(SPEEDWAY 1 - THURSDAY REVIEW)
SHEFFIELD hit back from a mid-meeting deficit to edge out Glasgow 48-42 in a thrilling Premier League contest at Owlerton.The home side picked up three league points with the visitors gaining one thanks to a win for No.1 Nick Morris in Heat 15.Guest Brady Kurtz scored 13 points for the home side with Jason Garrity adding 11+1 after a spectacular display, whilst Morris top-scored for Glasgow with 11 - but they were left to rue a broken chain for skipper Aaron Summers in Heat 12 which caused him to fall when leading, handing Sheffield a 5-1.Garrity said: “I’m loving my time at Sheffield, I’m just enjoying my racing everywhere.“We have a good team at Sheffield and the management have had a tough time with injuries, but this is a good result.”Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “I'm not bad, because we could have got nothing. Heat 12 robbed us the last-heat decider, which I think might have put a bit of pressure on. But the fact that that didn't happen is one of those things.“I'm a wee bit disappointed, but a point is better than nothing. We now move on to (Friday) night at Plymouth.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
KING’S Lynn Young Stars heat-leader Tom Stokes has escaped serious injury from his crash at the Adrian Flux Arena on Wednesday.Stokes fell in his opening ride against Coventry and was hit by opposing rider Martin Knuckey who had laid his bike down, but hospital scans for Stokes have revealed muscle damage to his back - so with no broken bones, he expects to return against Buxton next week.Manager Dale Allitt said: “Tom is very lucky, we all thought the worst when it happened but fortunately he has come away fairly unscathed.“Our thanks go to the medical team we have at the Adrian Flux Arena. They were fantastic and dealt with Tom in the best way possible.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
ALL previous records of rider attendance and number of heats will be broken in the third round of the Mitas British Youth Championship at Leicester on Sunday.An incredible total of 53 riders have registered to compete in a 57-race programme across the four classes, including Finals.British Youth chief Neil Vatcher said: “Even though this is a record number of races, with all credit not only to the riders but the Mums and Dads and organisers, we are confident that we will run this meeting in approximately three hours baring any major mishaps.“So any speedway fans who would like to see Britain's next generation on a Sunday afternoon, pop across to Leicester for three hours of fast and furious excitement from not only 52 boys but one girl as well.“The British Championship for both the 500cc and 250cc is already building up to an exciting climax, as this is round three of six and each and every point the riders score is vital, as they all try to accumulate enough points to make the all-important finals.“The 500cc has so far been dominated by Jack Parkinson who has so far won the first two rounds, and the riders in the chasing pack will all be keen that Jack does not repeat his previous victories and pull too far ahead at the halfway stage.“The most competitive class of all in 2015 is the 250cc and recently crowned FIM World 125cc Gold Trophy winner Kyle Bickley will be keen to gain some points on the leading pack in this class, as he missed round 2 at Eastbourne due to being away in the Czech Republic winning his Gold Trophy on the same evening.“The support races of 150cc and 125cc have also been very exciting in the first two rounds and with the winners of the 150cc Joylon West and Jason Edwards respectively both vying to be the number 1 in this class again expect some spectacular racing from these young boys.“The 125cc will have some home support as regular Leicester mascots Dan and Joe Thompson are in this class and I’m sure that these twins will have a say come the final of this group.“Dan has yet to be beaten in either of the first two rounds, so it will be some achievement if he manages to go through the first three rounds undefeated, although sure his twin Joe amongst others will have other ideas on that happening.”British Youth organisers have again thanked their loyal sponsors: Mitas Tyres, Wessex Marine, Friends of Speedway, Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, PBHS of Barnsley, Duck Smart Cleaning Products and Trend Creative, and also the BSPA for their continued support of Britsh Youth Speedway. For the first time, Young Lions merchandise will be available on Sunday.
(SPEEDWAY 4 - FRIDAY PL REVIEW)
SOMERSET extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 51-39 win over Rye House in a thrilling meeting at the Oaktree Arena.The Rebels made another slow start and were behind at the halfway stage before securing successive 5-1s in Heats 9 and 10 to take control.Heat 13 has been described as a true classic as all four riders led the race at one stage, and also spent time at the back, before Somerset duo Josh Grajczonek and Brady Kurtz turned around an apparent Rockets 5-1 from Edward Kennett and Nikolaj B Jakobsen with spectacular passing moves late in the race.Rebels boss Garry May said: “Once again we found ourselves on the back foot in the early stages of the match, but credit to the boys who got their heads down and were able to change things around so that we ended up winning the match while denying Rye House taking any consolation league points away with them.“Some of the racing out there had to be seen to be believed, and all credit to Rye House as it takes both teams to make a match as exciting as this one was, but at the end of the day we had too much strength for them to deal with in those latter heats.”Rockets boss John Sampford said: “We gave another really good account of ourselves, holding them for a long time, but then they got those two 5-1s. Even then, we were still in there fighting until the other two 5-1s.“Heat 13 was unreal – one of the best races any neutral could see anywhere – and Heat 15 was another great race for the fans, but we just didn’t have an answer to those four maximums.”Edinburgh moved level on points with second-placed Peterborough by defeating Ipswich 53-37 at Armadale to maintain their unbeaten Premier League record so far this season, with Justin Sedgmen scoring a paid maximum from five rides.Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “It was a hard match, our top riders didn’t dominate as much as usual though Justin Sedgmen was great. “I was happy that we avoided a TR (tactical ride) and in the end we had a bit to spare.”Glasgow are into the top six thanks to a 47-42 win at Plymouth, turning around a six-point deficit after six races in a meeting where each of the visitors scored at least one win or paid win.Tigers boss Stewart Dickson said: “I'm happy - it's three points in the bag. Other teams will win at Plymouth, so it was important that we did as well.“James Sarjeant I think was the hero. I brought him in heat 12 and he won it off gate four, and then he got a paid win in heat 14 off gate four with Richard.”Devils manager Lee Trigger said: “We know they can all do it when they are on top form, but we had four riders who were not on song and you can’t carry four riders.“It was frustrating to suffer another home defeat and we must try to make sure we do not lose at home again this season.”(SPEEDWAY 5)
SCUNTHORPE’S Knockout Cup win over Newcastle came at a cost with two riders suffering injuries in the closing stages of the meeting.The Scorpions won 53-37 to build a 16-point advantage to take to Brough Park later this month, but both Ryan Douglas and Alex Davies crashed out of the meeting.Dogulas suffered concussion in a Heat 12 incident with team-mate Nike Lunna, whilst Davies picked up a bruised and swollen thumb after clashing with the Diamonds’ Lewis Kerr in the next race. Christian Henry had earlier been ruled out for the visitors after a first-ride fall.Scorpions boss Dave Peet said: “I’m very pleased with the way we stuck at it in this meeting. In the last few home meetings, we’ve fallen away in the last few races; but this was the opposite.“When we lost both Dougie and Alex, we could have caved in. But instead we took two 5-1s which could prove vital over the course of this cup tie.“We’ve got a 16-point lead to take to Newcastle for the second leg on June 28. The Diamonds are very good around their own track, but we’ll go there in a positive frame of mind, with the objective of qualifying for the next round.”(SPEEDWAY 5 - SATURDAY PREVIEW)
RYE House host Kent in the National Trophy at Hoddesdon on Saturday.Both sides have three points from their matches so far, leaving them six behind leaders Eastbourne.A recent National League fixture between the clubs at the same venue ended in a 45-45 draw.
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JUNE 6:NATIONAL TROPHY: Rye House v Kent 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 7:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Scunthorpe 3pm, Newcastle v Somerset 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Rye House 3.30, Stoke v Mildenhall 3pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 3: Leicester 3pm
WORLD CUP EVENT 2: King’s Lynn 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Stoke 6.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 10:CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Kent 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: King’s Lynn v Buxton 7.30
