn't deserve anything out of the meeting.
“They were quicker out of the tapes and the way the track was, with the rain we had before the meeting, gating was going to be more important than ever.
“There's nothing we can do though apart from learn from it and move on.”
Meanwhile Kent were dominant 64-26 winners over King’s Lynn in their Travel Plus National League clash at Central Park.
Skipper Luke Bowen scored a 15-point maximum with Ben Hopwood (14+1) also paid for a full house, with Josh Bailey top-scoring with 10 for the Young Stars.

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SOMERSET have made a triple team switch as they aim to get their SGB Premiership campaign back on track.
Rohan Tungate, Paul Starke and Jan Graversen have all been released by the Rebels with Richard Lawson, Lewis Kerr and Cameron Heeps coming into the side, subject to BSPA approval.
It’s been a disappointing start to life in the top flight for Somerset who have won just two of their eight fixtures to date and currently prop up the rest of the league.
Team manager Garry May said: “It is never nice to tell riders that they are being released, but we had to do something quickly while we still had the chance in order to try and turn our season around.
“For whatever reason, things just haven’t happened for Rohan and Paul and while Jan has steadily improved as the season has progressed, I just felt that we needed greater consistency at reserve.
“Both Rohan and Paul have been great servants of the Rebels, but I have to do what I think is best for the club before it gets too late.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

REDCAR are set to release Richard Hall following their home clash with Workington on Thursday.
The Bears plan to bring Danny Ayres into their side, with the Leicester and Cradley man in line to make his debut at the Media Prima Arena against Scunthorpe on May 25.
Promoter Kevin Keay said: “Richard has always given his best but his gating has let him down and always made point-scoring more difficult for him.
“He still has the ability to turn his form around but we simply had to make a change now if we are to strengthen the side due to the current regulations.
“He has shown some improvement in the last two away matches on the larger tracks but his form around Redcar has been disappointing so it is with some regret we have to release Richard.
“In signing Danny I think we have a rider who will come in and score points straight away and the fans will see yet another 'showman' at the Media Prima Arena. He is a very exciting capture and should fit in well with the characters we already have in the side.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

TOM Perry has revealed he wants rain every week in Glasgow - so that he can keep racking up big scores on a super-grippy track.
The 24-year-old had his best meeting in Tigers colours on Saturday at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium as he scored paid-12 in the 52-41 win over Redcar – and he put his good form down to having plenty of dirt on the surface.
Perry said an earlier downpour had helped to create the ideal conditions for his style of all-action racing.
He said: "The track was packed down but it was because of the rain that it was so grippy. I'd prefer it to chuck it down like that every week. It produced natural dirt instead of them having to water it all day.
“I think they know that we all like the dirt, so if they keep setting it up like that, it'll be a bit of a fortress - people will be scared of coming to the place.
“Everything clicked and it worked well for me. Even when I wasn't making every single start, I was still making passes.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins has delivered a ‘more than satisfactory’ verdict on the Witches’ season so far.
The Foxhall club currently sit third in the SGB Championship table, just three points adrift of leaders Edinburgh, despite having to make changes following long-term injury setbacks for Nico Covatti and Danyon Hume.
Hawkins said: “It’s still early to tell where everyone is going to be at. Edinburgh and Glasgow have had good starts, but so have we I think, when you consider what has gone on. Anything can happen this year in this league.
“It’s a bonus to have seven riders again, we look a strong outfit and Nathan (Greaves) came in and did a really good job on Thursday. Hopefully we can now gel as a team and it is looking good.
“We have done well to be where we are at with everything that has happened. We’re in a good position and we should only get stronger.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

BELLE Vue boss Mark Lemon is eager to resume the Aces’ title chase when they go back into action against Swindon on Friday.
The Manchester side made a strong start to the season before slipping to a shock home defeat against Somerset on May 1, which was the last time they raced in the SGB Premiership.
Lemon said: “We’ve watched Wolverhampton take the lead at the top of the Premiership but as we've got matches in hand it’s only served to keep the boys pumped up for our next meeting.
“Our performance against Somerset means we’re fresh off the back of a blip and in racing terms you want to get back into action as soon as physically possible to put the wrongs to right.
“It’s seems like ages ago since the Aces were last on track so I absolutely can’t wait for this Friday’s clash with Swindon, and I think the boys are equally excited to get back to racing.”

(SPEEDWAY 7)

JACK Parkinson-Blackburn has declared himself fit to return – less than a week after dislocating his shoulder!
The teenager suffered the injury in Sheffield’s win over Redcar last Thursday, but he was set to line up for the Tigers in tonight’s (Wednesday) now-postponed visit to Ipswich, and will take his place in tomorrow’s clash with the Witches at Owlerton.
Parkinson-Blackburn said: “Since the weekend it's felt fine to be honest and it just feels totally normal.
“I want to help the team as much as I can. I just love riding my bike and hopefully I can make some good starts like I did in Heat 2 last week and get some points for the team.”

(SPEEDWAY 8)

BIRMINGHAM have moved quickly to re-arrange their National League clash with Buxton for next Wednesday.
The Brummies took the decision on Tuesday evening to postpone tonight’s scheduled fixture in the light of poor weather forecasts and previous rainfall.
Co-promoter Graham Drury said: “I've never known a start to a season quite like it but we've had no real other choice unfortunately.
“The Perry Barr area has had a few heavy downpours throughout the day and the forecast for Wednesday is absolutely horrendous.
“To minimise the inconvenience to all, we have decided to pull the plug and have swiftly agreed to get Buxton back to Perry Barr next week.”

(FIXTURES)

THURSDAY MAY 18:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v King’s Lynn 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Cradley 7pm

FRIDAY MAY 19:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Peterborough v Berwick 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Lakeside v Mildenhall 8pm
CELEBRATION OF SPEEDWAY: Plymouth 7.15