(SPEEDWAY 1)
SGB PREMIERSHIP leaders Swindon have elected to face Poole in the play-off semi-finals.
The Robins will travel to Wimborne Road next Monday (September 11) in the first leg before hosting the Pirates at the Abbey Stadium a fortnight later.
Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It’s a team decision. We spoke about it and left it over the weekend to make sure we had no injuries, and then I messaged them and we were all unanimous.
“But let me make it clear, we’re not taking Poole because we think they’re the easiest or the weakest ones. When these play-offs start, everybody starts afresh.
“I know (Poole promoter) Matt Ford has already started the mind games, saying ‘nobody is giving us a chance’ but believe me, we’re treating everyone with the utmost respect.”
The Robins’ choice leaves second-placed Wolverhampton facing Belle Vue in a repeat of last year’s Grand Final, with the first leg in Manchester on September 18 and the return the following Monday (September 25).
Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “We haven’t got a particularly good record at the National Speedway Stadium, but we’ll have to find some horsepower from somewhere and try to give them a good run up there.
“It will be difficult at home too because Belle Vue are always redoubtable opposition at Monmore, so I’m hoping for and expecting two very close matches.
“At this stage of the game there’s no point in going there and trying to keep things as tight as you can. We’ll be going to Belle Vue determined to win there, and try to finish it at the first attempt.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
WOLVERHAMPTON confirmed second place in the SGB Premiership table with a double victory at Monmore on Monday.
The hosts first got the better of league leaders Swindon 52-38 before easily overcoming a depleted King’s Lynn side 48-24 in a match curtailed after twelve races.
Wolves dominated the early stages against the Robins, going ten points up before visiting skipper Jason Doyle took a tactical ride in Heat 5 – but the Australian crashed out of the lead on the second bend and scored zero.
Race wins for Doyle, Adam Ellis, Tobiasz Musielak and Nick Morris largely stemmed the gap thereafter, but Wolves had full control of the meeting.
Jacob Thorssell (13+1) dropped his only point to Morris in Heat 15 with Fredrik Lindgren adding 10 from four rides. Morris top-scored with 12 for the Robins.
Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “We're bitterly disappointed tonight, of course we are. We were out-gated in the main but when we did get out in front we were fine.
"The track was different to normal, it was a lot heavier because of their double header and passing was a lot more difficult. But we move on to the play-offs now and it's a fresh start for us all.”
The second match of the night was marred by a Heat 2 crash from which home reserve Nathan Greaves and visiting duo Josh Auty and Tom Perry were all unable to continue.
That left King’s Lynn down to four riders although they did manage three race wins including one for Robert Lambert (8) on a tactical ride.
Mark Riss piled up 11+1 from six rides for the hosts, whilst Thorssell scored a paid maximum from three rides.
Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “I think Swindon were struggling at reserve tonight, and if we have to meet them again they’ll be a different kettle of fish I’m sure.
“But it was a solid performance from us, it was pretty comfortable and we were pleased with the result.
“King’s Lynn were starting the match with six riders, then within two minutes another two of them were on the sidelines.
“It was dreadfully bad luck for them and it made for a very one-sided contest thereafter, but it’s over and done with now and we’ve got some wonderful nights to look forward to here at Monmore in what remains of the season.”
Lambert said: “If we didn't have bad luck lately, we wouldn't have any all. It just goes from bad to worse for us really and it's a shame because there's nothing we can do on a night like tonight.
“The four of us who were left gave it our best but realistically we were always up against it.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
RYE HOUSE completed their debut home SGB Premiership campaign with a 55-38 win over Leicester at Hoddesdon.
The result condemns the Lions to bottom place and they must now await the winners of the SGB Championship in the promotion/relegation play-off.
Late-season signing Krzysztof Kasprzak scored a four-ride paid maximum (10+2) for the Rockets, whilst Chris Harris top-scored on 13 and Ricky Wells added 10+1.
Kyle Newman scored 12 at reserve for the Lions, including an 8-1 with guest Jye Etheridge in Heat 8 which briefly brought his side back into contention.
Harris said: “We really wanted to go out with a bang and win our last home one. All the boys rode well, the track was great and produced some good racing, and we all really enjoyed it.
“Losing my last two races was unfortunate - you can’t win them all – but I have thoroughly enjoyed my season here.
“The fans have been great, and I’ve got to say a big thank-you to them for coming out in all weathers to support the team. Without the fans, there is no club. Hopefully they’ll keep coming every week next year and we can bring them some silverware in return.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
KENT boosted their National League play-off hopes with a 46-32 win over Belle Vue at Central Park.
The result was a blow to the Colts’ chances of finishing top, as they remain just four points clear of Eastbourne who have four matches in hand.
Luke Bowen scored 11+1 for the hosts with guest Danny Ayres on 13 for the visitors, in a match which was abandoned two races short after home reserve Bradley Andrews was taken to hospital.
Belle Vue co-boss Graham Goodwin said: “It was a tough night for us. Kent are so dialled into this track that was never in doubt. We wanted to at least come away with a point and though things didn’t go our way the lads never gave up.
“There were a few incidents in which a couple of our guys came down but thankfully it was nothing too serious, and we of course wish Bradley Andrews well after his fall in Heat 14.
“We’re not despondent with this result. We’re comfortably in the top four and so can afford one minor glitch. We just need to regroup and recover for the next one on Friday against Cradley.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
GLASGOW have been rocked by their second injury with teenage whizz-kid Dan Bewley out for at least a week.
The Tigers lost flying Finn Nike Lunna with two spine fractures and a broken collarbone seven days ago, whilst Bewley now misses their two home meetings on Thursday and Saturday at Ashfield with a strained hip flexor - and he doesn’t know how he sustained the injury.
And with his Premiership team Belle Vue confirmed in the play-offs and Glasgow hoping to secure their top-four place in the Championship, Bewley wants to return as soon as possible.
He said: “I’ve not crashed or anything, so don’t know how I’ve strained my hip on the left side. All I know is that it’s far too painful to ride. I didn’t even know I had a hip flexor, I do now.
“Maybe I twisted my leg during a race or coming out the start but I honestly have no idea how it has happened.
“It’s very frustrating to be out injured at this time of the season. I just want to be racing and it’s annoying with such a strange knock.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Kent 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Workington 7.30, Ipswich v Berwick 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7pm
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Workington 7pm, Edinburgh v Ipswich (follows previous fixture), Peterborough v Scunthorpe 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Belle Vue v Cradley 7.30
Results Monday
SGB PREMIERSHIP
Rye House 55 (Chris Harris 13)
Leicester 38 (Kyle Newman 12)
SGB Premiership points: Rye House 3 Leicester 0
Wolverhampton 52 (Jacob Thorssell 13+1)
Swindon 38 (Nick Morris 12)
SGB Premiership points: Wolverhampton 3 Swindon 0
Wolverhampton
King’s Lynn
Result to follow...
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Kent 46 (Luke Bowen 11+1)
Belle Vue 32 (Danny Ayres 13)
Abandoned after Heat 13 (curfew) - RESULT STANDS
National League points: Kent 3 Belle Vue 0
