(SPEEDWAY 1)

BELLE VUE host the top-flight showpiece event of 2017 tonight (Saturday) as the SGB Premiership Riders’ Championship takes place at the National Speedway Stadium.
All eight clubs have two representatives with Wolverhampton skipper Fredrik Lindgren defending the title he won at Coventry last year – and looking for a third victory in the meeting.
Selected preview comments:
Nick Morris (Swindon): “Hopefully I can ride well and do a good job. When it comes to the Premiership Riders’ Championship, anything can happen in those sorts of meetings.
“It all depends who is going well on the day, so if things come together on the night then I should be able to do well.”
Thomas Jorgensen (King’s Lynn): “I’ll just try to treat it like any other meeting. It’s top riders there but it’s a track I like and where I did well with King’s Lynn, so I’ll have a decent idea what setup to use and I’ll try to do my best.
“It’s nice to get the chance to ride in a meeting like this. Anything can happen, and if I have my gating gloves on it will be fine.”
Max Fricke (Belle Vue): “It’s a skilful field which, with the proximity of the play offs, is a good thing I suppose.
“We’re so determined to win the league at Belle Vue that, if nothing else, it’ll provide not only some extra laps but also the opportunity to go up against guys who are in the same position we are.
“Freddie [Lindgren], Jason [Doyle] and Hans [Andersen] are three very strong candidates from title-contending teams and I’m sure they will be scoping out our track as much as they are trying to win.
“In reality, it’s another meeting and all the guys will be wanting to impress. Myself, I’ll take it as it comes. I’m feeling good in myself, I’m fully recovered and just eager to get on with the job.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

EDINBURGH took a giant step towards the SGB Championship play-offs with a 46-43 win over Glasgow at Armadale.
And the point collected by their rivals also edged the Tigers nearer to a top four finish, as they now lead fifth-placed Redcar by five, with three days of racing to come prior to the cut-off.
Ricky Wells headed a solid Monarchs effort with 10 points whilst reserve Max Clegg contributed 9+2. Richie Worrall scored 13 for the Tigers whilst James Sarjeant proved a successful guest at reserve with 12+2.
Wells said: “Good effort from the team, we never gave up, what more can you say. The track was a little bit different, it was pretty slick.
“Good to see Max scoring some points, and Sam never gave up. Nobody gave up tonight.
“I was about ready to pack up and leave after my second ride but I’m glad I stayed and scored some points.”
Glasgow team boss Stewart Dickson said: "A point is always the minimum target when we go away from home - I know that sounds boring but it is.
"On Wednesday night against Ipswich, our guests didn't work unfortunately - whereas tonight they did with James Sarjeant and Ashley Morris.
"But I felt there was an opportunity for more tonight, they were there for the taking. Before the meeting you'd have taken a point, but when you get there and you're in the mix you see the opportunity.
"Richie Worrall was fantastic tonight, but we need to get Aaron Summers going pretty quickly. He just can't make starts at the moment, but he's going to be so important for us on Saturday night at Redcar - he's our captain and takes a rider replacement ride. He has a massive part to play.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

PLYMOUTH’S 34-25 win over Birmingham on Friday spelt the official end of the Brummies’ National League title defence.
The visitors needed a victory at the St Boniface Arena to retain hopes of reaching the play-offs in their bid for a third successive league championship, but they were adrift in Devon when the meeting was curtailed early due to rain.
Benji Compton and Henry Atkins both scored seven for the hosts, with Steve Boxall (6) winning his two outings, whilst Tom Bacon (8) and Liam Carr (7) led the scoring for the Brummies.
Plymouth boss Laurence Rogers said: “It was good to get the win but a pity for the fans that we didn’t get all the heats in as well as the Southern Development League match with Reading. But rider safety is highly important.
“Even riders winning races were having problems with spray and vision and the black clouds above us looked full of rain.
“Graham Drury, the Birmingham team manager and an ex-rider himself, was in full agreement with the decision to abandon proceedings as no one wants to see a rider injured .”
Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We're renowned for coming on strong in the latter stages and we were confident our big hitters could pull it back for us.
“But conditions were becoming trickier all the time and visibility for the riders behind the leader was very difficult indeed.
“We've ran out of steam at the wrong stage of the season and we wish the top four teams all the best in the play-offs.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

GLASGOW face Redcar at Ashfield tonight (Saturday) in a crunch clash of SGB Championship play-off contenders.
The Bears have three away matches in three nights as they look to gatecrash a top four place, with the Tigers one of the teams they are chasing.
Glasgow star Richard Lawson said: “This weekend is crucial - if we can get two home wins under our belt, it will lift everyone.
“The guys that are struggling, we need to look at their set-ups and help them as much as we can. The track is good, there can't be any excuses there - everything is in place for us to win and get back to how we were earlier in the summer.”
Meanwhile table-topping Sheffield head to Berwick, with Steve Worrall booked to guest for the unavailable Josh Grajczonek.
The Bandits have drafted in Ryan Douglas as Nick Morris is also competing in the SGB Premiership Riders’ Championship.
Sheffield star Lasse Bjerre said: “We’ve finished top of the league so the pressure is off I suppose, but we still want to keep winning and make sure we’re still riding well.
“We’ve got to go to Berwick on Saturday, then we’re at home again on Monday against Redcar so hopefully we can get two more wins.”
Meanwhile Workington host Edinburgh at Derwent Park with the Monarchs still looking to ensure a play-off finish.
Last night’s win over Glasgow moved the Armadale side onto 67 points, and one more would be enough if Redcar fail to score at Ashfield.

(SPEEDWAY 5)

EASTBOURNE face two matches tonight (Saturday) knowing success will see them finish in top spot in this year’s National League.
The Eagles take on Kent and then Mildenhall, with both opposition clubs still in the play-off battle with the Kings looking good for a top-four finish and the Fen Tigers still in with an outside chance.
Eastbourne boss Connor Dugard said: “Two vital home matches that we know will be tough but, if we want to finish top, we have to win both of these matches.
“It would mean that we would not be looking for wins in our last two away matches, although that is what we will, of course, be aiming to do.
“At this time of the year, the boys are super fit from racing. A lot of time is being spent in the workshops this week to try and make sure the equipment is right for such a big night and so much work.”
Mildenhall chief Kevin Jolly said: “I have been around speedway far too long to take anything for granted, and whilst there are points to fight for we will keep on battling to the very end.
“We got close to Eastbourne in our National Trophy tie at there track back in the spring, so it’s not out of the question that going on second we can do the same again.
“Having Luke (Ruddick) back is a massive plus as we simply haven’t been able to cover his scoring potential with rider-replacement, and it will be pleasing to see Sam (Woods) back on the track on Sunday following a very difficult time for him and his family.”

(FIXTURES)

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
Results :Friday September 15, 2017;

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP

Edinburgh 46 (Ricky Wells 10)
Glasgow 43 (Richie Worrall 13)
SGB Championship points: Edinburgh 3 Glasgow 1

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE

Plymouth 34 (Benji Compton 7, Henry Atkins 7)
Birmingham 25 (Tom Bacon 8)
Abandoned after 10 heats due to rain – Result STANDS
National League points: Plymouth 3 Birmingham 0