Photo Shows: Somerset’s Josh Grajczonek seen leading Poole’s Hans Andersen in during the Rebels shock 45-44 victory at Wimborne Road last Wednesday.
SGB PREMIERSHIP
BELLE VUE - “One of my top priorities this year is to help make this team Premiership Champions. There’s no way I or any of the other boys want to come second again.” Skipper Craig Cook says they are only focused on one thing after a crushing home win over Poole on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Somerset, Premiership, Mon Aug 21 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Poole, Premiership, Weds Aug 2 (7.30)
KING’S LYNN – “I felt our season was heading towards a brick wall and had to do something.” Stars owner Keith Chapman decided to act on their issues with a drastic team revamp on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Swindon, Premiership, Weds Aug 2 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Premiership, Sat Aug 5 (7.30)
LEICESTER – “Everything is good, the last few meetings have been successful so I want to try and keep that going for both my clubs.” In-form Dane Lasse Bjerre is keen to continue his purple patch for the Lions.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Sat Aug 5 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, Premiership, Weds Aug 2 (7.30)
POOLE – “We are just making things so much harder for ourselves by squandering potential points.” Pirates’ chief Matt Ford admits their home defeats could cost them dearly in the race for the play-offs.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Premiership, Weds Aug 2 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, Premiership, Mon Aug 7 (7.30)
RYE HOUSE – “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.” Rockets’ co-promoter Steve Jensen hopes the signing of former world No.2 Krzysztof Kasprzak can boost their play-off push.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Premiership Weds Aug 2 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Poole, Premiership, Thurs Aug 10 (7.30)
SOMERSET – “We’d have liked to keep it a bit closer, but Wolves are a really strong side and are pretty much unbeatable around here.” Rebels’ racer Jake Allen felt they were simply beaten by a better side at Wolverhampton on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Premiership, Fri Aug 4 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Mon Aug 7 (7.30)
SWINDON – “I feel we need a couple more away wins to cement our place in the play-offs, and it’s all about building momentum at this stage.” Robins’ boss Alun Rossiter feels their trip to King’s Lynn this week could be crucial to their play-off push.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Premiership, Thurs Aug 3 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Wed Aug 2 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON – “It was very important for us to hit back with a win tonight and it was an impressive full team performance.” Skipper Freddie Lindgren was delighted to see Wolves roar back to winning ways with a comprehensive win over Somerset on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Poole, Premiership, Mon Aug 7 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Somerset, Premiership, Wed Aug 9 (7.30)
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BERWICK – “It's the same old story of bad luck with our new guy Nikolaj [Busk Jakobsen] taking a really bad crash in Heat Four just as he was making ground and looking good.” Bandits boss Gary Havelock could not believe their luck after new signing Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen crashed out of his debut and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
NEXT HOME: Stars of Tomorrow, Sat Aug 5 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Championship, Thurs Aug 3 (7.30)
EDINBURGH – “I think after Sam crashed out of the meeting missing his influence affected us, maybe not on the track as we didn’t drop to many points in his outings but his influence affects the spirit in the pits greatly so I would class that as a point gained.” Team manager John Campbell felt the loss of Sam Masters after a heat one crash potentially cost them victory at Newcastle on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Championship, Fri Aug 4 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
GLASGOW – “We maybe threw points away but we all still know we are the strongest team in the league, and it’s only one meeting – we can push back and we still have plenty of meetings in hand over Ipswich and Edinburgh.” Tigers’ flyer Nike Lunna insists they remain in good shape despite letting a 10-point lead slip at Workington at the weekend.
NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Championship, Thurs Aug 3 (7.30)
IPSWICH - “It has been an awful weekend for everyone involved especially the riders. All we can do now is put it behind us, there is no point in looking at the past now.” Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins has urged them to bounce back from a chaotic weekend for the club, which saw Justin Sedgmen and Connor Mountain told they had been released before being re-instated when planned changes fell through.
NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Championship, Thurs Aug 3 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Scunthorpe, Championship, Sun Aug 13 (5.30)
NEWCASTLE – “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.” Team manager George English was relieved to emerge with victory after a bruising encounter with Edinburgh.
NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Championship, Sun Aug 13 (6.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat Aug 26 (7pm)
PETERBOROUGH – “We won’t count ourselves out until it is mathematically impossible for us to reach the top four, and we’re certainly not in a position like that now.” Panthers’ boss Carl Johnson told Speedway Star they are not giving up hopes of reaching the play-offs.
NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Championship, Wed Aug 30 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Championship, Fri Aug 11 (7.30)
REDCAR – “I was pleased with last week’s performance against Workington and we deserved the three points we took from the meeting. Again we saw a good, all round performance from our boys.” Team manager Jitendra Duffill was pleased with his Bears side last week.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Championship, Thurs Aug 3 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Workington, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
SCUNTHORPE – “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.” Promoter Rob Godfrey is confident new signing Jake Allen can make a significant impact.
NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Championship, Sun Aug 13 (5.30)
NEXT AWAY: Workington, Championship, Sat Aug 5 (7pm)
SHEFFIELD – “We told the boys before the meeting nothing less than a win would do and they got the job done in the end.” Team manager Simon Stead was thrilled to overcome a mid-meeting blip and win at Berwick on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Four Team Tournament, Thurs Aug 3 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Championship, Fri Aug 4 (7.30)
WORKINGTON – “We’re not riding regularly enough, so when it comes to away meetings it takes a bit of time to get going.” Comets racer Ty Proctor believes they simply need more meetings to find some form.
NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe, Championship, Sat Aug 5 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Championship, Thurs Aug 10 (7.30)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE COLTS – “We’ve got a young team, but they’re all doing what we expected them to do if not more and we’re really pleased with how they’re developing.” Team manager Graham Goodwin is pleased with the progress being made by their young guns. Read more in this week’s Speedway Star.
NEXT HOME: Plymouth, National League, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, National League, Weds Aug 2 (7.30)
BIRMINGHAM – “It was a tough night for the lads but they'll take a lot from tonight's meeting into the rest of their careers.” Team boss Graham Drury believes the Brummies’ loss at Lakeside will benefit his young side in the long run.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, National League, Weds Aug 2 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, National League, Sat Aug 5 (7.30)
BUXTON – “The lads are looking forward to getting back on track.” Manager Jason Pipe told Speedway Star his side are raring to go after a lengthy break from racing.
NEXT HOME: Stoke, National League, Sun Aug 13 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Isle of Wight, National League, Thurs Aug 3 (7.30)
CRADLEY – “We're a team aiming for the play-offs and to get rolled over so easily is unacceptable really.” Heathens boss Will Pottinger was left frustrated by another below par performance at Kent on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Isle of Wight, National League, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sun Sept 10 (3pm)
EASTBOURNE – “He’s coming in on a three-point average and hopefully he is the missing piece of the puzzle.” Team manager Connor Dugard is hoping new addition Charlie Saunders can make an impact at reserve.
NEXT HOME: Birmingham, National League, Sat Aug 5 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Lakeside, National League, Sun Aug 6 (3pm)
ISLE OF WIGHT – “Realistically this is a meeting we should be looking to win and win well.” Warriors’ team manager Jackie Vatcher is targeting a comfortable home win against Buxton this week.
NEXT HOME: Buxton, National League, Thurs Aug 3 (7.15)
NEXT AWAY: Cradley, National League, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
KENT – Kent put in perhaps their best performance of the season so far to thrash play-off chasing Cradley 56-34 at Central Park on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National Trophy, Mon Aug 7 (6.30)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sat August 12 (3pm)
LAKESIDE – “It was not a bad win, Birmingham kept us on our toes but it was a good end to what was a difficult night without Zach around.” Paul Hurry was pleased to overcome the absence of injury victim Zach Wajtknecht to defeat Birmingham at the Arena-Essex Raceway.
NEXT HOME: Eastbourne, National League, Sun Aug 6 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Kent, National League, Mon Aug 14 (6.30)
MILDENHALL – “I am sure both will return and with our full seven I would back us against anyone.” Promoter Kevin Jolly believes their return to full strength leaves the Fen Tigers well-placed heading into the rest of the season.
NEXT HOME: Stoke, Knockout Cup, Tues Aug 1 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, National League, Weds Aug 16 (7.30)
PLYMOUTH – “We were really looking forward to staging this meeting giving the youngsters centre stage but had to admit defeat.” Co-promoter Mark Phillips said the Devils had no choice but to call off their Summer Spectacular meeting.
NEXT HOME: Buxton, National League, Fri Aug 4 (7.15)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, National League, Wed Aug 9 (7.30)
STOKE – “We are going there in good spirits and desperately want to gain a place in the semi-finals as it is a good chance for us to get some silverware this season and we will be doing our best to make it happen.” Potters boss Malcolm Vasey says they are determined to progress in the Knockout Cup ahead of their replay with Mildenhall.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Sat Aug 19 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, Knockout Cup, Tues Aug 1 (7.30)
MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
BRITISH Speedway vice-chairman Rob Godfrey says this year’s SGB Championship Pairs is now likely to be a late-season event.
The Somerset showpiece, featuring all ten clubs in the league, was postponed due to heavy rain last month having been set for its traditional staging date of the evening before the British Grand Prix at Cardiff.
Due to the proximity of other major events on the calendar, and with clubs looking to complete regular fixtures in the race for the play-offs, Godfrey believes October is now the most feasible option to re-stage the Pairs.
And he has also confirmed a new venue for the meeting is likely for geographical reasons, after the frustration of seeing one of the most popular events of the season fall victim to the weather.
Godfrey told Speedway Star: “It was such a shame. We only need one perfect weather day a year for the Pairs and we didn’t get it this time, but I suppose it’s the first time in 10 years that it’s been off.
“It is unlikely the re-staging will be at Somerset, it’s very likely to be moved to a more northern venue because we’re basically a northern league now.
“We’ve got to strategically place it somewhere at a more strategic time to maximise the crowd.
“We have got to place it away from the Fours (at Peterborough, August 6), and away from the Riders’ Championship at Glasgow in September, so my initial thought is that it’s likely to be October before we can fit it in.”
With all ten Championship clubs involved in the Fours and the Pairs, there will also be full representation from across the respective leagues in the individual Riders Championships which all take place next month.
The top men from the top flight will be competing at Belle Vue on Saturday September 16 in the Premiership event, a title won at Elite League level by Wolverhampton captain Fredrik Lindgren last year.
Meanwhile the SGBC Riders’ Championship and the National League Riders’ Championship both take place on the same day, with Sunday September 24 set for the meetings at Glasgow and Leicester respectively.
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2017
SGBP PAIRS: KING’S LYNN
BRITISH FINAL: CRAIG COOK
SGBC PAIRS: TBC
SGBC FOURS: Peterborough, August 6
SGBP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue, September 16
SGBC RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow, September 24
OTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DATES
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: JAMES SHANES
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: ROBERT LAMBERT
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: ZACH WAJTKNECHT
BRITISH SEMI-FINALS: RORY SCHLEIN; KYLE HOWARTH
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Swindon, Date TBC
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester, September 24
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY AUGUST 1:
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 1st 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
THURSDAY AUGUST 3:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Leicester 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Buxton 7pm
CHALLENGE: Sheffield Tiger Cubs v Belle Vue Colts v Coventry Junior Select v Scunthorpe Stags 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 4:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Somerset v Belle Vue 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Buxton 7.15
SATURDAY AUGUST 5:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30, Rye House v Swindon 7pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington v Scunthorpe 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30
STARS OF TOMORROW: Berwick 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue 6pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 6:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP FOURS: Peterborough 2pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Lakeside v Eastbourne 3pm
MONDAY AUGUST 7:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Somerset 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Mildenhall 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 8:
CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v Reading NDL Select 7pm
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v King’s Lynn 7.30, Somerset v Wolverhampton 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Plymouth 7.30, Cradley v Isle of Wight 7.30 (at Birmingham)
THURSDAY AUGUST 10:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Poole v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Workington 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 11:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Peterborough 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Birmingham 7.15
SATURDAY AUGUST 12:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Peterborough 7pm, Glasgow v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Redcar 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Kent 7.30
SUNDAY AUGUST 13:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Peterborough 6.30, Scunthorpe v Ipswich 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm
MONDAY AUGUST 14:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Somerset v Leicester 7.30, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Lakeside 6.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30, Rye House v Belle Vue 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Mildenhall 7.30
