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LAKESIDE have set the date of Friday September 28 for the Lee Richardson memorial meeting – when top stars including World Champion Greg Hancock will race in his honour.All funds generated will go towards the trust fund for Lee’s wife Emma and their three sons, and admission will be by minimum £10 donation (adults) and £1 for under-16s.Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook said: “This is a sad week with Lee's funeral on Thursday and we feel that by September it will be our chance to remember and celebrate Lee, the Speedway rider. “I will be working with Alun Rossiter and Lee’s brother Craig to put the final field together. We want to include those riders closest to Lee and to make it a night to remember. “The field will be worth £20 plus admission at today’s prices and I know many of the Speedway family who can afford it will donate that sort of sum, but we didn't want to price anyone out of attending and for those travelling a long distance or struggling in the current climate we hope a ‘tenner’ is affordable so they can attend.”
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RORY Schlein is to have a full practice session in Poland on Friday as he looks to make his comeback from a broken foot.Schlein is targeting Belle Vue’s home fixture with Wolverhampton on Monday for his UK return, and would race in Poland the day before if he comes through practice.Aces boss Jim Lynch said: “Rory is fairly confident of coming through Friday’s test okay, but he needs to try it out first because the left foot takes such a lot of pressure.”Lynch has also confirmed the club are looking at a variety of options for a further team change, with doubling-up reserve Claus Vissing having recently joined the injury list.
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STOKE have handed in-form reserve Ben Reade a place in their team for this Sunday’s National League Fours at Loomer Road.Reade joins the Potters’ regular heat-leader trio of skipper Tony Atkin, Ashley Birks and World Under-21 Finalist Richie Worrall for the meeting which includes all eight NL clubs.Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “It's always difficult to leave riders out but you have to go on current form and therefore the team picked itself with Ben getting the final place. “He has been riding extremely well and has upped his average considerably this season and it also gives Ben the chance to show what he can do to a wider audience.”
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DUDLEY boss Will Pottinger believes side are capable of retaining the National League Fours – despite the absence of skipper Adam Roynon.Heathens will travel to Stoke on Sunday without Roynon due to a fixture clash with his Premier League club Workington, with James White-Williams receiving the call-up.Pottinger said: “It was a great night when we won the trophy last season and obviously it’s a blow to be without Adam. But the boys will be up for it and I’ve gone for James instead of one of our reserves because he has more experience.“I’m sure we’ll have plenty of Heathens support as Stoke isn’t too far away and it should be a good day out.”
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POOLE manager Neil Middleditch paid tribute to Adrian Miedzinski and guest Timo Lahti as the Pirates won their high-profile Elite League clash with Swindon.Miedzinski and Lahti supplied the necessary back-up to Darcy Ward and maximum man Chris Holder in a 48-42 success to give Poole a club record of 15 straight wins, with Jason Doyle’s inspired display at reserve helping Swindon take a point.Middleditch said: “Without Dennis (Andersson) and Ricky (Kling) – away racing in their national championship final – we always knew that this was going to be our toughest home meeting of the season.“Chris and Darcy led the team magnificently but I keep on saying the two top boys cannot win a meeting between them, and in Adrian and Timo we had two match-winners.”(SPEEDWAY 6)
RENAT Gafurov has agreed to join Belle Vue and is set for this Aces debut at home to Wolverhampton on Monday.Gafurov, who rode for Poole last season, becomes the first Russian signing in the club’s history and comes in to replace Linus Eklof.Belle Vue Operations Director Chris Morton said: “We’ve done a deal and I’ve cleared it with the Russian team manager that he is happy for him to join us. “All we are waiting for now is for the Russian federation to give him official clearance to join us.”
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LINE-UPS have been declared for the National League Fours at Stoke on Sunday (3pm).All eight clubs are represented and have been split into two groups for the eight-heat semi-finals, with a further eight-heat Final following for the top two in each group.Group A: RYE HOUSE: Jason Garrity, Ben Morley, James Sarjeant, Luke Chessell.ISLE OF WIGHT: Kyle Hughes, Ben Hopwood, Gary Cottham, Paul Starke.STOKE: Ashley Birks, Richie Worrall, Tony Atkin, Ben Reade.DUDLEY: Tom Perry, James White-Williams, Ashley Morris, Byron Bekker.Group B:KING’S LYNN: Brendan Johnson, Lewis Kerr, Adam Lowe, James Cockle.MILDENHALL: Lewis Blackbird, Stefan Nielsen, Cameron Heeps, Dan Halsey.BUXTON: Robert Branford, Adam McKinna, Luke Priest, Dean Felton.SCUNTHORPE: Steve Worrall, Tommy Fenwick, Tom Young, Max Clegg.
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RYE House have added Jason Garrity to their National League line-up as a replacement for the injured David Mason.Mason was involved in a high-speed crash at Hoddesdon on Bank Holiday Monday and is set to be out for at least a month, with Garrity – who rides for the senior Rockets team – expected to make his Raiders debut in Sunday’s National League Fours.Manager John Sampford said: “Jason has just started to get his act together for the Rockets after spending hours working on his bikes, so he can handle the National League meetings and will benefit from the extra exposure. “His inclusion makes our team much more solid and I'm delighted to have him on board.”
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THURSDAY JUNE 7:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Rye House 7.30, Sheffield v Workington OFF
FRIDAY JUNE 8:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Redcar 7.30, Plymouth v Leicester 7.30, Somerset v Berwick 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 9:PREMIER LEAGUE: Leicester v Newcastle 7.30, Rye House v Berwick 7pm, Workington v Plymouth 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 10:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Workington 4pmNATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Stoke 3pm
