POSTPONEMENTS - SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheffield v Ipswich - OFF
Re-staging date: Thursday September 14
(to immediately follow Sheffield v Edinburgh, 7.15pm)
Sheffield v Redcar - OFF
Re-staging date: Monday September 18, 7.45pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Buxton v Kent - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
GLASGOW put their SGB Championship play-off push back on track with a 55-37 win over Scunthorpe at Ashfield.
The Tigers moved four points clear of fifth-placed Redcar and still have three matches in hand as they look to secure a top four finish.
Heat-leaders Aaron Summers (16) and Richard Lawson (12+1) were in good form as the hosts limited the Scorpions to just three race wins, Lewis Kerr top-scoring for the visitors with 12.
Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “I think we rode better than the final scoreline suggests. Our riders were certainly popping out and winning a race. Lewis, Ryan Douglas and Michael Palm Toft all had a decent evening.
“Jake Allen needed this meeting to dial himself back in, after his injury, but he then produced a great ride in Heat 11. He started off the outside, went flying around everyone on the opening turns, and then Aaron Summers chased him, but Jake held him off.”
Meanwhile Edinburgh missed the chance to consolidate their own play-off position when they went down 49-41 at basement club Berwick.
The Bandits carded 11 race wins, four of them from No.1 Nick Morris who was unbeaten until Heat 13 – whilst David Howe top-scored with 13 after first-race retirement, and Kevin Doolan (11) and Jye Etheridge (10+1) also hit double figures.
Erik Riss produced two of the Monarchs’ four victories on his way to 12 points but the visitors missed out on a league point.
Berwick boss Gary Havelock said: “We were desperate for the win over Edinburgh and the guys went out and rode out of their skins to get it as that's all I've heard all week – ‘beat Edinburgh, beat Edinburgh,’ and we did which was a great result.
“Tonight saw the last races from Nick Morris for us this season as he's in the SGBP Riders’ Championship at Belle Vue next week, but what a great signing he has been for us.
“The guy has been a brilliant number one for Berwick after an under-par start for him by his own standards, he really dug in deep and made for some fantastic races, and we thank him for all his efforts - the guy's a star.”
Workington and Newcastle again proved evenly matched as they shared a 45-45 draw at Derwent Park.
Eight of the last nine races finished as 3-3s, but Diamonds guest Chris Harris partnered Steve Worrall to a 5-1 in Heat 13 which levelled the scores.
In the deciding race, however, Harris took the flag but Worrall was kept at the back by Craig Cook and Ty Proctor to confirm the drawn outcome.
Cook (12) and Proctor (11+2) were top-scorers for the Comets, with Harris on 11+1 and Worrall 11 for the Diamonds.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EASTBOURNE closed in on top spot in the National League with a 47-36 win over Lakeside in an incident-strewn meeting at Arlington.
The Eagles now trail Belle Vue by a single point with three matches in hand and have confirmed their play-off place; whilst the Hammers still hold fourth spot and results involving Birmingham, Cradley and Mildenhall over the next week will determine the strength of their position ahead of their final fixture.
There were a host of falls and retirements in a meeting which included the speedway rarity of 0-0 in Heat 2 as all four riders failed to finish the race.
But Tom Brennan was involved in two 5-1s for the home side, whilst the Hammers’ chances of a league point ended when race leader Paul Hurry suffered mechanical trouble in Heat 14.
Brennan top-scored for the Eagles with 14+1 whilst Jake Knight, Charley Powell and Georgie Wood all added 9+1. Ben Morley scored 12 for the Hammers.
Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook said: “Obviously conditions were a bit tricky, and I think that should have played into our hands a bit more than it did.
“We probably should have got a bit closer for that extra point which would have been a boost for our play-off quest.
“But it's still in our own hands, and we'll go to Buxton (next Sunday) undeterred knowing it is in our own hands.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead is keen to see his side record what he's describing as “a couple of significant wins” in today’s (Sunday) double-header at Owlerton.
The Tigers host both Ipswich (3.30pm) and Redcar (5.30pm approx) – two sides who they could meet again in the SGB Championship play-offs.
The Witches are also confirmed top-four qualifiers, whilst the Bears are in fifth place and need to score significant points from their remaining away matches if they are to edge out either Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Sheffield will once again be without Todd Kurtz through injury whilst Josh Bates is expected to miss the fixtures after sustaining a shoulder problem in a fall at home earlier in the week.
Stead said: “To lose our winning streak (on Friday at Redcar) was disappointing but the lads need to regroup and make sure they're ready for what is going to be a busy Sunday.
“Redcar and Ipswich are both having very good seasons and they're both up there in the mix.
“We've already shown what we are capable of against both of them already this season but we could do with getting two more wins on the board on Sunday which would be pretty significant with the play-offs now fast approaching.”
Ipswich operate rider-replacement for the injured Justin Sedgmen, with Jonas B Andersen stepping in to guest for Cameron Heeps.
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We know we are going to be at Sheffield again at least once this season, so it will be similar to the Edinburgh trip on Friday.
“We will be looking to pick up experience and we need to carry on riding how we are at the moment. Without any pressure we are enjoying ourselves, learning and riding with great determination.
“I think Sunday is another opportunity to showcase all of that and put in a battling performance and pick up a lot of knowledge for later in the year when we are there again.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPE finally hand a home debut to Jake Allen when they host play-off chasing Edinburgh at the Eddie Wright Raceway today (Sunday).
Josh Auty is also set to line up for the Scorpions after suffering a shoulder injury at Wolverhampton on Monday.
The Monarchs go into the meeting one point ahead of fifth-placed Redcar, with two matches currently in hand on the Bears.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It’ll be a tough match, I’m sure of that, because Edinburgh won here by sixteen points in April.
“But we’ll be doing everything we can to avoid a repeat of that result and end up with the spoils this time around.
“Edinburgh have got far more to lose than we have, since they are currently battling Redcar for the final spot of the play-offs.”
Meanwhile Peterborough host Workington at the East of England Arena in a clash between the clubs currently seventh and eighth in the table.
Jack Holder returns at No.1 for the Panthers, who operate rider-replacement for Chris Harris who is competing in the ACU British Grasstrack Masters. Bradley Wilson-Dean is back from injury for the hosts.
Peterborough owner Ged Rathbone said: “Ourselves and Workington are very similar in that our league campaigns have not panned out as we hoped.
“But we're determined to finish on a high and make sure we build momentum to have a real go at winning the KO Cup.
“A lot has happened over the last few weeks which caused our attention be side-tracked from the job of winning speedway meetings, but we've re-focused and we won't allow any outside factors to distract us again.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BUXTON have booked Liam Carr and Tony Atkin as guests for today’s (Sunday) National League clash with in-form Kent at Hi-Edge.
Hitmen boss Jason Pipe believes his side require at least two more wins in order to avoid the wooden spoon, but their task is made tougher by the absences of Max Clegg and Matt Williamson on SGB Championship duty.
Pipe said: “It's no secret we've struggled to cover for these two riders when both or even just one of them is missing. But hopefully this week by bringing in track specialists Liam and Tony to cover, I'm still very confident that we can get a result.
“A lot will depend on how both reserves will fare on each side, as I believe this meeting will be won and lost at reserve.
“We again have Jamie Halder covering for Ben Woodhull, and for me their rider to look out for will be George Hunter. Stop him from scoring too many points and I do believe we'll be looking at a positive outcome.”
Meanwhile Mildenhall and Cradley are heading towards last-chance saloon in the race for the play-offs.
The Fen Tigers still have five matches remaining but are ten points adrift of fourth-placed Lakeside, whilst the Heathens are five behind the Hammers but visit West Row in a depleted state.
Captain Tom Perry and reserve Tyler Govier remain on the sidelines through injury whilst Danny Ayres is on SGBC duty – and Richard Hall and Luke Harris are absent due to the ACU British Masters grasstrack event.
Rob Shuttleworth, Connor Coles, William O’Keefe and Lewis Whitmore all come in for the Heathens.
Boss Will Pottinger said: “It's very disappointing to have to go into such an important fixture with hardly any of our own team but there's very little we could do about it as a club unfortunately.
“Because of there being so many fixtures on Sunday, as well as a lot of riders being involved in the British Masters, guests were hard to come by.
“It's certainly going to need a special effort from our makeshift side, but our riders on Sunday will be giving it their best shot I'm sure.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Workington 5pm, Sheffield v Ipswich 3.30, Sheffield v Redcar (follows previous meeting), Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Kent 3pm, Mildenhall v Cradley 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
SGB PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEM-FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Swindon 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Eastbourne 7.30, Kent v Plymouth 6.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Ipswich 7.30
Results Saturday September 9, 2017
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Round 9
GERMAN GRAND PRIX, Teterow
1 Matej Zagar (Slovenia)
2 Martin Vaculik (Slovakia)
3 Jason Doyle (Aus)
4 Chris Holder (Aus)
STANDINGS after Round 9 of 12
1 Jason Doyle (Aus) 114
2 Patryk Dudek (Pol) 104
3 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 101
4 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 98
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Berwick 49 – David Howe 13
Edinburgh 41 – Erik Riss 12
Championship points: Berwick 3 Edinburgh 0
Glasgow 55 - Aaron Summers 16
Scunthorpe 37 – Lewis Kerr 12
Championship points: Glasgow 3 Scunthorpe 0
Workington 45 – Craig Cook 12
Newcastle 45 – Chris Harris 11+1
Championship points: Workington 1 Newcastle 2
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Eastbourne 47 – Tom Brennan 14+1
Lakeside 36 – Ben Morley 12
National League points: Eastbourne 3 Lakeside 0
Stoke v Kent – OFF
