PIC OF THE WEEK...
Edinburgh’s Erik Riss battles it out with Scunthorpe’s Josh Auty in Heat 15 of Sunday’s SGB Championship match. The Scottish side took all four league points in the 49-41 win and continue their quest to secure a play-off place.
Picture: ALEX SUMMERFIELD
SGB PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE – “I’ve been working hard to get ready for the play-offs, and I know all the other boys have been as well.” Skipper Craig Cook says the Aces are doing all they can to get ready for the play-offs. Read more in this week’s Speedway Star.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final, Mon Sept 18 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Swindon, KO Cup Semi-Final, Thurs Sept 14 (7.30)
KING’S LYNN – “It's the last meeting of the season, and we'll be looking to go out with a win to set us up nicely for 2018.” Stars’ boss Dale Allitt wants to end their miserable year on a high as they host Rye House.
NEXT HOME: Rye House, Championship, Weds Sept 13 (7.30)
LEICESTER – “Coventry remain one of the world famous speedway clubs even though they aren’t currently in league racing.” Lions’ co-promoter Neil Machin is delighted to be welcoming a Coventry Bees side to Beaumont Park this weekend.
NEXT HOME: Coventry + British Youth Championship, Sun Sept 17 (2pm).
POOLE – “Still wide open after a strong Pirate finish last night.” Pirates’ skipper Hans Andersen told his Twitter followers he believes their play-off semi-final tie with Swindon is still delicately poised despite a 46-44 home defeat in the first leg on Monday.
NEXT AWAY: Swindon, Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final, Mon Sept 25 (7.30)
RYE HOUSE – “We have absolutely nothing to lose at Lynn, so we are going up there to enjoy ourselves and get the points that will remind everyone just how good a season we have had.” Team manager Peter Schroeck wants to end their debut top flight season with a bang at King’s Lynn.
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Championship, Weds Sept 13 (7.30)
SOMERSET – “I have enjoyed myself at Somerset, it has been a good club for me and I cannot complain. I have been in British speedway for quite a few years now and if I get the chance I will come back again.” Patrick Hougaard says he would love to be back with the Rebels in 2018. Read more in this week’s Speedway Star.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, KO Cup Semi-Final, Fri Sept 22 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, KO Cup Semi-Final Weds Sept 20 (7.30)
SWINDON – “I'm pleased with the result and the performance but we won't be taking anything for granted because we've still got work to do.” Robins’ boss Alun Rossiter is refusing to get complacent after winning at Poole in the first leg of their play-off semi-final tie.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, KO Cup Semi-Final, Thurs Sept 14 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, KO Cup Semi-Final, Fri Sept 22 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON – “I think they’ll be close, tough, tense affairs against Belle Vue.” Wolves boss Peter Adams is expecting fine margins in their play-off semi-final with Belle Vue. Read more in this week’s Speedway Star.
NEXT HOME: Somerset, KO Cup Semi-Final, Weds Sept 20 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final, Mon Sept 18 (7.30)
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BERWICK – “The league championship was lost to us a good while ago, but our fans are fantastic as they come back again and again on a Saturday night to get stuck in to the great action the guys have served up for them every week.” Bandits’ boss Gary Havelock has hailed their fans for sticking by the team with their season nearing a conclusion.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Championship, Sat Sept 16 (7pm)
EDINBURGH – “It was an outstanding performance after the disappointment at Berwick last night.” Monarchs’ manager John Campbell was delighted with the spirit shown by his side to come from behind and win at Scunthorpe on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Championship, Fri Sept 15 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Championship, Thurs Sept 14 (7.30).
GLASGOW – “Every meeting this coming week is going to be tough but pretty vital to us. We’re going to have to hit them hard from the word go.” Tigers’ skipper Aaron Summers believes they are heading into a crucial week for their season.
NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Championship, Weds Sept 13 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Championship, Fri Sept 15 (7.30)
IPSWICH – “When you are focused on big meetings and the adrenaline is going I don’t think it will be a factor though.” Witches’ boss Ritchie Hawkins is confident they won’t be affected by a hectic schedule.
NEXT HOME: TBC, Championship Play-Off Semi-Final, Thurs Sept 21 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Weds Sept 13 (7.30).
NEWCASTLE – Newcastle put in a battling all-around team display to claim a 45-45 draw in a thriller with Workington in their final away fixture on Saturday night.
NEXT HOME: Redcar, Championship, Sun Sept 17 (6.30)
PETERBOROUGH – “The KO Cup is the most important competition for us now and picking up league wins is only helping us to build momentum.” Panthers’ promoter Ged Rathbone is still eyeing major silverware in the form of the Knockout Cup.
NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe, Championship, Tues Sept 26 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sun Sept 17 (3pm)
REDCAR – “This week's Teesside Silver Helmet is shaping up to be an exciting contest.” Bears’ co-promoter Jitendra Duffill is anticipating plenty of excitement in their showpiece individual meeting this week.
NEXT HOME: Teesside Silver Helmet, Thurs Sept 14 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat Sept 16 (7pm)
SCUNTHORPE – “As for the team, we started off well enough today, but Edinburgh rode it better later on.” Top scorer Jake Allen admitted the Scorpions were simply beaten by a better side on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Workington, Championship, Sun Sept 17 (5.30)
NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Championship, Tues Sept 26 (7.30)
SHEFFIELD – “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 Tood (Kurtz) and Josh (Bates) that’s not a bad effort at all on reflection.” Tigers’ team boss Simon Stead was keen to avoid hitting the panic button after their winning run came to an end at Redcar last week.
NEXT HOME: Edinburgh + Ipswich, Championship, Thurs Sept 14 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Berwick, Championship, Sat Sept 16 (7pm)
WORKINGTON – Workington were winless after three meetings in three days, with away defeats at Edinburgh and Peterborough sandwiched by a thrilling home draw with Newcastle at Derwent Park on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Championship, Sat Sept 16 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Scunthorpe, Championship, Sun Sept 17 (5.30)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE COLTS – “A 28-point lead is a huge advantage and the Heathens will need to do something special to pull that back.” Luke Woodhull is confident their big lead will be enough heading into the second leg of their Knockout Cup tie with Cradley at Perry Barr.
NEXT HOME: Eastbourne, National League, Sat Sept 23 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Cradley, Knockout Cup, Weds Sept 27 (7.30)
BIRMINGHAM – “We built this up as a must win meeting and to lose how we did with little fight and desire from certain areas of the team was beyond disappointing.” Brummies’ boss Graham Drury could not hide his disappointment after a 51-39 home defeat to Kent ended their play-off hopes last week.
NEXT HOME: Cradley, Challenge, Weds October 11 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, National League, Fri Sept 15 (7.15)
BUXTON – “We must now win at least two of our remaining four meetings to avoid that wooden spoon. It's in our hands now, because I can't see the Isle of Wight getting another point from their last three meetings.” Hitmen boss Jason Pipe is determined to keep them off the bottom of the table.
NEXT HOME: Lakeside + Kent, National League, Sun Sept 17 (3pm)
CRADLEY – “It’s very frustrating as we should be putting out stronger teams than we are, but there’s nothing we can do about it at the moment.” Heathens’ boss Will Pottinger was hugely frustrated after their patched-up side were thrashed at Mildenhall on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Knockout Cup, Weds Sept 27 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Isle of Wight, National League, Thurs Sept 21 (7.15)
EASTBOURNE – Eastbourne prevailed 47-36 against local rivals Lakeside in tricky conditions at Arlington on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Kent + Mildenhall, National League, Sat Sept 16 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, National League, Sat Sept 23 (7.30)
ISLE OF WIGHT – “Our loyal fans deserved that and it sets us up nicely for our final home league match here in a fortnight against Cradley.” Warriors’ co-promoter Martin Widman dedicated their long-awaited win over Mildenhall last week to their loyal fans.
NEXT HOME: Cradley, National League, Thurs Sept 21 (7.15)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National League, Sun Sept 17 (3pm)
KENT – Kent took another big step towards the National League play-offs with a 50-40 home win over Plymouth on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Birmingham, Revenge Challenge, Mon Sept 18 (6.30)
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, National League, Sat Sept 16 (7pm)
LAKESIDE – “It’s still in our own hands, and we’ll go to Buxton undeterred knowing a win will should get us in the play-offs.” Co-promoter Jon Cook knows the Hammers still hold control of their play-off destiny with one meeting remaining.
NEXT AWAY: Buxton, National League, Sun Sept 17 (3pm)
MILDENHALL – “The lads put in a very professional performance with all six getting at least two paid wins as we rattled off twelve heat wins in the afternoon.” Chairman Kevin Jolly praised the professionalism of his Fen Tigers’ side after crushing depleted Cradley on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Isle of Wight, National League, Sun Sept 17 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, National League, Sat Sept 16 (approx. 8.30)
PLYMOUTH – “Had lady luck been on our side and we had less problems we could have taken something out of the meeting.” Devils’ boss Laurence Rogers felt they missed an opportunity as they went down 50-40 at Kent on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Birmingham, National League, Fri Sept 15 (7.15)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, National Trophy Final, Sun Oct 8 (3pm)
STOKE – “We looked at the available dates for the stadium and decided the best way to go was to race a double header against both Mildenhall and Kent giving supporters thirty heats of racing and hopefully we will have some superb racing for all supporters on the night.” Promoter Dave Tattum is expecting an action-packed day as they host a double header on September 23.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall + Kent, National League, Sat Sept 23 (5pm)
MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
GLASGOW ace Richie Worrall admits it’s the “toughest ever” SGB Championship Riders’ title line-up.
The Tigers’ classy No.1 will get huge home backing from the fans at Ashfield Stadium on Sunday, September 24 – but knows it will take a big effort to take away the silverware.
Worrall said: “It’s a massive event for us all. When you look at the line-up, every rider has ridden in the top flight this season. Craig Cook is almost a Grand Prix rider. There simply isn’t an easy race, possibly the toughest line-up ever.
“It will be sensational to see this line-up at Ashfield. Glasgow deserves a big meeting like this, the investment from the promotion warrants this kind of field.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that any of the riders could win it on their day. I expect a great meeting and a huge crowd. I can’t wait.”
Worrall and team-mate Richard Lawson represent the home club but with a host of star names in the meeting, he believes any on-track advantage from racing at Ashfield is negligible.
The field includes current British Champion Cook, former national title holders Chris Harris and Danny King, and a host of other riders who are also top-flight heat-leaders.
Worrall added: “I really don’t think there is any home advantage at all. The track has been so good this year so every rider loves having a go.
“We’ve probably had less home advantage this season running on Saturday nights - the track probably produces better racing slicker.
“All of these guys in the line-up have had good meetings at Ashfield this season so I expect it to be the toughest meeting of the season - even harder than the British Final.”
DRAW: Steve Worrall (Newcastle), Jason Garrity (Redcar), Michael Palm Toft (Scunthorpe), Ricky Wells (Edinburgh), Danny King (Ipswich), Nick Morris (Berwick), Chris Harris (Peterborough), Josh Grajczonek (Sheffield), Kyle Howarth (Sheffield), Craig Cook (Workington), Richard Lawson (Glasgow), Sam Masters (Edinburgh), Richie Worrall (Glasgow), Rory Schlein (Ipswich), Ben Barker (Redcar), Jack Holder (Peterborough).
*THE National League Riders’ Championship also takes place on Sunday September 24, with Max Clegg defending the title.
The Buxton star lines up at Leicester along with the top-averaged rider from each of the eleven third-tier clubs and four other nominated competitors.
LINE-UP: Dan Bewley (Belle Vue), Jack Parkinson-Blackburn (Birmingham), Matt Williamson (Buxton), Danny Ayres (Cradley), Jake Knight (Eastbourne), James Cockle (Isle of Wight), Luke Bowen (Kent), Zach Wajtknecht (Lakeside), Connor Mountain (Mildenhall), Adam Roynon (Plymouth), Mitchell Davey (Stoke), Max Clegg (Buxton), Jack Smith (Belle Vue), Tom Bacon (Birmingham), Josh Bailey (Eastbourne), Jordan Jenkins (Mildenhall).
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2017
SGBP PAIRS: KING’S LYNN
BRITISH FINAL: CRAIG COOK
SGBC FOURS: PETERBOROUGH
SGBP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue, September 16
SGBC RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow, September 24
SGBC PAIRS: Sheffield, October 8
OTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DATES
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: JAMES SHANES
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: ROBERT LAMBERT
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: ZACH WAJTKNECHT
BRITISH SEMI-FINALS: RORY SCHLEIN; KYLE HOWARTH
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: TBC
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester, September 24
FIXTURE PICTURE…
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Edinburgh 7pm, Sheffield v Ipswich (follows previous fixture)
TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Birmingham 7.15
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16:
SGBP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Glasgow v Redcar 7pm, Workington v Edinburgh 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Kent 7pm, Eastbourne v Mildenhall (follows previous fixture)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Peterborough 3pm, Newcastle v Redcar 6.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 5.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Lakeside 3pm, Buxton v Kent (follows previous fixture), Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3pm
EAST MIDLANDS BOWL: Leicester v Coventry 2pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (500cc/250cc) Round 8: Leicester (follows previous fixture)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18:
SGB PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Redcar 7.45
REVENGE CHALLENGE: Kent v Birmingham 6.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Wolverhampton v Somerset 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Cradley 7pm
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Peterborough 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington v Glasgow 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7.30, Stoke v Mildenhall 5pm, Stoke v Kent (follows previous fixture)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24:
SGBC RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow 3pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25:
SGB PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Swindon v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Scunthorpe 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27:
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Cradley v Belle Vue (at Birmingham) 7.30
Results Wednesday September 13, 2017
SGB PREMIERSHIP
King’s Lynn 44 – Michael Palm Toft 13
Rye House 46 – Scott Nicholls 11
Premiership points: King’s Lynn 0 Rye House 3
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Glasgow 41 – Richard Lawson 15+1
Ipswich 52 – Rory Schlein 14
Championship points: Glasgow 0 Ipswich 4
