(SPEEDWAY 1)
BIRMINGHAM are looking to extend their winning run over biggest rivals Cradley when they launch another exciting season at Perry Barr on Wednesday.
The Brummies haven’t been beaten by their neighbours in five outings and have an opportunity to make it six in the one-off West Midlands Trophy clash.
Chris Hay, Layne Cupitt and recent signing Macauley Leek make their debuts for the home side, whilst the Heathens have changed their entire 1-7 from 2016 although Tom Perry, Dan Greenwood and Luke Harris have previously represented the club.
Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “In any meeting against Cradley, whether it’s a league, Knockout Cup or a challenge meeting, we all want the bragging rights, and that will be the case again on Wednesday.
“I certainly don’t feel the result will be any indication of how the league campaign is going to progress, this is about time on the track for the riders which is all-important.
“Having said that, the riders are keen to start the season with a win under their belts.”
Cradley manager Will Pottinger said: “Competitive track time for the riders is what it’s all about and with our first home meeting being at Perry Barr next week as well, that’s fallen perfectly for us because it means we’ll have an idea of what to run against King’s Lynn.
“A win would also be nice to get a little bit of confidence and momentum going, but more importantly we hope it’s a good workout for our lads.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE have announced a new headline team sponsorship deal with Volvo Cars Poole backing the Pirates this season.
Promoter Matt Ford said: “I am really proud that we have such a prestigious company backing us and am looking forward to our association with Volvo Cars Poole.
“Like our speedway team their product is a leader in its own industry and it is my intention that the team will make 'VCP' as proud to be linked to us as I am in being able to carry their name.
“I cannot thank David Kelly (MD of Ocean Automotive, who own Volvo Cars Poole) and James Litton (General Manager and Director of Volvo Cars Poole) enough for their support and the manner in which we were able to bring this deal together.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BELLE Vue will welcome back former No.1 Matej Zagar for the Peter Craven Memorial on April 1.
Zagar, who spent four seasons with the Aces and helped them to the top-flight runners-up spot in both 2015 and 2016, is set to make a one-off return for the opening event of the campaign at the National Speedway Stadium.
Club boss Mark Lemon said: “It didn’t take much persuading Matej to join this year’s Peter Craven field and I think that’s down to his commitment to the club, which has been 100% since he first came to Belle Vue.
“He loves the new stadium, and I suppose in a way it’s him paying his respects to the fans for all their support over the years too. We’re delighted to have attracted Matej’s class to the event.
“He’s very eager to take part and I think he’ll be one of the top contenders on the night, and with him not being with the Aces this year it’ll be a rare opportunity for fans to see him ride in Britain.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
THE draw has been made for the SGB Premiership Pairs at Somerset on Friday March 31.
All eight top-flight clubs are represented in the event, which is back on the calendar for the first time since 2011.
The clubs have been split into two groups of four, with the top two pairs from each group in the qualifying heats progressing to the semi-finals.
GROUP A:
BELLE VUE: Craig Cook/Max Fricke
WOLVERHAMPTON: Fredrik Lindgren/Jacob Thorssell
SOMERSET: Patrick Hougaard/Rohan Tungate
SWINDON: Jason Doyle/Nick Morris
GROUP B:
RYE HOUSE: Chris Harris/Scott Nicholls
POOLE: Krzysztof Kasprzak/Brady Kurtz
LEICESTER: Kim Nilsson/Kevin Wolbert
KING’S LYNN: Chris Holder/Robert Lambert
(SPEEDWAY 5)
JOSH Bailey has been ruled out of Scunthorpe’s opening SGB Championship fixture at Peterborough on Friday.
The Scorpions reserve missed the end of last season due to a broken collarbone and has to sit out the trip to the Showground.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Josh isn’t quite ready. He had the metalwork out of his shoulder a week ago, and he needs a little more time.
“We’re bringing in Scott Campos as a guest for Josh at Peterborough.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
KENNETH Bjerre and Michael Palm Toft have been added to the line-up for Simon Lambert’s Testimonial meeting at King’s Lynn on Sunday.
Lambert has made two changes to the field due to the withdrawals of Jason Garrity for mechanical reasons and Brady Kurtz as he will now be racing in Poland.
Lambert said: “Kenneth actually approached ME for a place! I originally asked him some time ago, but he had to decline because of a Polish commitment.
“When that fell through, he came back to me. To have a top rider like him asking for a spot is mind blowing!
“Michael was at the East of England Showground on Sunday to watch the Panthers’ opening meeting, and he told me that he wished he could have been in my Testimonial. When Brady Facebooked me to apologise that he now had to ride for Pila, I was on the phone straight away to get him on board.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY MARCH 24:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Scunthorpe 7.30
DARCY WARD INVITATIONAL: Poole 7.30
SATURDAY MARCH 25:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30
TYNE/TWEED TROPHY 1st leg: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm
CUMBERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington 7pm
SUNDAY MARCH 26:
TYNE/TWEED TROPHY 2nd leg: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30
SIMON LAMBERT TESTIMONIAL: King’s Lynn 2pm
