(SPEEDWAY 1)

BELLE Vue host Wolverhampton tonight (Monday) in the first leg of the second SGB Premiership play-off semi-final.
It’s a repeat of last years’ Grand Final which Wolves won, although on this occasion the order of the tie is reversed with the first leg taking place at the National Speedway Stadium.
The reigning champions are at full strength, whilst the Aces are without injured reserve Jack Smith as they look to build a lead. Colts regular Rob Shuttleworth steps in.
Belle Vue captain Craig Cook said: “We’ve had some awesome meetings against Wolverhampton over the years and Monday night will be no different. They’re our closest neighbours after all.
“I’m not going to speculate as to the kind of margin we’d like to take to Monmore Green. It’s all about ensuring we present a strong front, and prove our point that we deserve to be here.
“There’s no one out there who wants to see this club succeed more than me. I want to bring the league title to Belle Vue so badly. The boys have worked so hard for it; they definitely deserve it.”
Wolves star Sam Masters said: “Belle Vue are a bit of an unpredictable team and you don’t know what you’re going to get from them, so we’ll have to try and hit them hard at their track.
“If we can do that then hopefully they’ll come to our place with their heads down. It will be tough but over two legs I think we’ll be OK.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

GLASGOW captain Aaron Summers insists the Tigers should not panic ahead of the play-offs – despite a third home defeat in a fortnight.
Mid-table Peterborough raced to a 50-40 win at Ashfield on Sunday, although Redcar’s postponement at Newcastle means the Bears’ slim mathematical chances of overhauling Glasgow prior to the cut-off are over.
For the Panthers it was a third away win in the Championship this season and an indication of what might have been, with a strong team display led by Jack Holder (12) and Chris Harris (10+1).
Richard Lawson (11) and Richie Worrall (10+1) scored double figures for the Tigers.
Summers said: “We had struggled a bit on Wednesday at home to Ipswich, but then on Friday at Edinburgh we improved to keep things close and get a point.
“Yesterday we did the business and today the pressure was off a bit, because we knew we were through regardless.
“We're definitely still staying positive. Everyone is up for the play-offs now that we've made it there - even with all the bad luck we've had lately. I don't see our form being an issue. The boys are raring to go for it.”
Panthers boss Carl Johnson said: “I was very confident we would get a result at Glasgow with a full team – and that’s exactly how it turned out. It’s an excellent result which is right up there with the best we’ve enjoyed this season.
“We led for a lot of the meeting and we could probably have won by a few more points in all honesty.
“We’ve now picked up three wins in a row and hopefully that run can continue for a lot longer.”
Meanwhile Scunthorpe defeated Workington 39-21 in an Eddie Wright Raceway clash abandoned after ten races following heavy rain pre-meeting.
Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey carried out successful track work to enable racing to go ahead after a 90-minute delay, and his team dominated proceedings.
Captain Josh Auty won both of his rides whilst recent signing Jake Allen tallied nine. James Sarjeant top-scored for the Comets with 7+1.
Godfrey said: “I’d like to thank the fans for their patience. We’re very fortunate that we have no curfew here, but that doesn’t mean that we want to leave people standing around all night, and I apologise for the delay in getting racing underway. We got on with it as soon as we could.
“We’d been lucky with the rain for most of the day. But then at 5.20pm, we got hit, with heavy rain, hail, you name it, for around 10 minutes. Another 500 metres down the road and it would be missed us, but we took the full brunt of it.
“Once it stopped, I knew all we needed to do was to clear the water off the first and third turns, and put a bit of material back on top. We had track staff and fans chipping in to clear the water and my thanks go to them all.
“I also have to say a very big thank you to referee Phil Griffin. The referee made a decision that although conditions were not ideal they were raceable, and he saw that through. And I think once the riders did one ride apiece, they probably realised the track was alright as well.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

BUXTON climbed off the foot of the National League with a double home success on Sunday over Lakeside and Kent – which also has implications higher up the table.
The Hitmen defeated the Hammers 53-37 in a result which leaves the Purfleet side hanging on for results elsewhere to go in their favour if they are to maintain a top-four spot.
And then the Kings were prevented from taking over at the top as the Hitmen secured a 47-43 win, leaving Kent with just a point from the match.
Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “I've always said speedway is full of surprises, and always expect the unexpected. Today was one of those days - hardly anybody thought we would win one home meeting, let alone win both of them!
“All the lads gave it that little bit extra, which was asked of them in our pre-meeting track walk. I could tell from the moment I saw all my riders and after having had a good track walk and a chat together, that all of them were really up for it.
“From a total of 30 races, we only had a last place in 10 of them, which made a big difference. Liam Carr was a fantastic guest covering for Matt (Williamson), once again he showed a liking for the Buxton track, and Max showed that we can rely on him when we need to.”
Lakeside star Paul Hurry said: “We know we should we be doing better and unfortunately it was the story of our season where we had to carry the less experienced members of the team at the lower end.
"It's never the easiest of places to go to and credit to Buxton for getting the win, but we should be doing a lot better really.
"This isn't how we wanted our fixtures to end at all and it's going to be a tense week or two now. We wanted to get the job done ourselves, but now we have to rely on the performances and results of other teams unfortunately.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

LEICESTER defeated Coventry 50-43 in a successful East Midlands Bowl challenge at Beaumont Park on Sunday.
Home captain Danny King top-scored with 14 points with the Lions building up a ten-point lead in the early stages before the visitors hit back.
Hans Andersen won three of his four rides for Coventry, including for double-points in Heat 7, and the final two races took place after a delay due to a heavy downpour.
Former Bees Scott Nicholls, Rory Schlein and Kenneth Hansen all took race wins in front of a big travelling support, whilst Kim Nilsson scored 10 for the Lions including a fine pass of Andersen to win Heat 10 to inflict the Dane’s only defeat.
The continuation of the meeting also ensured the following British Youth Championship event could take place, with Drew Kemp (500cc) and Joe Thompson (250cc) taking the honours.
Leicester star Josh Bates said: “There was some good racing today, the track was a little slick and although I didn’t win a race I got a couple of paid wins, so it was nice to be back on form.
“It was really wet at the end, and my bike wasn’t ready because I didn’t think I was going in Heat 15, so I jumped on Lasse’s (Bjerre) – but there was some problem with it from the start.
“We all got stuck in and did it though, we had to do that race so the kids’ meeting could take place.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

TABLE-topping Sheffield wrap up their regular home league fixtures tonight (Monday) when Redcar visit Owlerton (7.45).
The Tigers are keen to bounce back from Saturday’s 50-40 defeat at Berwick, by maintaining their unbeaten record on home shale.
Sheffield again operate rider replacement for Todd Kurtz while three-time British Champion Chris Harris comes in for captain Kyle Howarth who is on SGBP duty.
Tigers co-promoter Peter Mole said: “We’re expecting a thoroughly entertaining meeting on Monday because Redcar have got a good team.
“They’ve got several all-action, gutsy riders who notoriously ride Owlerton well. But we’re delighted to have Josh Grajczonek back at No.1 and Chris Harris will serve up plenty of treats in his rides as guest as well I’m sure.
“Of course we want another home win to take us into the play-offs but it will certainly be a battle against a determined Redcar side.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

KENT host Birmingham on Monday in ‘Revenge Challenge’ between two sides who have developed a strong National League rivalry in recent years.
The Brummies had the better of the Kings in 2016 but this year the men from Central Park have reached the play-offs whilst the reigning champions have dipped out.
Birmingham travel without captain Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, who will sit out the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury, and they operate rider-replacement at No.1.
Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “Kent have come on strong in recent weeks and they’re without doubt the in-form team heading into the play-offs.
“It will be a good way to keep their riders fresh heading into the play-offs but for us it’s another chance for the lads to get some bike time in before the winter comes along.
“It’s been quite disappointing how our season has faded in the closing weeks but we should still be proud of how far we have come and what we have achieved in terms of bringing riders on in their careers.”

(FIXTURES)

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, Somerset v Wolverhampton 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Peterborough 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15

Results Sunday September 17, 2017

SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Glasgow 40 – Richard Lawson 11
Peterborough 50 – Jack Holder 12
Championship points: Glasgow 0 Peterborough 4

Newcastle v Redcar - OFF

Scunthorpe 39 – Jake Allen 9
Workington 21 – James Sarjeant 7+1
Abandoned after Heat 10 (rain) – Result stands
Championship points: Scunthorpe 3 Workington 0

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Buxton 53 – Max Clegg 14
Lakeside 37 – Ben Morley 10/Paul Hurry 10
National League points: Buxton 3 Lakeside 0

Buxton 47 – Max Clegg 13
Kent 43 – George Hunter 12
National League points: Buxton 3 Kent 1

Mildenhall v Isle of Wight - OFF

EAST MIDLANDS BOWL
Leicester 50 – Danny King 14
Coventry 43 – Hans Andersen 14

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 8, Leicester
500cc
1 Drew Kemp
2 Leon Flint
3 Daniel Gilkes
4 James Laker
250cc
1 Joe Thompson
2 Dan Thompson
3 Jordan Palin
4 Nathan Ablitt