SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENT - SATURDAY JUNE 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg
Eastbourne v Kent - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
GREAT Britain compete in the World Under-21 Team Cup semi-final in Pocking, Germany tonight (Saturday).
Robert Lambert, Adam Ellis, Josh Bates, Dan Bewley and reserve Ellis Perks will fly the flag as they bid to reach their first final since 2010.
Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “This is always a real tough meeting, and GB have not had any success in this competition for over ten years now, so that goes to show what type of event this meeting is.
“We go there in positive sprits after our Pairs victory last weekend, and also Robert’s (Lambert) win in Sweden two weeks ago at the World Under-21 Individual semi-final.
“Saying that, we know it will be a really tough meeting, as the very strong Australia team are competing along with home nation Germany.
“We’ll give it our best shot and enjoy what is always a big occasion when representing your country.”
The GB side would like to thank their team sponsors, Direct Digital Controls Limited and Wessex Marine, for their support and also the continued backing of the BSPA.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SOMERSET maintained their record as a bogey team for Belle Vue with a 50-40 win over the Aces at the Oaktree Arena on Friday.
The Rebels, who had pulled off a shock away win in Manchester last month, ensured the Aces left the return SGB Premiership fixture pointless in a meeting which was completed despite rain and drizzle.
Belle Vue opened with a 5-1 but the Rebels quickly responded and had a trump card reserve in Jake Allen, who piled up 15+2 from seven rides.
Allen’s haul was backed up by Charles Wright on 14+2 whilst Richard Lawson scored 11; with the Aces’ scoring dominated by Steve Worrall (11), Kenneth Bjerre (11) and Max Fricke (9+2).
Rebels boss Garry May said: “Having missed a couple of matches due to injury, Wrighty was determined to make up for lost time, and he was in superb form, as was Jake, while Richard put in an excellent shift given that he was feeling decidedly ‘second hand’ after his big off the night before whilst riding for Glasgow.
“But overall, this was a good all-round team performance in far from ideal conditions, and credit is due to both sets of riders for they way they rode given those conditions.”
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “We had a couple of weak links that caught us out unfortunately but it was a trying night for both teams and it all came down to how each handled it.
“Max, Kenneth and Steve did a brilliant job between them but three riders don’t make a team and they certainly can’t win meetings all by themselves. In the end it was the better team who won.
“It’s one of those nights where I expected more from the guys than I got, but I’ve still every faith in them. We can’t get discouraged by loss just like we shouldn’t get carried away with winning.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
EDINBURGH saw off a resilient Sheffield side 49-44 at Armadale to extend their SGB Championship advantage to six points.
The Monarchs led by ten points after Heat 10 but a tactical ride win for Tigers guest Aaron Summers was followed up by a 5-1 in the next race to narrow the gap to just one point.
Mark Riss and Max Clegg effectively secured the victory with maximum points in Heat 14 but Kyle Howarth ensured a league point for the visitors by winning the final race.
Clegg racked up 11+4 from another busy night at reserve with Ricky Wells adding 11+1 and Sam Masters 10, whilst Howarth (13) and Summers (12) were top-scorers for the Tigers.
Wells said: “We made a good start which has been kind of unusual for us recently, but it got tight in the end.
“The sun was very bright over the third bend which made it hard to see, and there was dirt on the track which we’ve been asking for, but it made some of the outside passes kind of scary!”
Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “We’re pleased to come away with a point, especially considering the circumstances.
“We started a bit slow but we got to grips with the setup and grew into it to make sure we didn’t leave empty handed.
“We’re going well at the moment, and it says a lot that we’re coming away from somewhere as difficult as Edinburgh thinking we could have possibly got even more than a point in normal circumstances.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PLYMOUTH have boosted their heat-leader strength with the signing of Adam Roynon, who made his debut in Friday’s 56-34 win over a National League Select.
Roynon recently lost his place with SGB Championship side Workington and returns to the third tier for the first time since racing for Cradley in 2012.
He scored 14 points on Friday having come into the Devils side to replace Lee Smart, and will line up in their NL trip to Mildenhall on Sunday forming a strong top two with Steve Boxall.
Co-promoter Mark Phillips said: “Lee is the man to make way based on the figures of the first four league meetings.
“His form has not been consistent and we had to bear that in mind when looking at making a change. Hopefully he will get snapped up elsewhere on his bargain average.
“Adam at this level should be a class act and give us a strong spearhead with Benji (Compton) backing them up. It is a move we had to do and hopefully we can start getting a few league wins to climb the table and put in a challenge for the play-offs.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
LEICESTER boss Jim Lynch insists his side “will be geared up to have a right go” when Poole visit Beaumont Park in the SGB Premiership tonight (Saturday).
Lions have lost three out of four Premiership home meetings in 2017, including a 56-34 defeat against the much-fancied Pirates at the start of April.
And with Erik Riss and Josh Bates on World Under-21 Team Cup duty, the hosts are also without Jason Garrity and Danny Ayres due to injuries.
Josh Grajczonek, Mark Riss and Jack Smith come in as guests for the Lions, whilst the Pirates also have to make two changes due to international duty. Rory Schlein guests for Brady Kurtz with rider-replacement in operation for Jack Holder.
Lynch said: “It doesn’t worry me. We gave Poole the best track they’ll ever see last time and were missing a couple of riders.
“We will be geared up to have a right go at them. I don’t see it as the mighty Poole coming to town so we should feel nervous, I think they should be nervous about us.
“On paper, it might look an easy task but in spite of last week’s result (against Rye House), we come off the back of playing our part in a really good meeting. It is one we are looking forward to.”
Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “We won't be going into the meeting bothering about where a team is in the league, be it top or bottom. Speedway can be a great leveller and it is all about being the best on the night.
“I think it is reasonable to say that we need to be sharp starters on Saturday. Nicolai (Klindt) has good knowledge of the place and I am sure that he will be offering as much advice as the team needs as we look to add to our league tally.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
BERWICK have been forced into an injury roll-call ahead of their SGB Championship local derby with Workington at Shielfield Park tonight (Saturday).
David Howe (concussion) and Lee Payne (shoulder) are both absent for the Bandits along with Dany Gappmaier (GP qualifier). Todd Kurtz and Nathan Greaves guest, with Jye Etheridge declared fit to return.
Co-promoter Scott Courtney said: “We welcome the current Shielfield Park track record holder and top British star, Craig Cook, back to lead his team of Comets which also include one of our own superstars from 2016, Thomas Jorgensen - an absolute crowd favourite in Berwick, and those two alone provide us with massive headaches.
“It will be a mammoth border battle with out rivals from the West and are expecting an top-class classic if ever there was one.”
The Comets bring in Ryan MacDonald at reserve for concussion victim Rob Shuttleworth, with boss Tony Jackson lamenting the lack of options for guests in that area of the team.
Jackson said: “We are the latest club to discover just how hard it is to replace an injured two-point reserve as quite simply it is almost impossible; in fact I genuinely feared that we wouldn’t get anyone after making endless telephone calls.
“There are five eligible riders in the Championship but out of those five two are already riding, one is ineligible as he guested there for Berwick last weekend and two have other commitments.
“With Ryan being Scottish-based and having previous experience of Shielfield Park it made perfect sense to use him in this situation and we are very grateful that he is able to help us out.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
STOKE boss Malcolm Vasey is urging his side to avoid slip-ups as they defend their KO Cup advantage over Buxton at Loomer Road tonight (Saturday).
The Potters were emphatic 54-35 winners at Hi-Edge last month but face a rebuilt Hitmen side in the return fixture.
The hosts operate rider-replacement for the injured Tony Atkin with youngster Josh Embleton stepping in at reserve for the retired David Speight.
Vasey said: “Despite holding a 19-point lead from the first leg we cannot take Buxton lightly since they have made changes since both teams met at Hi-Edge last month, bringing in one of the top riders in the league in Max Clegg and they have drafted in Ben Wilson as a replacement for Matt Williamson.
“They have definitely improved after a difficult start to their season and we will need to be at them right from the start, so hopefully we ourselves can get back to winning ways and move into the next round.”
The fixture between Eastbourne and Kent has been postponed following a break-in at Arlington overnight with air-blowers damaged and stolen.
Chairman Martin Dugard said: “It's a blow. The team are riding really well and wanted to get the job done tonight, having established a valuable lead in the first leg.
“Clearly, in these circumstances we cannot race and an immediate decision was taken to postpone the tie.”
(SPEEDWAY 8)
SHEFFIELD youngster Jack Parkinson-Blackburn has informed the club of his intention to take time out of racing.
The 16-year-old has found points hard to come by at SGB Championship level, although he still wishes to compete in the National League with Birmingham.
Sheffield owner Damien Bates said: “We are extremely disappointed with this news because we were standing by Jack despite him struggling for us.
"However we understand his desire to take a break and we wish him well, we sincerely hope this isn't the last we see of him at Owlerton.”
Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “Jack decided he didn't want a full break, because he lives for his speedway racing. Therefore, he asked if he could take a few weeks away from Championship racing with the view of going back there refreshed with his confidence rebuilt after what will hopefully be a positive few weeks with Birmingham.
"He has been flying for us at this level and with a run of good meetings for us behind him, there's no reason why he wouldn't be able to go back to Sheffield with a totally different mindset when he felt ready for the challenge again.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JUNE 3:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Poole 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Workington 7pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Kent OFF, Stoke v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 4:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Berwick 6pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Scunthorpe v Peterborough 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Plymouth 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 5:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Mildenhall 6.30
TUESDAY JUNE 6:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Belle Vue 7pm
Results Friday:
SGB PREMIERSHIP
Somerset 50 (Jake Allen 15+2)
Belle Vue 40 (Steve Worrall 11/Kenneth Bjerre 11)
SGB Premiership points: Somerset 3 Belle Vue 0
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Edinburgh 49 (Max Clegg 11+4)
Sheffield 44 (Kyle Howarth 13)
SGB Championship points: Edinburgh 3 Sheffield 1
CHALLENGE
Plymouth 56 (Henry Atkins 16+1)
National League Select 34 (Ben Wilson 9)
