(SPEEDWAY 1 – TUESDAY REVIEW)PETERBOROUGH moved back into Premier League play-off contention with a double victory at the Showground on Tuesday to add six points to their total.The Panthers defeated Berwick 52-38 and then Plymouth 51-31 in a match curtailed two races short due to the curfew.Lasse Bjerre and Ales Dryml led the scoring for the home side in both matches, Bjerre securing a 12-point maximum against Plymouth, with the Devils losing No.1 Ben Barker due to concussion in a second-ride crash.The results move Carl Johnson’s side into eighth place in the table, with matches in hand on all of the teams above them.Johnson said: “The boys did exactly what I expected them to do. That is to win two meetings and pick up all six available points. I know we have taken a fair bit of criticism after losing twice at home in recent days, but I remain adamant that we are capable of reaching the play-offs and these results will only help our cause.“We battled brilliantly against Berwick before getting on top in the final few heats and then dominated against Plymouth.”Berwick boss John Anderson said: “There was a lot of fight and vigour shown, and despite us falling at the last hurdle to take a win, we can come away from Peterborough proud of putting on a decent show and proving we're still a determined team who want success when the play-offs come around. It's just a pity we couldn't add to our league total.”Cradley have secured top position in the National League ahead of the play-offs after also securing double victory at home on Tuesday.The Heathens defeated King’s Lynn 64-24 and then Mildenhall 55-31, with all but one race of the second meeting possible before the curfew time was reached.Steve Worrall was unbeaten throughout the evening for the home side, whilst British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates won two races for Mildenhall on his way to 12-points.Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “The track was tricky to start with after all the rain we've had, but we managed to come through the first meeting quite convincingly in the end.“We had a tough test against Mildenhall, but we came away with another good win to secure our place at the top of the table which is a great achievement for everybody involved with the club.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
THE Elite League’s top two teams are both in action at home on Wednesday – with matches against sides also fighting for a play-off place.King’s Lynn are four points clear of Poole with both having six matches to go, and the Stars host Swindon at the Norfolk Arena – with the Robins currently sixth but only one point off the top four.The hosts are without reserve Lewis Rose due to knee ligament damage but they do welcome back Nicklas Porsing, whilst Swindon have Peter Kildemand back at No.1 in a full-strength line-up.Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: “Obviously we are going there with great expectations. We nearly pulled it off last time we visited King's Lynn, it was only in the last few races we let it slip."We hold no fears going there whatsoever, it's a track we quite like as a team and we feel we are capable of coming away with something.”Poole have brought in Edward Kennett to guest for the injured Przemyslaw Pawlicki as they look to keep the pressure on King’s Lynn, with a home match against Eastbourne.The Eagles are in third place but remain without a win on the road, and six of their final eight matches are away from Arlington. They bring in Scott Nicholls and Charles Wright for injured duo Bjarne Pedersen and Lewis Blackbird, and will also be without Mikkel Michelsen due to a Danish commitment.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “When I knew Shamek would be out I had no hesitation in making the call to Ed as I am fully aware of what he is capable of and how much he enjoys riding for us. He has shown that in his previous two appearances for us this season and I am convinced he will fill the void left by Shamek with no problem at all. “This meeting has increased its importance a little bit after we only took two points from Saturday's trip to Leicester, especially as Coventry had a massive win at Lakeside the same evening. They certainly have the chance to overtake us in the league but with them having such a fixture backlog they may struggle to get enough matches in to do so.”In the Premier League, Scunthorpe take on Redcar in a meeting hastily re-arranged from Bank Holiday Monday.The Scorpions currently hold sixth place in the table with the Bears being one of the teams who are still in the hunt for the play-offs, although they only have five matches to go.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “This is like a cup final for both teams. Redcar can really ride the Eddie Wright Raceway well; they have riders who like our track. “It’s going to be an absolutely cracking night of speedway, with both teams after precious points, and we need our fans to be noisy and get behind the lads.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BRITISH Youth bosses are urging supporters to get behind the stars of the future in the final two rounds of the British Youth Championship.Over 30 riders aged between 8 and 16 will be competing at both Rye House this Sunday (August 31) and at Redcar on Saturday September 6.There are four classes of racing with British titles at 500cc and 250cc levels to be decided, with Luke Harris and Lewis Whitmore the respective class leaders ahead of the two meetings. British Youth co-boss Phil Morris said: “Each year the standard of racing has improved, and 2014 is no different. We have some great and determined kids in this year’s four different classes and it’s fair to say that the racing is as good as you will see anywhere across the country.“At both venues there will be over 30 riders competing in almost 40 heats, and we are very proud of the organisation that these meetings get completed in under three hours of pure entertainment. The speed that these young riders go on bikes with no brakes will take your breath away.”An added attraction is that amongst the competitors will be newly-crowned FIM 125cc Gold Trophy winner Kyle Bickley, who will have his silverware on display.Morris added: “All British Speedway fans should be proud that Britain has what is classed as a new World Champion in this 125cc FIM Event, and Kyle will be there for both weekends proudly showing the British public his Gold Trophy.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 28:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30, Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Workington 7.15, Somerset v Peterborough 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Buxton 7pm, Coventry v Devon (follows previous fixture), King’s Lynn v Kent 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 30:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Redcar 7pm, Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30, Workington v Rye House 6.30, Workington v Scunthorpe (follows previous fixture)NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 31:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Leicester 2.30, Leicester v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Rye House 3pm, Scunthorpe v Workington 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v King’s Lynn 3pm, Scunthorpe v Stoke (follows PL fixture)NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Leicester 3.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 5: Rye House 2pm
