POSTPONEMENT - SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Stoke v Kent - OFF

(SPEEDWAY 1)
GREAT Britain star Robert Lambert finished a spectacular runner-up in Friday’s second round of the World Under-21 Final in Germany.
The King’s Lynn and Newcastle man was involved in a sensational Final at Gustrow which was eventually won by Polish rider Bartosz Smektala.
Lambert, though, snatched second place from Poole’s Australian star Brady Kurtz in a blanket finish following a race-long battle involving all three.
It means Lambert heads to the final round in Pardubice later this month as part of a five-way battle for the title, seven points behind series leader Maksym Drabik who crashed out at the semi-final stage.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EDINBURGH moved back into the SGB Championship play-off places with two wins from their Armadale double-header on Friday.
The Monarchs defeated Workington 52-40 and then Ipswich 48-44, with those results also having the effect of sealing the Witches’ place in the play-offs.
Erik Riss and Ricky Wells were the high scorers for the hosts with 14 points in the respective fixtures, whilst Craig Cook scored 14 for Workington and Rory Schlein 13 for Ipswich as they came from 11-down to salvage a league point.
Edinburgh's wins did come at some cost with No.1 Sam Masters now ruled out of their trips to Berwick and Scunthorpe this weekend.
Masters, recently back from a broken collarbone, came to grief in Heat 6 of the second fixture and missed his last ride of the night.
Masters said: “I’ve had double headers with both Wolves and Monarchs this week and that has been difficult. I have a bit of pain from my shoulder injury early in the morning and then I’m all right for the day, but when I came down in heat 6 of the second match tonight I had that pain again.
“I was finding it difficult to turn as hard as I want to. I want to ride so much but I guess I should sit out Berwick and Scunthorpe. I’ll be back for Sheffield.”
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Thomas (Jorgensen) was gutted to withdrawn but our five boys put in a brilliant performance and I am really proud of them.
“The reserves were superb and were a credit to the club as all five of the riders were really. Under the circumstances it was an excellent performance.
“We had a chance sneak a draw in the last heat but under the circumstances it was a very good point.”
Meanwhile Sheffield’s long unbeaten run came to an end in dramatic style as Redcar collected a 48-42 win at the Media Prima Arena.
The Tigers led by four points with three heats to go but then conceded two 5-1s and a 4-2, holding on for one league point as the hosts kept their play-off hopes alive.
But Redcar still dropped out of the top four due to Edinburgh’s double win, and the Bears now require major points on the road in their remaining fixtures.
Charles Wright scored 14 for the hosts with Ben Barker on 12+1, whilst Lasse Bjerre top-scored for the visitors on 12 as they raced without Josh Bates (shoulder) as well as Todd Kurtz.
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “Of course we’re very disappointed because we wanted to keep our winning streak going for as long as we possibly could.
“Luck appeared to be on our side but we didn’t take advantage and credit where it’s due, we were eventually beaten by the better side on the night.
“If we try and search for a positive then of course it’s that we were still able to add to our tally against a tough Redcar side. And when you consider we were without both Todd and Josh, that’s not a bad effort at all on reflection.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BELLE Vue were convincing 59-31 winners over Cradley in the first leg of their Knockout Cup tie at the National Speedway Stadium.
The Colts will be strong favourites to progress when the matter is resolved later this month at Perry Barr as they produced a typically dominant home performance.
Kyle Bickley (13+2), Jack Smith (13+1) and Rob Shuttleworth (10+1) all racked up double figures for the hosts, with guest Liam Carr notching 12 for the Heathens in a meeting which was threatened by heavy rain.
Colts reserve Luke Woodhull said: “When the rain was really coming down things didn’t look good but we looked at the track and agreed to go out for Heat 1, which of course got washed out.
“We had a meeting with the referee and everyone was just so determined to get on with it, that as soon as the weather cleared up we went straight out and powered through the rest of the night.
“The track held up really well and as the racing continued it started to dry out, and the boys adapted really well and we managed to pull off quite a hefty win on what started a difficult night.
“I do feel for Cradley. We were expecting a much closer meeting as I’m sure they were, but conditions just caught them out and we had to capitalise on that in preparation for the second leg.
“A 28-point lead is a huge advantage and the Heathens will need to do something special to pull that back. But stranger things have happened so we will certainly be on our guard at Perry Barr.”
Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “Regardless of the result, both sets of riders should be commended for getting the meeting started, yet alone completing all 15 races because conditions were far from ideal.
“But there weren’t any grumbles as such, everyone had exactly the right attitude and were determined to crack on with the meeting as soon as they could.
“Belle Vue are a very strong team this year and they’re not top of the National League with an unbeaten home record because of a fluke.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
GLASGOW skipper Aaron Summers insists his side are still in the SGB Championship title race as they prepare to host Scunthorpe at Ashfield tonight (Saturday).
The Tigers were stunned by a depleted Sheffield team last week, surrendering a 12-point lead to go down to defeat – but Summers remains confident despite a lower-order injury crisis.
Dan Bewley, Tom Perry and Nike Lunna are all ruled out, with Kyle Newman named as a guest for Lunna.
Summers said: “I don't see any reason why we won't still be challenging for the title. Our play-off spot is fairly secure, so I don't think anyone needs to panic.
“I'd encourage the fans to give us a chance and support us - the team is doing better than in previous years and it affects us when we're criticised.
“Our form will come back, we've just had a bit of a glitch. With the right backing from the fans, we can get back to our best. We're working hard to sort things out and we can take advantage of this run of home meetings.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, bottom club Berwick host Edinburgh at Shielfield Park, with the Monarchs looking to repeat a 48-42 away win from earlier in the season against a Bandits side who have improved greatly at home.
Meanwhile Workington start their home clash with Newcastle eight points adrift of the sixth-placed Diamonds, but with five matches in hand.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
EASTBOURNE are chasing down a top place finish in this year’s National League - but face some of their biggest tests in the next few home meetings.
The Eagles take on top-four rivals Lakeside tonight (Saturday) at Arlington with the Hammers also desperate for points in the race for the play-offs.
The hosts name a full-strength side knowing three more home wins will guarantee top spot, whilst the Hammers include Paul Hurry – a top-flight title winner at Eastbourne in 2000, along with Danny Ayres as a guest for the injured Zach Wajtknecht.
Eagles boss Connor Dugard said: “It will be the toughest match of the season so far. But if we are to finish where we want to, we have to beat these teams.”
Hammers manager Kelvin Tatum said: “They’re notoriously close meetings between Lakeside and Eastbourne and there’s not usually much at all between the two teams.
“We know it’s going right down to the wire for the final couple of play-off places and we know we need to add to our tally in at least one of our upcoming away meetings.”
Meanwhile Stoke face a tough home test against in-form Kent, who shot into the play-off places with their win at Birmingham on Wednesday.
The Potters have called on Rob Shuttleworth to step in at No.1 as Mitchell Davey is absent on Championship commitments.
Stoke assistant boss Adam Isherwood said: “Kent are a very good team looking to secure a play-off place - but we are capable of beating anyone around our home circuit as we proved against Mildenhall last week, so I’m looking for the same type of performance this weekend.”

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Glasgow v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.30, Stoke v Kent OFF
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 :Friday September 8, 2017;
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP

Edinburgh 52 (Erik Riss 14)
Workington 40 (Craig Cook 14)
SGB Championship points: Edinburgh 3 Workington 0

Edinburgh 48 (Ricky Wells 14)
Ipswich 44 (Rory Schlein 13)
SGB Championship points: Edinburgh 3 Ipswich 1

Redcar 48 (Charles Wright 14)
Sheffield 42 (Lasse Bjerre 12)
SGB Championship points: Redcar 3 Sheffield 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP

Belle Vue 59 (Kyle Bickley 13+2)