SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENT - SUNDAY APRIL 15
NATIONAL TROPHY
Mildenhall v Plymouth - OFF
Buxton v Stoke - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
WORKINGTON finally got their season underway after three postponements with a 47-43 victory over Edinburgh in the Championship Shield at Derwent Park on Saturday.
In a match in which the home side were never behind the Comets scored solidly throughout, with Rasmus Jensen heading their scorechart with eleven and a bonus.
Comets team boss Tony Jackson said: “It was pleasing to finally get going and a solid team effort saw us over the line against a Ricky Wells inspired Monarchs side in what was a very entertaining meeting.
“We now have something to build on and, for the lads, it was great to get a competitive meeting under their belts and to a man they all felt that there are things they can improve on as we move forward.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BERWICK edged out Glasgow 47-43 in a thrilling Championship Shield opener at Shielfield Park on Saturday.
The Tigers required a 5-1 from Heat 15 to snatch a draw, but although Chris Harris came from the back to take the win, Aaron Summers and Kevin Doolan secured a shard race for the home side ahead of Claus Vissing.
Skipper Doolan top-scored for the Bandits with 12 and reserve Dany Gappmaier added 10, whilst Harris collected 12 for the Tigers.
Berwick boss Scott Courtney said: “It was a great way to open a season, and the match showed us what great potential this side of ours has.
“Even the raw newcomer John Lindman was learning about his brand new track with every outing while Kevin seems to get younger every year and Dany is one of the fastest gaters we've had for some time.
“This was a good opening night in front of an amazing crowd!"
(SPEEDWAY 3)
TOM Brennan scored his first 15-point maximum in Eastbourne’s 60-30 National League win over Buxton on Saturday.
Brennan came through from the back in Heat 15 to secure his full house with a 5-1 alongside team-mate Georgie Wood, who also scored a paid maximum.
Ben Wilson top-scored for the Hitmen with nine, whilst David Wallinger secured their only race win.
Brennan said: “I am over the moon. It has been a long time waiting for it to come.
“I thank everyone involved in my team for helping make it possible.”
Buxton boss Joshua Moss said: “I’m not too disheartened because there were some positives to take from the meeting.
“Arlington is a difficult place to come at the best of times and more so when our riders have not had any track time due to the weather, and we improved as the meeting went on. Had we started the meeting from Heat 10 the match would have been closer.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PETERBOROUGH open their Championship campaign as Redcar visit the East of England Arena today (Sunday).
The Panthers have called up their 2017 team member Paul Starke to guest for Michael Palm Toft, who suffered ankle damage a crash at Swindon on Thursday.
Boss Carl Johnson said: “It will be good to get back on home shale after a few weeks away, and I’m expecting Redcar to provide tough opposition.
“Paul jumped at the chance of taking the guest booking, and obviously he was a firm favourite with us last season.
“We would have liked to have brought him back this year before he went to Glasgow, but it will be nice to have him back in the team on Sunday.”
Meanwhile Scunthorpe have booked ex-Newcastle star Lewis Kerr to guest for the injured Steve Worrall as they visit Brough Park in the Championship Shield.
And Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey has stressed the importance of away results in the race to finish top of the group.
Godfrey said: “We need to win at least one away meeting if we are to top our group, and we’ll go into the meeting at Newcastle with a positive attitude.
“It’s a real shame that we don’t have Steve - he’s got bags of experience of riding at Newcastle over the last few years. We’ve brought in Lewis, since he’s another former Newcastle rider and he twice did a great job for us at Brough Park in 2017.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
COVENTRY race their first home National League match when they face Eastbourne at Leicester today (Sunday).
The Bees missed out in their league opener at Belle Vue last month whilst the Eagles are on a high after two wins already this weekend.
Coventry operate rider-replacement for the unavailable Danny Phillips, and boss Martyn Macdonald said: “Really r/r was the only option for Danny on Sunday given the averages.
“Obviously if it had been our No.1 we would have used a guest, but with the lack of options it’s better to give the others in the team an extra ride.
“I doubt many of the Eastbourne riders have really raced at Leicester before, and we’ve already got one meeting’s advantage on everyone under our belts there. I’d like to think we can achieve a similar result to the Stoke match.”
Eagles chairman Martin Dugard said: “Not many of us have been there and gone round the circuit.
“That is something we have to weigh up very quickly and we have to have our wits about us because we cannot be left trailing behind.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY APRIL 15:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Redcar 5pm
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Eastbourne 3pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Stoke OFF, Mildenhall v Plymouth OFF
MONDAY APRIL 16:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Leicester v Somerset 7.30, Wolverhampton v Rye House 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 18:
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL, Birmingham 7.30
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Swindon 7.30, Somerset v Leicester 7.30
Results Saturday April 14, 2018
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD
Berwick 47 – Kevin Doolan 12+1
Glasgow 43 – Chris Harris 12
Championship Shield points: Berwick 3 Glasgow 1
Workington 47 – Rasmus Jensen 11+1
Edinburgh 43 – Ricky Wells 17
Championship Shield points: Workington 3 Edinburgh 1
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Eastbourne 60 – Tom Brennan 15
Buxton 30 – Ben Wilson 9
