British Speedway Weekly Bulletin

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DUDLEY chairman Nigel Pearson says the club are proud to be hosting the country’s best youngsters in the British Under-21 Final on April 24.Heathens stage the showpiece event at their adopted Monmore Green home and it promises to offer great value with admission prices held at their normal National League levels - £10 adults, £7 concessions and £2 children.The hosts have two riders in the field with Tom Perry qualifying from last weekend’s semi-final at Stoke to join Ashley Morris, and former champion Joe Haines is a Wolverhampton asset.Last year’s runner-up Steve Worrall is back to attempt to go one place better, Jason Garrity won the British Under-19 title last year and Workington’s Kyle Howarth has started the season in blistering form.Pearson said: “It’s a great thrill to be asked to host a national event. We’re hugely honoured to stage it, and we’re determined to do it proud.“This is our third season and whilst I know we’re still frowned upon by some in the sport because we don’t have a track of our own, there’s no doubting our fan-base and it’s the Heathens promotion who are staging this event at Wolverhampton.“We’re delighted to have Tom and Ashley in the event because they’re what the National League is all about – young British riders from the local area who were nailed-on certainties for our team-sheet this year.“Obviously whilst I’ll be wishing them all the very best, I hope it’s an entertaining meeting and I hope we get a good crowd, not just of Heathens fans but from the surrounding areas as well, and with the admission price structure I think it’s great value for money.“There are several good up-and-coming riders in the line-up and we'll be delighted to welcome Kyle Newman back, it’s always good to see him and he’s a great friend of the Heathens who will always have a special place in our fans’ hearts. I’m sure he’ll be a major threat.“I was also interested to read some quotes from George English saying how he believes the Worrall brothers (Richie and Steve) are ready to make the next step, and I do think they’ll be there or thereabouts challenging for the title. I thought they were very interesting comments.”Pearson has also confirmed that Dudley’s long-term aspirations remain focused on their attempts to secure a venue of their own, some 17 years after the closure of Dudley Wood, the former home of Cradley Heath.He added: “To be staging a national event like this is great, and we’re promoting it heavily locally throughout the Wolverhampton and Dudley area. It’s also something we’ll be using in our negotiations for a potential new site which is an ongoing project.“The latest on that is that we are in talks with another party about a potentially exciting project, but the details have to remain confidential for the time being. When those details do emerge, people will understand why, but if the plans come to fruition it’s potentially very exciting.”BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL – Dudley (Wolverhampton), April 24: Seeded riders: Joe Haines, Steve Worrall, Jason Garrity, Ashley Morris, Jerran Hart, Kyle Newman, Kyle Howarth, Robert Branford, Richie Worrall, Ben Morley. Qualifers: Tom Perry, Joe Jacobs, Marc Owen, Adam Wrathall, Stefan Nielsen, James Sarjeant. Reserves: Ben Hopwood, Richard Franklin.

SPEEDWAYGB EVENTS SERIES:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Dudley, Tuesday April 24PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Peterborough, Sunday July 15BRITISH FINAL: Wolverhampton, Monday July 30PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, Friday August 24PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 23ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon, Saturday October 20

NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENT DATES:NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Stoke, Sunday June 10NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: Mildenhall, Sunday July 22NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, Saturday September 15

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BELLE VUE boss Jim Lynch praised the efforts of new track curator Colin Meredith in getting the Kirkmanshulme Lane circuit ready for the Aces’ home match with Lakeside – even though the home side found themselves defeated.Lynch said: “The track curator did a great job to get it ready for racing, but we were unlucky to meet the top-of-the-table team, who are in great form.“On the plus side, we had something from all the riders to give us a bit of heart apart from the young Pole Marcel Kajzer, who needs a bit more time to get acclimatised.”BIRMINGHAM skipper Danny King says the nature of the Brummies’ televised win over Wolverhampton was a good indicator of the potential within the Perry Barr club’s team this season.King said: “When we are on that kind of form we will be a match for anybody in the league and if we had ridden like that against Swindon here on Good Friday I have no doubt we would have run them close at least.“It gives us something to build on in a way it’s a shame we don’t have another meeting until April 26 when we face Coventry – and we owe them one!”COVENTRY skipper Chris Harris admits mechanical problems are causing the Bees plenty of headaches after two more damaging breakdowns during the defeat at Swindon on Monday.Harris said: “We had a lot of bad luck again tonight – engines, chains, exhaust pipes falling off, so it was one of those nights again.“The team spirit is still good, everyone is pushing for each other to win, and now we have to pick ourselves up for Friday, and I’m sure we can beat Swindon at home.”EASTBOURNE No.1 Joonas Kylmakorpi believes he should be able to return to action next month with further treatment required on his damaged shoulder-blade.Kylmakorpi said: “The collarbone is fine, I could ride now if that was the only injury but the shoulder is difficult to operate. The shoulder is really painful, I’m not moving it.“I won’t have an operation, I’ll just be getting different sorts of treatment to get better and heal quicker. I could have an operation but that would rule me out for a long time. They would have to cut through muscle and ligaments.”KING’S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman believes Belle Vue will present a tough test for the Stars at the Norfolk Arena this week.The home side go into the meeting without David Howe who has suffered a dislocated shoulder, so Jordan Frampton comes in for his home debut.Chapman said: “On paper the Aces have a very attractive team who so far this season they have struggled to get going, but I believe they will give us a real run for their money, especially with Linus Eklof and Josh Grajzonek at reserve.”LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook was able to reflect on a near-perfect away performance at Belle Vue on Monday with the Hammers claiming eleven of the fifteen heat wins, and four maximum 5-1 advantages.Cook said: “If I was asked to single out one of the team for special praise it would have to be Richie Worrall, our young double up rider at reserve. He was making his debut for us following last Friday’s match at our Raceway finally being called off by the referee following rain. And what a debut it was! “He scored ten points plus two bonus points from his five rides and was only beaten by a home rider in heat nine, when he finished at the back. All of the team, apart from Rob (Robert Mear), claimed at least one paid win and that is no mean feat away from home.”PETERBOROUGH co-boss Trevor Swales is urging supporters not to expect miracles from free-scoring reserve Michael Jepsen Jensen, who starred with 33-points in home and away Good Friday wins over King’s Lynn.Swales said: “We have known for many years just how big a talent Michael possesses. He had a couple of terrific meetings against King’s Lynn but it was a day where everything went right for him.“It doesn’t always happen like that in speedway, and I don’t want people to expect too much too soon from him. Young riders need to be given time to develop.”POOLE promoter Matt Ford has re-emphasised the effect that Australian duo Chris Holder and Darcy Ward have on the club as they prepare for a big home meeting against Swindon.Ford said: “I have been telling everyone for three years about these two. You rarely get one rider of this quality in a generation let alone two with the same desire and commitment for one club.“I cannot emphasise enough for local sports fans to come and enjoy these riders while you can. Don’t take my word for it, come and enjoy the show – it will be edge of your seat entertainment and speedway racing at the highest level in your face.”SWINDON co-promoter Gary Patchett says the club enjoyed a successful televised meeting with the Robins defeating Coventry in front of a big crowd with admission prices reduced.Patchett said: “It’s always a bold move to reduce admission so dramatically but I think this is something which needs to be considered for all TV meetings.“Sky put an awful lot into our sport and I was determined to ensure we presented an entertaining product against Coventry and part of that was providing them with a good crowd and a good atmosphere. I feel we succeeded on both counts and I understand the Sky team were very happy with the evening.”WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams was delighted with the performance of Danish youngster Thomas Jorgensen, who scored eight points in the win over Eastbourne on Monday.Adams said: “I don’t like singling riders out, but I was particularly pleased with Thomas who came in for Ricky Wells and scored well.“I would have no hesitation in putting him in the team in the event that Ricky is unavailable or indeed if I believe Thomas is in a better run of form. He is a positive aspect of the squad without a doubt.”

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BERWICK boss Ian Rae was impressed with the Bandits’ efforts in overcoming Scunthorpe and collecting maximum points from the League Cup meeting at Shielfield Park.Rae said: “The lads battled hard, and when we thought we were going to get the wrong result they all rallied to the cause and turned it round even when Lee (Complin) took such a hard and awkward fall in his first ride.”EDINBURGH co-promoter Alex Harkess underlined the disappointment in the Monarchs camp after they slipped to a home League Cup defeat by Redcar.Harkess said: “The referee had a bad night in my opinion, but having said that we as a team did not provide enough race winners and suffered too many last places, and you cannot afford to do that at home no matter who you are. It was a very disappointing result for us.”GLASGOW co-promoter Stewart Dickson has admitted the defending Premier League Champions are facing a “difficult time” having addressed supporters at last weekend’s match against Workington.Dickson said: “I will not allow this club to go under but the bottom line is we need the supporters’ help. It’s their club more than anyone else’s but we need more through the gates. I understand it’s tough at this time and we value our regular supporters, we really do. But we just need a bit more to help us through this difficult time.”IPSWICH skipper Kevin Doolan said the call-off of the Witches’ home fixture against Plymouth last Thursday was unavoidable.Doolan said: “We couldn’t do anything more with the track and it’s very disappointing. The only excitement you would have seen were crashes, because there would not have been much racing. After the start to the season we have had with injuries, we couldn’t risk that.”LEICESTER boss Jason Attwood says the Lions will be pleased to get back into action this weekend after a fortnight’s break from their League Cup programme.Attwood said: “It feels like our season hasn’t really started properly yet, obviously with Newport not running this year we would have had them home and away in the League Cup, plus the Rye House rain-off, so we’ve only had the three official matches and it’s been very stop-start.”NEWCASTLE boss George English felt the strength of his side was perfectly summed up by the fact that No.1 Mark Lemon was their lowest scorer after some mechanical problems in what was still a comfortable win over Edinburgh.English said: “It says everything about the way the team is gelling now if we can still score 57 when the skipper has an off-night.”PLYMOUTH promoter Mike Bowden has fired a warning ahead of the Devils’ home fixture against Leicester on Friday – having seen his side beaten at home by Somerset last week.Bowden said: “It is still early days and we have only completed two fixtures so far. But I am determined that we will not have another bad season and changes will be made if necessary.”REDCAR secured an impressive away win at Edinburgh last Friday with ex-Monarch Aaron Summers top-scoring for the Bears with 13 points.Manager Jitendra Duffill said: “We simply tried to keep our noses in front when we took the lead and this was a fantastic result for us. I think we can now pick up points almost anywhere on our travels.”RYE HOUSE boss John Sampford said the appearances of first-teamers Ritchie Hawkins and Jason Garrity in last weekend’s fixture against the USA Future tourists had proved worthwhile.Sampford said: “It was a positive meeting for Jason, who had a few problems in the pits before the start but came through OK, and Ritchie, who was trying out a new engine which also worked out fine.”SCUNTHORPE boss Richard Hollingsworth has described the Scorpions’ trip to Sheffield next week as ‘must-win’ after their League Cup aspirations were hit by defeat at Berwick.Hollingsworth said: “We just fell away in the final third of the meeting. At that point, we still felt we could win the meeting, but we ended up with nothing out of it, not even a point. The away fixture at Sheffield on April 26th is now a must-win match for us.”SHEFFIELD promoter Neil Machin admits the shoulder injury being carried by Klaus Jakobsen is a concern, especially given his position in the Tigers’ team.Machin said: “Klaus is keen as mustard to get racing and carry on where he left off a couple of weeks ago but we don't want him making things worse. We need to know with Klaus fairly soon because booking the right guest is important, we can't afford to carry any passengers against some strong teams this week.”SOMERSET enjoyed a treble success over the weekend with an away win at Plymouth, reserve Tom Perry reached the British Under-21 Final, and mascot Henry Atkins won the 125cc category of the British Youth Championship opener at Leicester.Promoter Debbie Hancock said: “It certainly was a magical few hours, to get the win at Plymouth was great in its own right, but then to hear about Tom and Henry’s achievements was the icing on the cake!”WORKINGTON star Kenny Ingalls will have a late fitness test this week ahead of two fixtures in two days, with the Comets visiting Edinburgh on Friday and taking on Newcastle at Derwent Park on Saturday.Manager Tony Jackson said: “Kenny has steadily improved in the two and a bit weeks since his accident at Newcastle and he is still undergoing regular physiotherapy on his shoulder. This weekend has been a target that he set himself and he is still hopeful of making it, although it will be close. However, what none of us want is for him to come back too soon, which could result in him being ruled out for longer, so it is very much going to be a last minute call.”

FIXTURE PICTURE…

 TUESDAY APRIL 17:NATIONAL SHIELD 2nd leg: Dudley v Mildenhall 7.30CHALLENGE 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Stoke OFF

WEDNESDAY APRIL 18:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Swindon 7.30

THURSDAY APRIL 19:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Scunthorpe 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Sheffield v Berwick 7.45

FRIDAY APRIL 20:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 8pm, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pmLEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Plymouth v Leicester 7.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30

SATURDAY APRIL 21:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Peterborough 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Leicester v Somerset 7.30, Rye House v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pmSTAFFS CUP 2nd leg: Stoke v Dudley 7.30

SUNDAY APRIL 22:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Sheffield 4pm, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Mildenhall 3pm

MONDAY APRIL 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7.30, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 7.30

TUESDAY APRIL 24:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Dudley 7.30

WEDNESDAY APRIL 25: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30

THURSDAY APRIL 26:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.45

FRIDAY APRIL 27:LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v Plymouth 7.30, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30

SATURDAY APRIL 28:LEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Rye House v Ipswich 7pm

SUNDAY APRIL 29:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm, Leicester v Plymouth 7.30, Newcastle v Redcar 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 4.30

MONDAY APRIL 30: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30

TUESDAY MAY 1:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Rye House 7.30

WEDNESDAY MAY 2:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 8pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30


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