The following Good Friday fixtures already postponed.
Poole v Somerset (KOC) – OFF
Lakeside v Ipswich (CS) – OFF
Kent v Eastbourne (Easter Chase) - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
SOMERSET stage the first leg of their KO Cup quarter-final against Poole this evening (Friday) at the Oaktree Arena.
The sides had been due to meet in Dorset this morning but that meeting was an early victim of the weather.
World Champion Jason Doyle makes his home debut for the club at top-flight level, whilst Rohan Tungate steps in as a guest for Richard Lawson who is racing for his Championship club Lakeside.
Rebels boss Garry May said: “Meetings against Poole are always special but when there is semi-final place on the end of it there is that little bit extra about them.
“With us now having the first leg we can concentrate fully on building up a lead to take with us to Poole for the re-staging, whenever that proves to be.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
IPSWICH begin their campaign with a return to traditional Good Friday racing at Foxhall as Lakeside provide the opposition (2.15pm).
The sides were due to meet home and away in the Championship Shield, but the evening return at Purfleet is off due to the weather.
2017 Witch Kyle Newman makes a rapid return to the Arena-Essex Raceway in Hammers colours, whilst the hosts hand a full debut to German youngster Michael Haertel.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “The boys have struggled a bit to get out on track ahead of Friday, but most of them have been out at Scunthorpe to practice the other day and have been on track this week.
“It is not a huge concern but the first meeting of the season always has the potential to be a banana skin. We need to go out and do a professional job.
“We want to win trophies and the Championship Shield is the first opportunity to win something. We need to make a good start and get through that group. With there only being three teams and four meetings, you can’t afford any mistakes.”
Lakeside manager Will Pottinger said: “Of course it’s frustrating to have our first home meeting as a team called off, but there isn’t much that can be done about the weather.
“Hopefully the weather plays ball in the afternoon, and we’ll now focus on trying to put in a good performance to get something at Foxhall against a strong Ipswich side.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
GLASGOW welcome back big winter signing Chris Harris for their Scottish Cup second leg trip to Edinburgh tonight (Friday).
Harris missed the first leg at Ashfield last week to be with his wife who was giving birth, and without him the Tigers ran up a 50-40 victory.
Manager Cami Brown said: “Chris is our team leader and our go-to guy for advice on a lot of things. He's right up for the challenge and is relishing returning to speedway instead of feeding a baby!
“We beat Edinburgh by ten last week with Richie Worrall and James Sarjeant not having good nights, and our captain missing, so it could have been a much wider margin going into this.
“But Edinburgh are a good team and I'm not writing them off at all. They've got a lot of improvement in their team, though so have we.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BELLE Vue launch their National League title defence with a home clash against newcomers Coventry today (Friday, 1pm).
The Colts have made five changes to their victorious line-up of 2017, and hand a debut to recent signing Tom Perry at No.1.
The Bees raced at Birmingham in a challenge match on Wednesday and have recruited the Brummies’ Tom Bacon to guest for the unavailable Connor Mountain, whilst rider-replacement operates for Luke Ruddick.
Colts co-boss Steve Williams said: “It’ll be a baptism of fire for a few but this is what the National League is all about. We want to give these guys a chance to attain greater levels of themselves so they can move up in the sport.
“On paper, Coventry look to be on equal terms with ourselves. Obviously, Jon Armstrong has buckets of experience to offer his team, but we’re far from short of matching that ourselves.”
Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “The real work now starts on Friday onwards at Belle Vue. Everyone likes racing there, the boys are all up for it and they believe they can get a result.
“Tom is more than capable of doing a decent job for us as a guest, and I do feel that if you’re going to get a result at Belle Vue then probably their opening meeting is the time to do it.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
RYE House have secured a new main team sponsorship deal with locally-based haulage company BP Mitchell.
The arrangement came together when the firm delivered soil to the Hoddesdon venue for use on a new Stadium Cross track sitting inside the speedway circuit.
Co-promoter Steve Jenson said: “Brendan (Mitchell, founder and director) was unfamiliar at that point with speedway, asked what it was all about and – to use the old adage – the rest is history. It all went from there.
“We are proud to have them as our new team sponsors; we thank them very much for their support, and we look forward to being able to promote their brand within our own sporting medium.
“Supporters will have the chance to see the new Stadium Cross circuit on Monday when we will be using it for a pre-meeting demonstration - it is important to make full use of a facility like Rye House Stadium with events like Stadium Cross in order to augment the main use for the speedway.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
STOKE have moved to sign William O’Keefe after Sam Woods informed the club he would be unable to take his place at reserve.
O’Keefe made several guest appearances for the Potters last season before gaining a team place with Plymouth.
Promoter Dave Tattum said: “We are delighted to have captured the signature of William, he is a talented youngster and I’m sure he will settle in well here at Stoke and he is eager to get started.
“William is delighted to be given the opportunity to ride for the club and has ambition and wants to do well. He has told me he has a great engine which has been provided by a sponsor and another one is currently being serviced. I’d like to wish Sam Woods all the best.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
BUXTON have completed their line-up with the signing of youngster Corban Pavitt.
The 15-year-old will be racing in the National League for the first time and recently travelled to the Isle of Wight to link up with the young Lions for their training camp.
Pavitt said: “This is a big opportunity for me and I’m looking to take it with both hands.
“It will be my first season on 500’s and I will be looking to learn with every lap and take advice from people higher in the team like Ben Wilson and Connor Coles.
“Hopefully I can score a few points for the team and make an improvement no matter how large or small on my starting average, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge at Buxton this year.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY MARCH 30:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP Q/F: Poole v Somerset OFF, (1st leg) Somerset v Poole 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Ipswich v Lakeside 2.15, Lakeside v Ipswich OFF
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 1pm
SCOTTISH CUP 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
EASTER CHASE 1st leg: Kent v Eastbourne OFF
SATURDAY MARCH 31:
TYNE/TWEED TROPHY 1st leg: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm
EASTER CHASE 1st leg: Eastbourne v Kent 7.30
CUMBERLAND OPEN: Workington 7pn
SUNDAY APRIL 1:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 3pm
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Peterborough v Ipswich 7pm
TYNE/TWEED TROPHY 2nd leg: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (125cc) Round 1: Scunthorpe (follows Champ fixture)
