SPEEDWAY News and fixtures

(SPEEDWAY 1)POOLE have made a change to their doubling-up position with Germaninternational Kevin Wolbert now signed to replace Gary Havelock.Wolbert, who rides for Edinburgh in the Premier League, will share a placewith Jason Doyle having gained top-flight experience with Birmingham earlierin the season.Promoter Matt Ford said: "We are without Jason as he is riding for hisPremier league side Newport on Saturday 17th and I have been looking atmaking a change in that department for a while, and with the availability ofKevin the timing seems just right. "I am still trying to secure a permanent rider for the reserve berth nowthat we have lost Mateusz (Szczepaniak) and hopefully will have somethingsorted in the next few days. A couple of avenues have turned intocul-de-sacs but the search goes on."(SPEEDWAY 2)EASTBOURNE manager Trevor Geer insists there will be no holding back fromhis side in a big match against Coventry at Arlington on Monday.The Eagles have already qualified for the Elite League play-offs but themeeting could still be hugely significant as the Bees need a positive resultto maintain their own top-four hopes.Geer said: "Coventry are likely to come here desperate for points to try andensure their place in the play-offs so they can defend their league title.We obviously have our pride and we still want points in our battle to finishsecond in the league table."I have told the riders this is no time to relax and take our foot off thegas. We want to keep winning so people don't think we are an easy touch comethe play-offs."(SPEEDWAY 3)GLASGOW have announced the signing of 18-year-old Frenchman David Bellego asa replacement for the injured Christian Henry.The Tigers, who will look to move ever-close to the Premier League titlewith a home match against Somerset on Sunday, say the signing is a long-termone and they anticipate Bellego figuring in their plans for 2012.Co-promoter Stewart Dickson said: "The beauty of this is that he comes inwith absolutely no pressure on him, and all we ask of him is that he settlesin well and gets a grasp of the sport in this country. "With him coming in at reserve then the expectation is not so daunting andthat should allow him to fit nicely into our side. What makes this a doublygood signing is that his reserve partner is Theo Pijper, who he knows welland has played a very important part in completing this signing."

(SPEEDWAY 4)PLYMOUTH boss Mike Bowden remains hopeful of bringing Travis McGowan intohis team next week - despite a fine home win over Newcastle without theAustralian.McGowan's arrival has been held up by a delay with international clearance,but the Devils overcame the Diamonds 47-41 with Ben Barker (13) top-scoringand reserve Gino Franchetti (9+2) also impressing.Bowden said: "This was a very good all round performance by the team and itwill pose a selection problem for next week if Travis is available. Fullmarks were due to the riders from both sides for completing the meetingdespite the drizzle that was falling at the start."Fortunately the rain stopped during the meeting and our team rode very wellalthough Kyle Hughes still seemed to be troubled by his recent shoulderinjury."(SPEEDWAY 5)SCUNTHORPE boss Richard Hollingsworth praised guest riders Nick Morris andHugh Skidmore as the Scorpions overcame their problems to defeat Redcar52-41.Morris and Skidmore scored nine and eight respectively to play their part ina solid display led by skipper David Howe (11+3) whilst the Bears' scoringwas dominated by their own guest Sebastian Alden (15).Hollingsworth said: "With Ben Wilson, Tero Aarnio and Richard Hall in theside I'd have expected to do well tonight but guests don't have the samehome track knowledge and some don't have the same level of commitment ontrack. "Tonight we fell lucky with Hugh and Nick because they gave it everything,and but for a fall and a chain snapping they would have scored even more."(SPEEDWAY 6)KEVIN Wolbert scored a full maximum as Edinburgh picked up all three pointsfrom a 53-41 win over Somerset in one of their best displays of the season.Wolbert's unbeaten 15-point show was exceeded numerically by Andrew Tully(16 from six rides) as the home side overcame the absence of skipper MatthewWethers and the withdrawal of reserve Byron Bekker after Heat 2 crash.The Rebels had their problems too, with captain James Holder crashing out ofthe meeting in Heat 8 and requiring a trip to hospital.The match went ahead despite bad weather earlier in the day, and Edinburghboss John Campbell said: "I had a text from the track saying we need amiracle. I asked if they meant a miracle to get the meeting on, or to winthe match. We got both!"

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Workington v Edinburgh 7pm NATIONALLEAGUE: Stoke v Hackney 7.30SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Somerset 4pm, Newcastle v Workington 6.30, RyeHouse v Plymouth 2pm NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Hackney vScunthorpe (follows PL fixture), Newport v Belle Vue 2.30 IVOR BROWN TROPHY:Leicester v Dudley 7pm BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 5: Sittingbourne12pmMONDAY SEPTEMBER 12:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30, Peterborough v Swindon7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Poole v Eastbourne 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUPQ/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v Peterborough 8pm


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