(SPEEDWAY 1)
DAN Bewley says he will be focused on his own performance ahead of the British Final at Belle Vue on Monday.
The teenage star has taken a host of top scalps for the Aces around the National Speedway Stadium earlier this season – meaning he is already being mentioned as a contender for title glory.
But Bewley insisted: “I know what people are saying about me. Obviously it’s good to get compliments but it doesn’t win you races.
“I just need to keep focused on my job and preparation. The people around me are great and that keeps me just concentrated on every meeting coming, and not beyond that.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
NEWCASTLE have brought Matej Kus back to Brough Park as a replacement for Lewis Rose.
Kus, who last rode for the Diamonds in 2016, lost his team place at Redcar recently following a below-par start to the season – but he is now back with his parent club and will race at Scunthorpe tonight (Friday).
Manager George English said: “When you need a replacement rider it's invariably best to use one of your own assets, which Matej is, and he was delighted to resume his association with us after he had been dropped by Redcar last week.
"When he left us last time he had an average of nearly 7.50 per match, and whilst that figure has fallen recently, we firmly believe in surroundings he is happy to be part of again with our good team spirit in the pits with riders he knows well, this will boost him personally to reach out to achieve a much higher average, which we know he is capable of.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
PETERBOROUGH have moved to bring Ellis Perks back to British racing – and he will make his debut at the East of England Arena on Sunday.
Perks was left on the sidelines over the winter despite impressing in 2017, but he now comes in for the Panthers as a short-term replacement for the injured Emil Grondal, and will line up at No.2 in their home match against Glasgow.
Co-promoter Ged Rathbone said: “Ellis is a rider who we’ve been in touch with before, and this is a big opportunity for him.
“This is his chance now to put himself in the shop window for every club, he has five meetings with us this month and we can then look at things when Emil is fit, which at the moment is looking like July. Ellis can give us a decision to make.
“We all felt that running rider-replacement for Emil for a length of time wasn’t the answer. It puts far too much pressure on our reserves, and that would be made even worse if we were to pick up another injury during a meeting.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
RORY Schlein scored a 15-point maximum to inspire Ipswich to a 50-40 win over title holders Sheffield in the Championship.
The result moves the Witches up to fifth position but the reigning champions drop to the bottom of the table.
Schlein’s maximum haul was backed up by Nico Covatti with 10+1 on his return to the team after injury, whilst reserve Danyon Hume won two races on his way to seven. Tigers skipper Kyle Howarth top-scored for his side with 11+2.
Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: ““I was really proud of the performance and all the boys contributed.
“It was unfortunate to have a couple of engine failures and with things going how they have been that can really affect you, but we didn’t let it and it was a good win.”
“Rory is flying, he is a class rider and he is showing that everywhere. He is having a brilliant season and it is great to see. Nico was loads better and he has had a busy week and that showed as he was race sharp and he rode really well tonight.”
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “Of course I’m disappointed not to come away with anything again but in all honesty we probably didn’t deserve anything from that performance overall.
“I can’t knock too many of the boys but there were a couple of areas where we lacked the points we needed.
“It is a bit frustrating but at the same time, we’re only five matches into our league campaign. There’s still a long way to go but we know we need to improve pretty quickly.”
Meanwhile Redcar frustrated Berwick’s bid to move top of the table with a 50-40 win over the Bandits at the Media Prima Arena.
Jonas B Andersen (11+3) and Jordan Stewart (10) hit double figures for the Bears with debutants Thomas Jorgensen and Dimitri Berge both scoring eight.
Aaron Summers racked up 15 points at his old home track for the Bandits, but Jye Etheridge was withdrawn after a Heat 7 crash with Nathan Greaves.
Berwick manager Scott Courtney said: “It was another night where the ‘Pride of Berwick’ showed up well with some good battling races from most of the guys, although the blow to the side with Jye's injury was a telling point and left us understandably shorthanded just when Redcar turned the screw.
“But as ever there were positives in this match for us, and we are looking forward to welcoming Redcar to Shielfield Park on Saturday where we will be making amends for tonight.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
EASTBOURNE romped to a 53-37 National Trophy win at the Isle of Wight on Thursday.
Former Warriors ride Mark Baseby led the way for the Eagles with 13 points whilst youngster Tom Brennan added 11.
Ben Morley returned from injury with a 14-point haul for the home side, but they are still left scoreless in the Southern section of the competition.
(SPEEDWAY 6)
FORMER British Champions Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls clash as Glasgow host Peterborough at Ashfield tonight (Friday).
Harris will be facing his former club having raced for the Panthers in 2017, with Nicholls subsequently replacing him in their No.1 position.
Glasgow are at full strength whilst Peterborough operate rider-replacement for Ulrich Ostergaard who is racing in Denmark, and Mikkel B Andersen guests for the injured Emil Grondal.
Tigers co-owner David Facenna said: “Chris and Scott have had remarkable careers - they're still household names and top-class riders.
"It's an honour to have them both racing in Glasgow. Although we're hoping to see Chris come out on top, I think we'll enjoy the battles regardless.
“With Peterborough in third and us in fourth, we could go above them. I know it's early days but that can lay down a marker for the rest of the campaign.”
Panthers co-promoter Ged Rathbone said: “As always on our travels we’ll be going there with a positive attitude, and it’s a place we’ve had some good results in the past including a win and a draw last season.
“It does appear that they might have come into form just before we head up there, judging by their result last week, but it’s still a meeting for us to look forward to.”
Meanwhile Scunthorpe have booked Kyle Howarth to guest at No.1 in their clash with Newcastle at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
Howarth stands in for Steve Worrall whilst the Scorpions operate rider-replacement for Stefan Nielsen, Jason Garrity has been declared fit, but Gino Manzares is out with a shoulder injury with Todd Kurtz guesting at reserve.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We beat Newcastle at the Eddie Wright Raceway by 50-40 in the Championship Shield in mid-May, but it was a tough meeting and we can expect more of the same on Friday.
“Tero Aarnio was on fire the last time we met and with Stuart Robson returning after injury, plus two very experienced reserves in Carl Wilkinson and Matthew Wethers, we will certainly have to be on our guard.
“It’s tough when you’re without three of your own riders, but I think we’re chosen our replacements wisely, and they, along with our own lads, are fully capable of taking the victory tonight.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
EDINBURGH host Workington tonight (Friday) in what will prove a decisive match in the Borders section of the Championship Shield.
The Comets have drawn three of their five matches so far and need to avoid defeat at Armadale to pip Glasgow for top spot in the group.
The hosts cannot qualify but are also staging the latest in their series of ‘Decades’ nights for their 70th Anniversary season, and will be celebrating the 1970s in the company of four stars of the period - Brian Collins, Alan Bridgett, Bert Harkins and Benny Rourke.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “It's been a stop-start season for us recently so I am pleased that this is the start of a consistent run of home matches plus some important away ones.
“Some of our riders have still to settle to their home track so Friday will be a very good test against strong opposition.”
(SPEEDWAY 8)
PLYMOUTH host the Isle of Wight in the National League at the St Boniface Arena tonight (Friday).
The Devils are without the injured Bradley Andrews and the unavailable James Cockel, with rider-replacement operating for the latter and Saul Bulley coming in as a guest.
The Warriors, who lost at home to Eastbourne in the Trophy on Thursday, operate rider-replacement for the unavailable Scott Campos, and James Chattin stands in at reserve.
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY JUNE 8:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Peterborough 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Isle of Wight 7.15
SATURDAY JUNE 9:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Redcar 7pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Eastbourne v Plymouth 7.30
SUNDAY JUNE 10:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Glasgow 5pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Coventry v Cradley 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 11:
BRITISH FINAL: Belle Vue 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Eastbourne 6.30
Results Thursday June 7, 2018;
CHAMPIONSHIP
Ipswich 50 (Rory Schlein 15)
Sheffield 40 (Kyle Howarth 11+2)
Championship points: Ipswich 3 Sheffield 0
Redcar 50 (Jonas B. Andersen 11+3)
Berwick 40 (Aaron Summers 15)
Championship points: Redcar 3 Berwick 0
NATIONAL TROPHY
Isle of Wight 37 (Ben Morley 14)
Eastbourne 53 (Mark Baseby 13)
National Trophy points: Isle of Wight 0 Eastbourne 4
