(SPEEDWAY 1)
THE draw has been made for the British Under-21 semi-finals at Eastbourne (April 7) and Newcastle (April 8).
Seven qualifying places are available from each meeting, with Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley already seeded to the Final.
There have been a couple of changes to the original rider line-ups due to fixture changes and unavailability.
EASTBOURNE (April 7): 1 Max Clegg, 2 Luke Ruddick, 3 Drew Kemp, 4 Tom Brennan, 5 Lewis Whitmore, 6 Jamie Halder, 7 Sam Bebee, 8 Connor Mountain, 9 Josh Bailey, 10 James Shanes, 11 Luke Harris, 12 Ryan Kinsley, 13 Jordan Jenkins, 14 Jason Edwards, 15 Charlie Brooks, 16 Zach Wajtknecht. Reserves: 17 Matt Marson, 18 Macauley Leek.
NEWCASTLE (April 8): 1 Jack Thomas, 2 Taylor Hampshire, 3 Leon Flint, 4 Kean Dicken, 5 Alfie Bowtell, 6 Anders Rowe, 7 Ben Woodhull, 8 Kyle Bickley, 9 Callum Walker, 10 Joe Lawlor, 11 Layne Cupitt, 12 Kelsey Dugard, 13 Alex Spooner, 14 Nathan Greaves, 15 Bradley Andrews, 16 Jack Smith. Reserves: 17 Kieron Douglas, 18 James Hitchen.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SWINDON bid to pull back a six-point deficit in the second leg of the Charity Shield against Belle Vue at the Abbey tonight (Thursday).
The Aces triumphed 48-42 in an entertaining contest on home shale earlier this week, and Robins boss Alun Rossiter expects a tough test if his side are to overturn that margin on aggregate.
Both sides are unchanged from Monday’s first leg with Swindon handing a home debut to Mitchell Davey, whilst Troy Batchelor returns as a Robins rider for the first time since 2015.
Rossiter said: “We’re certainly capable of pulling the six points back, but its not going to be easy because Belle Vue have done plenty of damage here over recent years.
“Despite them losing (Kenneth) Bjerre over the winter they look to be very powerful once again, and I expect it to be a close contest on aggregate.”
Belle Vue star Craig Cook said: “We have a very capable team with a lot of knowledge from one rider to another, and the Abbey Stadium is a place we all like to ride and have had some great meetings in the past.
“We’ve every chance of going there and hitting Swindon as hard as they hit us on Monday. It was an epic meeting and it’s not over yet, and I know the lads are as keen as I am to finish the job.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
RYE House have announced a late change to their 2018 line-up with Aaron Summers joining the Hoddesdon club.
Summers replaces Ben Barker who has left the Rockets by mutual agreement of both parties, and the Australian will make his debut in their Easter Monday KO Cup clashes with Swindon.
Manager Peter Schroeck said: “While we are disappointed that there has been a parting of the ways with Ben – he was always a 100 per cent trier and a real firecracker – we are also excited about having Aaron on-board.
“We are confident that he will do well for us, and that he will slot into the team very quickly. He has ridden with Bomber (Chris Harris), Scott (Nicholls) and Robbo (Stuart Robson) at Coventry, so he already knows half the team very well and it won’t take him long to fit into what we want to do this season.
“He is one of those guys who has perhaps been penalised in the past by his average when it comes to getting a top-flight spot, but he has waited for another chance and he is determined to take it.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
REDCAR have completed the line-up for their season-opening Julie Lewis Memorial on April 5.
The Bears have put together a 16-man field including their full 2018 septet whilst former Redcar riders Steve Worrall, Aaron Summers and Ty Proctor are named amongst the top-line visitors.
Manager Jitendra Duffill said: “Our aim was to give our boys some competitive track time against a field which reflected the abilities throughout our side.
“It is important to test all seven riders in our side and to do that we needed a mixed field comprising of Championship League heat-leaders, second strings and reserves.
“The line-up I have assembled will do that will be a good test for our newcomers without adding any pressure on the night.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BIRMINGHAM have named Arran Butcher as their final rider for the 2018 National League season.
The 17-year-old impressed club bosses during Wednesday’s Press and Practice session and will make his debut in next week’s opener against Coventry at Perry Barr.
Manager Laurence Rogers said: “Even though we’d invited a number of riders to audition for our final reserve place if you like, Arran actually wasn’t one of those.
“Milton Keynes Knights are running their Midland Development League side from our place this season and he is a part of their squad who were also at the track on Wednesday.
“Myself and co-promoters David and Peter Mason were stood watching everyone and Arran caught our eye pretty early on. He improved every time he went out on track and the way he was really going for it impressed us.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY MARCH 23:
SCOTTISH CUP 1st leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 7.30
70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Poole 7pm
LEE RICHARDSON SPRING CLASSIC: Lakeside 8pm
SATURDAY MARCH 24:
90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION MEETING: Belle Vue 6pm
MALCOLM COLE MEMORIAL CUP: Eastbourne Forman IT Eagles v IT First Eagles OFF
SUNDAY MARCH 25:
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Peterborough v Lakeside 7pm
SIMON STEAD FAREWELL: Sheffield 4pm
Results Thursday March 22, 2018;
CHARITY SHIELD 2nd leg
Swindon 52 (David Bellego 10+1)
Belle Vue 38 (Craig Cook 9+2)
Swindon win 94-86 on aggregate
