(SPEEDWAY 1)
KYLE Howarth was crowned British Under-21 Champion for the first time with a brilliant victory in the Final at Coventry.The Workington asset, who doubles-up in the Elite League with Swindon, had led the deciding race in the first staging before Ashley Morris came to grief on the second bend.In the re-run Howarth initially looked to have been squeezed out before producing a stunning burst to take him past both Robert Lambert and Stefan Nielsen.Lambert, who had scored a 15-point maximum in the qualifiers including a classy overtake of Howarth in Heat 5, finished second at the age of just 17, whilst Nielsen was third.Morris was classified fourth whilst a consistent display from James Shanes saw the Kent rider placed fifth ahead of Max Clegg, who crashed out in the semi-final.Howarth said: “I was a bit gutted when I saw the red lights come on in the Final because you know what usually happens in re-runs after you've been leading the original race but I can't complain - I'm really pumped.“I rode here last year so I know the place well and used my knowledge to help me get the deal done.“I'm still a bit shocked if I'm being honest, but I'm just going to enjoy the moment and take all of my confidence from this into the rest of the season.”(SPEEDWAY 2 – WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
POOLE will be without skipper Maciej Janowski for their Elite League clash with rivals Coventry at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.The Pole is struggling with knee problems suffered in a crash in the reverse fixture last Friday, which the Pirates won 48-41, and the home side have called up Richard Lawson to guest after an impressive display against them recently.Coventry are still without the injured Stuart Robson, with Kevin Doolan called in as his replacement.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “Magic has done some damage to his knee and he was struggling big-time in Poland where he rode despite being in considerable pain. “It is the sort of injury that needs to be rested otherwise he is liable to make it much worse and it certainly didn't do him any favours at the weekend.”Coventry manager Gary Havelock said: “I’m not worried after Friday, I said to the lads afterwards that it was a blip and we’ll come back on Wednesday, re-group and have another go.”Meanwhile Birmingham team manager Graham Drury says his side need to get off to a winning start when they take on the Rye House Raiders at Perry Barr.The meeting is the Brummies’ National League opener, but they will be without Adam Ellis (family bereavement) and Sam Chapman (injured) with Dan Greenwood called in to guest.Drury said: “It’s not an ideal situation but I have faith in the six riders who will race for Birmingham Speedway that they can go out there and battle their way to a win.“The boys are still on a high from our meeting against Cradley last time out and in Dan I think we’ve got a more than capable guest.”Meanwhile King’s Lynn defend a 14-point lead in the second leg of their National League KO Cup tie against Mildenhall at the Adrian Flux Arena, having won the away fixture last weekend.The Young Stars continue to track Adam Portwood at reserve as a replacement for the injured Layne Cupitt.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
PETERBOROUGH have confirmed a switch of start-time for their Sunday home meetings to 5pm.Panthers bosses have taken the decision due to difficulty in creating a grippy surface for meetings starting earlier.Promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We are well aware of the issues with the track when having afternoon meetings.“We just haven’t been able to get the amount of water required into it and as a result we haven't had the home track advantage or the huge excitement we are accustomed to at the Showground. By pushing back the start time a couple of hours it will allow extra time for track preparation.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
BERWICK have confirmed Slovenian rider Matic Voldrih will be ruled out for the rest of the season.Voldrih suffered compound fractures to tibia and fibula after a crash in his national championship, and he has been told he must not resume sporting activities for six months. The Bandits are closing in on a replacement, although they do not expect completion this week.Co-promoter Dennis McCleary said: “To be fair to fans, ourselves and the rest of the team it is important we get back to a seven-man line-up as quickly as possible. But with the season a month old already it is not easy.“We had considered the option of waiting until the cut-off date for new averages, which is April 20, but on scrutinising the figures we discovered we’d have less points to play with, so that isn’t too good an option. We are talking to available riders, and are close to making one deal happen.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 15:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Rye House 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 16:LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 17:LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Plymouth v Rye House 7.15, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Ipswich 7.30
