SPEEDWAY News and Fixtures

(SPEEDWAY 1)
 
BIRMINGHAM are gearing up for an exciting night of action with the British Under-21 Semi-Final heading to Perry Barr tonight (Wednesday).
Some of the country’s finest young talents will be battling it out with the aim of a top seven finish to qualify for next month’s final at Berwick.
The Brummies will have three representatives with Layne Cupitt, Leon Flint and Callum Walker all hoping to make the most of home track advantage, and former Birmingham title-winner Jack Smith is also included.
GB U21 boss Neil Vatcher said: “I genuinely hope a large number of people head to Birmingham to support these youngsters as well as the event itself because these genuinely are stars of the future.
“With almost half the field having Birmingham connections too, hopefully the many home fans will have something extra to cheer!”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

KING’S LYNN finally open their Premiership campaign tonight (Wednesday) with Belle Vue the visitors to the Adrian Flux Arena.
A series of rain-offs means it’s been a delayed start to the season for the Stars, who host an Aces side who have three points on the board from their home win over Poole on Monday.
With Steve Worrall and Jye Etheridge on the injury list, the visitors bring in two ex-King’s Lynn riders in Lasse Bjerre and Simon Lambert to guest.
Stars boss Dale Allitt said: “These are a big couple of nights for us and if we could take a minimum of four points from Wednesday’s meeting with Belle Vue and Thursday at Swindon, then that really would give us something to build on going forward.
“We know it will be tough though and we’re anticipating a highly entertaining opener against the Aces at home.”
Belle Vue star Max Fricke said: “Now we’re settling down into a routine, the results and the performances are starting to come with that consistency so I think Wednesday will be a good measure of our progress.
“King’s Lynn have a good handful of track specialists in their team this year but we’ve had some good nights down there before, so I think it’ll be pretty fair game and anyone’s to lose.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SOMERSET are bidding to hit back from a heavy defeat at Leicester on Monday when the sides meet again at the Oaktree Arena tonight (Wednesday).
The Lions were 55-35 winners in the East Midlands and have booked Chris Harris to stand in for injured No.1 Martin Vaculik.
The Rebels will be racing at home for the first time, giving fans their first opportunity to see World Champion Jason Doyle back on their own track as No.1 having rejoined the club last winter.
Somerset promoter Debbie Hancock said: “We are going to put Monday behind us, lock it in the same drawer as our luck so far this season and start afresh. 
“The weather is warming up and it will be a long-awaited return to some action, led by the awesome Jason Doyle. 
“I really hope that the public can see for themselves how serious we are at making Somerset Speedway a big success, surely there can be no bigger marker than bringing the World No.1 here each week.”
Leicester star Kyle Newman said: “Monday was a good start with a nice big home win, and now we’ve got to go over to Somerset and try to repeat the performance.
“I’m sure they’ll be trying to come back stronger, so we’ll need to be firing on all cylinders there.
“When you look at our team I think it’s a team capable of winning the league, and now we’ve got to prove it.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter insists they hold no fear as they head to Poole tonight (Wednesday) in their opening Premiership fixture.
The reigning champions will come up against former Robins stars Peter Kildemand and Josh Grajczonek, as the Pirates go for a second successive home win.
Rossiter’s side ended a long barren run at Wimborne Road by winning there 47-45 last May, and they then recorded an emphatic 56-36 success in July.
Rossiter said: “Matt (Ford) has made some shrewd signings as he usually does, especially coming off a year in which they came up short by their high standards.
“But I certainly won’t say we’re intimidated by that. I’m happy with my side, and I’m sure my side can do well.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

PETERBOROUGH bosses have stressed they will run next Tuesday’s Championship Shield clash with Ipswich in a timely fashion.
The re-arranged meeting on April 24 gets underway at 8pm in a bid to make it easier for travelling supporters, or locals who work into the early evening, to attend.
Promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We went for 8pm so that it hopefully isn’t a major rush after work for our own supporters, and also to assist Ipswich fans to get here.
“What I can assure people is that barring any unforeseen problems, we will be running a quick meeting, exactly as we have done in our first two home matches so far. None of us want it finishing too late.
“It’s going to be an important meeting either way, and clearly the ideal scenario is that we go into it needing a win to book our place in the semi-finals.
“But even if that isn’t the case, if Lakeside get a result at Ipswich on Saturday, it will still be one we need to win to put us in a good position for being the best runners-up amongst the three groups, as they also qualify for the semis.”

(FIXTURES)

WEDNESDAY APRIL 18:
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL, Birmingham 7.30
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Swindon 7.30, Somerset v Leicester 7.30

THURSDAY APRIL 19:
PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v King’s Lynn 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7pm

FRIDAY APRIL 20:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Lakeside v Redcar 8pm
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Belle Vue v Buxton 7.30


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