SPEEDWAY News

(SPEEDWAY 1)

HOPES for the return of speedway to Oxford in the future have been given a major boost – after a High Court verdict ruled out a challenge to the stadium’s designation as a conservation area.Oxford City Council last year refused developer Galliard Homes permission to build 220 homes on the site, which last staged speedway in 2007, and all four grounds of the challenge from GRA Acquisition Ltd were rejected.Save Oxford Stadium chairman Ian Sawyer said: “This is monumental for us. The judge’s decision was quite empathic. It’s basically the best possible result we could have got out of the court case. “Not only did the ruling go our way, but also the stadium owners have to pay the costs, and the judge has recommended that they have no right to appeal. The owners have just two options left, to sit on it and do nothing with it, or to sell it to someone who wants to run it as a stadium. “All options are now being looked into, including the possibility of a compulsory purchase order. Two fresh bids on the stadium have already gone in. We haven’t won, but it really feels we’re closing in, and hopefully we’ll soon see the return of both speedway and greyhounds to Oxford. It would be fantastic if the Cheetahs could return next year.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

CRADLEY have moved for teenager Tyler Govier to fill their No.8 position in the new National League season.Govier has experience with Buxton and Devon and will take the stand-by role for the reigning champions, who are chasing a third successive title.He said: “I’d like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity, and enabling me to be part of such a great club.“They’ve been really successful over the last few years and the chance to be part of that was something I just couldn’t turn down really.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

WORK on the National Speedway Stadium at Belle Vue is to intensify with final preparations on the area having been completed this week.Terrain in front of the hockey pitches is now being flattened with equipment moving in to carry out the major project for the Aces’ new home, which is scheduled for completion in Spring 2016.Belle Vue co-promoter David Gordon said: “It’s been a long winter of completing designs and contractual details, so of course it is very rewarding for us to now see machinery starting to move in.“Activity on the site will pick up quite quickly and over the next few weeks people will begin to see more visual evidence of the build effort, and we will be issuing regular updates on construction progress. We are absolutely committed, as are the contractors, to the completion date that Manchester City Council have set us.”(SPEEDWAY 4)

WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Peter Karlsson is in serious training ahead of the new season.Karlsson met up with club owner Chris Van Straaten in Gothenburg this week to talk through plans for the 2015 campaign, with the Swede to lead the Monmore club at the age of 45.Van Straaten said: “We discussed the captaincy, we discussed our team plans and PK is bursting with enthusiasm.“He’s in training for a 90km ski race and after that he will be on the south of France back on a speedway bike getting some laps in and testing engines. PK is a remarkable character and we are looking forward to working with him once again.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

GLASGOW newcomer Aaron Summers is predicting a season of silverware for the Ashfield club in the Premier League this year.The Tigers are going into a fresh era with new owners Gerry and Michael Facenna, and Summers is one of their major signings in a full transfer from Redcar.He said: “The Glasgow fans can expect me to always give 110 per cent and do the best I can for them - and we will be lifting plenty of silverware.“I've done plenty of laps round there from my time at Edinburgh. I really enjoy the track and look forward to having it as my home track every week. I'm doing plenty of fitness work this winter and riding motocross to keep bike-fit and sharp.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

STOKE have completed their line-up for 2015 with the signing of Chris Widman in a full transfer from King’s Lynn.24-year-old Widman rode for the Potters last season on loan from the Stars, and is set to take the No.2 position for the Loomer Road team, partnering captain Jon Armstrong.Stoke promoter Dave Tattum said: “Chris rode for us last season and at times could beat anybody at Loomer Road, and we look forward to having him with us again as part of the club. “We want to help him move his career on and we saw enough signs last season to know that there is relatively untapped pace and skill available within his racing repertoire, and we are looking forward to the new season with the confidence that we can be challenging for honours.”


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