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REGULATIONS have been confirmed for the re-staging of the Premier League Fours Final at Leicester – and the team managers are set to play an important role.Beaumont Park hosts the meeting on October 23, with the initial event having been abandoned after the semi-finals back in August due to heavy rain.The Final now takes place over an expanded 20-heat formula, with the managers of the competing clubs – Leicester, Ipswich, Somerset and Workington – having freedom to choose who their representatives will be, and also who takes what could be an important reserve position.Reserves can be included at any stage, subject to a maximum number of rides, and in addition a tactical ride facility will be available just as in a League match, with a programmed rider able to score double-points if his team are eight or more points down.Series co-ordinator David Hoggart believes it promises to be a fascinating contest, and has emphasised that organisers are aware of calls to re-introduce a qualifying competition for the Fours at some stage in the future. Hoggart said: “The meeting is being staged as a one-off 20-heat Final at normal club admission prices to compensate for the disappointment of the rain-off in August, and we have taken the opportunity to take the ‘brakes off’ the Team Managers with a number of tactical elements. “They can choose how to declare their team with a fifth reserve who has no programmed rides but can take four replacement rides between Heats 1 – 16, and one ride between Heats 17 – 20. “This not only covers any starting offences to avoid three-man races, but also allows the Team Manager to use his reserve as he sees fit. “The inclusion of the tactical ride rule if a team is eight or more down after four heats should keep the meeting alive and everyone on their toes. “There have been many calls to re-introduce the Fours qualifiers and it is under consideration, but we need to get the formula for the final right to prevent the outcome being a foregone conclusion and consequently a financial disaster. “Ipswich, Workington, Somerset and of course Leicester are the finalists and I know everyone at Leicester will be delighted to welcome Elite League fans to the Premier League and Beaumont Park in particular.”
SUPER7EVEN SERIES SPEEDWAY GB EVENTSBRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: TAI WOFFINDENELITE LEAGUE PAIRS: POOLEBRITISH FINAL: SCOTT NICHOLLSPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: GLASGOWPREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: SAM MASTERS ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon, October 15 PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS FINAL: Leicester, October 23
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BELLE VUE boss Jim Lynch believes an in-form Chris Harris can offer a major boost to the Aces’ hopes of reaching the Knockout Cup Final.Lynch said: “Chris has had an unhappy time trying to sort out his engines but now he has four new motors set up as he wants them and his gear is the best it has been since the end of last season.“I can’t wait to see him on this machinery and in this form in the match against Lakeside on Wednesday night.”BIRMINGHAM star Ben Barker has re-claimed his place in the line-up for Saturday’s Elite League Riders’ Championship at Swindon – after reports that he was ruled out for the rest of the season proved premature.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “Ben was shocked to read he was out for the season because at no time has he said that. I was away on a short break last week so wasn't on top of the situation but apparently the reports came from Plymouth.“He called me at the weekend and said he's ready to carry on so he will ride on Saturday.”COVENTRY captain Ryan Fisher is hoping to upset the big guns in the Elite League Riders’ Championship on Saturday, having ridden for staging club Swindon earlier in his career.Fisher said: “I know Swindon well, and I just think I have to make some fast starts and then I can be as quick as anyone. I should be able to go out and win races there.“I’ve been trying to keep myself busy with doing a lot of meetings, and finish the season off well so that I’m ready for next year.”EASTBOURNE manager Trevor Geer said his riders had given it their best shot having had to settle for runners-up position in the Elite League with their Grand Final defeat at Poole.Geer said: “We gave it a go tonight. Cameron (Woodward) completely wrote off two bikes and ended up riding Joonas’ (Kylmakorpi).“But, even when we were making the gate, we seemed more concerned with where the Poole riders were, rather than riding our own race.”KING’S LYNN boss Rob Lyon has reflected on a pleasing first season back in the top flight for the Stars, despite their exit from the play-offs with a heavy defeat at Poole in the semi-finals.Lyon said: “I was disappointed with how the season ended when we just rolled over, which was a shame, but that’s the way it happens sometimes.“But overall we have to be pleased with the way the season’s gone. I thought we punched above our weight and there were a lot of positives to take from it.”LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook is hopeful that his side still have the ability to defend a slender three-point first leg lead when they travel to Belle Vue in the Knockout Cup semi-final on Wednesday.Cook said: “We wanted a bigger lead but we just have to get on with what we’ve got. We’re three points up, so we have to go to Belle Vue and make sure we only lose by two.“It’s not impossible, we won at Belle Vue earlier in the season. We have to focus on that and get stuck in right from the start.” PETERBOROUGH star Troy Batchelor completed a positive season on a personal note with a paid maximum in the Panthers’ final fixture of the campaign against Swindon.Batchelor said: “It’s been a good year, we didn’t get into the play-offs which is what we wanted to do but that’s speedway and that’s sport.“We all tried hard and put in 100% and at the end of the year you can walk away and say you did your best.”POOLE promoter Matt Ford has announced plans to further celebrate the club’s Elite League championship victory by slashing admission prices for the Pirates’ home leg of the Knockout Cup Final, against either Belle Vue or Lakeside.Ford said: “It’s such a great feeling to be champions, and to be honest I am a little lost for words. Our fans have been great and let me tell them here and now that we will be giving a special offer for our pending KO Cup Final - the second part of the Double.“We will be charging just £10 admission for that one, so hopefully we will have another great turnout that will help boost the lads to go on and win that competition too.”SWINDON co-promoter Gary Patchett has not ruled out the possibility of Scott Nicholls returning to Blunsdon next season - despite a tough first year in Robins colours for the British Champion.Patchett said: “Scott is a very honest character who had held his hand up and said that, although he has always given his best, he has not been the No.1 rider that he and we expected would be the case.“He has had a lot of off-track worries this year, and there is no reason why he should not bounce back in 2012. On his current sub-eight point average he would be a very shrewd signing for most clubs, including ourselves.”WOLVERHAMPTON have confirmed top British duo Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls will compete in the showpiece Banks’s Olympique handicap event at Monmore Green next Tuesday.Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “We were delighted to receive confirmation from Scott and Chris that they will appear, they are experts around Monmore Green and this meeting with the handicap system is perfect for their style of riding."They are sure to push the likes of Freddie (Lindgren), PK (Peter Karlsson) and Tai (Woffinden) who are masters of Monmore Green, it should be a great night.”PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK star Sebastian Alden has given the seal of approval to his mid-season move to Shielfield Park – and is already making plans for a return in 2012.Alden said: “Since I came to Berwick I have been happy with my racing and I can’t say anything negative about the club. The Premier League has more than lived up to my expectations and I am looking forward to doing it again next year, although I must admit I am starting to get a little tired now, and I am looking forward to the winter break.”EDINBURGH star Craig Cook admits he is searching to find the reasons for his drop in scoring over the closing weeks of the season.Cook said: “I’m not scoring the points, which is quite disappointing because I’m getting criticised quite a lot. I’m putting so much effort in to try and figure things out but nothing seems to be working. I’m not doing anything different from before, I don’t know what is wrong but something isn’t the same.”GLASGOW skipper Joe Screen has confirmed he will not race again this season having ridden through the pain barrier of late – although he will be present at Ashfield on Sunday when the Tigers are presented with the Premier League trophy.Screen said: “I really feel a danger out there to myself and the other riders and I just had to get through Sunday to see us clinch the deal, so now I will look forward to travelling up next week to collect the trophy and celebrate with the best team-mates a captain could ask for.”IPSWICH boss Pete Simmons was less than satisfied with the Witches taking a point from their trip to Plymouth last Friday – believing that the match had offered a good chance of an away win.Simmons said: “Obviously the ignition problems experienced by Lasse Bjerre didn’t help, but we should still have had the strength in depth to overcome a very weakened Plymouth team.”LEICESTER will include several Elite League riders in the field of the Pride of the Midlands individual at Beaumont Park on Friday, with Belle Vue No.1 Rory Schlein topping the bill.Promoter David Hemsley said: “Nobody at Leicester has yet seen a meeting here with Elite League riders so far, so it’s great to have some of them here, and there are plenty of local riders to support too. On form Rory could be the man to beat, but he’s never seen Beaumont Park before so we’ll see if one of our own riders can get the better of him.”NEWCASTLE’S 2011 injury jinx struck again with Kyle Newman ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after suffering damage to his leg in a crash during Sunday’s home defeat by Newport.Manager George English said: “The last thing you want when you’ve had a season like we’ve had is another bad injury, and we can only wish Kyle a speedy recovery.”NEWPORT promoter Steve Mallett has praised the input of skipper Leigh Lanham as the Wasps continue to celebrate their Knockout Cup victory from earlier this month.Mallett said: “It as a seven-man effort, a real team affair and to pick out anyone on riding ability alone would be an insult to the other six. However, I must praise Leigh for the way he led the side pre-meeting, when he told them exactly how to approach it.”PLYMOUTH promoter Mike Bowden is optimistic that the Devils can make use of their matches in hand and overhaul Leicester in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon.Bowden said: “Our target is to get off the bottom of the table and finish above Leicester, who have completed their fixtures and are four points ahead of us. We still have nine points to race for in our home meetings against Newcastle, Berwick and Edinburgh.”REDCAR promoter Brian Havelock says the club have made considerable improvements in 2011 as they prepare to bring the curtain down on the campaign with a home fixture against Somerset on Thursday.Havelock said: “This year we have enjoyed the opening of a new grandstand at the speedway arena while the club has also moved forward with respect to building up its asset base of riders. We recruited Matej Kus and he has proved an exciting points scorer for the Bears. Aaron Summers, Peter Juul and Robert Branford were purchased in the transfer market after showing what they were capable of in previous seasons.”RYE HOUSE reserve James Brundle hit double-figures in the home win over Workington on Sunday and stated his wish to be back with the Rockets in 2012.Brundle said: “It’s only lately that I’ve been struggling financially, and that’s held me back. But I’ve got a whole winter to get that stuff sorted out for next year, and hopefully I can carry on with the form I’ve got off to today, start banging in some scores and – fingers crossed – be back here next year.”SCUNTHORPE boss Richard Hollingsworth offered congratulations to new Premier League champions Glasgow after seeing his side heavily beaten at Ashfield on Sunday.Hollingsworth said: “I must congratulate Glasgow on winning the title because they have deserved it. They have good people running the club and their hard work has been rewarded. The best bet for us is to draw a line under today and hope we can do significantly better at Somerset on Friday.”SHEFFIELD star Shane Parker will mark the end of his final season in the sport with a special farewell party event at Owlerton on November 3.Parker said: “I’ve had a great time at Sheffield, the fans are good, they’ve made us so welcome and it’s always great to see them at the away tracks supporting the boys. I really do want everyone to have fun and enjoy the Farewell Party, the Magoos are worth the trip alone and of course I’ll be able to thank everyone for their support.”SOMERSET have completed 300 meetings at the Oak Tree Arena since their launch in the year 2000 with last Friday’s home win over new champions Glasgow.Promoter Debbie Hancock said: “In some respects it only seems like yesterday that the first meeting was staged here. Apart from the weather, one other thing that has stayed consistent from the first meeting is the fact that Steve Bishop is still part of the set-up. Bish won the first race and here we are 299 matches on, and he is still with the Rebels in his role as team manager.”WORKINGTON star Kenny Ingalls believes his impressive recent form is down to an injury-free run and more time on the bike over the last few weeks.Ingalls said: “The scores are going up probably just because I am getting more comfortable on the bike. I am trying new things all the time such as riding techniques, and I have got no major problems with the injuries any more.”
FIXTURE PICTURE…TUESDAY OCTOBER 11:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Belle Vue OFFCHALLENGE: GB U21 v USA, Dudley 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Lakeside 8pm
THURSDAY OCTOBER 13:PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Somerset 7.30CHALLENGE: Sheffield v The Americans 7.45
FRIDAY OCTOBER 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newport v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30, Workington v Ipswich 7.30 PRIDE OF THE MIDLANDS: Leicester 7.30SATURDAY OCTOBER 15:ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP, Swindon 5pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Workington 7pmCHALLENGE: Stoke v Birmingham Bulls 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Newport 1.30, Glasgow v Newport 3.30, Rye House v Ipswich 2pm, Newcastle v Berwick 7pm, Workington v Sheffield 3.30 BERNIE KLATT MEMORIAL TROPHY: Mildenhall 4.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 18:BANKS’S OLYMPIQUE: Wolverhampton 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 20:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.15
FRIDAY OCTOBER 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Berwick 7.30, Somerset v Newport 7.30 MIDLAND BOWL 1st leg: Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm SCOTTISH CUP 1st leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 22:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newport v Berwick 7pm, Workington v Ipswich 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 7.30 TEST MATCH: GB U23 v Young Australia, Eastbourne 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 23:PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS FINAL: Leicester 5pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30, Rye House v Berwick 2pm NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL: Mildenhall v Scunthorpe or Belle Vue 4.30 SCOTTISH CUP 2nd leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 24:MIDLAND BOWL 2nd leg: Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 27:16-LAP CLASSIC: Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Edinburgh 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Plymouth 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 30:PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Edinburgh 3pm ACE OF HERTS: Rye House 6pm JUNIOR GOLDEN HELMET: Glasgow 3pm
