(SPEEDWAY 1 – TUESDAY REVIEW)
WOLVERHAMPTON claimed their first win of the season with a 49-41 victory over Belle Vue at Monmore Green.Wolves put in a determined effort in their opening home meeting of the campaign, recovering from a shaky start to claim a hard-fought triumph with back-to-back 5-1s in Heats 9 and 10 proving crucial.Peter Karlsson scored 10 points whilst Freddie Lindgren recovered from two early lasts to win his final three rides, and a 4-2 from the Swedish duo in Heat 15 prevented the Aces, for whom Scott Nicholls scored 11, from taking a league point.Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “It was a terrific performance I thought, and it gives us a lot of encouragement because Belle Vue are obviously a very strong team.“They had us under pressure in the early part of the meeting, but the boys dug deep and thoroughly deserved the win in the end.”Belle Vue manager Mark Lemon said: “Although we didn't end the night with the result we wanted I'm pretty happy with how the guys performed. They were competitive, they were on the pace and very much at the races and for our first meeting it was important for me to see that.“It would have been nice to take a point when we were so close but that's the way it goes sometimes, and to be honest I see no reason to take negatives out of what I believe was a very positive night.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
POOLE are looking to extend their unbeaten sequence at Wimborne Road when they open their home Elite League campaign against Lakeside on Wednesday.The Pirates’ run dates back to May 2014 and now stands at 13 matches, but promoter Matt Ford expects the Hammers to be in contention for a top four finish this season.He said: “I can see Lakeside pushing for those play-offs. They will be formidable at home – very tough to overcome – and that could carry them to the top four. I am very interested to see how events unfold this evening. “The Hammers will pose a real test for our much-fancied side. In Andreas Jonsson and Mikkel Bech, they boast two hugely talented performers who we will all enjoy watching.”King’s Lynn return to full strength for their home clash with Belle Vue at the Norfolk Arena.The Stars lost out at Lakeside on Good Friday with Nicklas Porsing on the sidelines, but the Dane is fit to make his comeback as stand-in boss Dale Allitt looks for a return to winning ways.He said: “I have enjoyed my time in charge of the senior team and I would like nothing more than adding more points to our league total.“We were disappointed with the result at Lakeside, but we need to put that behind us and concentrate on Wednesday night. If the team ride to their ability then I believe that we have the strength to win.”Belle Vue manager Mark Lemon said: “King's Lynn do feel like they will present a tougher assignment than Wolves. But I'm pleased with what I saw from the boys yesterday and I see no reason why we can't push the Stars as hard.”Cradley launch the defence of their National League title against great rivals Coventry at Perry Barr on Wednesday.The Heathens are waiting on the fitness of Nathan Greaves with a hand injury, but boss Will Pottinger is hoping his side’s two meetings at Birmingham so far this season give them the edge.He said: “We must look to take advantage of the fact that Coventry haven’t raced in a competitive fixture as a team before this meeting.“The sharpness from the start that we showed in our first meeting of the season against Birmingham will be needed as we look to get off to a winning start and collect three league points for a home win.”Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “They’re not unbeatable, as Birmingham have proved, but it’s a tough one to go into.“I don’t think any of our boys have ridden Perry Barr before and we’re more race-rusty because they’ve had a couple of meetings, so it’s a big challenge but it’s one that we’re all up for and we’ll be giving it 100 per cent.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BERWICK have been rocked by serious injury to their Slovenian newcomer Matic Voldrih, who is now set for a period on the sidelines.Voldrih suffered a double compound fracture to his right leg, just below the knee, when racing in the first round of his national championship at Krsko.His translated message said: “My bike lifted on back straight and I hit the first rider's rear wheel and crashed into fence.“I have a complicated open fracture of tibia and fibula. Yesterday evening I had an operation where they got me internal fixation of both bones. Now I am hospitalised and waiting for today's x-ray and rehabilitation information.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
RUSTY Harrison’s Testimonial meeting is finally set to go ahead at Workington on Saturday – after two postponements last season.Harrison is currently in his tenth season in a Comets race-jacket and will be joined by team-mates past and present for a 16-rider, 20-heat event, plus 125cc Youth races.Current Comets Kenneth Hansen, Kyle Howarth, Ricky Wells and Harrison himselfwill be joined by former Comets Josh Grajczonek and James Wright, with Rory Schlein, Nick Morris, Aaron Summers and Kozza Smith also in the line-up.Workington owner Laura Morgan said: “Rusty has been an excellent servant to British Speedway, particularly Workington and I, along with everyone connected with the Comets, hope that he has a truly great Testimonial meeting.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 8:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30, King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 9:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Plymouth 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Somerset 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30FRIDAY APRIL 10:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Poole 7.30, Lakeside v Swindon 8pmLEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Plymouth v Peterborough 7.15, Somerset v Rye House 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 11:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Rye House v Plymouth 7pmRUSTY HARRISON TESTIMONIAL: Workington 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 12:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Workington 3pm, Peterborough v Plymouth 3pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Mildenhall v King’s Lynn 3.30CHALLENGE: Buxton v Redcar Select 3pmCHAMPIONSHIP OF SUSSEX: Eastbourne 3.30
