(SPEEDWAY 1)
MANCHESTER City Council has unanimously granted planning permission for the Belle Vue Sports Village, at the heart of which will be the National Speedway Stadium.Visible work on the site next to the Aces’ current Kirkmanshulme Lane home will begin soon, and a marketing office will be erected later this month to detail full plans for the new venue.Belle Vue co-promoter David Gordon said: “We’ve done so much and there is still so much to be done, but receiving planning permission is a fundamental step forward so we can really get on with the job now.“We are extremely pleased that the scheme has received planning approval and now we're looking forward to the construction work commencing as soon as the post-planning formalities have been signed off.“We will soon be able to release details of the start of activity on site, and the set-up which will include a marketing and information office where fans, sponsors and any interested parties can visit us and see at first hand the stadium’s progress.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – THURSDAY REVIEW)
KING’S Lynn returned to the top of the Elite League with a convincing 51-39 win at Leicester, to take all four points from the meeting.Six of the seven visiting riders won at least one race at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium, with Kenneth Bjerre successful in his first three outings on his way to a 12-point score.Leicester boss Norrie Allan had no complaints about the result, which leaves the Stars four points ahead of Poole at the top with both sides having two matches remaining before the play-offs.Allan said: “We were out-ridden, no question about that against King's Lynn who looked every bit championship material. They have not been at the top of the table for most of the season by luck and they delivered another polished performance against us. “On paper we were the underdogs but the team battled on in the hope of keeping the scores close.”Sheffield moved to within a point of Rye House in the battle to avoid the Premier League wooden spoon, as the Tigers took a 48-42 home win over Berwick.The Bandits took a point from the meeting and have completed their schedule with 56 points, which will be enough for fourth place and an extension of their season in the play-offs.Simon Stead (13+1) and Ben Wilson (13) were both in the major points for the Tigers, and manager Joe Screen said: “Berwick are a good team, and we had a few hiccups here and there but the team pulled together to get the job done."It was a shame we just missed out on all three points at the end, but we came away with the win which was the main thing, so it was a good night.”Bandits boss John Anderson said: “The lads in the main tried hard in this one at a track that has never been that happy a hunting-ground, but David Bellego, Matej Kus and Kevin Doolan were nothing short of excellent and at least we managed to take one League point from the match.”Ipswich have one foot firmly in the Premier League KO Cup Final after a thumping 65-25 win over Plymouth in the first leg of their semi-final.Gino Manzares scored his first five-ride paid maximum for the club and Cameron Heeps added 12+2 as the Witches dominated – and doubled their target lead to take to the St Boniface Arena.Ipswich boss Brian Messenger said: “What can I say, they were all superb tonight and this should be more than enough to see us through over two legs. We only lost by twelve down there last week and that was without Gino and both our reserves having an off night.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 – FRIDAY PREVIEW)
COVENTRY are looking to secure their place in the Elite League play-offs when they host Eastbourne in a double-header at Brandon on Friday.The Eagles are the only club who can overhaul the Bees, and indeed third-placed Swindon, in the table, but they require major points from their matches tonight and also in a double-header at Belle Vue on Monday.Coventry’s target for the evening is five league points, which would confirm their top four finish, and former Bees Rory Schlein and Stuart Robson are named amongst the guests for the injury-hit Eagles.Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: “This race for the top four just gets more and more interesting all the time, and it’s very important for us to come back strongly against Eastbourne after our defeat at Swindon.“We’ve got to stay together and be strong as a unit. There was no lack of effort or motivation on Monday, and now it’s all about getting the job done against Eastbourne.”In the Premier League, Edinburgh require ten points from a busy weekend of four matches in three days to make sure they are top of the table ahead of the decision for play-off groups.The Monarchs host Redcar and Glasgow in a double-header at Armadale on Friday, with their Scottish rivals still having a chance of making the top six.Glasgow star Theo Pijper said: “I used to do pretty well round there, so I'm sure I can do some damage - that's the plan anyway.“You never know - we might still make the play-offs. We are off in the second meeting of a double-header at Edinburgh so the track won't be as much to their liking.”Current leaders Somerset face Workington at the Oaktree Arena, with the visitors just outside the play-offs but with a home double-header to come on Saturday.The Rebels complete their regular league programme without the injured Brady Kurtz and have booked Nicolai Klindt to replace Pontus Aspgren who is required in the Swedish play-offs.Somerset boss Garry May said: “It is an unfortunate clash of dates as far as Pontus is concerned, but in the circumstances we’re allowed a facility to cover for his absence and I am sure Nicolai will do a good job for us on Friday night.“We will still be gunning for the maximum three points against the Comets in order to keep the pressure on Edinburgh as they face a very busy schedule over the up-coming weekend.”Meanwhile Peterborough have two matches to break into the top six, as they travel to Plymouth on Friday still two points adrift of sixth-placed Newcastle.The Devils have booked Edward Kennett to guest for the injured Ben Barker as they chase an eighth straight home win, whilst the Panthers bring in Morten Risager as Lasse Bjerre is a reserve in the Nordic Grand Prix.Plymouth co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “Peterborough took us all the way last time and this meeting is going to be a big one for them. It could decide if they will make it into the play-offs.”Panthers boss Carl Johnson said: “We are now in the position where we really need to pick up all the available points from our two remaining meetings.“I feel sure we would have taken all three points from Workington had the meeting gone the full distance, but unfortunately we couldn’t get it in.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
NATIONAL League leaders Cradley have elected to face great rivals Mildenhall in the play-off semi-finals.The Heathens’ choice also sets the line-up for the other semi-final, which will be between Coventry and Kent.Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “We thought long and hard about this decision and we had to look at other issues like potential fixture clashes. I'm confident we can see off Mildenhall and get through to the final for a third successive season."Mildenhall co-promoter Chris Louis said: “We are a much improved side from when Cradley won here in the league back in August and we will certainly give it our best shot. Before that though, we are fully focused on winning our first silverware of the season, with the National Trophy against Stoke being decided across next weekend.”(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Eastbourne 7pm, Coventry v Eastbourne (follows previous fixture)PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Redcar 7pm, Edinburgh v Glasgow (follows previous fixture), Plymouth v Peterborough 7.15, Somerset v Workington 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Sheffield 6.30, Workington v Sheffield (follows previous fixture)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Rye House 2.30, Glasgow v Edinburgh 5pmBRITISH 150cc FINAL: Peterborough (follows PL meeting)
