SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENT TUESDAY OCTOBER 17:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg
Glasgow v Peterborough - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
BELLE Vue prevailed in a KO Cup Final thriller against Wolverhampton to lift their first major team silverware since 2005.
The Aces went into Monday’s second leg facing a ten-point deficit and despite dealing with that margin in the early stages, the tie still went to the wire overall.
They were 14-4 up on the night after three races but Wolves dug in and the Aces had to wait until Heat 11 before taking the aggregate lead.
A 4-2 from Rohan Tungate and Jack Smith in Heat 14 extended the advantage to four, leaving Wolves requiring a 5-1 from the last race to snatch a draw.
But although home No.1 Kenneth Bjerre dropped his first points of the meeting, Tungate took the race victory ahead of Richard Lawson and Sam Masters to hand Belle Vue a 52-38 win on the night and a 92-88 aggregate triumph.
Bjerre, with 15, and Tungate on 14+2 were high-scorers for the Aces in the absence in a riding capacity of skipper Craig Cook due to illness, whilst Masters (10+2) and guest Lawson (10) scored double-figures for the patched-up visitors.
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It’s a relief to finally see such a magnificent piece of silverware with our name on it. It’s been a tough year but all the boys have been exceptional. It’s definitely been a long time coming.
“As a rider I know how hard it is to win trophies but I had no idea as a manager how much harder the same accomplishment is! We just want to savour the moment. I’m so proud of this team.”
Masters said: “It’s hard to take, but I think we’ve done well considering the team we’ve had to put together after the injuries.
“With the way the track was, the little light fellas were flying towards the end and it didn’t quite suit us.
“We did our best and pushed them all the way, and I think we can go away with our heads held high. It just wasn’t meant to be in the end.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
LEICESTER secured their SGB Premiership survival with a 49-41 win over Sheffield at Beaumont Park.
The Lions were already hot favourites to book their place in the 2018 top flight after running up a 26-point victory at Owlerton last week, and they duly completed the job on aggregate at home.
But the second leg was much more of a contest with Sheffield keeping the match tight until the closing stages, with inexperienced reserve Georgie Wood pulling off a stunning race win over home captain Danny King in Heat 7.
Guest Michael Palm Toft top-scored for the Lions on 14 points whilst Erik Riss added 11+1 and Kim Nilsson 10+1, whilst Nick Morris (12+1) and Lasse Bjerre (11) led the way for the Tigers.
Nilsson said: “I know we had a good lead from last week at Sheffield but we weren't smiling or celebrating.
"We know what can happen in sport and thankfully we were able to get the job done so we could then smile!
"It's nice for us to win these meetings but then again it wasn't nice to finish bottom of the league so we had to race for survival.”
Wood said: “I felt really good out there, I was comfortable on the bike and I felt fast.
"I've loved my time with Sheffield and it was just a shame we couldn't do ourselves justice in the first leg.
"You never know what we might have done if the first leg had been closer, but we've had a great season and I've loved being a part of it with Sheffield.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
EASTBOURNE won 46-43 at Cradley on Monday to ensure they will end the season on top of the National League table.
The Eagles, who are currently contesting the Grand Final with Belle Vue, picked up a 5-1 in a last-heat decider at Monmore Green through maximum man Jake Knight (14+1) and Josh Bailey (11).
But it could have been so different for the Heathens, who looked set to hang on to a narrow lead only for captain Tom Perry to fall on the fourth bend having moved into the lead on the first lap.
Eagles boss Connor Dugard said: “It was a great result tonight and one that I felt that we deserved. Jake Knight was on fire and there was plenty of support from everyone else.
"They all worked hard, dug deep and came up with the result at the crucial time."
Perry said: “I was getting there towards the end, just trying a bit too hard in heat 15 to win the meeting for us.
“But the track got slicker and slicker and I banged my arm again, the same problem as before.
“We gave it a go, but a lot of bike trouble tonight and a couple of silly points thrown away, myself as well.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
LEICESTER have received a major boost with a two-year extension to their main team sponsorship deal with Watling JCB.
The locally-based JCB franchise came on board at Beaumont Park for the 2017 season following the winter takeover of the club, and will continue their involvement as the Lions look to build for stronger Premiership campaigns.
Sales Director Andy Raine said: “We have seen some great racing on the re-shaped Beaumont Park track, and whilst this season has been a struggle for the club having to cover for so many injuries, nevertheless we have been impressed with how they have handled the situation - and can see that their management team are fully committed to building a team that will compete for honours.
“We are excited at the thought of travelling on this journey with them, and hopefully it will result in Leicester developing into one of the top sides in British Speedway.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BUXTON team manger Jason Pipe has stated his intention to quit the club after three seasons in charge.
Pipe had initially announced his departure last winter but had a change of heart and remained at the helm for the Hitmen in 2017, and is now planning for future challenges.
He said: “I've enjoyed every bit of my three seasons at Buxton Speedway. It's been stressful at times but the enjoyable times have far outweighed those times.
“I really don't want to leave this great little club, but the time has now come for me to move on and further develop my career within the sport.
“At this moment in time I'm weighing up a couple of options recently put to me and I'll be making a decision on that sometime over the coming weeks.”
(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY OCTOBER 17:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Glasgow v Peterborough OFF
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 19:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 20:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Workington 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Mildenhall 7.30
AUTUMN SPECTACULAR: Plymouth 7.15
BRITISH 125cc FINAL: Belle Vue (follows KO Cup match)
Results Monday October 16, 2017
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg
Belle Vue 52 (Kenneth Bjerre 15)
Wolverhampton 38 (Sam Masters 10+2)
Belle Vue win 92-88 on aggregate.
PROMOTION/RELEGATION RACE-OFF 2nd leg
Leicester 49 (Michael Palm Toft 14)
Sheffield 41 (Nick Morris 12+1)
Leicester win 107-73 on aggregate.
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cradley 43 (Ben Hopwood 12+1)
Eastbourne 46 (Jake Knight 14+1)
National League points: Cradley 0 Eastbourne 3
