(SPEEDWAY 1 – SUNDAY REVIEW)
NEWCASTLE had four maximum scorers in a massive 67-22 home win as third-placed Scunthorpe suffered a disastrous Premier League visit to Brough Park.Ludvig Lindgren reeled off five wins out of five whilst Danny King and returning duo Stuart Robson and Lewis Kerr were all also unbeaten in the Diamonds’ emphatic victory.To add to the Scorpions’ woes, key reserve Thomas Jorgensen suffered a suspected broken scaphoid in Heat 8, although he took two further rides and still top-scored for the visitors.Newcastle boss George English said: “We were due a big win, and with our team falling back into place after injury its unfortunate that Scunthorpe were to ones to suffer the hammering - but after their win on Friday night, lets not hide the fact that revenge is sweet! “It was a great performance from one to seven including Aaron Fox, our guest for the night. It was a great all-round show from our Diamonds!”Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We’ve just got to put this meeting behind us. It was one of those nights. We don’t turn into a bad team overnight. “You’re only as good as your last meeting. After Friday, the riders were heroes. Now they’re zeroes. Next Friday, when we’re at home to Sheffield, they could well be heroes again.”Meanwhile Kasper Lykke racked up 11 points from the reserve berth at Ashfield as Glasgow edged out Plymouth 46-44 with the Devils taking a point from the meeting.Lykke pulled off a series of overtaking moves although what looked set to be a comfortable home win, with the Tigers going 14-4 up after three races, became a much closer meeting with Ben Barker and guest Max Fricke racing to a last-heat 5-1 for the visitors to ensure they would leave with some reward.Lykke said: “It's hard to do seven rides, especially when I had a hard night last night and flew into Glasgow this morning. But I'm enjoying it. The track is awesome and I'm learning every day and getting used to it now.“I just take advantage of the track and the ruts - I like to hunt the ruts down and go in them. I just enjoy it. I don't know if I went too hard on the other riders, but you have to be hard sometimes - especially when I struggle a bit with my gating. I can't give too much room because I wouldn't get any points if I did.”Coventry took control of their National League KO Cup tie with Buxton by winning the first leg 55-40 at the Hi-Edge Raceway, with Luke Crang scoring a four-ride paid maximum.Manager Laurence Rogers said: “Olly (Greenwood) and Luke were a tremendous opening partnership, Sarj (James Sarjeant) was on it, and Dan (Greenwood) was back to his best. “It was nice to have most of the team back together and helping each other, and also nice to see the Coventry fans here to support them – it’s very much appreciated.”Buxton chief Jayne Moss said: “The team is continuing to improve week on week and given the calibre of opposition I am pleased with the way the development is going.”(SPEEDWAY 2 – MONDAY PREVIEW)
EASTBOURNE go into a crucial programme of two home matches against teams currently in the top three when Poole visit Arlington on Monday.The Pirates are currently third in the Elite League table and the Eagles also meet runaway leaders King’s Lynn on Saturday.Manager Trevor Geer said: “They are two tough matches but we must look at one fixture at a time. We are not thinking about King’s Lynn. Poole on Monday night is our focus at this stage.“Both teams are at full strength and it is going to be a huge match. We are fully aware that we must not slip up at home and Poole need a result as well. Something has to give and I am determined it will not be Eastbourne.”Poole promoter Matt Ford has praised Czech youngster Vaclav Milik for his fine results in his debut Elite League campaign – but says expectations should be tempered on a circuit such as Eastbourne’s.Ford said: “Vaclav hasn't seen the place yet and it is going to be something of a culture shock for him when he gets there, so whilst he has been scoring freely for us I think we need to be realistic in what we can expect from him on Monday. “His all-out racing style perhaps doesn't suit the technical nature of the Eastbourne track so he is going to need to be able to adapt. It's going to be a big challenge for him.”Wolverhampton face two of the stars of the Danish Grand Prix when Swindon visit Monmore Green, with Parken top-four finishers Troy Batchelor and Peter Kildemand leading the Robins.After a home defeat against King’s Lynn last week, Wolves skipper Tai Woffinden says his side must bounce back – and for both teams it is the start of three vital fixtures in five days.Woffinden said: “We can't afford to drop points at home and this is a big meeting for us. I was happy to get through to the semi-finals on Saturday and hopefully I can keep my good form going for Wolverhampton in the league.”Kildemand added: “I felt really good (at Parken) and it was a big night for me. I love the experience of being back there and I'm really happy with my efforts. Hopefully now we can carry it on with Swindon and pick up some important league points."Meanwhile Belle Vue star Craig Cook insists the Aces can still mount a play-off challenge as they prepare to host troubled Birmingham at Kirkmanshulme Lane.Cook, who has recently stood down as skipper, says they can turn their season around with away form having been their bugbear so far.He said: “We just need to keep taking the positives from all our matches and keep moving forward, but I just hope the season doesn't end before we all get going together.“We know it hasn’t been plain sailing, especially away from home, but we've still got time to turn things around and I still believe the play offs are something we're still aiming for.”In the National League, Kent are aiming to get back to winning ways after last week’s Cup defeat to Stoke as King’s Lynn visit Central Park in National League action.The meeting will also feature the Bronze Helmet match race with the Young Stars to nominate a contestant to replace the currently injured holder Darren Mallett.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IAN Rae has stood down with immediate effect from his roles as team and track manager at Berwick.Rae approached the club’s directors following Saturday’s home match against Peterborough and has elected to step away, although his wife will remain in charge of the Bandits’ commercial department.Rae said: “My health and personal life have been badly affected in recent times with an ever-increasing workload at the Speedway on top of holding down a full-time job outside of the sport.“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with everyone at Berwick Speedway, for which I am forever grateful, but I have to take a step back and recharge my batteries. Who know what the future will bring as this break may or may not be temporary, and only time will tell.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY JUNE 30:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Birmingham 7.30, Eastbourne v Poole 7pm, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v King’s Lynn 6.30
TUESDAY JULY 1:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Redcar 7.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Leicester OFF, King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30
