(SPEEDWAY 1 – SATURDAY REVIEW)
LEICESTER completed another spectacular comeback at home to recover from eleven points down and edge out Wolverhampton 47-45 in a thrilling Elite League local derby.The visitors led 32-21 after nine races but an 8-1 from Jason Doyle and guest Craig Cook coupled with a 5-1 immediately afterwards brought the Lions level – and although Wolves then led by two going into the last race, Tai Woffinden suffered an early engine failure as Doyle and Nicolai Klindt secured a match-winning 5-1.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “We showed a great deal of character to come back from eleven points down, and even going into the final race I was not totally confident that we could pull it off as Wolverhampton had possibly the best gate positions - but what a finale. “Jason reached the first corner ahead, but what a ride from Nicolai from gate four. He has been a revelation for us and is a class act. To have him in the team on a starting figure of 3.89 was no risk at all as he is a far better rider than that.”Wolves manager Peter Adams said: “I can't quite believe how we haven't won that meeting. We made a good start to the meeting and we were in complete control the momentum swung in Leicester's favour when Tom Perry packed up when leading a 5-1 in Heat 9."But all said and done we still had chances to win this meeting and I suppose tonight just sums up our season really.”In the Premier League, Somerset also pulled off a big comeback to complete a home and away double over Rye House with a 49-44 win at Hoddesdon.The Rebels were ten points down after seven races but Charles Wright and Paul Starke combined for an 8-1 in Heat 8, and the visitors led by one point going into the decider in which Nick Morris and Olly Allen collected a 5-1.Somerset boss Garry May said: “Tonight showed the true character of the team as the boys refused to buckle after Rye House opened up that 10-point lead and we came back in magnificent style to take the meeting victory.“Although Wrighty and Paul Starke had both made slow starts to the meeting, I could tell that they were both fired up and so I took the gamble of putting Charles out in the 'black and white' for double points in Heat 8, and the moved worked a treat, it really brought us right back into the match.”Somerset are now just three points behind Edinburgh at the top of the table, with the sides meeting home and away this week, whilst Berwick are also gaining ground in fourth after a 59-33 win over injury-hit Sheffield.Claus Vissing (13) and Matthew Wethers (11+3) were top-scorers for the Bandits whilst Simon Stead completed the meeting with four straight wins on his way to an 18-point haul for the Tigers.Berwick boss John Anderson said: “These lads said on Thursday at Redcar when we won that they wanted this steak of wins to run and run, but I doubt if even the most optimistic of supporters could have imagined how dominant we would be over Sheffield. “It leads us nicely to our visit of Edinburgh on Tuesday night (7.30pm) in front of the Sky Sports cameras.”Sheffield co-promoter Peter Mole said: “This is obviously disappointing but we are up against it right now with injuries. We look forward to welcoming Nico Covatti next week.”
MONDAY PREVIEW
SWINDON No.1 Peter Kildemand has been ruled out for a week with concussion – and therefore misses the Robins’ clashes with Eastbourne this week.Alun Rossiter’s side travel to Arlington on Monday with Davey Watt booked to guest for the Dane, who crashed in Poland yesterday.The two sides are separated by just one point in the Elite League play-off race with Swindon in fourth place but having ridden three matches more than their hosts.Rossiter said: “Obviously we are going there looking for some points, so hopefully we can get a good result."We are going there believing we can get at least a point which would be a big boost for our chances of making the play-offs."Eastbourne, meanwhile, bring in Adam Ellis to guest for the injured Lewis Blackbird – and manager Trevor Geer is hoping the other Eagles reserve, Danny Halsey, can keep up his improvement.Geer said: “Danny has been over-shadowed somewhat by Lewis but in our last home match he was a star. He is finding his feet at just the right time.”Coventry have matches in hand on all of their rivals for a top four place as they head to Belle Vue – who are desperate to bounce back from losing their last two home encounters.Bees boss Gary Havelock said: “We’re in a good place at the moment, and our away form has more than counter-acted for a few little hiccups at home when we haven’t taken all three points.“It’s all about making sure we’re in the top four come the cut-off date, and it’s really going to get exciting now. It’s going to be a mad race for the finishing line, and we can be there.”Aces skipper Scott Nicholls said: “We were gutted to lose to Kings Lynn last week, yet having two disappointing home defeats on the bounce has only fired us up to put an end to our losing streak at home. “I think it's important that the boys to try to enjoy the rest of our meetings now. We know the play-offs aren't going to happen, but even getting that enjoyment factor back could trigger off the kind of performance to help us end the season on a high.”In the National League, third-placed Kent can enhance their play-off prospects with a home over Scunthorpe, who are entering a run of six matches in 21 days.Stags boss Richard Hollingsworth said: “I think we’ll see the Stags grow over the next three weeks. The meeting at Kent is going to be a tough one to begin with, but as always the track time is invaluable.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer has paid tribute to the efforts of injured Fast Track reserve Lewis Blackbird, who broke his leg in Denmark on Wednesday.Blackbird is hoping to be back in six weeks and the Eagles will need to book guests throughout a busy period of Elite League racing.Geer said: “It is a terrible blow to Lewis who has made such wonderful progress this year. The measure of that progress is that he was injured while riding for a Danish team. “His success just shows the worth of the Fast Track draft reserve system introduced this year. Of course, it is a blow for us but our thoughts are very much with Lewis and his recovery.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
WOLVERHAMPTON are expecting a great night of racing when they welcome teams from Cradley Heath, Birmingham and Oxford at Monmore on Monday.Promoter Chris Van Straaten hopes the event will help raise awareness for the plight of Birmingham and Oxford who are currently out of action but with perfectly good tracks in their respective city.He said: “It's nice to be able to relax with no real pressure, so it should be a great evening. We've had a good response from the Birmingham area in particular, and the people from Oxford are also looking forward to having a team to cheer on.“Both those clubs still have stadiums so hopefully speedway will be back at both venues pretty quickly. When we throw Cradley into the equation as well we should have an excellent night of action and we are delighted to be hosting the event.”Wolves have set admission prices at £10 for the four-team tournament which features 16 heats and will be followed by a top-scorers race for the Gary Peterson Memorial Trophy.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PETERBOROUGH team boss Carl Johnson is closing in on new signings.The Panthers chief is searching for replacements for injury victims Ryan Fisher and Lewis Blackbird ahead of a hectic end to the regular Premier League season, and is hopeful they will be in place in time for their next meeting on August 19.Johnson said: “The search for new riders is ongoing and we are finally making good progress. We are currently involved in talks with riders and their parent clubs, and we hope to be in a position to make a team announcement in the next few days.“I would like to thank the fans for their patience as it is taking time for us to attract the right riders who we feel can help us to reach the play-offs and challenge for honours. It is not an easy task at this stage of the season and Lewis’s unfortunate injury has forced us to change our plans.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY AUGUST 11:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30, Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Scunthorpe 6.30RETRO FOURS: Wolverhampton v Heathens v Birmingham v Oxford 7.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 12:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Edinburgh 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Mildenhall 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 14:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.30JULIE LEWIS TROPHY: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 15:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Eastbourne 7.30, Lakeside v Belle Vue 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30, Plymouth v Rye House 7.15, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30
