POSTPONEMENT - FRIDAY APRIL 6:
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD
Glasgow v Workington - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
LEICESTER have brought in Michael Palm Toft as cover for the injured Josh Bates.
Danish ace Palm Toft, 27, has performed well at the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena in past visits and goes straight into the side for Monday’s Premiership opener with Poole following Bates’s pre-season back injury.
Co-promoter Neil Machin said: “There was a concern that the rider replacement facility left us a little short. We are delighted to welcome Michael into the side as cover and hopefully he can give the team that extra edge needed to win us meetings.
“We have seen what he can do on previous visits to Leicester, he scored 13 for King’s Lynn here last July and if he can chip in with decent scores he will be a big help.
“We’ve got some big meetings to come and we want to hit the ground running in the Premiership so we’re pleased to welcome Michael on board.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SHEFFIELD launch their Championship Shield campaign against Newcastle at Owlerton tonight (Thursday).
The Tigers have made three changes from the team which won the league title in 2017 with Charles Wright, James Shanes and Jack Smith all making their debuts.
The home side operate rider-replacement for the injured Josh Bates, whilst Ludvig Lindgren and Stuart Robson return from last season to lead the visitors.
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “Last season is almost impossible to follow, but we’ll give it a right good go.
“We won the league because we were the best team all season, not just in the play-offs.
“I like the balance of this side and the new signings are all keen to do well for us. We need to make a good start and I’m sure we can do that in the Shield.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IPSWICH and Peterborough clash at Foxhall tonight (Thursday) in a repeat of last October’s KO Cup Final.
The Panthers triumphed on that occasion after the Witches were hit by injuries but Danny King and Rory Schlein, who both crashed out of the Final, are back to lead the home side in this Championship Shield encounter.
Peterborough have already raced once this season, notching a narrow home win over Lakeside at the East of England Arena last month.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We go into Thursday excited and looking forward to it. Peterborough maybe have a slight advantage having got one meeting under their belt.
“We are still expecting a big crowd with it being against Peterborough as there’s the local rivalry there. We have an exciting team again and everyone is excited to see it.
“The fans backed the team so well last year and the team will do the same again this year, so hopefully we can carry on from the end of last season with the big crowd and we have got to put in a good performance.”
Peterborough manager Carl Johnson said: “Ipswich is always a tough place to go, although we had a really good performance there at the end of last season to win the KO Cup.
“We will go there as we normally would, and we’ll be ready to work as hard as we can to get something out of it. We’ll be looking to win the meeting, and if that doesn’t happen then we’ll be doing our best to take at least a point from it.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY APRIL 6:
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Glasgow v Workington OFF, Lakeside v Peterborough 8pm, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Kent 7.15
70TH ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE: Edinburgh v Monarchs Champions 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 7:
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pm
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Eastbourne 7.30
SUNDAY APRIL 8:
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Newcastle 6.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Coventry v Stoke 3pm, Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3pm
Results Thursday April 5, 2018
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD
Ipswich 44 (Danny King 14)
Peterborough 46 (Michael Palm Toft 11+1)
Championship Shield points: Ipswich 0 Peterborough 3
Sheffield 59 (Charles Wright 16+2)
Newcastle 31 (Carl Wilkinson 6+1)
Championship Shield points: Sheffield 3 Newcastle 0
