SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENT - FRIDAY APRIL 27:
NATIONAL TROPHY
Plymouth v Isle of Wight - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
GREAT Britain will have two riders competing in the Speedway Euro Championship qualifier at Pardubice this weekend.
King’s Lynn captain Robert Lambert will be joined by Swindon and Lakeside man Adam Ellis at the Czech Republic venue on Saturday as they look for places in the SEC Challenge at Terenzano in early May.
The meeting also includes Ellis’s Swindon team-mate David Bellego, Leicester star Hans Andersen and former GP men Antonio Lindback and Piotr Protasiewicz.
The overall goal is qualification for the SEC Final series, which takes place over four rounds at Gniezno, Gustrow, Daugapils and Chorzow later this summer.
And GB boss Alun Rossiter says the appearance of British riders in the qualification process is a major step forward as they look to gain more European experience.
Rossiter said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have our riders entering this competition, and that we’re giving them the extra opportunities they need to keep progressing.
“The only way for our riders to get better is by giving them more experience, and we felt it was a great opportunity for two of the younger ones to be taking part here.
“Both Robert and Adam have had really good starts to the season with their UK clubs, they are improving all the time and they’ve also been part of the set-up in the World Cup over the last couple of years.
“We need to get ourselves on the map in these events so it’s great to have them competing and I’m sure they will give a good account of themselves.
“It’s going to be a tough meeting, but whatever the result they also have the chance to impress the organisers as there are also Wild Cards available later in the competition.
“On behalf of the Great Britain Speedway Team, I’d also very much like to thank the governing bodies for allowing the GB riders to enter this competition.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
IPSWICH had three unbeaten riders in a 60-29 romp against Newcastle at Foxhall on Thursday.
Skipper Danny King (14+1), Rory Schlein (12) and guest Lewis Kerr (10+2) were all unbeaten by an opponent, and Cameron Heeps also piled up 12+1.
It was the first win of the season for the Witches to get their Championship campaign off to a good start, whilst the Diamonds were reduced to two heat wins – both from in-form reserve Ashley Morris, who scored 12.
Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was a great scoreline but really the most important thing was to see improvement in all six riders, and Lewi was a brilliant guest.
“We were making starts and getting to the first turn better than we have been so far this season, and we were very focused on the job tonight. Everyone was more relaxed and raced better.”
Newcastle boss George English said: “We seem to be running a Jekyll and Hyde side at the moment - brilliant last weekend home and away, yet tonight well off the boil, with the exception of Ashley who is scoring well at reserve.
“The issues are desperately crying out to be sorted, and they must be ASAP so we don't start to lose too much ground even at this early on in the season.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SHEFFIELD blasted back to the top of their Northern Championship Shield group with a 49-40 home win over Redcar.
Tigers were rewarded for quick reactions in the mid-section of the meeting as they outgated their opponents to score three vital maximums in four races to get themselves in front.
And even when the Bears clawed their deficit back to within five points after being gifted a 5-0 in Heat 10, the hosts responded well in the next two to open up an 11 point lead
Winter signing Charles Wright starred against his old club with 13, whilst Lasse Bjerre – another former Redcar rider returned to form on 12+2. Guest Ty Proctor led the Bears’ scoring on 12+1.
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “It was probably a little bit more of a hard fought victory tonight. They've got some riders who do okay at our place and they'd booked a good guest in Ty too.
“We were battling with the conditions as well because the track was wet and that made gating even more important.
“As a team manager I look down the scorechart and to me the majority of the team have done their job.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
EASTBOURNE set up a National League KO Cup quarter-final against Coventry with a 48-42 win on the Isle of Wight.
The Eagles were already in control of the first-round tie thanks to a 30-point win at Arlington last weekend, but they completed victories in both legs despite a 15-point maximum from home No.1 Ben Morley.
Scott Campos and Ben Hopwood both added 10 for the Warriors but their top three lacked support, whilst the visitors scored solidly with reserve Jason Edwards leading the way on 11+1.
Eastbourne chairman Martin Dugard said: “We had quite a good night and have come from our own small track to the biggest track.
“Everything we have done this year so far has been on small tracks so this was a good test for us to ride here ready for when we come back in the league, which is the important one.
“It was a complete team performance and you have to be pleased with that.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
POOLE defeated Yarmouth Bloaters 53-37 in the 70th birthday celebration event at Wimborne Road.
Captain Josh Grajczonek led the way for the Pirates with 13 points whilst there were also double-figure scores for Linus Sundstrom (12), Kacper Woryna (11+2) and Brady Kurtz (11+1).
Former Poole man Nicolai Klindt scored 11 for the representative Bloaters side.
(SPEEDWAY 6)
EDINBURGH are hoping a change in riding order pays dividends when they host Berwick in the Championship Shield tonight (Friday).
The Monarchs dropped points to Glasgow last week and now face a must-win encounter against the Bandits, with Joel Andersson and Max Ruml swapping places in the line-up.
Skipper Erik Riss misses the meeting due to an SEC qualifier, and Thomas Jorgensen comes in to guest.
Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “We've switched the second strings partly because Max seems to improve as the night goes on, and at number 2 he finishes his night early.
“Berwick's visit is an ideal fixture for us, because we have got to start proving ourselves. I've said this over many years - winning is a habit, but so is losing.
“We've got to get into that winning habit, and make sure that every time we turn up at Armadale we have the winning habit in our head. We have to do that and we have to start on Friday.”
Meanwhile Redcar and Sheffield clash for the second time in 24 hours, this time at the Media Prima Arena.
The Tigers won 49-40 in Yorkshire on Thursday and are looking to complete the double, with the Bears again bringing in Ty Proctor and Nathan Greaves to cover for SEC duo Matej Kus and Nathan Greaves.
Redcar boss Jitendra Duffill said: “They are a big loss to us as both were very impressive at home last week, but I’m happy with the guests I have brought in to replace them.
“Ty loves our place and is as quick as anybody around the MPA. He has also started the season well with Kings Lynn. Nathan is a rider that I was very impressed with when he guested for us last year and he will be keen to impress as he looks to secure a Championship spot.”
Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “Some of our boys tend to go well there and Charles (Wright) rode for the Bears last season.
“So fingers crossed we can make some good starts again and come away from there having added to our tally.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
PLYMOUTH host the Isle of Wight in the National Trophy at the St Boniface Arena tonight (Friday).
The Devils are at full strength as they look to complete the double, whilst the Warriors were also beaten at home by Eastbourne in the KO Cup on Thursday.
Isle of Wight boss Jackie Vatcher said: “I don’t want to keep on, but it’s early days yet and we know we have to do better at Plymouth than our last away performance at Eastbourne.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY APRIL 27:
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Isle of Wight 7.15
SATURDAY APRIL 28:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Lakeside 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30, Mildenhall v Stoke 7.30
SUNDAY APRIL 29:
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Coventry v Cradley 3pm
Results Thursday April 26, 2018
CHAMPIONSHIP
Ipswich 60 – Danny King 14+1
Newcastle 29 – Ashley Morris 12
Championship points: Ipswich 3 Newcastle 0
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD
Sheffield 49 – Charles Wright 13
Redcar 40 – Ty Proctor 12+1
Championship Shield points: Sheffield 3 Redcar 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg
Isle of Wight 42 – Ben Morley 15
Eastbourne 48 – Jason Edwards 11+1
Eastbourne win 108-72 on aggregate.
CHALLENGE
Poole 53 – Josh Grajczonek 13
