(SPEEDWAY 1)

CAPTAIN Craig Cook hailed his side’s performance at King’s Lynn as Great Britain look forward to next weekend’s World Cup Final.
Cook led a rock-solid GB effort in the first round of the competition, setting the marker for five successive race wins at the start of the meeting by overhauling Australian rival Troy Batchelor in Heat 1.
And when their main opponents threatened to get back into contention thanks to a joker ride from top man Chris Holder, all four of the British riders won their outings in the fourth block of races.
Cook, with 14 points, dropped just one point from his five rides with Steve Worrall, Chris Harris and Robert Lambert all scoring 13 – Worrall securing GB’s place in the Final with three races to spare, as they finished nine clear of Australia with the USA third.
Cook said: “We can all ride this King’s Lynn track really well. We hit them hard from the get-go and we were out there to prove a point and make a statement.
“That’s what we did. We set the tone for the whole meeting and kept it up.
“We’re not going there (to Poland) to win a medal. We’re going to win. What’s the point of looking to finish second? We just have to believe.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

GLASGOW closed to within two points of SGB Championship leaders Edinburgh with a convincing 55-37 win over Sheffield at Ashfield.
Richard Lawson led the way for the hosts with 14 points from five rides including a series of overtaking moves, whilst youngster Dan Bewley got the better of Josh Grajczonek when the Australian was taking a tactical ride.
Lawson said: “I'm happy with 14 points. Josh is one of the top guys in the league so I'll take that any day of the week.
“He only won one race but it wasn't as though he was struggling - he was very fast - I just think our team were that good tonight.
“I think we've found the balance with the track. We didn't want it too grippy for some of the guys, but that was perfect tonight - Jack (Smith) was flying, Tom (Perry) was loving it, and the rest of the guys were too.”
The visitors were without an unwell Josh Bates and their only heat wins came courtesy of Grajczonek and Lasse Bjerre, who both scored 13, with boss Simon Stead far from happy with their display.
Stead said: “That's probably the most disappointing performance and result we've had since I've been team manager and some members of the team have to go home tonight and think long and hard about things after a meeting like that.
“Don't get me wrong, Glasgow are a very strong outfit this year, particularly at home, but with the team we've got we shouldn't be getting demolished like that.
“It's frustrating and disappointing and they're the two main emotions amongst us all right now I think.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

HOLDERS Eastbourne secured an eight-point aggregate win over Kent and progression to the National League KO Cup semi-finals.
The Eagles had won the first leg at Central Park 48-42 but the return fixture at Arlington proved close as the Kings hauled back from a 22-32 mid-match deficit.
The hosts prevailed 46-44 on the night with Jake Knight leading the way on 11 points. New No.1 Georgie Wood and Mark Baseby both added 9, whilst Jack Thomas impressed for the Kings with 12+2 and Ben Hopwood collected 10+1.
Eastbourne boss Connor Dugard said: “We did what we needed to do. Before the meeting, I said to the team ‘we are six points up, don’t do anything stupid. Try and avoid last places.’
“They are a strong team. Their middle order is very strong but we will be ready for them home and away the next time.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

PETERBOROUGH team boss Carl Johnson wants his riders to prove they are SGB Championship silverware contenders in the coming days.
The Panthers entertain Ipswich in a mouth-watering East Anglian derby showdown at the East of England Arena today (Sunday) in the first of three meetings in the next week against teams currently occupying play-off places.
Peterborough turn to Sheffield man Josh Grajczonek to deputise at number one with Chris Harris on World Cup duty for Great Britain.
They also hand a debut to Liam Carr at reserve as he slots into a short-term role with the club, whilst the third-placed Witches are at full-strength as they chase a third away win.
Johnson said: “The mood in the camp is great. The boys are all enjoying their racing and could not be more determined to make the play-offs.
“But we might well have to take our form up another notch against Ipswich. Their top five oozes strength and is full of riders who are proven at our place.
“Every meeting is in important in such a tough and tight league, but this could prove to be a really big week in our season.”
Ipswich promoter Chris Louis said: “We have settled down and Peterborough have improved since we last met, so it won’t be easy.
“Our ethos has got to be that we cannot come away from an away meeting without anything. Ritchie (Hawkins) will be targeting a win as we have a bunch of lads that enjoy Peterborough.
“Whether it is slick or grippy, we have the sort of team that will get on with it and give it a good go. We have to be targeting a win but we cannot afford to come away with nothing.”
Meanwhile Scunthorpe stage a 31-heat programme as the Scorpions take on fourth-placed Redcar, with the 500cc and 250cc classes of the British Youth Championship following on from that match.
Josh Bailey returns at reserve for the Scorpions, for whom Lewis Kerr moves up to the No.1 position after a fine run of form. The Bears have booked Stuart Robson to guest for injured captain Jason Garrity.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Redcar won here 46-44 back in April, so we’ll be looking to turn the tables on them this time, and keep our improved run of form going.
“Last weekend’s win over Berwick made it back-to-back home victories after the success against Sheffield prior to that. If we can make it three in a row against Redcar, we really will be moving in the right direction at long last.
“The move to No.1 is no more than Lewis Kerr’s performances deserve. He’s been consistently topping our scorechart over the last month or so.”
Newcastle will look to make up ground on the sides above them when they host bottom club Berwick at Brough Park.
The Diamonds, who progressed in the KO Cup in dramatic fashion last week against Workington, are currently 12 points behind fourth-placed Redcar, but do have matches in hand on the majority of their rivals.

(SPEEDWAY 5)

NATIONAL League leaders Eastbourne visit Mildenhall today (Sunday) looking to increase their advantage at the top.
The Fen Tigers, meanwhile, are sixth in the table but can vault into the play-off places with a win if Cradley miss out at Stoke.
Home promoter Kevin Jolly expects his side to face their strongest test of the season at West Row, with former favourite Connor Coles drafted in to guest for absent No.1 Connor Mountain (SGBC commitment). Lewis Whitmore and William O’Keefe make guest appearances at reserve.
Jolly said: “Eastbourne look strong in all departments and we would have wanted to face them with our full team, but it is what it is and the lads will need to be at the top of their game on Sunday.
“In Connor’s place we have bought in his old team mate Connor Coles, who will hopefully have something to prove to his previous employers! At reserve our options are severely limited but both Lewis and William have a chance to impress today and hopefully they will grab the opportunity with both hands. Every point will be vital and they have an important part to play.”
Eagles boss Connor Dugard said: “Obviously, we are looking for a result. We are much different outfit from the last time (a 29-61 National Trophy defeat) and I think we have the strength to get a result.
“We will need to be on top form and make sure we gate. To that end, we have been helping Mark Baseby with his bike and he has been practising some starts.”
Stoke host Cradley at Loomer Road with the visitors bringing in guests to cover riders who are on SGBC duty.
The Heathens have called up Ben Morley and James Cockle to replace Danny Ayres and Dan Greenwood, whilst Shelby Rutherford makes his debut at reserve. Tony Atkin returns from injury for the Potters, who are at full strength with David Wallinger also back in the side.
Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “I’m delighted that Tony is fit to return as we have missed him while he has been away and it will certainly give everyone a boost.
“We have not beaten Cradley for a few years now and it’s time we did so, and we will be looking to gain the three points on Sunday.
“Cradley have a very good side that looks strong from top to bottom and we will obviously give them plenty of respect, but we have beaten Birmingham here this season and should have won against Belle Vue here also, and I will be looking for a performance like that against the Heathens.”
Rutherford said: “I’ve already been to Stoke this season, so I’ve had a couple of laps around the track and I know what to expect.
“Hopefully I can get the setup early on and do a bit better than I did that time. I want to score some points and help Cradley get a win, so fingers crossed.”

(FIXTURES)

SUNDAY JULY 2:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30, Peterborough v Ipswich 5pm, Scunthorpe v Redcar 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Eastbourne 3pm, Stoke v Cradley 6pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe (follows SGBC fixture)

MONDAY JULY 3:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Buxton 7.30, Kent v Isle of Wight 6.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 5:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Kent 7.30, Birmingham v Cradley 7.30

Results Saturday July 1, 2017;

MONSTER ENERGY FIM SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP EVENT 1, King’s Lynn
Great Britain 53 (Craig Cook 14)
Australia 44 (Chris Holder 19)
USA 15 (Gino Manzares 7)
Czech Republic 13 (Vaclav Milik 6)
Great Britain qualify for World Cup Final (Leszno, Poland, Saturday July 8)
Australia and USA qualify for Race-Off (Leszno, Poland, Friday July 7)

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP

Glasgow 55 (Richard Lawson 14)
Sheffield 37 (Josh Grajczonek 13, Lasse Bjerre 13)
Championship points: Glasgow 3 Sheffield 0

NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP, 2nd leg

Eastbourne 46 (Jake Knight 11)
Kent 44 (Jack Thomas 12+2)
Eastbourne win 94-86 on aggregate