SPEEDWAY News and Fixtures

SIBLING RIVALRY

SIZZLING Steve Worrall believes he needs to win the coveted Championship Riders title to push him into the big time - and shut his Glasgow ace twin brother up!
The classy Newcastle star has had a season to remember by bursting onto the Team GB scene and top scoring for his country in the World Cup final.
But after two successive years of finishing runner-up in the British title, Worrall now reckons he has to win the Championship meeting at Glasgow on Saturday night to prove himself further.
He revealed: “I’m not daft, I know that folk didn’t expect me to do as well as I did in the World Cup. I probably surprised myself.
“But I do believe it’s important that I stamp my authority and win a meeting like this to really make people sit up and take notice.
“I don’t think people will be thinking as me as one of the favourites for Saturday night but that suits me well.
“I go quietly about my business, I don’t need to go shouting from the rooftops about what I can do. But it would be good to win this and prove myself more.”
Worrall, 26, is the younger twin brother of Glasgow ace Richie by two minutes. Just a week ago, they produced a sensational battle when their team’s clashed at Ashfield.
They teased each other on social media about the race this week as Steve managed to fence his brother Rich before being passed on the third lap in a classic encounter.
He added: “I didn’t mean to ride Richie so hard. I’d changed my bike set-up because it was getting slick. But there was a delay before our race and the graders were out and dragged all the dirt onto the inside.
“I ended up picking up too much grip going into the first turn and third turn and took him very wide and even put my hand up to apologise after I did it during the race!
“But he came roaring after me and passed me. I’ll need to beat him on Saturday night just to make sure I can win the brotherly bragging rights.”
Worrall has also revealed a win at Glasgow would be the cherry on the icing for his season - and the ideal springboard for a Grand Prix bid in 2018.
He was a controversial choice, but in the end justified, for Team GB by boss Alun Rossiter. Now he hopes that Rosco will hand him a GP qualifier place next year.
He added: “That’s my big aim for next year is the Grand Prix. I only got a late call in 2017 to race in the qualifier and I didn’t have time to prepare.
“I hope I have justified my place in the qualifiers for 2018 now. That’s my plan ahead is to concentrate on European racing. I seem to go well on continental tracks and surfaces so that’s where I need to push on now for the Grand Prix series.”
(SPEEDWAY 1)

GLASGOW skipper Aaron Summers says he is keen to take the chance of his late call-up to the SGB Championship Riders’ Individual at Ashfield on Saturday.
Summers will join team-mates Richard Lawson and Richie Worrall in the line-up for the prestige individual event which fell victim to the weather on the original staging date last month.
He said: “I didn't think I was going to be in the meeting so it was good to get the call. My performances in the middle of the season didn't really help my cause in qualifying for the meeting - so I was a bit gutted not to be in the original line-up - but now I've got my chance and I want to take it.
“I haven't done many of these meetings at all. I think I've done one before but that was a while ago now.
“I know my way around Ashfield and with the way the last couple of meetings have gone, I don't see why I can't go out and show what I'm capable of.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD will take a 12-point lead to Ipswich tonight (Friday) for the second leg of the SGB Championship KO Cup Final.
Tigers boss Simon Stead hailed his side’s determination following their 51-39 win in Thursday’s opener at Owlerton.
The Witches, meanwhile, were left to rue heavy crashes for Kyle Newman and guest Ben Barker, both when they were holding 5-1 race positions.
Lasse Bjerre piled up 15+1 for the home side with reserve Jan Graversen on 10+3 and guest Scott Nicholls adding 10+1. Danny King (13+1) and Barker (11) led the way for the visitors.
Stead said: “It's still very difficult without both your No.1 and captain and even more so in our case because Josh (Grajczonek) and Kyle (Howarth) bring as much to the team off the track as they do on it.
"But credit to the boys, they dug deep and it was the kind of response we wanted after losing so heavily to Leicester on Monday.
“I'd like to send best wishes to Kyle (Newman) and Ben, whose crash in Heat 15 was horrible, and it wasn't a nice way to end what I felt was a really good race meeting."
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Heat 15 was a big blow, we were on a heat advantage and Ben had a massive crash. It was not nice to see and Ben was absolutely flying.
“Kyle crashed out in his second ride and it is the story of our season really. It was really tough to lose Kyle when you are already running r/r and it made it a massive task.
“Everyone put in a commendable effort to keep it to 12 points and give ourselves a shout tomorrow.”
Nicholls continues as a guest for Sheffield in the second leg, whilst the Witches bring in Mason Campton at No.2 and plan to operate rider-replacement for Rory Schlein, with a further guest to appear for the injured Newman.

(SPEEDWAY 3)

PETERBOROUGH go into their final SGB Championship fixture of the season tonight (Friday) with two targets.
The Panthers entertain Edinburgh at the East of England Arena, and team boss Carl Johnson revealed his men are determined to complete a terrific winning streak with a seventh successive league triumph to climb into fifth place in the standings.
And he insists victory is also important tonight to provide the perfect springboard ahead of the club's big KO Cup semi-final showdown against holders Glasgow. They entertain the Tigers on Sunday (5pm) ahead of a Tuesday return clash north of the border.
Johnson said: “We're all very proud of the winning run and we want to keep it going.
“We challenged the riders at the beginning of September to go through their remaining league meetings unbeaten - and six wins later we're still on target to do that.
“But our toughest test has been saved until last. I rate Edinburgh highly and you only have to look at their line-up to see a lot of quality riders who go well at our track.
“I'm expecting a very difficult and very exciting meeting - and hopefully the fans can do their bit to roar the boys to another win.”
The hosts make one change with Jack Parkinson-Blackburn guesting for Tom Bacon (shoulder) at reserve, whilst the Monarchs operate rider-replacement for Josh Pickering.

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BELLE Vue host Mildenhall tonight (Friday) in the first leg of the National League KO Cup semi-final in Manchester.
The Colts will be looking to maintain their impeccable home form and build a lead to take to West Row for Sunday’s second leg.
They continue to operate rider-replacement for Lee Payne, whilst the Fen Tigers have recruited Jack Thomas and Anders Rowe to help bolster their injury-hit squad.
Colts No.1 Dan Bewley said: “It’s no secret we’ve been pretty much unstoppable at home this year and we want to ensure that continues against Mildenhall. We want to put ourselves in the best position ahead of leg two.
“It’s a difficult meeting to predict a result because you just never know what to expect from any team that comes here. Either way, we won’t be taking it easy or expecting an easy night of it.
“Mildenhall want to finish their season with a trophy, just as we do so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them present a much stronger challenge than the last time we met. I’m looking forward to it.”
Fen Tigers chief Kevin Jolly said: “Again it has been very difficult to secure guests, many riders have called it quits for the season and this has limited options a little.
“I am very grateful to Jack and Anders for stepping in for us, and we go to Manchester with a competitive side that hopefully can keep things close enough to make Sunday as exciting as last weekend.
“We have shown tremendous spirit and a never give up attitude that we are sure to need this weekend once again.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

PLYMOUTH pay tribute to former Exeter promoter Colin Hill with a Memorial meeting at the St Boniface Arena tonight (Friday).
Home stars Henry Atkins and Richard Andrews are part of a competitive field headed by Ashley Morris, Ben Morley and Ben Hopwood, and the event will also feature 125cc demo races.
Promoter Laurence Rogers said: “We were planning on running the traditional 20-heat, 16-man formula but due to unavailability and withdrawals from the line-up planned we have elected to go with a 12-man field.
“This gives 12 main heats, two semi-finals and a Grand Final for the Colin Hill Memorial to honour and remember the former Exeter promoter, who has the back straight stand at the St Boniface Arena named after him.
“The top four in the meeting will then contest a one-off race to remember former Exeter rider Tony Sanford who lost his life in a track crash at the County Ground in 1981.
“It is a good field we have assembled, and naturally home supporters will be hoping their duo of Henry Atkins and Richard Andrews will be challenging at the end of the night.”

(FIXTURES)

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

Results Thursday October 12, 2017;

CHAMPIONSHIP KOC SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg

Sheffield 51 (Lasse Bjerre 15+1)
Ipswich 39 (Dany King 13+1)


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