(SPEEDWAY 1 – FRIDAY REVIEW)LAKESIDE registered their eleventh win from twelve home matches this season as they defeated Wolverhampton 57-35 at Purfleet.The Hammers are now four points clear of third-placed Poole in the Elite League table, with Wolverhampton kept out of the play-off places.Mikkel Bech scored 11+1 for the Hammers and guest Rory Schlein added 11, whilst World Champion Tai Woffinden scored 14 for the visitors but lacked support, with Piotr Pawlicki and Jacob Thorssell both absent.Woffinden said: “I struggled a bit in my first ride but did the best I could and managed to have a pretty good night in the end."A few of the other guys were struggling though which was a shame. I helped where I could but that's just the way racing is - one day you are fast and the next things just don't seem to go your way.”In the National League, Coventry are up to second place thanks to a 52-38 away win at King’s Lynn – with the Storm finishing the meeting with three successive 5-1s.Luke Crang was withdrawn with a leg injury after an early crash but the visitors’ heat-leaders dominated with Stefan Nielsen scoring a 15-point maximum and Oliver Greenwood adding 13+1.Manager Laurence Rogers said: “It was a bit topsy-turvy early on but we pulled away in the end with the three 5-1s.“Stef was absolutely superb – that’s just what he needed at the right time, and Olly dropped just one point. It was a good performance and it puts us back in the top two.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SATURDAY PREVIEW)
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer says his riders must put thoughts of the club’s future out of their minds when they take on Elite League leaders King’s Lynn at Arlington.The Eagles are up for sale after the current promotion announced they will not continue in 2015, but they remain fully focused on trying to hold on to a play-off place this year.Geer said: “Our riders must not let concerns about what happens next year affect how they perform on track for the rest of 2014. Next year is out of their control. Their job is to score points and win matches this season for the Eagles.“King’s Lynn showed what a force they are when we went to their track last week. They have a brilliant team and all our boys need to be on top of their game if we are to win.”Leicester host Belle Vue in a fixture hastily re-arranged when it became clear that the Lions would not be able to take on scheduled opponents Birmingham at this stage.The Lions will be at full strength at home for the first time since April 12, whilst the Aces bring in Chris Harris to guest for the unavailable Matej Zagar – and Tom Perry, recently released by Leicester, guests for the visitors at reserve.Promoter David Hemsley said: “Knowing that Belle Vue wanted to re-arrange the fixture scheduled for August 14 at Leicester we began a dialogue with them and the outcome was an agreement for the Aces to replace Birmingham. “We have to thank Belle Vue for being prepared to step in at such a late stage and also their riders who no doubt had to re-arrange their diaries to be here.”Belle Vue boss Jason Attwood said: “Tom was very keen to take up the offer of a guest booking at a track he knows quite well as was Dan Greenwood, who has had experience of the circuit having made a couple of appearances for the Lions' National League side."As for the situation with Matej and the SWC Qualifier, I've called on the services of Chris Harris as he performed very well and scored double figures on both occasions he's visited Leicester this year.”In the Premier League, Berwick can move back into the top six with maximum points against Plymouth – who hand a debut to former Bandits star Josef Franc.Home co-promoter Dennis McCleary has called on the Bandits to hit back strongly from their heavy defeat against Peterborough at Shielfield Park last week.McCleary said: “We were awful – no excuses. This Saturday night will be different. We have our full team back, fit and ready -- and indeed with a surprise packet in the visiting Plymouth team, they’ll need to be up for action.”Rye House entertain Workington at Hoddesdon, with Nathan Greaves included for the Rockets as a replacement for Mathieu Tresarrieu who is away at a World Longtrack qualifier – whilst the Comets have two ex-Rye riders at their tail-end.Manager John Sampford said: “It will be a very tough match, there’s no doubt about that. Workington are a very good side, and they’ll also have Simon Lambert and Kasper Lykke at reserve. “But we’ve battled through adversity before - it will be about the right approach and knuckling down for the fight ahead.”In the National League Knockout Cup, Stoke take a 50-40 lead into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with Kent at Loomer Road.
(SPEEDWAY 3)BUXTON have handed a team place to Sam Ward ahead of their National League clash with leaders Cradley on Sunday.Ward impressed in Midland Development League action last weekend and takes the place of Sean Phillips, who will return to that level.Manager Jayne Moss said: “It’s always difficult to leave riders out, particularly when they are trying as hard as Sean is. He will benefit from a few meetings in the MDL and then we can review the situation.“Sam has looked more than useful in second-halves and we have told him there will be no pressure on him for Sunday’s meeting.”(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JULY 5:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v King’s Lynn 7.30, Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm, Rye House v Workington 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Stoke v Kent 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 6:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm, Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Cradley 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Kent 3.30
MONDAY JULY 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Mildenhall 6.30
TUESDAY JULY 8:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Rye House 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Devon 7.30
