SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENTS
SATURDAY JULY 29:
SUMMER SPECTACULAR, Plymouth - OFF
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Eastbourne v Isle of Wight - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
RYE House have pulled off a dramatic deadline day swoop for former World No.2 Krzysztof Kasprzak – who will start his Rockets career in a reserve berth!
Kasprzak’s average dipped to 5.51 during his stint with Poole earlier this season, and the Pole will now make his debut for his new club in the home clash with Leicester on Wednesday as a replacement for Justin Sedgmen.
The Rockets have also handed Ben Morley a permanent reserve berth in place of the injured Robert Branford.
Promoter Steve Jenson said: “Justin has done absolutely nothing wrong, and we are sorry to let him go, but we just could not miss the opportunity that signing Krzysztof at reserve presented.
“He understood that when I told him we were releasing him, and he is still keen to stay in the frame for next year, which is a mark of his attitude.
“Needless to say, we are absolutely thrilled to have Krzysztof on board, and hopefully his presence will provide the x-factor that we need to make the final four.
“His record speaks for itself, and starting with us at reserve will settle him in from Day One. He won’t stay there for long – that’s for sure - and riding alongside the likes of Bomber (Chris Harris) and Scott (Nicholls), he will want his share of Heat 15s.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SCUNTHORPE have moved to bring in Jake Allen following the release of Carl Wilkinson last weekend.
Allen, who races for Somerset in the SGP Premiership, will make his Scorpions debut in the home clash with Workington on Sunday, joining the Lincolnshire club on an average of 6.08.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Jake is a great young talent and a racer. He’s only made one previous appearance at Scunthorpe, but he’s used to riding on a fast, flat-out racetrack at Somerset, so riding at another flat-out racetrack at the Eddie Wright Raceway will hold no fears for him.
“He’s not new to our league. He rode at this level last year, so knows his way around the tracks in this division. It’s not like bringing in a brand new rider.
“Plus his signing is likely to keep Tero Aarnio down at reserve for the rest of the season. Tero has scored 13 points in his last two appearances at the EWR, once at No.2 and once at No.6, and it’s always a bonus having a rider scoring points like that down at reserve.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
LAKESIDE heat-leaders Paul Hurry and Ben Morley led their side to victory over Birmingham in the absence of the injured Zach Wajtknecht at Purfleet on Friday.
Both took six rides with Hurry racking up 17 points and Morley 15+1 as the Hammers prevented the reigning champions from adding to their league total with a 52-37 victory.
Jack Parkinson-Blackburn collected 9+1 for the Brummies, who were left on the back foot by conceding a 5-0 in Heat 2.
Hurry said: “Birmingham kept us on our toes but it was a good end to what was a difficult night without Zach around.
“I did that one for Zach with a bit more focus and concentration. I’m his main help as such and it feels strange not to have him here. Hopefully he will get better and be back as quickly as he can.
“The track was pretty slick because they could not water it with the threat of rain but once we all got rolling, we did okay.”
Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “It's a tight, technical track at Lakeside and most riders struggle the first time they ever go there. Five of our lads had never even seen the place before tonight and with the rain coming down how it did, that didn't make things any easier for them.
“I'd like to give a special mention to Layne Cupitt (7+1); he adapted really well and produced another solid performance.
“Credit to Lakeside and Paul Hurry in particular; he's certainly still got it and he is the bargain of the season.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
GLASGOW boss Stewart Dickson says his side are going into their biggest weekend of the season as they head to Workington tonight (Saturday).
Edinburgh’s win at Ipswich on Thursday has further congested the top of the SGB Championship table, and the Tigers’ trip to Cumbria is followed by a home clash with the Witches on Sunday.
Dickson said: “It's a big weekend. We’ll be going to Workington try and get a win and I’ve no doubt we’ll be backed by another good support.
“Our tails are up and you start to look forward to these meetings. We want to build on our +21 points difference - every meeting you go away from home you hope you can add to it - but at the same time, Sunday is more important.
“If we don’t win on Saturday night, as long as we don’t lose on Sunday, nobody really gains on us. That’s the way you’ve got to look at it.”
Meanwhile Sheffield boss Simon Stead is targeting all four points from their trip to bottom club Berwick.
The visitors are going for a fifth straight victory as they look to enhance their position in the play-off zone, whilst the Bandits hand a debut to new signing Nikolaj B Jakobsen.
Stead said: “Berwick have shown the odd glimpse of improvement in recent weeks but having said that, it’s a place we should be getting a result from if all seven of our riders race to their capabilities.
“The big win over Newcastle on Thursday has certainly provided the boys with an extra boost and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling on Saturday.
“I won’t settle for anything less than a win – but I also want to make sure the lads come away with what would be four very important league points as well.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
EASTBOURNE can move back to the top of the National League table with a win over the Isle of Wight at Arlington tonight (Saturday).
The Eagles are one of five clubs to currently boast a 100 per cent home record in the third tier, whilst the Warriors are yet to score on the road.
The visitors, however, did gain some confidence from a 56-33 win over Stoke at Smallbrook on Thursday.
Mildenhall are set to welcome back reserves Luke Ruddick and Sam Woods when they entertain a Poultec Select side at West Row.
James Shanes and ex-Fen Tiger Alfie Bowtell line up for the team managed by Olly Allen, whilst the match marks the start of a run of three in four days for the home side.
Promoter Kevin Jolly said: “Having Luke and Sam back will be a tremendous boost for everyone at the club. With our full seven I would back us against anyone.
“We see the Poultec meeting as a very entertaining meeting and a chance to show the high regard which we hold Poultec in. The training and development system they have put in place is exactly what speedway needs.”
Meanwhile Plymouth stage two Southern Development League matches along with 125cc racing and quad-bike action as part of the Summer Spectacular at the St Boniface Arena, with a 20-race programme in total.
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JULY 29:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Isle of Wight 7.30 OFF
CHALLENGE: Mildenhall v Poultec Select 7.30
SUMMER SPECTACULAR: Plymouth 7pm OFF
SUNDAY JULY 30:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Ipswich 3pm, Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 1st leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 6pm
MONDAY JULY 31:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Somerset 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Cradley 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 1:
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 2nd leg: Mildenhall v Stoke 7.30
Results Friday July 28, 2017;
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Lakeside 52 (Paul Hurry 17)
Birmingham 37 (Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 9+1)
National League points: Lakeside 3 Birmingham 0
