(SPEEDWAY 1)
SWINDON over came the absence of talisman Jason Doyle to defeat SGB Premiership leaders Belle Vue 48-42 at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.
Flying Frenchman David Bellego was the Robins’ hero as he scored his first-ever top flight maximum with 14+1 from five rides, whilst reserve Adam Ellis chipped in with 12+1 as the home side recovered from conceding an opening-race 5-1.
Kenneth Bjerre top-scored for the Aces with 10+1 and won Heat 15 to secure a league point for the visitors.
Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: “Nobody gave us a hope in hell, and I think even they (Belle Vue) felt they should win – but when you tell these boys something, they do totally the opposite!
“It was a fantastic effort from David to score a paid maximum. He’s so focused, and I think when we told him we’d signed him as an asset, it took him up even further. He enjoys working with me, and he’s been a brilliant signing.
“The will and determination from the team was sensational, and a special mention for Tobiasz (Musielak) because I thought he looked very accomplished, bearing in mind he wasn’t on his own bikes.”
Belle Vue manager Mark Lemon said: “It was a bit of a mixed bag for us. We couldn’t find the rhythm we’re so used to having on the road, but even so the boys did a tremendous job to grab a league point.
“David Bellego was outstanding for the Robins but the difference, it has to be said, was at reserve for them. On our part, we really should have capitalised more on the absence Jason Doyle at No.1.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE retuned to third place in the SGB Premiership with a 52-40 win from a controversial meeting at King’s Lynn on Thursday.
Track conditions were the subject of much debate following steady drizzle, and it was the visitors who adapted better as they avenged their home defeat from 24 hours earlier in Dorset.
Paul Starke led the way for the Pirates with 12+3 from a seven-ride shift at reserve, whilst Hans Andersen added 11+1.
Stars skipper Robert Lambert won three races on his way to 10 points – but to add to the home side’s problems, team manager Dale Allitt was taken to hospital after falling ill during the interval.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey issued an apology to travelling fans after a 61-32 hammering at Redcar on Thursday.
The Bears maintained fourth position in the SGB Championship with a powerful performance headlined by a six-ride paid maximum from Ben Barker (16+2), whilst Jonas B Andersen racked up 14 from six outings.
The Scorpions’ scoring was dominated by Lewis Kerr with 13, but Godfrey was left fuming by their start to the meeting in which they trailed by 26 points after eight races.
He said: “I’d just like to apologise to our loyal fans who travelled up to Redcar. Our performance was embarrassing, and there’s no excuse for it.
“I expected the scoreline to be much closer – I had higher expectations of what we were capable of.
“Lewis Kerr had a brand new engine, and he had a really good night. He was carrying us, especially in the first half of the meeting. But his only back-up came from Josh Auty and Michael Palm Toft.
“I can’t defend our performance, and it’s made me all the more determined to freshen things up.”
Sheffield remained on the tail of Redcar with a 51-42 win over bottom club Berwick at Owlerton.
The Bandits remained in contention in the early stages, but the Tigers then scored three 5-1s in the space of five races to take control of the meeting.
Josh Grajczonek led the way with 14 points for the home side with 14 points whilst Lasse Bjerre added 13. Guest Richard Lawson starred for the Bandits with 14+1.
Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates said: “I think the scoreline makes the meeting seem a bit closer than it actually was because it was only that 8-1 double points ride that gave them the slightest little bit of hope anyway.
"They kept things close for the first few heats but I was always confident that we'd be too strong for them in the end.
"But they were a lot better than when they came here earlier in the season and good luck to them.”
Berwick boss Gary Havelock said: “The guys dug in deep tonight and made sure Sheffield didn't set about them like a pack of annoyed Yorkshire Terriers and held their own, with Joe Jacobs looking really up for the gig and our guests certainly did the job needed.
“After the last hammering we took here, tonight was light relief and proving again we are a team on the up. They battled so hard, to a man proud to be battling for the Bandits and it was a great show.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
ISLE of Wight co-promoter Barry Bishop is positive for the future after a 56-34 win over a GB Young Lions septet at Smallbrook on Thursday.
Ben Wilson scored a four-ride maximum for the hosts, his 12-point total matched by James Cockle, whilst debutant Adam Portwood collected six points.
The visitors tracked a team entirely aged 17 or under, and were led by Jack Parkinson-Blackburn who scored 10.
Bishop said: “Tonight, both on and off track, we were cohesive and effective.
“The riders and mechanics worked together magnificently and whilst I am reluctant to single any one person out I have to say our new boy at reserve, Adam Portwood, went really well despite some mechanical issues that the rest of the team helped to cure.
“It was also great to have Ben back and on top form giving us a real boost right from Heat 1”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BELLE Vue and Swindon clash for the second time in 24 hours tonight (Friday) when the sides meet at the National Speedway Stadium.
The Robins operated rider-replacement for injured captain Jason Doyle at home and still won 48-42 – which was also the score in the Aces’ favour the last time the sides met in Manchester.
On this occasion, Swindon have booked Troy Batchelor to guest for Doyle following recent impressive results at the venue.
Belle Vue No.1 Kenneth Bjerre said: “I just have a feeling that Swindon will present a much stiffer challenge than the last time they came to Manchester; They’ve made changes in the interim that send a strong message.
“We shouldn’t expect anything less than a much more powerful team this time around and we must raise our game to match theirs if we are to maintain any kind of cushion over Wolverhampton.”
Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “We should all enjoy racing there, and Troy got a full house when he guested for Belle Vue a few weeks back.
“Troy is riding really well at the moment, and he rung me up and said ‘why don’t you order me a suit?’ – but that’s Troy, and the banter between us, that’s why I’ve always liked him.
“It’s a busy week of away matches, and a chance to get some points on the board, so we’ll be going for wins.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
SHEFFIELD have again turned to Peterborough specialist James Shanes ahead of tonight’s (Friday) vital SGB Championship clash at the East of England Arena.
Shanes guested for the Tigers in their previous visit, scoring 6+1 in their 48-45 win in June, and also helped Newcastle to an away victory with 8 points in May as well as winning the British Under-21 semi-final at the venue.
Georgie Wood is also lined up to guest with Sheffield without both of their regular reserves, whilst the Panthers bring in Kevin Doolan for Bradley Wilson-Dean (SGBP commitment) and are hoping to close the eight-point gap between the clubs in the table.
Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “We are well aware of the fact that we have to make the second half of the season better than the first if we are to make the play-offs.
“We've beaten very strong Glasgow and Ipswich sides at our place since slipping up against Sheffield and now the aim is to put that result right.
“We need to take points off teams above us in the table and Sheffield fall into that category.”
Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates said: “We're happy with the two lads we've got in at reserve. It's their sort of track because it's big and fast and both of them have done well in grasstrack meetings too so they should enjoy it.
“But there's absolutely no pressure on them whatsoever. We need our top five to be at their very best for this one and if they are then there's no reason why we can't come away with at least one league point - but it won't be easy we know that much.”
Meanwhile Edinburgh will look to leap-frog Ipswich at the top of the table with victory over Newcastle at Armadale.
Monarchs boss Alex Harkess believes his side are still not firing on all cylinders, yet they still sit comfortably in the standings with eleven wins and a draw at home.
The visitors are without Steve Worrall due to a Premiership commitment, but bring in his brother Richie to guest.
Harkess said: “We need to win against Newcastle. Nothing changes, and we are not really producing what we should be doing anywhere.
“At home consistency is what we want, no last places and I’m sure we will be fine but Newcastle have a solid outfit with plenty of experience so we know it will be tough.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
LAKESIDE team manager Kelvin Tatum believes they are well equipped as they aim to maintain their unbeaten home record in the Travel Plus National League against Buxton tonight (Friday).
The Hammers have won all five of their league fixtures at the Arena-Essex Raceway this season and currently sit in fourth place in the table.
And despite being without newly crowned British Under-19 Champion Zach Wajtknecht and in-form star Alfie Bowtell due to racing commitments in the higher two tiers, Tatum is confident his side can add another three league points to their tally.
“Of course the two absences are frustrating but there’s not a lot we can do about it apart from making sure the rest of the team get their heads down and get the job done,” said Tatum.
“We’ve booked Adam Roynon to guest for Zach. Adam’s confidence is growing with every meeting he does for Plymouth in the National League and he’s a top quality performer at this level.
“We feel we can match the points of Alfie with rider-replacement but at the same time we know we’re going to have to work hard.”
Buxton bring in Jake Knight to guest for Max Clegg (SGBC commitment) and also hand a debut to new signing Jamie Halder.
(SPEEDWAY 8)
ROB Branford’s season is over as the Rye House and Sheffield racer needs time to recover from a shoulder injury.
Both clubs are now searching for replacements at reserve, with former Rocket Ben Morley lined up to guest for his old club in their SGB Premiership clash with Wolverhampton on Saturday.
Rye House co-promoter Steve Jenson said: “Branny seems to have lost a bit of his on-track aggressiveness and confidence this year, perhaps without the safety net of the National League to fall back on, and maybe that has played as much on his mind as the recent shoulder injury.
“We are obviously sorry to see his season come to a sudden halt, but hopefully he can recuperate and rest when he gets back home to Australia and return fresh and fit in the future.
“2016 showed us all his undoubted potential, and he knows there will always be a place for him here at Rye House.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY JULY 14:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Lakeside v Buxton 8pm
SATURDAY JULY 15:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v Wolverhampton 7pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Workington v Peterborough 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Buxton 7.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 6: Redcar 2pm
SUNDAY JULY 16:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pm, Peterborough v Redcar 5pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Birmingham 3pm
Results Thursday July 13, 2017;
SGB PREMIERSHIP
King’s Lynn 40
Poole 52
Premiership points: King’s Lynn 0 Poole 4
Swindon 48 (David Bellego 14+1)
Belle Vue 42 (Kenneth Bjerre 10+1)
Premiership points: Swindon 3 Belle Vue 1
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Redcar 61 (Ben Barker 16+2)
Scunthorpe 32 (Lewis Kerr 13)
Championship points: Redcar 3 Scunthorpe 0
Sheffield 51 (Josh Grajczonek 14)
Berwick 42 (Richard Lawson 14+1)
Championship points: Sheffield 3 Berwick 0
CHALLENGE
Isle of Wight 56 (Ben Wilson 12, James Cockle 12)
GB Young Lions select 34 (Jack Parkinson Blackburn 10)
