(SPEEDWAY 1)

BELLE Vue returned to winning ways with a 48-42 home success over Swindon – although boss Mark Lemon hinted he wasn’t entirely satisfied.
The Aces cut the gap on SGB Premiership leaders Wolverhampton to five points, and have two matches in hand, but were unable to completely shake off the Robins’ challenge as Alun Rossiter’s side impressed on the road again.
Despite being yet to win at home, Swindon’s league point lifted them into the play-off places on points difference from Rye House and King’s Lynn.
Kenneth Bjerre led the way for the Aces with 13 points whilst Steve Worrall scored 10+2 and his win over Jason Doyle in Heat 1 was the Australian’s only defeat.
Doyle collected a 14-point haul for the Robins whilst teenage reserve Zach Wajtknecht took the scalp of home skipper Craig Cook as the visitors narrowly led at the halfway stage before two Aces 5-1s in Heats 9 and 10 pulled them clear.
Lemon said: “A couple of our guys were running new engines on Friday which weren’t performing to the level that is more typical of them. Craig was one, and you could physically see it wasn’t like him.
“Kenneth put in a fabulous night’s work, resuming normal services and the rest of the boys were solid. Of course we want to win our meetings comfortably and not leave things to the last minute.
“In fairness to Swindon, they put on a great show and went away with a point. Collectively as a team we weren’t thrilled about that but it proves there’s work to do and we’re going to get stuck in.”
Rossiter said: “All things considered it was a good point, especially on the back of last night’s (Thursday) performance.
“We were a bit unlucky with a couple of 5-1s, there was a mistake with one of the mechanics in David (Bellego)’s race which cost us a bit but we couldn’t be too critical. I don’t think anybody gave us a chance coming here so it was a good return.”
Meanwhile Somerset’s team changes had the desired effect with the Rebels racing to a 54-38 win over Rye House at the Oaktree Arena.
Richard Lawson enjoyed a dream debut with a 15-point haul from six rides, and fellow newcomer Cameron Heeps was also in double figures on 10+1, whilst skipper Josh Grajczonek added 11+1.
Chris Harris (11+1) and Scott Nicholls (10) led the way for the Rockets, who still await their first points on the road this season.
Lawson said: “If you had offered me a debut with Somerset such as this before the match, I would have gladly taken it.
“Everyone was so helpful before the match as there was a bit of pressure on us three new boys to come in and do the business, but you cannot help but want to do well for a club such as this.
“The fans were great, they just wanted us to do well, and hopefully we’ve helped to put a smile back on their faces with tonight’s win.”
Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “The boys hung in there as they always do, and they got stuck in throughout, but the Oaktree Arena can be an unforgiving place and Somerset were just more consistent across the board. They also stung us tonight at reserve (15 vs 3).”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

EDINBURGH are four points clear at the top of the SGB Championship after a 53-39 win over Newcastle at Armadale.
The hosts got off to the worst possible start conceding a 5-1 in the very first heat, and while this was quickly reversed by reserves Mitchell Davey and Max Clegg in the next race the home men still found themselves regularly beaten from the starting gates in the early goings and were six points down after five heats.
A brace of maximum heat scores in Heats 6 and 7 put the Monarchs in front for the first time and this was a lead they were never to relinquish.
Sam Masters won four races for the home side as he totalled 13, whilst boss Alex Harkess had praise for the revitalised Clegg, who scored 10+4 from seven rides.
Harkess said: “You can see the difference, he believes he can pass people, he believes he can challenge anyone and on this form he is capable of beating anybody.
“The end product was what we wanted but the start was certainly not what we wanted to be fair. To go six down against any team can be awkward and Newcastle always produce here but we knuckled down got the win.”
Guest Ben Barker top scored with ten points for the Diamonds whilst Ashley Morris impressed with 9+1, with the event proving a frustration for boss George English.
He said: “We were not at our full strength tonight and those who need to know, know how unhappy were are with a certain decision.
“As it was our guests had rollercoaster nights, but after our pretty decent start the home side turned the screw and left us with no points to our name, which is a major, major disappointment.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

RYE House expect to welcome back in-form reserve Ellis Perks for their SGB Premiership clash with Somerset at Hoddesdon tonight (Saturday).
The Rockets lost 38-54 at the Oaktree Arena on Friday but should be back at full strength for the return fixture with Ricky Wells also returning to the side.
And boss Peter Schroeck is calling on his team to maintain their impressive home form, which has seen them take maximum points on their own circuit so far this season, and in the process recover from the away defeat.
Schroeck said: “We’ll brush ourselves off and make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen at our place. That’s very important, because three points at home will keep us on-track for our aim of making the play-offs.
“Ellis should be back as well. That should make a big difference, because everyone is finding out just what he is capable of this year.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BERWICK are looking to break a jinx dating back over 18 years when they host Peterborough at Shielfield Park tonight (Saturday).
The Bandits have not beaten the Panthers home or away in any competition since September 1998, and feel their new-look side has every chance of doing just that – and in the process, gaining their first SGB Championship win of the season.
Co-promoter Dennis McCleary said: “Saturday sees us at full strength and hoping to end this 18 year-old hoodoo and take a very satisfying win over the Panthers.
“Our new side looks really good together and appears they are gelling very well which makes our team unit solid, and that means success should be coming our way.
“We need a couple of meetings to bed in, naturally but the signs are there and the really sharp way David Howe looked at Workington in his comeback match, suggests he has the potential to be a powerhouse in our league once more.”
Peterborough are forced into changes with two guest and rider replacement in operation as they head north.
Lasse Bjerre is booked to fill in at No.1 with Jack Holder in a World Under-21 Championship qualifier, while Newcastle man Ashley Morris will deputise at reserve for the injured Bradley Wilson-Dean.
The Kiwi ace suffered a small fracture to his hand in a crash while riding for Swindon in the SGB Premiership on Thursday. He will also miss tomorrow's visit to Newcastle.
And Panthers are also without Kenneth Hansen tonight as he recuperates from a heavy spill in Sweden on Thursday.

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY MAY 20:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v Somerset 7pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Peterborough 7pm

SUNDAY MAY 21:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Peterborough 6.30, Scunthorpe v Ipswich 5.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Cradley 3pm
CHALLENGE: Mildenhall v Young Lions U21 4pm

MONDAY MAY 22:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Stoke 6.30
Results :Friday May 19, 2017;

SGB PREMIERSHIP

Belle Vue 48 (Kenneth Bjerre 13)
Swindon 42 (Jason Doyle 14)
Premiership points: Belle Vue 3 Swindon 1

Somerset 54 (Richard Lawson 15)
Rye House 38 (Chris Harris 11+1)
Premiership points: Somerset 3 Rye House 0

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP

Edinburgh 53 (Sam Masters 13)
Newcastle 39 (Ben Barker 10)
Championship points: Edinburgh 3 Newcastle 0

Peterborough v Berwick - OFF