SGB PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE – “This is our home turf and going down to Somerset again just wasn't an option. We were fired up, there’s no two ways about it.” Skipper Craig Cook says the Aces were filled with determination as they defeated Somerset in tricky conditions on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Premiership, Fri Aug 25 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Poole, Premiership, Mon Aug 28 (11am)
KING’S LYNN – “I think we deserved a point from this meeting but it is a bit hard to take that we just missed out in the end.” Thomas Jorgensen felt the Stars were unfortunate to miss out on at least a point as they went down 48-41 at Swindon on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Premiership, Weds Aug 23 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Poole, Premiership, Weds Aug 30 (7.30)
LEICESTER – “In the end, we were well beaten by a side that looked like the Poole of old but I could have no complaints about the effort shown by the lads.” Lions’ boss Jim Lynch was magnanimous in defeat after a 56-34 loss at Poole on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Somerset, Premiership, Sat Aug 26 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Premiership, Fri Aug 25 (7.30)
POOLE – “So another good home win for the mighty Pirates. #GettingBackToOurBest the team is really starting to kick some arse.” Pirates’ skipper Hans Andersen took to social media and believes they are finding form after a comfortable home win over Leicester.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Premiership, Mon Aug 28 (11am)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, Premiership, Mon Aug 28 (7.30)
RYE HOUSE – “It was a must-win situation for us, and the bottom line is that we got the three points we needed.” Rockets’ boss Peter Schroeck was delighted to keep their play-off hopes well and truly alive with a hard-fought 48-44 win over Belle Vue last week.
NEXT HOME: Somerset, Premiership, Weds Aug 23 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Premiership, Weds Aug 30 (7.30)
SOMERSET – “Of course, it is disappointing to be heading home with nothing to show by way of any league points, especially after having fought back to get ourselves in with a shout of something going into heat 15, but that’s speedway.” Team boss Garry May could not hide his disappointment after just missing out on a point at Belle Vue on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Rye House, Premiership, Fri Aug 25 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, Premiership, Weds Aug 23 (7.30)
SWINDON – “A few silly little things were going wrong and we need to make sure we go away and address things to get everything right.” Robins’ boss Alun Rossiter believes there is room for improvement despite earning a 13th straight win with a 48-41 success over King’s Lynn on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Somerset, Premiership, Thurs Aug 24 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, Premiership, Fri Sept 1 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON – “It was a long time being out, about two months I think, and it feels like the start of the season again,” Returning Wolves reserve Mark Riss admits he feels like his season is just getting underway after his spell on the sidelines.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Premiership, Mon Aug 28 (6pm)
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Weds Aug 23 (7.30)
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BERWICK – “I think the season should’ve started in August, because if it did we’d be flying up the league table now!” Bandits’ boss Gary Havelock is frustrated they have finally found form at the wrong end of the season.
NEXT HOME: Workington, Championship, Sat Aug 26 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Workington, Championship, Sun Aug 27 (7.30)
EDINBURGH – “It was always going to be difficult, they’re top of the league for a reason, and although it’s a bit disappointing we’ve just got to try and learn from it.” Ricky Wells has challenged the Monarchs to learn from their heavy defeat at high-flying Sheffield on Sunday. Read more in this week’s Speedway Star.
NEXT HOME: Caledonian Riders’ Championship, Fri Aug 25 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Championship, Thurs Aug 24 (7.30)
GLASGOW – “There are some things lacking and there are a few little things that need working on, and then we might be on the right track.” Richie Worrall believes the Tigers need to improve after a 53-39 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Championship, Sat Aug 26 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Championship, Sun Sept 3 (5pm)
IPSWICH – “It is always a big meeting being our local derby and we certainly don’t want to be dropping any points to Peterborough even if they are out of the play-off race.” Team manager Ritchie Hawkins is targeting derby day delight against Peterborough this week.
NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Championship, Thurs Aug 24 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Championship, Thurs Aug 31 (7.30)
NEWCASTLE – “This match showed the real Newcastle Diamonds, the team we knew we'd signed and proved they are capable of beating some of the best.” Newcastle boss George English felt they finally showcased their potential with a comfortable win over Glasgow on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe, Championship, Sun Aug 27 (6.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat Aug 26 (7pm)
PETERBOROUGH – “We rode very well for much of the meeting, but Scunthorpe gated better in the final few races and got their rewards.” Carl Johnson had no complaints after his Peterborough side suffered a late collapse at Scunthorpe on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Championship, Wed Aug 30 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Championship, Thurs Aug 24 (7.30)
REDCAR – “We were so determined to beat Glasgow after the events that took place when we first met and that victory meant a lot and will live long in the memory.” Bears’ boss Jitendra Dufill was on cloud nine after a magnificent home win over Glasgow last week.
NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Championship, Thurs Aug 24 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Championship, Sat Sept 2 (7.30)
SCUNTHORPE – “The whole team dug in and rode really well.” Star man Ryan Douglas praised the Scorpions’ character after they launched a late surge to defeat Peterborough on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Championship, Mon Aug 28 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Championship, Thurs Aug 24 (7.30)
SHEFFIELD – “The pressure is on every meeting now because we just want to keep this winning run going.” Team boss Simon Stead says they are determined to keep their form going after comfortably disposing of Edinburgh to claim a 10th straight win on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe, Championship, Thurs Aug 24 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat Sept 2 (7pm)
WORKINGTON – “Starting the season without a team messed me up quite a lot to be honest as I was just taking meetings wherever I could and I was playing catch-up for a while.” Comets’ ace James Sarjeant told Speedway Star he believes his frustrating start to the season has held him back.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Championship, Sun Aug 27 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Berwick, Championship, Sat Aug 26 (7pm)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE COLTS – “Just because the Warriors aren’t amongst the top four doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels; they're riding for pride and that can make them a dangerous team.” Reserve Luke Woodhull knows the Colts must guard against complacency as they head to the Isle of Wight tonight (Tuesday).
NEXT HOME: Cradley, Knockout Cup, Fri Sept 8 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Isle of Wight, National League, Tues Aug 22 (7pm)
BIRMINGHAM – “In the end, two points was better than one so we’ve got to be pleased with it and it pushes us a little bit further ahead of Cradley.” Maximum man Liam Carr was content with a draw despite letting a 10-point lead slip against local rivals Cradley at Monmore Green on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, National League, Weds Aug 23 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, National League, Fri Sept 15 (7.15)
BUXTON – “We gave them a close meeting today and it was a pity Matt (Williamson) struggled. He’s been on fire just recently and if he had scored like he has been we could have taken them.” Hitmen skipper Tom Woolley felt they missed an opportunity to snatch a memorable win over reigning Champions Birmingham on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Kent, National League, Sun Sept 10 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sun Sept 3 (3pm)
CRADLEY – “We were 10 down at one point so I think we did well to pull it back, but I thought we might have had that extra push in the last couple.” Heathens’ skipper Tom Perry was frustrated to miss out on victory despite staging a comeback to salvage a 43-43 draw against Birmingham on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, National League, Mon Aug 28 (approx. 7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sun Sept 10 (3pm)
EASTBOURNE – “The stats say he is a 9-point rider but he is almost a 13-point rider because of what he gives us as a team-rider and off the track.” Eagles’ boss Connor Dugard told Speedway Star Mark Baseby’s absence due to injury will be felt both on and off the track.
NEXT HOME: Kent, National League, Sat Aug 26 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Kent, National League, Mon Aug 28 (3pm)
ISLE OF WIGHT – “We cannot hide our sheer disappointment with the last two home defeats and we know we are now in a scrap to avoid the wooden spoon.” Co-promoter Barry Bishop has conceded the Warriors are no fighting to avoid finishing bottom of the table.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, National League, Tues Aug 22 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Stoke, National League, Sat Sept 23 (7.30)
KENT – “After a crazy season in 2016 when I was in and out of four sides, Kent have given me a great opportunity to be based at a track I’ve always liked and to really push on again.” Ben Hopwood told Speedway Star he believes greater stability in 2017 has enabled him to make excellent progress.
NEXT HOME: Eastbourne, National League, Mon Aug 28 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, National League, Sat Aug 26 (7.30)
LAKESIDE – “Conditions were a little difficult but they were the same for both teams and fundamentally, we did not make starts.” Team manager Kelvin Tatum felt the Hammers were made to pay for sluggish starting as they lost out at Mildenhall on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Fri Aug 25 (8pm)
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, National League, Fri Sept 1 (7.15)
MILDENHALL – “Drew is very much the type of rider we want at Mildenhall, young, talented, bright, dedicated and ambitious.” Chairman Kevin Jolly believes Drew Kemp fits the bill after the new British 500cc Youth Champion became the Fen Tigers’ first signing ahead of the 2018 campaign.
NEXT HOME: Stoke, National League, Sun Aug 27 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Lakeside, National League, Fri Aug 25 (8pm)
PLYMOUTH – “We really wanted to keep the continuity of racing each week but we have tried all possible ways of sorting out a fixture but drawn a blank.” Co-promoter Mark Phillips says they made plenty of efforts to prevent a blank week in the fixture list but were left with no alternative.
NEXT HOME: Lakeside, National League, Fri Sept 1 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Kent, National League, Mon Sept 11 (6.30)
STOKE – “It’s a big ask but if they can beat us by 24 points I see no reason as to why we can’t do the same to them.” Assistant manager Adam Isherwood told Speedway Star their Knockout Cup hopes remain alive ahead of the second leg of their replay with Mildenhall, which was rained off on Saturday and will be re-arranged.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Sat Sept 2 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sun Aug 27 (3pm)
MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
BRITISH Speedway bosses are predicting a blockbuster final two months of the season.
Three more major events featuring the top two leagues are planned – starting with the Premiership Riders’ Championship at Belle Vue on Saturday September 16.
This is followed a week later by the Championship Riders’ Individual on Sunday, September 24 at Glasgow and the Championship Pairs is at Sheffield on Sunday October 8 at 3pm.
British Speedway Chairman Keith Chapman said: “There’s a lot to look forward to between now and the end of the season for fans of all clubs.
“The major events have been a big success, particularly the Championship Fours at Peterborough where we had the biggest crowd for years.
“The line-ups will be announced for the major events in the near future and the venues we have selected will do a fine job in hosting them, I have no doubt.
“The individual Riders’ Championships always throw up some thrilling racing for the fans and I feel it will be no different at both top two levels.
“In many ways it was a shame we saw the Pairs cancelled at Somerset the night before Cardiff because that’s always a money spinner for British Speedway and its clubs. It was a big loss.
“Thankfully we have been able to get a new date sorted for October 8 and Sheffield always do a fine job in hosting major events so we’re pleased to be going back there.
“Even for those clubs who are not going to make play-offs these major events mean there is still something to get along to, and in all three cases they are weekend dates.
“I’m looking forward to Belle Vue on a Saturday under lights. The likes of Doyle, Lindgren, Andersen and co going for the title around there will be something special.”
*DREW Kemp and Leon Flint were confirmed as British Youth Champions in last Saturday’s seventh round at Glasgow.
Kemp clinched the 500cc title with victory over Liam Little in Heat 1, whilst Flint – a former 150cc champion – has now secured back-to-back 250cc titles, ensuring he would be uncatchable by winning his third ride.
Both riders will be presented with their trophies after the final round at Leicester next month, with the date set for Sunday September 17 after the meeting was abandoned earlier in the season. This event will feature 500cc and 250cc riders only
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: TBC
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester, September 24
FIXTURE PICTURE…
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, King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton (follows previous fixture), Rye House v Somerset 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 24:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Somerset 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 25:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Lakeside v Mildenhall 8pm
CALEDONIAN RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 26:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Somerset 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Glasgow v Newcastle 7pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Eastbourne v Kent 7.30
SUNDAY AUGUST 27:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30, Workington v Berwick 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Stoke 3pm
MONDAY AUGUST 28:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Poole v Belle Vue 11am, Rye House v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Leicester 4pm, Swindon v Somerset (follows previous fixture), Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 6pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe v Newcastle 3pm, Scunthorpe v Workington (follows previous fixture)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Belle Vue (follows Wolves fixture), Kent v Eastbourne 3pm
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Rye House 7.30, Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Newcastle 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 31:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Ipswich 7.30, Sheffield v Glasgow 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Eastbourne 7pm
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn, Leicester v Wolverhampton 7.30, Rye House v Swindon 7.30, Somerset v Poole 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Lakeside 7.15
CHALLENGE: Edinburgh v Buxton 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Glasgow v Sheffield 7pm, Ipswich v Redcar 7.30, Workington v Peterborough 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Isle of Wight 7.30, Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Glasgow 5pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Lakeside v Stoke 3pm, Mildenhall v Buxton 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v Leicester 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn (follows previous fixture)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Belle Vue 6.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Kent 7.30
Results Monday August 21, 2017
SGB PREMIERSHIP
Belle Vue 49 (Craig Cook 14+2)
Somerset 41 (Charles Wright 11)
SGB Premiership points: Belle Vue 3 Somerset 0
Poole 56 (Timo Lahti 13)
Leicester 34 (Danny King 10+1)
SGB Premiership points: Poole 3 Leicester 0
Swindon 48 (Jason Doyle 12)
King’s Lynn 41 (Michael Palm-Toft 9)
SGB Premiership points: Swindon 3 King’s Lynn 0
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cradley 43 (Conor Dwyer 14+1)
Birmingham 43 (Liam Carr 15)
National League points: Cradley 1 Birmingham 2
JOHN CEARNS CUP
Kent 54 (Luke Bowen 13)
Wimbledon 36 (Ben Morley 12)
