(SPEEDWAY 1)
SHEFFIELD duo Josh Grajczonek and Kyle Howarth will represent the league leaders in Sunday’s Championship Riders’ Individual at Glasgow (3pm).
The spearhead pairing have been instrumental for the Owlerton outfit this term in what has been a memorable year to date.
And club captain Howarth admits it would be ‘awesome’ if he could stand on the rostrum at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium this weekend with one of his closest friends.
Said Howarth: “Me and Josh aren’t just team-mates at Sheffield, we’re good mates away from the track as well.
“We’ve both had great seasons for Sheffield and trying to win the league remains our priority. But of course it would be awesome if we could do something at the weekend – especially if we could both make the top three.
“It’s a really strong line-up thought so we know it’s going to be tough, but we’ve just got to go there and do our thing and if that’s good enough then so be it.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury is backing his pair of competitors to shine in Sunday’s National League Riders’ Championship at Leicester.
The Brummies are represented by Tom Bacon and Liam Carr, with the latter gaining a call-up when Jack Parkinson-Blackburn withdrew due to injury.
Drury said: “Both Tom and Liam have really good seasons with Birmingham and it would be nice to see them earn an individual honour.
“They know it won’t be easy though because it’s a very competitive field and it’s also a fiercely fought event.
“But they’ve shown they’re capable of beating these sorts of riders all season long so if they’re at their best on Sunday, then why shouldn’t they be able to push for the title?”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IPSWICH booked their place in the SGB Championship Grand Final with a three-point aggregate win over Edinburgh on a nervous night at Armadale.
The Witches defended a ten-point first leg lead but found themselves under pressure when heat-leaders Rory Schlein and Danny King were both disqualified from Heat 13.
They had earlier gained the benefit of a 5-0 in Heat 8, but with two races remaining the aggregate margin was down to three.
Kyle Newman won Heat 14 for the Witches, which left the Monarchs requiring a 5-1 from the final race to snatch the victory overall.
Rory Schlein, though, proved to be the visitors’ hero as he got the better of Sam Masters and Erik Riss on the first lap.
Schlein scored 13 points on one of his old home tracks as the Witches covered for a rare off-night from King, as reserves Nathan Greaves and Connor Mountain outscored the hosts 11-4.
Riss (12+2) and Masters (11) were top scorers for the Monarchs, who won 48-41 on the night with the Witches progressing 91-88 overall.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It has been a really tough two nights and it was two close meetings as we knew it was going to be.
“It swayed both ways and we have managed to stick in there and grind it out and come out on top. Rory was superb tonight and dragged us through.
“We are delighted to be in the Final but we will have to improve on these two meetings - we have got the determination right and the will to win, but our performance will have to be a bit better if we are going to win the Final.”
Masters said: “I think we could have qualified, but we made too many mistakes between us including me running a last.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BELLE VUE produced a big finish to overcome Swindon and qualify for the Premiership KO Cup Final.
The Aces overturned an 11-point first leg deficit – a margin which immediately became 15 when the Robins took a 5-1 from the first heat of Friday’s return at the National Speedway Stadium.
But the hosts gradually chipped away at the lead and moved to within one point with successive 4-2s in Heats 12 and 13.
At that stage Aces reserve Dan Bewley was the hero with four unbeaten rides, but he finally missed out to David Bellego in Heat 14 to leave the Robins ahead with one race to go.
But Kenneth Bjerre and Craig Cook produced a dramatic 5-1 over Nick Morris and Adam Ellis for a 52-38 win on the night, and 91-88 on aggregate.
Bewley scored 13+1 for the Aces with Cook on 12+1 and Bjerre 11; whilst Morris and Ellis both scored 10 for the Robins.
Cook said: “It wasn’t ideal taking it to a last-heat decider but the boys put in a solid effort to pull back the deficit and we’ve managed to sneak through, which of course was our main goal.
“Swindon caused a bit of an upset early doors. They made quite a strong start which, I’ll be honest, took us by surprise because it was a hard hit. But we didn’t let our heads drop.
“The track was again a bit wet after some rain earlier in the day but after the first few heats it started coming to us, we were confident and we were able to finish as strongly as they started.”
Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It’s just a feeling of frustration to be honest.
“I probably have to take some criticism on the chin, because Bradley (Wilson-Dean) was able to ride but we’d already flown in Tomas H Jonasson to guest. He’d flown over with an engine just to ride for us, but it didn’t work out for us and that was the difference between us winning and losing it in the end to be honest.
“It’s disappointing, but we’ve got to pick ourselves up and focus on securing our place in the play-off Final with a good performance on Monday.”
The Aces await news of their opponents in the Final after the Somerset v Wolverhampton second leg was postponed due to rain.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
WORKINGTON host Glasgow in tonight’s (Saturday) only SGB Championship fixture.
The Comets are eighth in the table whilst the Tigers could still overhaul rivals Edinburgh for third place in the regular-season standings.
The hosts operate rider-replacement for the injured Thomas Jorgensen, whilst Tom Woolley stands in at reserve.
Glasgow bring in Alfie Bowtell and Ryan MacDonald in place of injured reserves Tom Perry and Jack Smith, with rider-replacement in operation for Nike Lunna.
(SPEEDWAY 6)
THE National League leadership ahead of the play-offs will be determined in two of tonight’s (Saturday) fixtures.
Eastbourne currently lead the way but face a tough trip to second-placed Belle Vue at the National Speedway Stadium.
A win for the Eagles would confirm top spot, whilst the Colts will go back to first place if they complete their perfect home record.
However, they could be overhauled by Kent if the Kings take maximum points from the second part of a double-header at Stoke, which also features the Potters against Mildenhall (5pm).
The hosts have slipped to the foot of the table but have four home matches to race; whilst the Fen Tigers’ outside play-off hopes were ended by a rain-off at Plymouth on Friday.
Liam Carr and Ben Wilson make guest appearances for Belle Vue, and team boss Graham Goodwin is eager to confirm top spot.
He said: “We’re hoping to complete our campaign at the top of the table. It not only makes a statement about the season you’ve had but it’d also give us choice of opponent in the play offs.
“It’s just a shame that there’s a clash with Glasgow which means we lose Dan (Bewley) but I’m happy with the guests we’re bringing in. Both are strong riders with pretty good records around our track.
“We don’t fear anyone over two legs, and what makes this meeting interesting is that there’s a three-way battle between us, Eastbourne and Kent for that top spot; it’ll be quite the meeting.”
Meanwhile Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey has matters at the other end of the table on his mind, with the Potters vying with the Isle of Wight and Buxton to avoid the wooden spoon.
Vasey said: “I’m sure both teams will be looking to come here and take points away from us and we will be doing the same as we aim to move away from the bottom of the table.
“We know we are capable of taking victories in both meetings if we ride to our full potential and will be looking to take all six points that are available to us, and I hope the supporters will really get behind us.”
Mildenhall name Alex Spooner and William O’Keefe at reserve in place of Sam Woods and Danno Verge, whilst Kent bring in Taylor Hampshire and James Laker, and operate rider-replacement with Bradley Andrews injured and Jack Thomas and Dan Greenwood unavailable.
(FIXTURES)
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’ INDIVIDUAL: Glasgow 3pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25:
SGB PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Swindon v Poole 7.30, 1st leg: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
Results Friday September 22, 2017;
PREMIERSHIP KOC SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg
Belle Vue 52 (Dan Bewley 13+1)
Swindon 38 (Nick Morris 10, Adam Ellis 10)
Belle Vue win 91-88 on aggregate
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY OFF SEMI-FINAL, 2nd leg
Edinburgh 48 (Erik Riss 12+2)
Ipswich 41 (Rory Schlein 13)
Ipswich win 91-88 on aggregate
