(SPEEDWAY 1)
NEWCASTLE held on to defeat Edinburgh 46-44 in an SGB Championship clash with saw the No.1 riders on both teams suffer incidents.
Monarchs captain Sam Masters crashed in Heat 1 and only took one more ride due to shoulder pain, whilst the Diamonds’ Robert Lambert came to grief in Heat 6 and then again on the first bend of Heat 13, and did not take part in the re-run.
But a 4-2 to the home side in the penultimate race confirmed their win, before Ricky Wells and Erik Riss ensured a league point for the Monarchs with a 5-1 in Heat 15.
Steve Worrall top-scored for the hosts with 11 points from four rides, whilst recent signing Stuart Robson added 10+1. Wells piled up 16+1 from six for the Monarchs, with Riss on 11.
Newcastle boss George English said: “Edinburgh are always a tough prospect, and with Robert so very sore, and taped up from head to foot after his recent falls, taking two more tonight, I think the lads did a pretty decent job considering and got a deserved win.”
Edinburgh manager John Campbell said: “I think after Sam crashed out of the meeting missing his influence affected us, maybe not on the track as we didn’t drop too many points in his outings - but his influence affects the spirit in the pits greatly, so I would class that as a point gained.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
IPSWICH will remain with their existing team line-up after plans to make a double deadline day change were rejected.
The Witches had informed Justin Sedgmen and Connor Mountain that they were being released, but have now re-instated both riders.
Director of Speedway Chris Louis said: “I had proposals to make team changes but they have rightly not been approved.
“I felt Justin hasn’t been doing quite what was expected of him and I think he knows that too. Phoning Connor to say he was dropped was the toughest phone call I have had to make, he’s done so little wrong.
“With transfer deadline looming as it was this weekend, we needed to make decisions and we decided to change the balance of the side. Our proposals haven’t been accepted though, so I went back to both riders to ask them to stay.
“All I can say is that it speaks volumes for the club and the two riders that both agreed straightaway to keep racing and giving their best for the Witches. In a strange way, this may well have a very positive effect on us and I’m very proud of both riders that they feel strongly enough about the club to stay.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BELLE Vue bid to extend their lead at the top of the SGB Premiership when they host fourth-placed Poole in Manchester tonight (Monday).
The Aces are set to return to full strength for the clash, having defeated Wolverhampton last Monday without captain Craig Cook.
Boss Mark Lemon said: “After last week’s performance, I think it’s fair to say we’re riding high and it was so encouraging to see the commitment of the boys to what was a tough task.
“But there’s still a fair distance between us and the play-offs so there’s still plenty of opportunities to take advantage of, and Poole’s visit to the NSS on Monday is just one such opportunity.
“They’ve been having a fairly rough time of it lately. Some of the displays we’ve seen are not typical of what we know the Pirates are capable of delivering, and that can make them dangerous.”
Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “It is going to need something really special to get back to winning ways as Belle Vue are not top for no reason, and whilst we took two
points from them last time we were up there we have not been performing too well of late.
“Hopefully we can turn things round quite quickly though, as the though of not making those play-offs is one I do not want to contemplate.”
Meanwhile Wolverhampton can move back into second place with a home win over Somerset as they look to end a three-match losing sequence.
The hosts remain in a strong position despite a home defeat to Poole in their last Monmore outing, and they now face a Rebels side who grabbed a shock 45-44 win at Wimborne Road last Wednesday.
Wolves star Sam Masters said: “There's no such thing as an easy meeting in this league so you have to be at your best week in week out.
“It's been a bit tougher of late but the team spirit is still amazing and that will get us through.
“The play-offs is still our goal and there's no reason why we shouldn't make them - but we need to make sure we win our home meetings.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
CRADLEY No.1 Danny Ayres returns to his former club as the Heathens visit Kent in the National League tonight (Monday).
Ayres spent three seasons with the Kings before making the switch to the West Midlands over the winter, and is expected to be a key figure in a match vital to both sides’ play-off hopes.
The hosts bring in Ben Morley to guest for the injured Luke Bowen and use rider-replacement for Nathan Stoneman, whilst Cradley also have r/r for Dan Greenwood.
Heathens boss Will Pottinger said: “We know it's going to be a tough meeting at Kent, because it's never an easy place to go.
“We're also without Dan due to his injury, and we have no choice but to use rider-replacement before Richard Hall comes into the side next week.
“But we know we've not got many chances left away from home to get some more points on the board.
“If we can come away with a result it would give our chances of reaching the play-offs a real boost, so hopefully the boys can put in a good performance.”
(FIXTURES)
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
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Belle Vue 7.30, Rye House v Leicester 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30
SPEEDWAY Results Sunday July 30, 2017
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastle 46 – Steve Worrall 11
Edinburgh 44 – Ricky Wells 16+1
Championship points: Newcastle 3 Edinburgh 1
