(SPEEDWAY 1)
WORKINGTON moved into the SGB Championship play-off places with an impressive 51-42 win over leaders Edinburgh on Sunday.
The Comets made a flying start to proceedings and prevented the Monarchs from fighting back to take a point thanks to a last-heat 5-1 having gone into the race five clear.
Craig Cook won four races against his old club to top-score for the hosts on 12 whilst Thomas Jorgensen adding 11+1, whilst Erik Riss headed the visitors’ scoring on 11+1 with Sam Masters on 11.
Workington boss Tony Jackson said: “Having won at Redcar three days ago we had to make sure that we didn’t slip up against an in-form Edinburgh side, but once again a real team effort took us to victory in what was an excellent speedway meeting.
“We got off to the perfect start by taking maximum points from the first two races and, despite a couple of engine problems and their tactical ride success, we were able to keep our noses in front throughout.
“Thomas was back to his spectacular best after his early season mechanical problems, and when he and Craig combined to take maximum points from heat 15 to prevent the Monarchs taking away a match point that was simply the icing on the cake!”
Edinburgh manager John Campbell said: “We lost it at the start; it’s difficult to give Workington eight points of a start and hope to do anything.
“It was disappointing as well to lose the 5-1 in the last heat and that cost us the chance for points.”
Ipswich are up to second, three points behind Edinburgh, after edging a thriller at Scunthorpe 46-44 in a last-heat decider.
Danny King and Rory Schlein teamed up for a crucial 5-1 in Heat 13 to put their side ahead before a 4-2 to the Scorpions levelled the scores with one race to go.
King, though, completed a 15-point maximum in the decider with Schlein snatching third place from the home side’s top scorer Lewis Kerr (11) to seal the away win.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “There was lots of good racing and there was never more two points between us throughout.
“It was a really good meeting and we picked up a lot of vital third places where we passed people to nick a point which was important in a very close meeting.
“That has put us in a really good position and it’s another away win at a tough place to go. To come out on the right end of a tight result shows we have got a lot about us.”
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I guess we did have a bit of bad luck during the meeting, but I’m not going to make excuses any more.
“Some of my riders need to take a look at themselves. I’ve been loyal to them – maybe too loyal. But we just cannot continue losing home meetings.
“I don’t want to change any of the team. But it’s going to reach a point where I’m going to have to do that - it’s as simple as that.”
Meanwhile Newcastle brushed aside an injury-hit Peterborough team 58-34 at Brough Park with three riders scoring maximums.
Steve Worrall went through the card with five wins for a 15-point haul whilst Lewis Rose collected 14+1 and Robert Lambert notched 11+1 from four rides. Paul Starke accumulated 12 for the Panthers, whose guest at reserve Rob Branford picked up their only two race wins.
Diamonds boss George English said: “The score suggests this was an easy win but the Panthers gave us a few things to think about and deal with, and good on them for giving us a contest.
“As it was, it got us back to winning ways and three more league points is what was deserved to progress our Championship challenge.”
Panthers manager Carl Johnson said: “The weekend certainly hasn't gone the way we wanted it to. We lost a home meeting on Friday due to the weather, we couldn't pick up any points in two away meetings, and we lost another rider to injury.
"It's a difficult time for us, but the management and riders are doing all they can to turn the season around for the better.
“The two boys at reserve both did very well. Robert picked up our two wins and Tom (Bacon) scored points in every ride which was great to see.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
CRADLEY roared to the top of the Travel Plus National League with an emphatic 62-27 win at depleted Buxton on Sunday.
Youngsters Joe Lawlor and Luke Harris both scored four-ride paid maximums for the Heathens, whilst No.1 Danny Ayres set the three fastest times around Hi-Edge this season – as well as suffering a retirement and a fall.
Lawlor said: “I have been waiting a long time to do this after a rusty start at Cradley. Things have not been going my way with bike troubles and the like but I told the club I would come good and finally, I have.
“It is always a tricky track. Everyone else seems to hate it but I don’t, the harder you ride it the easier it is. My dad has been telling me that for years and when I took his advice, it made my life a lot easier.
“I have stayed unbeaten and feel so confident now. Hopefully, I can do the same again next time, that’s the plan.”
Buxton top-scorer Tom Woolley (9) said: “We got the track all wrong, we thought it was going to be grippier but the weather this week has made it slick. Fair play to Cradley they adapted better and deserved their victory.
“The matches don’t get any easier and I hope we can sort the team situation this week. All the riders are keen to start turning things around.”
Meanwhile Mildenhall defeated a Young Lions U21 side 48-41 in an entertaining challenge match at West Row.
Joe Jacobs again underlined his ability with 13 points in a guest appearance for the Fen Tigers with skipper Jon Armstrong adding 12+1, whilst Jack Parkinson-Blackburn top-scored for the U21s with 12.
Mildenhall boss Robert Henry said: “This was a very useful run-out for the lads, it is important they keep getting track time especially with Friday at Lakeside being called off.
“I continue to be impressed with Danno (Verge), Luke (Ruddick) and Sam (Woods) who are scoring their points every meeting at home now, all seem to been enjoying their racing and improving week on week.
“The team spirit remains very strong and today again this was clear to see, they stick together and the atmosphere is very positive.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
THE top two riders in the world meet at Monmore Green tonight (Monday) when Wolverhampton host Swindon in the SGB Premiership.
Wolves skipper Freddie Lindgren currently leads the World Championship series on 32 points – and is being chased hard by Robins captain Jason Doyle who sits in second, five points behind.
Lindgren has been inspirational for the Monmore men so far and is unbeaten by an opposing rider in their last five fixtures.
He said: “Swindon have some very capable riders in their team and it won’t be an easy meeting. Jason has come back from his injury well; he’s been excellent this year and they’ve got other riders who can do some damage too.
“But we’re a team full of confidence right now and we all really want to keep the ball rolling.
“There’s usually some excellent racing when we come up against Swindon so it should be a good speedway meeting for the supporters.”
The visitors again operate rider-replacement for the injured Bradley Wilson-Dean, and boss Alun Rossiter is urging his lower middle-order to raise their games.
He said: “Jason, Nick (Morris) and David (Bellego) have been performing, we just need the other boys to step up. The middle order needs to come to the party now.
“We have been saddled with some high averages so we’re stuck at the moment but we will look at it in the near future. For now, we have to try to get the best out of everyone to give them all a fair chance.
“Wolverhampton will be a tough nut to crack. They have made some shrewd moves and have been riding exceptionally well, particularly at home, but we should travel with confidence after the trip to Belle Vue.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
STOKE boss Malcolm Vasey says his side will travel to Kent in a positive mindset for tonight’s (Monday) Travel Plus National League encounter.
The Potters have enjoyed success at Central Park in the past but face a home side who have topped the 60-point mark in their first two league matches on their own circuit this season.
Vasey said: “We are going into the meeting knowing we are capable of getting a result against anyone and will be looking at getting something out of this meeting.
“They have some very good riders in their line-up especially in Luke Bowen but if we ride to our potential then there is no reason why we cannot push Kent all the way.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
PLYMOUTH have announced plans to stage the Devon Best Pairs on a previously blank date of June 16 at the St Boniface Arena.
All eight of the Devils squad will be in action along with six invited riders to make up the format of seven riding pairings. The club are inviting riders with Plymouth and Devon connections as much as possible, with Connor Coles the first to accept.
Co-promoter Mark Phillips said: “With the Cup match (against Birmingham) sorted we looked at the fixtures and decided to do something different. We then came up with the Devon Best Pairs and aim to make it an interesting one by inviting riders as far as possible who have connections with the club or have Devon roots.
“Connor Coles fits that perfectly and rides the St Boniface Arena well - and no doubt will get plenty of support from the fans in Devon.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY MAY 22:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Stoke 6.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 24:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Buxton 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 25:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30, Sheffield v Glasgow 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Swindon v Isle of Wight 7.30
FRIDAY MAY 26:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Peterborough 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Stoke 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Swindon 7.15
Results Sunday May 21, 2017
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastle 58 – Steve Worrall 15
Peterborough 34 – Paul Starke 12
Championship points: Newcastle 3 Peterborough 0
Scunthorpe 44 – Lewis Kerr 11
Ipswich 46 – Danny King 15
Championship points: Scunthorpe 0 Ipswich 3
Workington 51 – Craig Cook 12
Edinburgh 42 – Erik Riss 11+1
Championship points: Workington 3 Edinburgh 0
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Buxton 27 – Tom Woolley 9
Cradley 62 – Joe Lawlor 11+1
National League points: Buxton 0 Cradley 4
CHALLENGE
Mildenhall 48 – Joe Jacobs 13
Young Lions U21 41 – Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 12
Saturday May 20, 2017
SGB PREMIERSHIP
Rye House 52 – Edward Kennett 14+1
Somerset 38 – Richard Lawson 10+1
Premiership points: Rye House 3 Somerset 0
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Berwick 50 – Nick Morris 14
Peterborough 40 – Paul Starke 11+1
Championship points: Berwick 3 Peterborough 0
