(SPEEDWAY 1)
BRITISH Champion Craig Cook is targeting a second major event triumph at the National Speedway Stadium on Saturday.
Cook, who is likely to be a Grand Prix rider in 2018, represents Belle Vue in the SGB Premiership Riders’ Championship where he will go up against many of his fellow top-flight heat-leaders.
He said: “Obviously I won the British Final at Belle Vue this season, but I think this will probably be harder to be honest.
“There’s all the best riders in the league in the line-up with a couple of GP riders in there with a lot of experience.
“I know that this time I’m going to have to be at my very best if I’m going to get on the rostrum and hopefully get on the top step.
“I want to end the season strongly, not just in this meeting but with all the meetings I’ve got left so I want to make it count.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
RYE House wrapped up a successful debut top-flight campaign with a last-ditch 46-44 win at King’s Lynn on Wednesday.
The final regular SGB Premiership match of the season looked to be heading for a draw until the Stars’ Thomas Jorgensen suffered a mechanical failure in Heat 15, allowing Scott Nicholls through for third place – with team-mate Chris Harris winning the race.
Nicholls top-scored for the Rockets with 11 points as all of the visitors collected at least five, whilst Michael Palm Toft (13) and Josh Auty (11+2) led the way for the hosts – who ended the season on a run of 15 defeats in 16 matches.
Rye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “We had little bit of luck in Heat 15, but Scotty was being competitive and I thought he had a chance of getting past even without Jorgensen’s problems.
“We had one or two bits of bad luck, too, such as when Robbo (Stuart Robson) locked up and his chain came off in Heat 12. But all the boys battled hard, as you can see by their scores. Little Ben (Morley) did really well, and they all pulled their socks up when they needed to.
“Overall, it was a great way to finish off our first season in the Premiership.”
Stars boss Dale Allitt said: “I think we deserved to get something out of the meeting in the end but I guess that just sums it up really. The team fought back well to edge in front mid-meeting and we looked as if we were on for the win.
"But Robert (Lambert) had problems in Heat 13 and then Thomas's ignition went in the last race. It was a very disappointing way to end our season but this has certainly been a year to learn from and then quickly forget.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IPSWICH produced a powerful display to win 52-41 at play-off rivals Glasgow in the SGB Championship on Wednesday.
The result moves the Witches level on points with leaders Sheffield, albeit having ridden four more matches; whilst the injury-hit Tigers are still sweating on confirming their top four place with a massive match against Redcar to come on Saturday.
Rory Schlein scored 14 points from five rides to lead the way for the Witches, with reserve Nathan Greaves also starring on 11+1. Danny King (10+3) and guest Mark Riss (10) were also in double figures – whilst Richard Lawson (15+1) and Richie Worrall (10+1) dominated the home side’s scoring.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was great tonight and everyone played their part. Rory and Nathan were superb and we were helped by Mark coming in and being a terrific guest.
“I told the boys before the meeting there is no pressure, just go and have fun and speedway is fun when you are winning. I think we are riding with confidence and determination at the moment.”
Lawson said: “We're very frustrated - it wasn't the result we wanted. We expected a tough match, but I thought even with the guests we would be able to pull through it.
“We're bitterly disappointed and we need to bounce back, because the race for the play-offs is getting a bit tight now.
“It's not good for team morale and things like that. In saying that, everyone is still positive - it's just not coming together as we would like.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
KING’S Lynn have commenced 2018 team building by confirming the signing of Thomas Jorgensen.
The Dane has proved a highly successful mid-season signing amidst a troubled run for the Stars, who have wasted no time in completing a deal with him for next year.
Jorgensen said: “It’s usually a long winter and you never know what will happen, so it’s nice to have it sorted and not have the pressure of trying to find a team place in the top league.
“Just being asked to race for a team in the Premiership was awesome but to go into King’s Lynn like I have done and perform how I have done on the whole has been pretty amazing really.
“I’m excited to be back at King’s Lynn next season and hopefully I can do just as well individually and we can have a much better year as a team too.”
The Stars have also announced the signing of youngster Taylor Hampshire as a club asset – despite their withdrawal from the National League earlier this season.
Co-promoter Dale Allitt said: “We've kept in touch with Taylor and his family and we've certainly been keeping an eye on his progress.
“We're thrilled that Taylor's move to Birmingham worked out for him; he's certainly demonstrated his potential and it’s shown what he is more than capable of.
“We firmly believe that Taylor is one for the future and we're looking forward to working closely with him again and doing whatever we can to help him take those next few steps he needs to help his career progress.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
SWINDON will take an 11-point lead to Belle Vue for the second leg of their KO Cup semi-final after a 50-39 win at the Abbey on Thursday.
The Robins came out on top in a long-running meeting which saw the visitors reduced to five riders after an unfortunate incident in Heat 2.
Home man Bradley Wilson-Dean and the Aces’ Jack Smith both came to grief, and the visiting rider required a trip to hospital to attend to a serious-looking finger injury.
Jason Doyle scored 11+1 for the Robins with Nick Morris adding 10, whilst Max Fricke piled up 16+1 for the Aces backed up by Kenneth Bjerre on 11 as the visitors operated rider-replacement for the unwell Craig Cook.
Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “Belle Vue had a lot of back luck, and the injury to Jack was quite gruesome with the bone sticking out of the finger, so it wasn’t good and we wish him well.
“Tobiasz (Musielak) had one of those nights, races were being stopped and then he got caught out by his own partner, but hopefully we can move on from it, and Bradley (Wilson-Dean) is a bit battered and bruised again but he should be okay.
“But fingers crossed, eleven points should be enough of a lead to defend up there, I can’t see why it wouldn’t be.”
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “The boys showed a lot of commitment tonight despite the circumstances, and even though they were considerably under power they never let the high-flying Robins get away.
“As the track settled down they began to establish that edge on us but to be honest, I think an 11-point deficit is more than an achievable margin to claw back on the return leg at home.
“Our focus in the meantime has to be on the play offs though and unfortunately it looks like we’ll be facing them without Jack Smith. It was purely a racing incident with no-one to blame.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
SHEFFIELD secured their spot at the top of the SGB Championship table with wins over Edinburgh and Ipswich on Thursday.
Simon Stead’s side put in a complete team performance to thrash Edinburgh 58-34 in the first meeting of the night.
And they picked up where they left off to see off a determined Ipswich side by a 52-38 scoreline to preserve their unbeaten home record.
They were given a major scare by the second-placed Witches, who won at Glasgow 24 hours earlier, but they struck four 5-1s in the final four races to come out on top.
Star mid-season signing Jan Graversen top-scored at reserve in both matches with 12+2 and 14+2, with Lasse Bjerre also in double figures twice.
For Edinburgh, Ricky Wells scored 15 of their 34 points whilst Rory Schlein led a solid Ipswich display with 9.
Stead said: “We’ve been riding as a complete unit, the lads are getting on fantastically well and I think that’s shown again by the results on track.
“It’s never ideal running two fixtures in one day, and we maybe tired a little bit at one stage. It’s difficult to stay on top of things for so many heats.
“I’m really proud of the lads for regrouping. It’s never nice to fall behind on your home track, but the way the lads responded with four 5-1s in the last five races was incredible.
“They’ve made it look pretty convincing when in reality it wasn’t. Ipswich came and put up a good fight and we’ve done extremely well to get that sort of result out of it.”
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “The major positive to come out of the two meetings this week was Nathan’s (Greaves) performance last night and Connor’s (Mountain) tonight.
“Kyle (Newman) was our quickest rider tonight but had machinery gremlins in his last two heats which affected us quite a lot.
“It was a positive night and I know the last few heats were not very positive results-wise but I am coming away very happy.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
REDCAR’S Charles Wright won the Teesside Silver Helmet at the Media Prima Arena on Thursday.
Wright scored 11 points from his qualifying races despite a disqualification in his third ride, whilst Glasgow’s Richard Lawson led the standings with 12.
But it was Wright who took the honours in the Final, chased home by Aaron Summers and Lawson who finished second and third, with Ryan Douglas in fourth place.
(SPEEDWAY 8)
SCOTTISH rivals Edinburgh and Glasgow clash at Armadale on tonight (Friday) with both teams looking to close in on a play-off place.
Fifth-placed Redcar remain within range of the Monarchs and the Tigers, who both suffered defeats in midweek.
The visitors have a number of injury concerns in their lower-order, with Ashley Morris and James Sarjeant booked to make guest appearances, whilst Sam Masters has been declared fit to race for the hosts.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “We are nearly there in regards to clinching that play-off spot, and Glasgow at home and Workington away are targets for victories for us.
“Obviously neither of these will be easy and we will need to be at our best, but we are now in pole position for a play-off spot and I am looking for us to finalise that this weekend.”
Glasgow star Richard Lawson said: “Things just haven't come together the way we would like recently.
“But with the potential we've got, I think we can go into those play-offs and win some trophies. We deserve it, and I do believe we can do it.
“Personally I've had some really good meetings recently. I had a couple of bad ones about a month or so back and hit a bit of a blip but I’m feeling good again and I’m happy with my form.”
(SPEEDWAY 9)
DEFENDING National League Champions Birmingham must win at Plymouth tonight (Friday) to have any chance of reaching this season’s play-offs.
The Brummies complete their campaign at the St Boniface Arena but have been left as outsiders after back-to-back home defeats against Belle Vue and Kent.
They will be without captain Jack Parkinson-Blackburn for the trip to Devon due to a shoulder injury, with Rob Shuttleworth coming in to guest. The hosts bring in Jamie Halder to guest at reserve with Saul Bulley ruled out.
Plymouth boss Laurence Rogers said: “They are a solid side and have a Plymouth track expert in David Mason in their ranks, who was a rider we were interested in.
“We have seen Tom Bacon guest for a few teams so he has had practice on our circuit whilst Liam Carr has been on good form recently so we have a battle on our hands, but if the boys continue their good form we should see off their challenge and notch up another win and three league points.”
Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “It’s very frustrating to be without or No.1 for our last match of the season but there’s nothing we can do about it really.
“He crashed in the Czech Republic a few weeks ago and is still struggling with his shoulder. It still hasn’t healed properly and he’ll miss the meeting at Plymouth.
“But hopefully we can go there and end our league fixtures on some sort of high, positive note.”
(FIXTURES)
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)
Results Thursday September 14, 2017
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F, 1st leg
Swindon 50 (Jason Doyle 11+1)
Belle Vue 39 (Max Fricke 16+1)
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheffield 58 (Jan Graversen 12+2)
Edinburgh 34 (Ricky Wells 15)
SGB Championship points: Sheffield 3 Edinburgh 0
Sheffield 52 (Jan Graversen 14+2)
Ipswich 38 (Rory Schlein 9)
SGB Championship points: Sheffield 3 Ipswich 0
TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET, Redcar
1 Charles Wright (Somerset/Redcar)
2 Aaron Summers (Glasgow)
3 Richard Lawson (Somerset/Glasgow)
4 Ryan Douglas (Scunthorpe)
