Photo Shows:
Sheffield’s Todd Kurtz and Josh Bates battle it out with Edinburgh’s Ricky Wells during the Tigers stunning 51-39 win at Armadale on Friday.
Picture: RON MacNEILL
SGB PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE – “I don’t think the score can reflect the efforts of the boys tonight. Their heads never dropped, they rallied and did the best job they could in the circumstances but unfortunately the stakes were always going to be against us.” Aces boss Mark Lemon was keen to be positive after their depleted side were well beaten at Somerset last Friday.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Fri Aug 11 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, Premiership, Weds Aug 16 (7.30)
KING’S LYNN – “Hopefully we can get better and better as the next few weeks go on and we can pick up some more points.” New signing Michael Palm Toft hopes the Stars can step things up after a narrow defeat at home to Somerset on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Premiership, Weds Aug 16 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Somerset, Premiership, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
LEICESTER – “I wasn't feeling 100 per cent tonight but I wanted to get out there and do my bit for the team.” Lasse Bjerre was more than happy to fight through the pain barrier with a knee injury and help the Lions to their biggest win at Beaumont Park as they thrashed understrength King’s Lynn.
NEXT HOME: Rye House, Premiership, Sat Aug 12 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Somerset, Premiership, Mon Aug 14 (7.30)
POOLE – “We’ll keep going until the end of the season, we are hanging on in fourth by our finger nails and the Rye House meeting will be important.” Pirates boss Neil Middleditch on his team's play-off prospects after five meetings without picking up a Premiership point.
NEXT HOME: Rye House, Premiership, Thurs Aug 10 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, Premiership, Mon Aug 28 (7.30)
RYE HOUSE – “We’ve come into the part of the season now where we need to come up with the goods. We’ve been waiting a long time for this moment, and now we’ve had a set-back, but that doesn’t mean it’s over yet.” Team boss Peter Schroeck insists the Rockets can still reach the play-offs despite a home defeat to high-flying Swindon on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Poole, Premiership, Thurs Aug 10 (7.30)
SOMERSET – “We are now in a season-defining spell as far as the Premiership is concerned, and every point is vital for all eight teams, especially with the play-off places still up for grabs.” Rebels’ boss Garry May knows things are hotting up in the SGB Premiership.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Premiership, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Swindon, Premiership, Thurs Aug 17 (7.30)
SWINDON – “We got off to a great start and controlled the meeting from that point on. When we weren't winning races we packed in the second and third places like we needed to, so it was a very good performance.” Robins’ manager Alun Rossiter was thrilled to make it 11 wins on the spin with an impressive triumph at Rye House on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Somerset, Premiership, Thurs Aug 17 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Somerset, Premiership, Fri Aug 18 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON – “To deny them a point could be so, so important because they're up there in the mix and it's getting so tight at the top.” Skipper Freddie Lindgren was pleased his last-heat heroics alongside Jacob Thorssell ensured play-off rivals Poole left Monmore Green empty handed on Monday.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Mon Aug 14 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Somerset, Premiership, Wed Aug 9 (7.30)
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BERWICK – “Now we're worried about Jye Etheridge who was stretchered off, and we're hoping against all hopes that he hasn't been hit with our injury jinx as he had really hit top form before his fall.” Bandits boss Gary Havelock was left sweating on another injured rider after their defeat at Redcar last week.
NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Workington, Championship, Sun Aug 27 (7.30)
EDINBURGH – “Chin up, SHOULDER back! Broken collarbone last night in Edinburgh hope to get it sorted as quick as I can!” Monarchs’ No.1 Sam Masters took to Instagram to speak of his desire to make a rapid return to the shale after being injured against Sheffield last week.
NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Championship, Fri Aug 11 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
GLASGOW – “We’ve just got to watch that our form isn’t turning off slightly – we’ve got to keep an eye on it.” Tigers’ boss Stewart Dickson has urged them to stay on top of their game heading into the business end of the season.
NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Championship, Thurs Aug 17 (7.30)
IPSWICH – “We were part of some great races but on the score charts we were always struggling to keep with the top teams.” Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins was frustrated to miss out on the top prize after reaching the final of the SGB Championship Fours on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Workington, Thurs Aug 17 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Scunthorpe, Championship, Sun Aug 13 (5.30)
NEWCASTLE – “Robert is battered and bruised from a series of heavy falls over the last month or so, and was strapped up from head to toe in his last meeting for us last Sunday, so determined was he to race.” Diamonds’ chief George English praised the determination of young gun Robert Lambert despite his late withdrawal from the SGB Championship Fours.
NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Championship, Sun Aug 13 (6.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat Aug 26 (7pm)
PETERBOROUGH – “I love this club to bits and I feel proud every time I pull my Panthers race-suit on. I've been waiting a hell of a long time to win some silverware with the club again.” Skipper Ulrich Ostergaard was full of pride after Peterborough’s memorable SGB Championship Fours win on home shale.
NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Championship, Wed Aug 30 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Championship, Fri Aug 11 (7.30)
REDCAR – “It was nip and tuck in the semi-final but we managed to pip Newcastle and then we stepped it up a gear in the final and to finish second to Peterborough is something we can be proud of.” Promoter Kevin Keay was proud of the Bears’ second place finish in the SGB Championship Fours.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Championship, Fri Aug 11 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Workington, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
SCUNTHORPE – “Make no mistake – this was a superb result for the club.” Team manager Dave Peet hailed the Scorpions’ shock away win at Workington last week.
NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Championship, Sun Aug 13 (5.30)
NEXT AWAY: Berwick, Championship, Sat Aug 19 (7pm)
SHEFFIELD – “It was another stunning showing from all the boys with everyone chipping in from 1-7.” Team boss Simon Stead was a happy man after the Tigers went top of the table with a remarkable away win at Edinburgh.
NEXT HOME: Workington, Championship, Thurs Aug 10 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Championship, Fri Aug 11 (7.30)
WORKINGTON – “The team has a lot of belief so hopefully we can keep spirits high, push on and keep winning meetings to make that top four.” Skipper Craig Cook told Speedway Star about the Comets’ attitude as they prepare for a play-off push.
NEXT HOME: Redcar, Championship, Sat Aug 12 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Championship, Thurs Aug 10 (7.30)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE COLTS – “Last year I was doing a lot more youth racing, but this year I’m just doing the National League mainly and I think with more racing I’d be progressing a lot faster to be honest.” Kyle Bickley believes he is in need of more racing. Read more in this week’s Speedway Star.
NEXT HOME: Plymouth, National League, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Cradley, National League, Mon Aug 28 (7.30)
BIRMINGHAM – “We matched them heat-leader for heat-leader, but they just had a bit too much strength in their lower order which made the difference in the end.” Brummies’ boss Graham Drury knew exactly where the problems lay in their away loss at Eastbourne.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Weds Aug 16 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, National League, Fri Aug 11 (7.15)
BUXTON – “We are delighted as we always felt we could get something from this meeting.” Team boss Jason Pipe insisted he was not surprised by their last-gasp 46-44 win at the Isle of Wight last week.
NEXT HOME: Stoke, National League, Sun Aug 13 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sun Sept 3 (3pm)
CRADLEY – “I still think Cradley can make the play-offs – but we know we need to win all of our meetings to give ourselves a chance.” New signing Richard Hall insists the Heathens’ top four hopes are well and truly alive.
NEXT HOME: Isle of Wight, National League, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sun Sept 10 (3pm)
EASTBOURNE – “We battled hard and there was great spirit, as always, in the pits. It was a good meeting but we were really one man short, unfortunately, using rider replacement.” Team boss Connor Dugard had no complaints after their defeat at Lakeside.
NEXT HOME: Kent, National League, Sat Aug 26 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Kent, National League, Mon Aug 28 (6.30)
ISLE OF WIGHT – “Last week we were silky smooth, today we just couldn’t find a rhythm.” Warriors’ co-promoter Barry Bishop was bitterly disappointed with their 46-44 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Buxton.
NEXT HOME: Plymouth, National League, Thurs Aug 17 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Cradley, National League, Weds Aug 9 (7.30)
KENT – “I’ve got there quicker than I expected. That was my goal by the end of the season, but I’ll see how I get on.” Kings’ young gun Anders Rowe admitted in Speedway Star he has been pleasantly surprised by his rise into the main body of the side.
NEXT HOME: Lakeside, National League, Mon Aug 14 (6.30)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sat August 12 (3pm)
LAKESIDE – “They’re not an easy team to get the better of so I was delighted to remain unbeaten at home and send away a rival with nothing.” Hammers’ manager Kelvin Tatum was delighted with their home win over local rivals Eastbourne.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Fri Aug 25 (8pm)
NEXT AWAY: Kent, National League, Mon Aug 14 (6.30)
MILDENHALL – “I am very pleased with a 24 point lead and although we will not be complacent in the second leg I am expecting us to do a professional job and go through to the semi-finals.” Chairman Kevin Jolly believes the Fen Tigers have one foot in the Knockout Cup semi-finals after a convincing first leg win over Stoke.
NEXT HOME: Kent, National League, Sat Aug 12 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, National League, Weds Aug 16 (7.30)
PLYMOUTH – “The win sees us leapfrog up the table a few places and that is just reward for the lads.” Devils’ chief Laurence Rogers believes their climb up the table is well-deserved after beating Buxton last week.
NEXT HOME: Birmingham, National League, Fri Aug 11 (7.15)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, National League, Wed Aug 9 (7.30)
STOKE – “It does leave us with a lot to do in the second leg at Loomer Road but all is not lost, we are still in there with a chance, but it does now mean that we will need to be at our very best.” Manager Malcolm Vasey insists their Knockout Cup hopes are not over despite trailing MIldenhall by 24-points ahead of the second leg of their quarter-final replay.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Sat Aug 19 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Buxton, National League, Sun Aug 13 (3pm)
MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
BRITISH Speedway's deputy chief Rob Godfrey has revealed how last Sunday's SGB Championship Fours turnout at Peterborough was the biggest in the modern era.
Thousands flocked to the East of England Arena and enjoyed a sensational afternoon of racing with the host club pulling off a stunning win.
Panthers star Chris Harris was unbeaten throughout the day and thrilled the crowd with a string of trademark overtaking moves as his side overcame Redcar, Sheffield and Ipswich to take their first major silverware in over a decade.
Godfrey said: “The turnout was amazing. I think we were all taken aback by the amount of fans at the venue, particularly when you consider a lot of the background to the event with all the controversy.
“It shows that British Speedway is very much alive and kicking and we have one of the most passionate and loyal group of fans anywhere in Europe.
“As an association we are delighted with the success of the event. We worked hard to promote it despite the well documented problems in the build-up, some of which were of our own making.
“But we offer our sincere thanks to the fans, the riders, sponsors and all the helpers and track staff who helped make the event what it was.
“Our congratulations to Peterborough on their success, Chris Harris and the moves he pulled off were worth the admission money alone.”
The Association have also confirmed a new date for the Championship Pairs which will now be at Sheffield on Sunday October 8 at 5pm.
The event was postponed due to heavy rain at its traditional staging venue of Somerset the day before the British Grand Prix at nearby Cardiff, and a more Northerly location was targeted for the re-staging.
Sheffield chief Damien Bates said: “We are honoured to be given this prestigious meeting and we will look to do our job as well as Somerset have done traditionally.
“I'm hoping the place will be packed and these are exciting times for everyone at Sheffield with the team riding well and now this big event to look forward to.”
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2017
SGBP PAIRS: KING’S LYNN
BRITISH FINAL: CRAIG COOK
SGBC FOURS: PETERBOROUGH
SGBP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue, September 16
SGBC RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow, September 24
SGBC PAIRS: Sheffield, October 8
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…
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v King’s Lynn OFF, 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 PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 7.30
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
THURSDAY AUGUST 17:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Somerset 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich v Workington 7.30, Redcar v Glasgow 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7pm
FRIDAY AUGUST 18:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Somerset v Swindon 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Birmingham 7.30, Plymouth v Kent 7.15
SATURDAY AUGUST 19:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Ipswich 7pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP REPLAY 2nd leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 7: Glasgow 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 20:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 5pm, Scunthorpe v Peterborough 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Lakeside 3pm
MONDAY AUGUST 21:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Somerset 7.30, Poole v Leicester 7.30, Swindon v King’s Lynn 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Birmingham 7.30
JOHN CEARNS CUP: Kent v Wimbledon 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 22:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Belle Vue 7pm
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30, Rye House v Somerset 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Kent 7.30
