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IN-FORM Coventry captain Chris Harris faces a vital stepping stone in his bid to book a 2013 Grand Prix place when he competes in Saturday’s qualifier at Berwick.Harris and Birmingham’s Danny King represent Great Britain in the biggest meeting to be staged at Shielfield Park, the Bandits having secured FIM status for their circuit with winter upgrades.Harris said: “I was hoping by this stage I wouldn’t need to take part in qualifiers, but then again they can help raise my confidence.“Everyone in the qualifying meeting can be a threat because we all want to get through. At the end of the day, everyone competing wants to be World Champion and to achieve that you have to ride in the GPs.”
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NEW signing Renat Gafurov top-scored on his Belle Vue debut as the Aces finally broke their Elite League duck at the tenth time of asking on Monday.Gafurov collected 12 (paid 13) with the remaining home riders giving a solid display in the 54-40 win over Wolverhampton, and the returning Craig Cook twice lowered the colours of recent Swedish GP winner Freddie Lindgren.Belle Vue boss Jim Lynch said: “It was great to win after all the problems we’ve had this season. I was proud of all of them, but Gafurov on his debut and Cook on his return to the club were fantastic.“Gafurov got straight into the thick of the action, and at last with him and Ales Dryml we have got a really solid pairing at the bottom end of the team. And Cook won't forget the night he beat Grand Prix star Freddie Lindgren twice.”(SPEEDWAY 3)
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams pulled no punches after his side went down by 14-points at the Elite League’s basement club Belle Vue.The Monmore men are currently without two injured heat-leaders in Tai Woffinden and Nicolai Klindt, and were indebted to high-scoring reserve Ricky Wells (16+2) for preventing a heavier defeat in Manchester.Adams said: “It was poor in almost every department apart from Ricky Wells who was sensational at reserve. I’ve said before if there is a better reserve in the Elite League right now I haven’t seen it.“And it’s a good job he was with us because it would have been a debacle without him. We’re not going to offer any excuses, we’ve won at Belle Vue before but with this team we’re not going to win anything.”
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FORMER Swindon favourite Matej Zagar will return to Blunsdon for Simon Stead’s Testimonial meeting at Blunsdon on August 16.Stead is also hoping to attract support from another of Zagar’s old clubs, Reading, for his big night, and has also confirmed British duo Olly Allen and Joe Screen as starters.He said: “Myself and Matej had a bit of a rivalry going on before he came to Swindon, but as soon as he signed for us we got on like a house on fire.“We became really good mates and on the track he is so good to watch. There aren't many better riders than Matej when he is in full flow and I know that the Swindon fans loved him. Hopefully we’ll get some Reading fans to come and see an old favourite too.”(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY JUNE 12:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Dudley v Isle of Wight 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 13:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 14:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Lakeside 7.30, Peterborough v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Sheffield v Berwick 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 15:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v King’s Lynn 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Scunthorpe v Plymouth 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30
