(SPEEDWAY 1 – THURSDAY REVIEW)
CHRIS Harris led the qualifiers from the first British semi-final with victory at Sheffield on Thursday.The three-time national champion scored 14 points from his five rides to secure his place at Wolverhampton on June 15, clinching the win on the night with a fine ride to beat Ben Barker in Heat 17.Barker was second on the night with in-form Sheffield star Andre Compton completing the rostrum finishers, whilst the other qualifiers were Edward Kennett, Lewis Blackbird, Josh Auty and Richard Lawson.Harris said: “We came here to qualify, and to get to the British Final at Wolverhampton, that’s the one I want to win.“Obviously it was a bonus to win this one but the main goal was to get through and then we start from scratch in the Final.”Compton said: “I’m pleased with that result. I didn’t go into the meeting expecting too much, I was relaxed heading into it and that seemed to pay off.“I had a couple of good wins, some second places and I’m happy to come away having finished on the rostrum on the night. I’m pleased to be into the final, and I’ll just look to approach that with the same attitude and see where I end up on the night.”Meanwhile in the Elite League Peter Kildemand made a successful return to Swindon with a score of 12+1 in the Robins’ 48-42 win over Belle Vue.It was a fourth successive home victory for Alun Rossiter’s team, with the Aces recovering from a ten-point deficit to take a league point thanks to wins in Heats 13 and 15 from captain Scott Nicholls.Rossiter said: “I didn’t fear the meeting, but I was a bit nervous, and I should have more confidence in the boys because they’re riding really well here and everybody dug deep.“It was the Peter Kildemand of old so I’m very happy with that, and the three points are the important thing for us – I’d have taken that result before the start.”Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “Based on the last few weeks I believe we’ve started to change the mentality of the club in that getting a point in your away matches is okay. Whereas before it was great, now it’s just okay.“It’s pretty frustrating to see your top man (Matej Zagar) under-performing and it did contribute to a loss on the night, but it could have proved much more costly had the rest of the boys not rallied to compensate.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – FRIDAY PREVIEW)
LAKESIDE host Poole in the Elite League on Friday looking to arrest a run of two home defeats in succession.The Hammers, who have been beaten by Wolverhampton and Coventry in their last two Purfleet outings, bring in Rory Schlein to guest for injured No.1 Andreas Jonsson, whilst Steve Boxall is expected to be fit to line up at reserve.The Pirates can go second in the table with a positive result, with former Lakeside man Peter Karlsson and his Wolves team-mate Lewis Blackbird called in to guest for injured duo Maciej Janowski and Kyle Newman. Kacper Gomolski is undergoing treatment on an arm injury after a crash on Wednesday.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “Lakeside is always a difficult place to go to and given that they have lost their last two home matches then things are likely to be that much harder for us as they aim to arrest that run of defeats. “One thing is certain, we will need to be sharper out the tapes than we were on Monday at Wolverhampton. We made amends on Wednesday and just need to take some of that confidence into the meeting.”In the Premier League, Edinburgh have a 100 per cent record from two matches so far, and they take on Newcastle, who are racing their first fixture in the competition.The Diamonds were the last visiting team to win at Armadale, back in August 2013, and also performed well last September.Erik Riss could make his return from a broken collarbone for the Monarchs, whilst the visitors operate rider replacement for Anton Rosen who is out with the same injury.Newcastle boss George English said: “We couldn't have asked for a much tougher start to our campaign than away to Edinburgh on Friday and it will be a tough meeting, but we will give it our all.”Meanwhile Plymouth will be looking to end a run of three successive home defeats when they host Redcar at the St Boniface Arena.The Devils have called up Richie Worrall to guest for Kyle Newman, whilst recent Bears signing Adam Roynon returns to one of his former clubs.Plymouth co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We are not going to single out any opponents as easy pickings, but we still believe that we have a side capable of beating any team on our own track.”Redcar boss Jitendra Duffill said: “Friday's meeting is a fixture that I believe we can win. Our sides are more evenly matched and they too are struggling at the moment. “It is important that we take advantage of situations like this as points have been difficult to come by all season and we will not get a better opportunity to take some points away from home.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SCUNTHORPE have confirmed adult admission prices of just £5 for the opening round of the British Youth Championship on Sunday.No fewer than 51 riders, all aged 16 or under, are due to compete in 55 races across four classes, the largest-ever entry for a round of the championship. Accompanied children will be admitted free.Scunthorpe Youth co-ordinator Richard Hollingsworth said: “As always, we’re massively proud to a stage of round of the British Youth Championship. Quite a few faces will be familiar to those who attend our amateur meetings here at the Eddie Wright Raceway.“There are over fifty riders competing in total on Sunday, and I don’t think that figure has been achieved before for a round of the championship. It should be a great afternoon’s speedway.“Josh Auty, the No 1 for the Scunthorpe Scorpions, was the first-ever winner of the 500cc championship in 2004. Who knows, a future Scorpions’ No 1 might be on parade on Sunday.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY MAY 8:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon OFF, Lakeside v Poole 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Plymouth v Redcar 7.15
SATURDAY MAY 9: ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Plymouth 7pmTRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Berwick v Ipswich 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY MAY 10:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Plymouth 3pm, Newcastle v Ipswich 6.30, Peterborough v Workington 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Kent OFF, Mildenhall v King’s Lynn 3.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Eastbourne v Rye House 3.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1: Scunthorpe 3pm
