PIC OF THE WEEK...
The victorious Sheffield Tigers duo of Lasse Bjerre and Kyle Howarth celebrating their SGB Championship Pairs win at Owlerton on Sunday.
Picture: ANDY GARNER
Soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
SGB PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE – “It’s our last two meetings of the season and we’re determined to make them count. We want to bring at least one trophy back to Manchester this year and now is the perfect opportunity.” Skipper Craig Cook is determined to take their final chance for silverware in the Knockout Cup Final against Wolverhampton.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Knockout Cup Final, Weds Oct 11 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, Knockout Cup Final, Tues Oct 10 (7.30)
LEICESTER – “Everything was right for me and the boys were brilliant. We worked hard as a team. It's so far, so good for us and we want to get the job done at home next Monday.” Star man Danny King was delighted to help the Lions all but secure their top flight status with a 58-32 win at Sheffield on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Promotion/Relegation Race-Off, Mon Oct 16 (7.30)
SWINDON – “Everyone at the club has wanted to have this homecoming from the moment we won the final.” Team boss Alun Rossiter says their homecoming at the Abbey on Thursday will be a fitting celebration of their title triumph.
WOLVERHAMPTON – “We’ve had too good a season just to surrender the cup now despite our injury problems.” Team boss Peter Adams insists they won’t give up despite heading into the Knockout Cup Final with an injury crisis.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Knockout Cup Final, Tues Oct 10 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Knockout Cup Final, Weds Oct 11 (7.30)
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
GLASGOW – “We got there and we’re delighted we’re in the semi-final. We go to Peterborough now on Sunday and then we’ll race them at home after that.” Team boss Stewart Dickson was delighted to see off Newcastle and keep their Knockout Cup dreams alive.
NEXT HOME: SGB Championship Riders’ Individual, Sat Oct 14 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Knockout Cup, Sun Oct 15 (5pm)
IPSWICH – “We need to cut out the mistakes we made in both legs of the final if we are going to make the cup final. I have confidence in the team that we can go and win the cup. We will go there looking to do the job and progress.” Team boss Ritchie Hawkins hopes the Witches can learn from their mistakes in their Cup semi-final with Sheffield.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Knockout Cup, Fri Oct 13 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Knockout Cup, Thurs Oct 12 (7.30)
PETERBOROUGH – “We've already proved we can beat Glasgow home and away - and that will be the target again as we aim to reach the final.” Panthers’ chief Ged Rathbone insists they can see off Glasgow to reach the Knockout Cup Final.
NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Championship, Fri Oct 13 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Knockout Cup, Tue Oct 17 (7.30)
SHEFFIELD – “We always knew this was going to be a big ask but it's the manner of the defeat that disappoints me more than anything.” Team boss Simon Stead was left frustrated after a heavy home defeat in their promotion/relegation race-off first leg with Leicester at Owlerton.
NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Knockout Cup, Thurs Oct 12 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Newcastle, Championship, Sun Oct 15 (6.30)
WORKINGTON – “At that point we were confident of getting the win in our final home meeting as we had Craig in heats 13 and 15 but his withdrawal put the pressure on and I am just thankful that the rest of the guys rallied round to see us over the line to take the win in our final home Championship fixture.” Tony Jackson was pleased to overcome the loss of talisman Craig Cook to end their campaign on a high with victory over Newcastle.
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE COLTS – “The boys had a brilliant night. Everything went to plan perfectly and we got the result we wanted. There didn’t feel like there was any pressure on us really, even despite the initial deficit.” Skipper Rob Shuttleworth praised his Colts side after their crushing win over Lakeside to book their play-off final spot.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, Knockout Cup, Fri Oct 13 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, National League Grand Final, Sat Oct 14 (7.30)
BIRMINGHAM – “Of course it will be a very emotional night but most importantly it is going to be a fascinating night of speedway on the track.” Brummies’ owner Tony Mole ahead of his farewell meeting against Coventry on Wednesday.
NEXT HOME: Coventry, Challenge, Weds Oct 11 (7.30)
EASTBOURNE – “It was fantastic. I am not going to lie, I didn’t think we would win by as much as that but I was never in any doubt that we would win.” Eagles’ boss Connor Dugard was in jubilant mood after thrashing Kent to reach the play-off final.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, National League Grand Final, Sat Oct 14 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Cradley, National League, Mon Oct 16 (7.30)
LAKESIDE – “I think most people would agree it’s been a fine effort to reach the play-offs and well done to the boys who have got us there.” Team boss Kelvin Tatum believes the Hammers can be proud of their efforts despite missing out on the play-off final.
MILDENHALL – “This was a wonderful day for the club and yet again we have seen some incredible speedway at Mildenhall.” A thrilled Kevin Jolly after the Fen Tigers fought back from 18 points down to win the Naitonal Trophy against Plymouth.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Knockout Cup, Sun Oct 15 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Knockout Cup, Fri Oct 13 (7.30)
PLYMOUTH – “All credit to the Fen Tigers for their win. The boys all battled hard but it just wasn’t to be. We are proud we got there to the Final but to miss out on the title by the narrowest of margins of a run off was disappointment naturally.” Devils’ boss Laurence Rogers was in philosophical mood after suffering last-gasp heartache in the National Trophy Final.
NEXT HOME: Colin Hill Memorial, Fri Oct 13 (7.15)
NEXT AWAY: Buxton, National League, Sun Oct 15 (3pm)
STOKE – “We had a good day on the track yesterday with the weather which helped us but the rain overnight has left us back to square one and we are just going to run out of time to get the track right as it’s still very soft due to the weather.” Promoter Dave Tattum says the Potters had no choice but to postpone their double header on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Isle of Wight + Buxton, National League, Sat Oct 21 (time TBC)
MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
SHEFFIELD'S stunning season continued with more national glory last Sunday.
Kyle Howarth teamed up with Lasse Bjerre to win the SGB Championship Pairs title at Owlerton in a meeting high on drama especially in the closing stages.
Having come through the group stage, Sheffield got the better of Scunthorpe in a controversial semi-final when the Scorpions’ Josh Auty came to grief.
Angry Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “Josh doesn’t fall off all by his own. He was given absolutely no room whatsoever by Lasse Bjerre.
“In those situations, I feel it should be the rider who causes the other rider to fall who should be excluded, rather than the fallen rider.
“Of course, once you’ve got a rider excluded under this format, that’s pretty much it.”
Redcar then edged out Glasgow in the second semi, featuring a tight finish between Ben Barker and Aaron Summers, which left manager Stewart Dickson fuming as Barker was given the verdict on the line.
He said: “It's very disappointing because Richard (Lawson) and Aaron battled really well all afternoon. I think they deserved to reach the Final.
“I feel sorry for the Glasgow fans who travelled down, and our riders are gutted as well.”
Sheffield then prevailed in a terrific Final with Redcar’s Charles Wright disqualified for causing a crash on the last bend.
Howarth said: “It's been an awesome year with Sheffield, so to win the Pairs on top of the league title is just the icing on the cake really.
“It was a tough meeting as me and Lasse always knew it was going to be. We struggled a bit in the middle but managed to get things together towards the end.
“To win it the way we did, on the last lap of the final, was great, especially in front of our home fans. It was a nice feeling to win a big trophy at Owlerton.”
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2017
SGBP PAIRS: KING’S LYNN
BRITISH FINAL: CRAIG COOK
SGBC FOURS: PETERBOROUGH
SGBP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: FREDRIK LINDGREN
SGBC PAIRS: SHEFFIELD
SGBC RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow, October 14
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 RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: DAN BEWLEY
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY OCTOBER 10:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30
TONY MOLE FAREWELL MEETING: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 12:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 13:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Edinburgh 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st/2nd leg: Belle Vue v Mildenhall 7.30
COLIN HILL MEMORIAL: Plymouth 7.15
SATURDAY OCTOBER 14:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP RIDERS’ INDIVIDUAL: Glasgow 7pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 15:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Peterborough v Glasgow 5pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F: Mildenhall v Belle Vue 3pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 16:
PROMOTION/RELEGATION RACE-OFF 2nd leg: Leicester v Sheffield 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Eastbourne 7.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 17:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Glasgow v Peterborough 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 20:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Workington 7.30
AUTUMN SPECTACULAR: Plymouth 7.15
SATURDAY OCTOBER 21:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Isle of Wight Time TBC, Stoke v Buxton (follows previous fixture)
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st/2nd leg: Eastbourne v Mildenhall/Belle Vue 7.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 23:
FAST GOLDEN HAMMER: Cradley 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 27:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15
SUNDAY OCTOBER 29:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3pm
Results Tuesday October 10, 2017;
PREMIERSHIP KOC FINAL, 1st leg
Wolverhampton 50 (Ricky Wells 13)
Belle Vue 40 (Kenneth Bjerre 11+1)
