(SPEEDWAY 1)
ADAM Ellis and Josh Bates have been selected to join the Great Britain team for next month’s World Under-21 Team Cup semi-final in Germany.GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher had already named captain Kyle Howarth and Robert Lambert for the August 22 event at Gustrow, with Ellis and Bates also receiving the nod from the initial eight-man squad.Vatcher said: “I named the squad ten days ago, and it was a fair comment to say that each of the eight riders deserved their place in the team. It has been one of the hardest decisions for me to make, which two riders would join Kyle and Robert.“After much deliberating, I have looked at various positives and negatives, and have eventually come to the conclusion of selecting Adam and Josh.“I have been to Under-21 qualifiers with both riders this season, and both teenagers rode above their years. Adam was a fraction away from winning the European Under-21 Semi Final in France, and Josh rode at a track that is completely out of his comfort zone in Slovakia, and was competing against the very best Juniors including Bartosz Zmarzlik, and was on the pace with the best of them.“It is particularly harsh on both Stefan Nielsen and Ashley Morris, because this season is their last chance at this level, as both riders will be over 21 next year.“All four riders who missed out have taken it well and wished the team good luck, and I have said to both Stefan and Ashley that if any misfortune was to happen to any of the selected four, they should be ready to step in at short notice.“It would have been really nice to have taken both Max Clegg and Zach Wajknecht with us, as the experience would have done them the world of good, but with only four places available unfortunately we don't have that luxury of taking riders just for the experience. Both Max’s and Zach’s time will come, of that I have no doubt. “So the GB Team is now complete, and we go to Germany on August 22 full of optimism of qualifying for our first Final since 2010.”The Young Lions Management would like to thank the following for their support and backing of the British team: Wessex Marine of Poole, ATPI Travel Management of Manchester, Motive Car Accessories, Ecco Finishing, Media Prima, BSPA and the SCB.
(SPEEDWAY 2 - MONDAY REVIEW)
WOLVERHAMPTON produced a sensational comeback to pull off a dramatic 47-46 win over Elite League champions Poole at Monmore Green on Monday.The Pirates looked set for all four league points when they led 33-21 after nine races - but a tactical ride 8-1 from Freddie Lindgren and Ricky Wells in Heat 10 brought Wolves back into contention.The home side then went in front for the first time with a 5-1 from Ricky Wells and Tobiasz Musielak in Heat 14, and shared the points in a tense Heat 15 with Pirates skipper Maciej Janowski winning the race ahead of Wells with Lindgren keeping Chris Holder at bay for the vital third place.Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “I think even if we’d have lost in that final race, to come from 12 points down and take it to Heat 15 was quite an amazing performance. I went from being so desolate at half past five with the rain coming down to enjoying a wonderful evening of racing.“The entertainment served up was breathtaking, and the fighting spirit shown by our riders going in as underdogs was superb.“It’s been a difficult few weeks for us, so to hold on in the final race to get the win in the manner in which we did was really tremendous.”Meanwhile Belle Vue put in a powerful home performance to defeat third-placed King’s Lynn 55-35 and move back into the play-off places.The Stars opened the meeting with a 5-1 but that proved to be the highlight of their evening as the Aces took charge led by skipper Scott Nicholls with 13 points from five rides, whilst young Australian Max Fricke picked up 10+1. Niels-Kristian Iversen top-scored for the visitors on 9+1.Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “A 20-point win over contenders like King’s Lynn is just what the doctor ordered, especially in the wake of all of the delays and setbacks we’ve had recently as a result of inclement weather.“It’s clear to see from the final result how fiercely the boys came out fighting, and if we’re going to be worthy contenders for that top four we have to demolish teams like King’s Lynn at home. Tonight, thats exactly what we’ve done.”Meanwhile former Kent skipper Simon Lambert completed a hat-trick of Laurels wins in the annual Individual event at Central Park - although it was a painful end to the meeting for the Peterborough and Leicester man.Lambert was awarded victory in the Final after a clash with Dan Greenwood which saw the Coventry Storm rider disqualified, with Lambert suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder. Current Kent rider Danny Ayres was second with Stoke’s Chris Widman third.
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY JULY 22:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Buxton 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 23:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Glasgow 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30CHALLENGE: Sheffield Select v Cradley Select 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 24:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Rye House 7.30, Scunthorpe v Plymouth 7.30, Somerset v Ipswich 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Eastbourne 7.30, King’s Lynn v Cradley 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Buxton (follows previous fixture)
