(SPEEDWAY 1)
REDCAR captain Gary Havelock spent the night in intensive care at Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital after an alarming Heat 5 crash in the Bears’ League Cup fixture against Edinburgh.The 1992 World Champion was struck by the Monarchs’ Derek Sneddon when he fell on the apex of the third bend on the first lap.Havelock’s father, and Redcar promoter Brian, said: “Gary has a broken left shoulder as well as the upper left arm being broken and already plated. In addition his top three ribs are broken.”The match was held up for over half an hour while the Teesside sporting icon received medical treatment including the administration of morphine.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
RYE House have signed Danish star Charlie Gjedde to replace long-term injury victim Chris Neath.Gjedde, who also doubles-up in the Elite League with Belle Vue, was available to Premier League clubs following Newport’s closure, and he will make his Rockets debut in a challenge match against Peterborough on March 31.Promoter Len Silver said: “Chris is to be allowed to go home after considerable improvement to the movement in his left arm and leg, but he faces months of hard physiotherapy. Charlie’s official starting average is 8.88, just above Chris and he was fifth in the national averages in 2011.“As the Rockets do not have an official match after this weekend until Good Friday, no decision will be made about the Nelson situation until it is certain that he will not be here in time for that match.”(SPEEDWAY 3)LEICESTER have signed former Plymouth rider Kyle Hughes as a replacement for the injured Simon Nielsen.Hughes, who impressed when he rode against the Lions at Beaumont Park last season, will make his debut in Sunday’s home challenge fixture against Scunthorpe.Hughes said: “I want to thank Leicester Speedway for giving me this opportunity. I tried getting into Leicester during the winter because I really liked the track and everything about the club. “I had a very hard year last year both at speedway and at home and was at a very low part in my life at times due to injury but I’ve seriously changed my outlook on everything.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BERWICK have parted company with Michael Hertrich before racing a competitive fixture this season – due to circumstances beyond their control.The young German was brought in to cover the absence left by the injury to Australian teenager Brenton Barnfield, but the search is now back on for a permanent replacement.Manager Ian Rae said: “As if this winter had not been difficult enough already, we’ve had to part company with yet another before we get the serious season underway.“It’s something we’ve had no choice in. We naturally wish the young lad well, but now of course we’re back to the job of scouring just who we can bring in as a replacement. We’ve spoken to a few already, but as yet we have not signed anyone.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
ISLE of Wight skipper Nick Simmons has suffered a broken wrist in an accident at work.Simmons will now be on the sidelines for at least the first six weeks of the season, although he will be present at the club’s press day on Saturday.Co-promoter Chris Hunt said: “Nick called to give me the bad news that he had slipped when unloading a bike at work and suffered the injury. We all obviously wish him a speedy recovery.“In the meantime we need to decide if we make a temporary signing, run with rider replacement or use guests to cover for Nick, we need to sit down and work out the best possible option available for us as a club.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY MARCH 23:LEAGUE CUP: Plymouth v Rye House 7.30, Scunthorpe v Berwick 7.30MIDLAND LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 8pmCHALLENGE 2nd leg: Somerset Select v Swindon 7.30SCOTTISH OPEN: Edinburgh 7.15
SATURDAY MARCH 24:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Sheffield 7pmTYNE TWEED TROPHY 1st leg: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm
SUNDAY MARCH 25:SPRING TROPHY 1st leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pmCHALLENGE 2nd leg: Leicester v Scunthorpe 6pmTYNE TWEED TROPHY 2nd leg: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30
