Friday April 10, 2015
(SPEEDWAY 1)
REIGNING British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates is keen to make it a double success when he defends the title next week.Bates pulled off a shock victory in the Cradley-staged event at Monmore Green last April but goes into next Tuesday’s showpiece at Coventry as one of the favourites and is in good form so far this season.He said: “Winning the British Under 21 title last year was just unbelievable really. I never in a million years expected to win it, but everything just came together perfectly on the night.“I’m looking forward to trying to defend my title this year at Coventry, but I know it’s going to be really difficult. Obviously I’d love to win it again, that would be amazing, but I’d be happy if I can just get on the rostrum again to be honest.”British Under-21 Final – Coventry, Tuesday April 14 – Admission prices: Adults £12, Concessions £10, Under-16s FREE.
(SPEEDWAY 2 – THURSDAY REVIEW)
FORMER Swindon skipper Hans Andersen inspired his old side to their first Elite League win of the season at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.The Robins defeated Lakeside 47-43 with Andersen, guesting for Adrian Miedzinski, producing a crucial ride in Heat 15 to move inside Hammers duo Andreas Jonsson and Mikkel Bech on the second bend as the visitors threatened to snatch a draw.Andersen dropped just one point as he scored 14 for the hosts whilst Jonsson (11) and Bech (9+2) were the top performers for the Hammers who claimed their first away point of the campaign.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “The main thing was a win. It was a great move by Hans in Heat 15, he knows this place and rides it well, and always gives 100 per cent.“Fair play to Lakeside, they came back at us strongly, and I always knew it was going to be tough because we’ve still got riders getting used to the place”Sheffield got their Premier League campaign off to a perfect start as they raced to a 56-37 victory over Plymouth at Owlerton.Simon Stead struck another dominant maximum – but it was once again a tremendous all-around team effort from Jack Lee’s side, who ran only three last places and accounted for ten race wins as they emerged with a resounding victory. Ryan Fisher picked up 11+1 for the Devils.Lee said: “Plymouth gave us a bit of a scare early in the meeting, especially when they won their tactical ride, but the boys got their heads down and did a brilliant job to pull away over the second half of the meeting.“All the boys were going well again, the team is working really well at the moment and everyone is scoring points.”In the League Cup, Newcastle made the perfect start to their campaign with a 50-40 win at Redcar to take all four points from the meeting.The Diamonds dominated throughout with six of their riders scoring between seven and nine points, and Steve Worrall’s Heat 15 win ensured their final margin. Lasse Bjerre (14+2) top-scored for the Bears.Newcastle boss George English said: “It was a tremendous effort by the whole team to get all four points in our first competitive outing away from home. I expected us to take something from the match but I think we thoroughly deserved to take all the points.“I thought that we dug in well tonight and put in a thoroughly professional performance. To beat your local rivals always makes the victory that little bit sweeter.” In the Southern group, there was an early finish at Foxhall as fog forced the abandonment of Ipswich’s clash with Somerset after twelve races.But the Witches had already done more than enough to secure victory as they led 46-28 with Danny King and Rohan Tungate both winning their three completed rides, whilst Josh Grajczonek and Richie Worrall both scored seven for the Rebels.Ipswich boss Phil Hilton said: “It was just what we needed after Monday night at Peterborough! That was a convincing win, everyone did their bit and the reserves especially looked a lot sharper and they covered well for Ritchie (Hawkins). “We didn't really need a team talk, they all knew what was required and they simply went out and delivered.”Somerset manager Garry May said: “This wasn’t the best of nights for us. We were on the back foot right from heat 1 and by the time we had re-grouped, Ipswich had built up a big lead which we were always struggling to close down.“Now that we have completed our away group fixtures, we must ensure that we win our three remaining home matches without the opposition taking anything away with them points-wise to make sure that we are in with a shout of qualifying for the semi-final stages of the competition.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 - FRIDAY PREVIEW)
COVENTRY and Poole both put their 100 per cent Elite League records on the line when they meet at Brandon in a repeat of last season’s Grand Final.The two teams have both won one home and one away match so far and now face home and away clashes with the return fixture at Wimborne Road next Wednesday.Cameron Heeps continues as a guest for the injured Stuart Robson for the Bees, whilst the Pirates call on Rory Schlein and Stefan Nielsen to replace unavailable duo Josh Grajczonek and Paul Starke.Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “Poole is always the big one, I think it’s the biggest rivalry in speedway between Coventry and Poole. We’re at home, we’re in our own backyard, and our boys will certainly be up for it and desperate to get a win.“We’ve savoured last weekend, when everyone was so proud of what we did at Leicester, and now we want to push on from that. It should be a great night of racing.” Pirates chief Matt Ford said: “Rory is on a bargain average at present and he will be a popular guest around the tracks whilst that is the case and so I am pleased that he has agreed to ride for us. It is a track where he has bags of experience and I am hoping that will work in our advantage. “Like ourselves they (Coventry) have begun the season with wins at home and away and so something will have to give.”Lakeside are also on seven Elite League points after their narrow defeat at Swindon on Thursday, and the two clubs now meet again at Purfleet.Robins boss Alun Rossiter has been forced into further changes due to their early-season injury crisis, with Premier League commitments meaning he has only two of his regular riders available. Scott Nicholls, Max Fricke, Josh Bates and Ben Morley have all been booked to guest.Rossiter said: “It’s always going to be a tough place to go to, although we’ve pushed them close there in the past.“They’ve got track specialists down there with their bikes set up for it, but we’ll go there and give them a run for their money, and then I’m pleased we’ve got nearly a fortnight off.”In the League Cup, there are important Southern group matches at both Plymouth and Somerset, with the section still wide open at this stage.Rye House head the group as they head to Somerset, who have completed their away matches and need to maintain a perfect home record.The Rockets bring in Claus Vissing for EL-committed Edward Kennett, whilst Alex Edberg and Dan Greenwood cover for the injured Kasper Lykke and Luke Bowen, who has stood down.Rebels boss Garry May said: “Both Rye and ourselves have picked up four match points from away fixtures, but even though Rye House have since dropped points at home to Peterborough, it is still vital that we do not allow them to take any points away from Friday night’s match at the Oaktree Arena.“Our qualification group is still wide open and any of the five teams, including ourselves, still has a chance of making it through to the semi-finals, and any slip-up could prove costly.”Peterborough are back in contention following their win at Rye House, and they now head to Plymouth with ex-Panther Lasse Bjerre coming in to guest for injured No.1 Olly Allen, whilst the home side bring in Ty Proctor to guest for Kyle Newman who is racing for Poole in the Elite League.Devils co-promoter Ashey Taylor was encouraged by the attendance for last weekend’s clash with Somerset, and is hopeful of similar support going forward.He said: “The attendance against Somerset was a welcome reward for the efforts of the guys who have been out and about with our advertising material and our colourful publicity vehicle.”Panthers boss Carl Johnson said: “We demonstrated at Ipswich on Good Friday and at Rye House on Easter Monday that we are capable of competing and getting results on all types of tracks.“Plymouth is a very small circuit, but it is one the boys like to ride. I don’t envisage it causing us any problems and we are going there with the intention to win.”Edinburgh and Workington launch their Border group campaigns with tonight’s match at Armadale, in the knowledge that Glasgow already have an away win at Berwick on the board.Monarchs skipper Craig Cook knows it will be an important weekend for his side’s chances of qualification as they also visit Berwick on Saturday.Cook said: “Workington should be a good match. Kenneth Hansen rode well for Glasgow, Rusty (Harrison) will be back, and Rene (Bach) – they all go pretty well. “Then we’ll see how we get on at Berwick, time will tell how we go on the away tracks this year. Obviously Claus (Vissing) is going well again and they have an experienced head in (Kevin) Doolan. But we are a hell of a team again and up for the challenge.”Workington will be without reserve Nathan Greaves, who is set to miss the weekend schedule due to the effects of recent crashes at Mildenhall and Cradley.Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “We raced most of last season with at least one rider on the injured list and here we are again in the same situation at the start of another season. Nathan is very battered and bruised following his second big crash in four days and he seems very likely to miss this weekend completely. “We are grateful that Glasgow’s Victor Palovaara was available to step in as a guest for us at reserve for this evening’s match at Armadale where he gave a good account of himself in last Friday’s Spring Trophy clash.”
(FIXTURES)FRIDAY 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