(SPEEDWAY 1)

SOMERSET are ready to host all ten SGB Championship clubs for tonight’s (Friday) Pairs showpiece at the Oaktree Arena.
Fans are asked to note that in a change to the normal 7.30pm start-time for Somerset home matches, the meeting will commence at 7pm with the rider introductions and pre-meeting parade taking place at 6.45pm. Turnstiles open at 5pm.
Promoter Debbie Hancock said: “It is always good to see the Oaktree Arena packed out with speedway fans drawn from the length and breadth of Britain.
“I doubt that there are many other sports where you could bring together supporters of ten different teams, not to mention the neutral fans, at one venue and there not be a hint of trouble, which is due testament to speedway fans here in the UK.
“With the Pairs being the night before the Cardiff GP, it has become the traditional curtain-raiser for what has always proved to be a great weekend of speedway.”
Group A:
GLASGOW: Richard Lawson & Aaron Summers
PETERBOROUGH: Chris Harris & Jack Holder
IPSWICH: Danny King & Rory Schlein
WORKINGTON: Thomas Jorgensen & Ty Proctor
SCUNTHORPE: Michael Palm Toft & Lewis Kerr
Group B:
EDINBURGH: Sam Masters & Erik Riss
NEWCASTLE: Robert Lambert & Steve Worrall
SHEFFIELD: Josh Grajczonek & Todd Kurtz
REDCAR: Charles Wright & Ben Barker
BERWICK: Nick Morris & David Howe

(SPEEDWAY 2 – SGB CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS PREVIEW QUOTES)

DANNY KING (Ipswich) – “Last time I did it we managed to win it so hopefully we can do that again. I’m pleased with my partner as Rory (Schlein) is in really good form. Hopefully we can bounce off each other and get to that final and bring the trophy home.
“Rory is a very experienced rider and he is big enough to look after himself, he knows where I am and where I’m going to be and he reads it well. It is nice riding with someone like that.”
AARON SUMMERS (Glasgow) – “I've had quite a few experiences in the Pairs, and had some good successes there, so I can't wait to do it.
“There isn't a lot between us top three at Glasgow, so it's a tough one. Richard (Lawson) is a no-brainer with it being on his home track and then it was between me and Richie Worrall.
“We need to not run any last places. Me and Richard ride really well together, we've done plenty of meetings with me at one and him at five, so we know how to look out for each other.”
LAURA MORGAN (Workington owner) – “With Craig (Cook) tied up at the GP practice on Friday, Thomas (Jorgensen) and Ty (Proctor) are really desperate to do well in the Pairs.
“I know that Ty has said it is a track he loves riding on so hopefully we will be in the mix in what is always a very tough but exciting meeting and can come away with something to show for our efforts.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SWINDON made it seven successive SGB Premiership wins and climbed to third in the table with a 57-33 success over Rye House at the Abbey.
It was the Robins’ biggest victory of the season with skipper Jason Doyle scoring a 12-point maximum in a dominant overall display.
Nick Morris added 11+1 from five rides with David Bellego on 11, whilst Rockets skipper Scott Nicholls (9) supplied three of his team’s four race wins but failed to score on a tactical ride.
Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “Everything went to plan, pretty much like Wednesday night at Poole. We wanted to hit them from the off, and away we went.
“It’s a fantastic run and I’m really pleased with the boys, they’re all contributing. The team spirit is good, and they’re all listening and talking to each other.
“That was one thing I specifically wanted to deal with, I wanted people talking, joining in and having fun with each other – showing the other team that we’re enjoying ourselves.”
Rye House manager Peter Schroeck said: “It was very disappointing; I can’t put it any other way.
“Maybe if we had got a result at King’s Lynn (in Wednesday’s postponed match) and Swindon hadn’t come in off the momentum of their victory last night at Poole, it might have been a bit different, but we have no excuses.
“It’s not over yet – we still have twelve matches and forty-one points to go for – and we need to re-group, re-focus and start again.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

IPSWICH hit the top of the SGB Championship with a 54-39 win over Newcastle at Foxhall.
The Witches got off to a flying start and were 14-points up after just four races, leaving the Diamonds with too much to do other than ensure respectability.
They achieved that largely due to the efforts of Steve Worrall, who scored 17 points from six rides, including winning his tactical outing, but the home side were powerful all-round.
Cameron Heeps top-scored with 12 and Rory Schlein added 11 despite being timed out of the final race.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “I think the only heat advantage they had up until the final heat was due to the black and white tactical ride which would have been a 3-3.
“It was a very solid performance and we started well which got everyone’s confidence up and it was another good performance.
“I think we are showing some strength in depth at the moment and that showed tonight. Everyone is getting good scores and we are really looking good at Foxhall, we just have to keep that up. We can’t relax because if we do, someone will punish us.”
Newcastle manager George English said: “We got off to such a poor start that again we left way too much work for ourselves to pull back.
“Even with Steve Worrall in blistering form early on, it was way beyond our reach tonight and well done to Ipswich who as a result have gone top all on their own hitting the 50 league point mark.”
Sheffield consolidated fourth place in the table by beating Workington as nearest rivals Redcar and Peterborough drew their latest encounter.
The Tigers defeated the Comets 51-39 at Owlerton and are now four points ahead of the Bears with two matches in hand.
Top two Josh Grajconzek (15+1) and Lasse Bjerre (13) both claimed three race wins apiece to help cover the absence of injured skipper Kyle Howarth and joined forces for a 5-1 in the final race to ensure Workington left empty handed. Mason Campton, with 9+2, was top-scorer for the Comets.
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “We're pleased with the result. To be fair to Workington, the result probably doesn't reflect how far they pushed us.
“They were right in the meeting all the way through and were tough opposition, but we got the result and that's the main thing.
“There's probably some room for improvement, but we've come through a tough meeting with three points so we're happy.”
Honours were even at the Media Prima Arena with a 45-45 draw between Redcar and Peterborough.
The visitors looked set for another away win on Teesside but Charles Wright took advantage of an error by Jack Holder to win a thrilling Heat 13, before Panthers skipper Ulrich Ostergaard crashed out of the next race as the Bears took a 5-1 to leave the scores level.
Holder won Heat 15 for the Panthers but team-mate Paul Starke could find no way past Wright or Ben Barker.
Wright, with 11+1, and Barker with 11 were the Bears’ top scorers with Holder on 12 for the Panthers.
Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “It’s another good result on the road, but it could have been even better.
“A couple of errors ended up costing us vital points and they were probably the difference between a good draw and a great win.
“But the main thing is picking up points in every meeting as we try to get ourselves closer to the play-off spots.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

BELLE Vue are top of the Travel Plus National League whilst Plymouth were left cursing their luck after a 45-45 draw at the St Boniface Arena.
Dan Bewley raced to a 15-point maximum for the Colts, heading up a 4-2 in the final race after the Devils’ Benji Compton had fallen in the first staging.
That was one of a number of setbacks for the home side, who lost three potential 5-1s due to falls for William O’Keefe, Henry Atkins and Richard Andrews, whilst Adam Roynon was not considered for Heat 15 due to a hip injury.
Andrews still scored 12+3 in an impressive reserve shift for the home side, with Boxall on 10, whilst Bewley’s efforts for the Colts were backed up by Kyle Bickley on 10+1.
Plymouth boss Laurence Rogers said: “We were so unlucky and really should have won this one. It is so frustrating at the moment as we should have won at Cradley, now this, so league points have been literally thrown away.
“The boys battled hard and I suppose at least we got one point from the clash, but Belle Vue must count themselves as having stolen two points that puts them top if the table.
“It was great to see Richard Andrews back on form and had he not suffered his fall he would have had a paid-18 point maximum!”
Colts boss Graham Goodwin said: “I don’t think there were any complaints on either side of the pits. The scores swung one way, then another on what was a testing track for all the lads.
“There were a few incidents which proved costly for both sides but even despite that, the boys battled hard and made the most of every opportunity to take the lead. We’re very proud of them.”
Meanwhile Josh Bailey and Chris Widman won the Best Pairs event at the Isle of Wight, defeating Scott Campos and Adam Portwood in the Final.

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY JULY 21:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS: Somerset 7pm

SATURDAY JULY 22:
BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 5pm

SUNDAY JULY 23:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Redcar 5pm, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 5.30

Results Thursday July 20, 

SGB PREMIERSHIP

Swindon 57 (Jason Doyle 12)
Rye House 33 (Scott Nicholls 9)
Premiership points: Swindon 3 Rye House 0

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP

Ipswich 54 (Cameron Heeps 12)
Newcastle 39 (Steve Worrall 17)
Championship points: Ipswich 3 Newcastle 0

Redcar 45 (Charles Wright 11+1)
Peterborough 45 (Jack Holder 12)
Championship points: Redcar 1 Peterborough 2

Sheffield 51 (Josh Grajczonek 15+1)
Workington 39 (Mason Campton 9)
Championship points: Sheffield 3 Workington 0

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE

Plymouth 45 (Richard Andrews 12+3)
Belle Vue 45 (Dan Bewley 15)
National League points: Plymouth 1 Belle Vue 2

COBRA’S GARAGE MAHAL BEST PAIRS, at Isle of Wight

1. Speedway Widows (Josh Bailey / Chris Widman)
2. Freelance Installations (Scott Campos / Adam Portwood)