(SPEEDWAY 1)

NEWCASTLE retained the Tyne/Tweed Trophy with a 55-35 win over Berwick to also complete a 20-point aggregate triumph.
The Diamonds’ top order were all in high-scoring form, with Robert Lambert leading the way on 14 as he suffered his only defeat to Bandits’ top man Lewis Bridger (12).
Ludvig Lindgren (10+2), Lewis Rose (10+1) and Steve Worrall (10+1) also hit double figures for the home side, whilst Dany Gappmaier was the only other race winner for the visitors – but he took no further part after a crash in Heat 6.
Newcastle boss George English said: “We had a great meeting up at Berwick and simply carried on where we left off, and took some good 5-1s to make sure the Berwick top men couldn't take advantage.
“It’s always good to retain a trophy, and this certainly ticks all the boxes.”
Berwick co-promoter Scott Courtney said: “Newcastle are a different prospect on their own track, and after they rode so well at our place on Saturday it was always going to be a tough one for the guys.
“We always win, lose or draw as a team - as a whole, but it was great to see Lewis Bridger do so very well, taking two wins, including one which wrecked the maximums of both Steve Worrall and Robert Lambert in a great Heat 13.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

KENNETH Bjerre took the honours in Simon Lambert’s Testimonial – whilst the beneficiary was left nursing muscle damage after a crash!
Bjerre had to give best to fellow countryman Niels-Kristian Iversen in the qualifying races as the Danish Champion reeled off a 15-point maximum, but Bjerre then defeated him twice in the semi-final and Final.
Iversen was second with the rostrum completed by Sam Masters, whilst Danny King was fourth after being penalised for a tapes offence in the Final.
Lambert, meanwhile, fell heavily in Heat 15 and was unable to take his last ride, although he escaped with a sore right arm.
He said: “I am OK now, although it’s a bit sore. I don’t know what happened, but it was one of those things. I think I tried a bit too hard, but we’ll forget about that.
“Tomorrow’s another day. I just need to push on now. You know, you come back from injury and then you pick up another little knock. But we’ll get there.
“It’s been a fantastic day overall, though. I keep saying that word – fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Everybody’s made it happen, there’s been a great turnout, and I’m so thankful.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

WOLVERHAMPTON will be without Adam Skornicki for the first leg of the Elite Shield as they take on Poole at Monmore Green on Monday.
The 40-year-old hurt his shoulder after falling awkwardly at Peter Karlsson’s Farewell last weekend, and the home side will operate the rider-replacement facility in his absence.
The teams are meeting for the first time since their dramatic play-off semi-final last season in which Wolves made history by overturning a record first-leg deficit to reach the Final – a memory the Pirates want to put behind them.
The visitors are awaiting a fitness update on Kyle Newman after his crash at Wimborne Road last Friday.
Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “Adam missed press and practice last Monday as a precaution and although he’s been concentrating on his fitness programme, he isn’t quite ready in time for the meeting at home to Poole.
“It’s not an ideal start but the main thing is that he gets himself as close to full fitness as he possibly can ahead of our first league fixture at Rye House on Saturday.
“Nevertheless, this should be fantastic meeting at Monmore Green between two strong teams who will both be keen to start the season with a win.”
Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “Our last trip to Wolves was very much a low point for us last season. Whilst there were some mitigating circumstances on that occasion, I was extremely disappointed that night.
“Of course it is a different set of riders competing, but they still carry the club's name and I will be hoping that we will be considerably more competitive this time around.
“There is an early season trophy to lift and it would be nice to retain it, and to do that we need to keep the scores up there as close as possible to give ourselves a
fighting chance of finishing the job on Wednesday.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BELLE Vue newcomer Justin Sedgmen is relishing his return to Edinburgh in this Friday’s Harrison’s Scottish Open Championship.
The Australian was a double Premier League title winner during a successful spell with the Monarchs in 2014-15, and is targeting the club’s big individual trophy this week.
Sedgmen said: “I’m really looking forward to coming back to Armadale and racing. I missed racing there last season.
“The field looks really strong, there are some big names in there and I think it will be a good test to start the season. I really hope I can do well.
“I had two very successful seasons with Edinburgh, and I hope one day I can return. I still have a lot of friends in Edinburgh and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

FORMER Belle Vue star Joe Jacobs is determined to put himself in the shop window at Saturday’s Peter Craven Memorial - after finding himself without a team place for the 2017 campaign.
The Ipswich-born rider lines up against a handful of his ex-team mates in the Mancunian club’s season opener, including Max Fricke and World No.9 Matej Žagar who headlines the main field.
Jacobs said: “It’s great to have Mark’s (Lemon) backing and I understand why he couldn’t fit me into the Aces this year. The Premiership is an even bigger game of averages this season.
“It’s not just me without a team though. The likes of Stefan Nielsen and James Sarjeant, who was one of my team mates at Ipswich last year, don’t have a place either and they’re two great riders.
“That’s not to say our situation won’t change. Injuries are common throughout the year and if I do end up getting my summons I want to be ready, and like I say it’s great to have Mark’s support.”

(FIXTURES)

MONDAY MARCH 27:
ELITE SHIELD 1st leg: Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30

WEDNESDAY MARCH 29:
ELITE SHIELD 2nd leg: Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v King’s Lynn 7.30 (at Birmingham)

THURSDAY MARCH 30:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Ipswich v Berwick 7.30
CHALLENGE: Sheffield v Somerset 7.30
JULIE LEWIS MEMORIAL: Redcar 7.30

FRIDAY MARCH 31:
SGB PREMIERSHIP PAIRS: Somerset 7.30
HARRISON’S SCOTTISH OPEN: Edinburgh 7.15

Sunday Results
TYNE/TWEED TROPHY 2nd leg
Newcastle 55 – Robert Lambert 14
Berwick 35 – Lewis Bridger 12
Newcastle win 100-80 on aggregate.

SIMON LAMBERT TESTIMONIAL, King’s Lynn
1 Kenneth Bjerre (Belle Vue)
2 Niels-Kristian Iversen (Unattached)
3 Sam Masters (Wolverhampton/Edinburgh)
4 Danny King (Leicester/Ipswich)