SPEEDWAY News and Fixtures

(SPEEDWAY 1)

SOMERSET clinched their first Premier League Fours victory since 2005 with success at Peterborough on Sunday.The Rebels came through a tight group which saw the elimination of the hosts, and were joined by Scunthorpe in the Final along with Workington and holders Edinburgh from the other group.Somerset’s Brady Kurtz blew an engine in Heat 3 as Scunthorpe took the early advantage, the Scorpions being three ahead at the one-third stage.However, Olly Allen and Nick Morris won the next two races for the Rebels to put them into a lead they would not relinquish, with reserve Charles Wright successfully replacing Kurtz in his final two rides.Morris won Heat 11 to secure the title, with the Rebels (24) finishing six points clear of Workington (18) and a further three ahead of Scunthorpe and Edinburgh.Somerset boss Garry May said: “This is just a fantastic achievement by the boys. When we put the team together over the winter I knew that we would be strong in events such as this and the Pairs, and so it has proved.“All five of the boys rode their hearts out, and were not going to be denied. I knew that Nick and Olly wanted to make up for the disappointment of losing out in last month's Pairs Final, and they have done that in stunning style.”(SPEEDWAY 2 – SUNDAY REVIEW)

CRADLEY picked up another hard-fought win on their travels, beating Stoke 47-43 at Loomer Road.The Heathens’ lead at the top of the National League table is now back up to nine points as they extended their unbeaten run to eleven matches – despite the early withdrawal of guest Benji Compton.Boss Will Pottinger said: “We knew it was going to be a tough meeting before we came here, but to pull off a four point win with only five riders is a fantastic achievement by the lads.“Sometimes luck goes for you and at other times it goes against you, thankfully it was on our side tonight and we were able to capitalise on a few mistakes made by their riders to pick up some important points.”Meanwhile Buxton gained their long-awaited first win of the season by defeating Devon 52-41 at the Hi-Edge Raceway.Liam Carr scored a 15-point maximum for the Hitmen whilst Adam Extance impressed with 13 points in the main body of the team as all three league points were secured in the penultimate race.Manager Jayne Moss said: “It kept it exciting until the end, but I don’t think the result was ever in doubt. It was a good victory and a great performance from Adam.”

(SPEEDWAY 3 – MONDAY PREVIEW)

WOLVERHAMPTON welcome back one of their club legends when Peter Karlsson returns to the side against Poole on Monday at Monmore Green.Karlsson lost his place at Lakeside last month and Wolves now include the Swede along with Lasse Bjerre for the clash with the Pirates, who secured a draw on their last visit to the Black Country.Karlsson said: “I’ve had some great times at Wolves over the years and I always love riding there, so that should only have a good effect on me and my riding.“Obviously I know Monmore really well as a track so I should be able to win races and score plenty of points at home, and I also want to contribute well away from home.”Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “There will be different dynamics involved on Monday than when we were there back in May. They have made some changes with a view to strengthening their side and PK is always so hard to beat round there.“Darcy (Ward) was not in the team when we were there last, we had Chris (Holder) in the side then and this is a place where Darcy generally revels at. Chris scored seven back in May and I would be hoping that Darcy could better that tally, whilst at reserve neither Kyle (Newman) nor Brendan (Johnson) rode last time and so we are certainly going to be looking to both of them to score some points.” Belle Vue are hoping to put the memories of a home defeat to Swindon a fortnight ago behind them when Elite League leaders King’s Lynn visit Kirkmanshulme Lane.Both sides expect to be at full strength, with the Stars led by Niels-Kristian Iversen who clinched the World Cup for Denmark with his heroic last-race move at Bydgoszcz on Saturday.Belle Vue skipper Scott Nicholls said: “I'm hoping that the two-week break we've had will have given the wounds of the Swindon match time to heal so we can get back to winning ways at home.“We'll need to be much sharper to get the better of Kings Lynn. But we have proved all season that we are a very strong team at home and if we can pull off a win, it'll truly set the stance for just how strong we are on home turf.”Glasgow stage a Monday evening Premier League match with Scunthorpe the visitors to Ashfield in a meeting which sees a home debut for Tigers newcomer Victor Palovaara.The Scorpions are fourth in the table but would move into second place ahead of Somerset and Ipswich with a big away win.In National League, fourth-placed Kent host Stoke who are just outside the play-off places, with the home side operating rider-replacement for their injured skipper Simon Lambert in a vital match at Central Park.

(SPEEDWAY 4)

SHEFFIELD racer Ty Proctor is having daily treatment on a leg injury in a bid to get back on track.Proctor was told he needs time out with a thigh muscle injury after last week’s Premier League match with Somerset at Owlerton and will miss Thursday’s clash with Workington – although Andre Compton is set to return just ten days after his horrifying crash against the Rebels.Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates said: “Ty will be assessed on a regular basis over the next week or so and is seeing the former Sheffield Wednesday and England physio Alan Smith.“He’s trying to get fit and get back on the bike but at this stage it’s a case of wait and see what happens.”

(FIXTURES)

MONDAY AUGUST 4:ELTIE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Scunthorpe 7.15NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Stoke 6.30

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Swindon 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Workington 7.30

FRIDAY AUGUST 8:ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Poole 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Scunthorpe v Peterborough 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30


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