(SPEEDWAY 1)

IPSWICH mounted a mid-meeting surge to see off SGB Championship leaders Edinburgh at Foxhall on Thursday.
The Witches trailed in the early stages and also had reserve Nathan Greaves withdrawn after a Heat 4 crash, where he suffered soft tissue damage to his back.
But from a three-point deficit, they recorded 5-1s in Heats 8, 9 and 10 to take control of the meeting.
The final outcome was 50-39 in the home side’s favour, leaving the Monarchs pointless following a Heat 15 4-2 from Danny King and Rory Schlein.
King won four races to score 12, his only blip being a fall in Heat 13, whilst Schlein scored 11. Sam Masters top-scored for the visitors, also with 11.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “The first half of the meeting wasn’t good and losing Nathan made the job really difficult, but I was really proud of how the boys turned it around.
“We could have quite easily wilted, got hammered in the end and could have rolled over. Everyone stepped up and it shows the determination of the team. It’s a quality I have been looking for in the team and I was really proud to see it, they’ve made me proud tonight.
“Everyone has contributed but you have got to say Connor’s (Mountain) ride in Heat 8 turned the meeting around for us. The boy has been under pressure and to step up in that race, so inexperienced, to ride like that set the standard for the other boys.”
Edinburgh reserve Mitchell Davey said: “The boys are disappointed that we didn’t leave with at least a point.
“In the early part of the meeting we were gating really well but Ipswich just seemed to find a bit extra out of the gate. The three 5-1’s in the middle of the meeting killed us and it gave them the momentum to go on and win.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

BELLE Vue are looking to put a tough month behind them when they face second-placed Poole in the SGB Premiership tonight (Friday).
The Aces have lost home and away matches to Somerset, with only a hard-fought home win over Swindon to show for their last three fixtures.
That leaves them currently outside the top four, albeit with matches in hand on every other team in the league.
Tonight the Aces face a patched up Pirates team, who bring in Troy Batchelor to guest for Grzegorz Zengota (Polish championship) with Josh Bates continuing to deputise for injured reserve Nicolai Klindt. Skipper Hans Andersen has a Danish League commitment so rider-replacement is in operation.
Belle Vue captain Craig Cook said: “I don’t believe our result at Somerset will have any effect on our meeting against Poole. We’ve beaten them at home before and there’s no reason we can’t repeat that success.
“The Pirates are not a team to be underestimated, as they have proved in the past. They are a quality side and even without (Krzysztof) Kasprzak, I’m sure they will be one of our toughest opponents.
“We’re a very capable team in terms of making the play-offs this year and we remain dedicated to that goal. There were a couple of hiccups last month but that’s over with now, it’s time to move on.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

EDINBURGH boss Alex Harkess is eager to see his side start firing on all cylinders when they take on Redcar in the SGB Championship tonight (Friday).
The Monarchs top the table despite losing at Ipswich on Thursday, and Harkess says there is plenty more to come as they chase honours this season.
Redcar arrive in sixth place after their home match with Peterborough was postponed, and the Bears call up Matt Williamson to guest for injured reserve Danny Ayres.
Harkess said: “At the moment we seem to have enough performing at home to win matches, but not enough away. I keep thinking that we’ll get everyone performing at their best and be a really good team but I’m not sure when it is going to happen.
“Redcar at home is no different to any home match because we want to win any home match.
“Yes, they have one or two riders who can certainly get round our place, but we have to overcome that. Hopefully if all or nearly all of our riders perform to what we know they are capable of, we will be fine.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

LAKESIDE promoter Jon Cook is expecting a closely contested National League showdown with local rivals Kent at the Arena-Essex Raceway on tonight (Friday).
The sides have already met on two occasions this year with the Hammers coming out on top in both to claim the pre-season Tunnel Trophy.
They hand a debut to Connor Locke who recently signed in place of George Hunter, whilst the visitors operate rider-replacement for the injured Luke Clifton.
Cook said: “Of course everyone talks about rivalry between ourselves and Eastbourne stretching back many years, but there is also something similar developing between ourselves and the Kings.
“I have no doubt they will be determined to come to us and gain some revenge after we did the double over them earlier in the season.
“But we're pleased with the way things are going so far and we're really looking forward to what should be a really good meeting.”
Meanwhile Plymouth are determined to get off the mark in the league when they host Stoke at the St Boniface Arena.
The Devils have enjoyed success in the National Trophy and KO Cup so far this season but are currently scoreless from five league matches.
The hosts are at full strength with Adam Roynon making his official home debut, whilst the Potters bring in Tom Bacon to guest for Mitchell Davey (SGBC commitment) at No.1, and William O’Keefe fills their vacancy at reserve.
Plymouth manager Laurence Rogers said: “Stoke are one of my old tracks, having been involved there when speedway returned there at Loomer Road .
“The boys know we need to start stepping up a gear in the league now and this is the time to get some league points on the board and start rising up the table. We will be looking for a good win against the Potters for sure!”
Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “It’s a tight little circuit where you need to get some good starts in.
“They have formulated a very good side and added Adam Roynon, and they will be difficult to beat around their home circuit, but we are going with a positive attitude and as always we will be looking to take something from the meeting.”

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY JUNE 9:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Lakeside v Kent 8pm, Plymouth v Stoke 7.15

SATURDAY JUNE 10:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Somerset 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pm

SUNDAY JUNE 11:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Workington 3pm, Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30, Peterborough v Berwick 5pm, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Mildenhall 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Rye House 3pm

Results Thursday June 8, 2017

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP

Ipswich 50 (Danny King 12)
Edinburgh 39 (Sam Masters 11)
SGB Championship points: Ipswich 3 Edinburgh 0