(SPEEDWAY 1 – THURSDAY REVIEW)
KING’S Lynn’s teenage sensation Robert Lambert scored his first paid maximum at Elite League level as the Stars saw off Eastbourne 60-32 on Thursday.16-year-old Lambert scored 13+2 from five rides in the Norfolk Arena clash with No.1 Niels-Kristian Iversen also unbeaten, whilst Mikkel Michelsen top-scored for the Eagles on 8+1.The result moves the Stars a massive 20-points clear at the top of the league table with the Eagles still holding fourth place although without an away win so far this season.In the Premier League, new Ipswich boss Brian Messenger got off to a winning start with a 52-38 victory over Rye House – despite his side being six points down after Heat 7.Rohan Tungate led the way for the Witches with 13 and his team-mates found form in the second half of the meeting to leave the Rockets reflecting on a match of two halves.Messenger said: “We have got to work hard and prove to our fans we have got what was promised at the start of the season. Individually the riders are all capable of maximum scores, they have just got to start doing it at the same time and then we can still secure a top-six position.”Rockets boss John Sampford said: “We were in the ascendancy when the circuit was damp and grippy, and they didn’t seem to be able to handle it as well as us. Once it had dried out a little and slickened off, their trapping became much better than ours – and on a slicker surface that became critical.”Redcar edged out Peterborough 47-43 in a close contest at the South Tees Motorsports Park with the Panthers taking a league point but being left to rue the withdrawal of Lasse Bjerre after a second ride crash – with Ales Dryml already on the sidelines with a back injury.Peterborough manager Carl Johnson said: “I challenged the decision of the Redcar paramedic over Lasse being unfit to race because we were adamant he was absolutely fine, but it was to no avail.“It was very disappointing to lose a rider like that as and I also felt the decision in Heat 15 went against us as Lewis (Blackbird) was left no racing room whatsoever. It still goes down as a great point under the circumstances, but it is tinged with disappointment as we know we could have won the meeting.”Berwick are through to the quarter-finals of the KO Cup having drawn 45-45 in their second leg tie at Sheffield, therefore maintaining their 18-point aggregate advantage.Frenchman David Bellego gave a stunning display at Owlerton, winning his first five rides and only missing out on an 18-point maximum to Simon Stead in Heat 15.Bandits boss Ian Rae said: “This was another excellent team performance by the Bandits, and what a guest Thomas Jorgensen was - a great rider who did us proud, as did all our regular guys too especially David Bellego who was in blistering form.”Sheffield co-promoter Peter Mole said: “Obviously I'm disappointed we didn't win, but it was a great meeting. The racing was superb and Ty Proctor showed why we signed him. It was exciting every time he was on the track.”(SPEEDWAY 2 – FRIDAY PREVIEW)
EDINBURGH welcome back former No.1 Ryan Fisher when Peterborough visit the Premier League leaders on Friday.Fisher was a double title winner during his three-year stint with the Monarchs, but now heads the Panthers team in their first trip to Armadale since 1998.Edinburgh skipper Derek Sneddon said: “I’m sure there will be a few fans turning out to see Fish, and I’m looking forward to catching up with him, I haven’t seen him since my Testimonial. Peterborough have a good line-up but I’m confident we can win.”Fourth-placed Scunthope host Newcastle at the Eddie Wright Raceway with the sides also meeting on Sunday in the return fixture.Nicolai Klindt returns to the Scorpions team after reaching the Grand Prix Challenge last weekend, and boss Dave Peet was pleased with their display against Ipswich in the Dane’s absence.Peet said: “We were on it and put in a professional performance against the Witches. It was pleasing the way we rode, especially as it was a team performance where everyone contributed.“We’ll approach the Newcastle home match in a similar fashion. To end up in a good league position, a team does need to take the three league points from the majority of its home meetings. We won’t be complacent against the Diamonds - we’ll be out there knowing the job that we need to do.”Plymouth are looking for a repeat of their KO Cup success over Redcar when they host the Bears at the St Boniface Arena.The Devils expect to have Kalle Katajisto back after an arm injury but Adam Roynon is still a doubt because of his back problem.Plymouth co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We had a good result against them in the cup and there is no reason why we should not do the same again. We just need to find some consistency in our performances. That’s what it is all about if we are to make progress in the league.”Meanwhile Coventry host Cradley in the second leg of the Travel Plus Trophy at Brandon, with the Heathens eight points ahead from the first leg at Monmore back in April.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
WORKINGTON are waiting on the fitness of Kyle Howarth ahead of their home Premier League clash with Plymouth on Saturday.Howarth sustained an ankle injury in an incident at Derwent Park a fortnight ago, and had to abort a comeback attempt at Peterborough shortly after, whilst he would also have missed the postponed Elite League match for Coventry at Swindon on Thursday.Comets owner Laura Morgan said: “Obviously we want Kyle back in action as soon as possible, although we have told him that he must be able to do his full quota of rides when he does come back, which is why he will be getting some practice in as only then will he know if he is ready to make a track return.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
KENT co-promoter Len Silver has pledged the clubs’ backing to reserve duo Danny Ayres and Jason Garrad.The Kings are aware of the importance of building a rider asset base for the Central Park outfit, and Silver says they will remain behind their inexperienced team members.He said: “With there being no immediate or easy fix to this situation, it is exactly why we are intending to ‘grow our own’ by giving Danny and Jason, both ex-motocross riders, an extended run in the side. Both are very, very inexperienced when it comes to speedway racing and we fully understand this to be the case.“While it is certainly aggravating to see riders we have dropped or have moved on getting points elsewhere, it does not alter our view that the riders we have chosen will be better in the long run.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY JUNE 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Peterborough 7.30, Plymouth v Redcar 7.15, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Berwick OFFTRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 2nd leg: Coventry v Cradley 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Peterborough 7pm, Rye House v Redcar 7pm, Workington v Plymouth 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Scunthorpe 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Plymouth 3pm, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Cradley 3.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP: Buxton v Coventry 3pm
