(SPEEDWAY 1 - FRIDAY REVIEW)
COVENTRY moved back to level on points with Elite League leaders Poole after overcoming Leicester 51-39 at Brandon.The Bees had to work for their win which was only secured in Heat 14, as Lions duo Jason Doyle and Grzegorz Walasek reeled off a series of race wins.Home reserves Jason Garrity and guest Josh Bates out-scored their counterparts 16-3 whilst Doyle and Walasek accounted for 23 of the Lions’ points.Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “The really encouraging thing actually was that our top two riders scored four points each and we still won, and I’m taking the positives out of that.“Josh did a marvellous job for us, and filled in for Sarj really well, so we take the three points from it and move on.”Elsewhere, Lakeside collected their first win since April 10 by defeating third-placed King’s Lynn 50-39 at Purfleet.World Cup winner Andreas Jonsson top-scored for the Hammers with 11+1 whilst Niels-Kristian Iversen picked up 12 for the Stars, who welcome new signing Vaclav Milik next week.In the Premier League, Somerset maintained their position at the top of the table with a 59-34 home win over Workington.Brady Kurtz led the way for the Rebels with 14 points, and Charles Wright was also paid for 14 (11+3) and Josh Grajczonek added 11+1, whilst Kyle Howarth led the way for the Comets on 13.Edinburgh remain four points behind the Rebels with two matches in hand after demolishing Redcar 65-28 in wet conditions at Armadale.Reserve Erik Riss scored 13+4 in a powerful Monarchs display which also saw four other riders into double figures whilst guest Steve Worrall scored 15 of the Bears’ points.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “I felt we were all riding well and it was an easy win, but in the conditions it was hard to get into the match.”Glasgow made ground on the teams above them by picking up a 47-42 victory at Scunthorpe for their third win on the road this season.Richard Lawson ran up a 15-point maximum for the Tigers and guest Nico Covatti won his last three races whilst Nick Morris also scored 10. Carl Wilkinson scored 10+2 for the Scorpions.Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “It was pretty incident-packed and entertaining. We got three points - it would have been nice to get four. It was a horrendous decision in Heat 14 to exclude Dimitri Berge when we were on a 5-1. He came out the second bend and Carl Wilkinson ran into the back of him, and they excluded Dimitri, so I couldn't quite get my head around that one.“We thank our guest Nico Covatti, he did a good job. The fourth point would have been a bonus, but any sort of win on any sort of away track will do me, and hopefully we can add another three on Sunday. That's the plan.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SATURDAY PREVIEW)
LEICESTER host play-off chasing Belle Vue in Saturday’s Elite League action at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.The Lions are racing their first home match for three weeks and bring Brady Kurtz in to guest, along with Charles Wright and Ashley Morris at reserve, whilst the Aces are looking to build on their win at Swindon on Thursday which moved them into the top four.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “I am concerned about the number of injuries in the sport this year which is particularly high and we have been hit hard with first of all (Grzegorz) Walasek and then Josh Auty having long spells out of the Leicester team. “Now we have to cope with the loss of Simon Lambert who is feeling battered and bruised following his crash and hope that it won’t be long before he is fully recovered and back in the side. Having to shore up the team with guests is not an ideal situation as the profile of the side changes from match to match and building team spirit is difficult with so many changes.”Belle Vue skipper Scott Nicholls said: “Last time we took a handful of guests to Beaumont Park and a substitute team manager but this time we are at full strength, the boys are in great form and we’re riding on the crest of a wave.“If we can maintain that positive energy and momentum throughout the team, I see no reason why we can’t go to Leicester and pull up all four points there too.”In the Premier League, Berwick hand a debut to new signing Fernando Garcia as they host Plymouth at Shielfield Park.The Bandits also bring in Richie Worrall to guest at No.1 for Ben Barker, who remains in hospital with back injuries after his British Final crash.Berwick co-promoter Dennis McCleary said: “Although a lot of teams are riding elsewhere on Saturday, we didn't look at anyone else. Richie has guested for us this season already, and we couldn't have picked a better bloke each time.“He will add spice to the line-up, and with Fernando making his debut in British racing, it’s going be a great night out!”Devils skipper Kyle Newman said: “We have a run of away matches now and it is important to start picking up some points away from home to climb the table.”Rye House return to Hoddesdon after three weeks without a home fixture as near neighbours Peterborough provide the opposition.The Rockets bring in Carl Wilkinson and Leigh Lanham for injured duo Anders Mellgren and Kasper Lykke, with rider replacement in operation for Steve Boxall, whilst the Panthers have Richard Lawson and Adam Roynon in for Olly Allen and Simon Lambert.Rye boss John Sampford said: “We know that it is going to be a very hard fixture. Peterborough’s record speaks for itself and they have a team that can go well around our place, as they showed in the League Cup in April.“But the mood in our camp is one of quiet confidence. The guys are doing their job as a team, and although we were disappointed to miss out on a match point the last time out at Workington, we also came away from that one having given a really good account of ourselves with what was effectively a five man team.”Meanwhile Workington face Ipswich at Derwent Park with the Comets looking to hit back from a heavy defeat at Somerset on Friday; whilst the Witches were held to a home draw by Somerset on Thursday.Ipswich boss Phil Hilton said: “Consistently dropping points at home is unacceptable and it means that we have to try twice as had now when we visit Workington and Glasgow at the weekend where we must pick up some points.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
LEICESTER have signed experienced Polish rider Piotr Swiderski to fill the gap left in their team by the retirement of Lewis Bridger.Swiderski, who last rode in the Elite League for Lakeside two years ago, will make his debut against his former club when the Lions visit Purfleet on Friday.Promoter David Hemsley said: “We have left no stone unturned in our quest to bring the team back up to a full complement of riders and I am pleased to say that Piotr has agreed to race for the club. “He knows his way around the British tracks having recently spent time racing over here in 2013 and will go straight into a heat leader role alongside Jason Doyle and Grzegorz Walasek.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JUNE 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm, Rye House v Peterborough 7pm, Workington v Ipswich 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Ipswich 3pm, Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Mildenhall v Cradley 3.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Birmingham 3.30
MONDAY JUNE 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 24:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Glasgow 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Birmingham 7.30
