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NEWCASTLE are favourites to be crowned the new 2010 Premier League Four Team champions.The Diamonds, will be looking to add a second piece of silverware to the Premier Trophy they won by beating Birmingham over two legs in the final, at the East of England Showground on Sunday, August 15 (gates open: 11am, firstrace: 2.30 pm).And if they do pull it off it will be a popular win among the Panthers’ fans as their squad will almost certainly include two Peterborough assets.Denmark youngster Rene Bach and teenage Australian Dakota North are both currently on loan to the Brough Park outfit.Bach, fellow Dane Kenni Larsen (right), Mark Lemon and skipper Jason King are definite starters and team boss George English is ready to plump for Dak at reserve because of his inside knowledge of the track.He said: "Ever since we knew the meeting was at Peterborough, Dak has been asking if he can ride."Unless anything unforeseen happens it’s likely he will get his wish!"The plum event returns to Peterborough after a two-season absence and advance ticket sales (www.peterboroughspeedway.co.uk) suggest another blockbuster crowd for a traditional big crowdpuller among Premier League fans.Last time it was held at Alwalton in 2007, the Isle of Wight won, ahead of Somerset, King’s Lynn and Rye House.Incredibly three riders who top-scored for their clubs that day are now regulars in the Grand Prix series – Islanders’ unbeaten Chris Holder, Somerset skipper Magnus Zetterström and Rye House’s teenage ace Tai Woffinden.Panthers’ Director of Speedway Peter Oakes said: "It’s a measure of the strength of the Premier League that only three years after they’d raced in the Fours Final the three riders are in the Grand Prix."Sunday is an ideal opportunity for our fans to have a look at some of the stars likely to be following them."There are a few in the line-up who could well be joining Chris and Tai in the GP series within a couple of years."

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BELLE VUE'S late season signing Filip Sitera is hoping to take the opportunity to put himself in promoters' thoughts for next season.He said: "I have been practising a lot of home as well as racing and I hope everything will be OK now Belle Vue have given me this chance to come back to race in England."I want to score a lot of points so I can show people what I can do and, hopefully, help myself to get a British League place next year."COVENTRY boss Alun Rossiter was happy with his side's effort in a 50-40 defeat at Wolverhampton, having got the better of the reigning champions at Brandon four days earlier.Rossiter said: "I thought we deserved a point from that, even after the awful start we had. I was thinking 'here we go again', it looked like we would be lacklustre again, but we showed great determination to sort things out and come back."I'm not going to be critical tonight, it's frustrating that we were without(injured) Przemyslaw Pawlicki because no disrespect to the reserves, but we did lose out there, and we know what he can score."EASTBOURNE recovered from a 61-31 mauling at Poole on Wednesday to get the better of the title favourites back at Arlington the next night for the second time this season.The Eagles took control with a trio of 5-1s in Heats 6, 7 and 8 although the Pirates did snatch an Elite League point thanks to Chris Holder's win in the final race.IPSWICH staged a remarkable fightback in their last home meeting, coming from 30-18 down to snatch victory over Lakeside with reserve Linus Sundstrom in outstanding form.The Witches will look to give themselves further hope of escaping the Elite League's cellar position when they face Coventry at Foxhall on Thursday.LAKESIDE boss Jon Cook is determined that his side will regroup after a difficult week which included a home defeat by Poole and the loss of a 12-point lead at Ipswich.Cook said: "It was a complete stinker of a week really and we need to put it behind us and move on with our meeting against Swindon now our focus.Peter's (Ljung) arrival has buoyed on the team and he showed good pace at Ipswich and but for many regarded as a dubious exclusion in his last ride he would have scored in each of his rides, which is exactly what we need from our second strings. "We have no intention of letting things slip further and despite our loss of form the riders haven't all retreated into their own pit spaces as frequently happens in that situation. Instead they are all determined to dig in together and ride the Hammers back into the play-off picture by right rather than default."PETERBOROUGH skipper Niels-Kristian Iversen apologised to the club's supporters after having to give best to a leg injury after two scoreless rides at Belle Vue - and the Panthers' key win at Swindon last week still leaves them well placed for the play-offs.Iversen said: "I’m sorry I let the team down and the fans. I wouldn’t have got here if I knew I wasn’t going to be ready to ride."I seriously believed I was okay – I did everything I could to try and test my fitness."POOLE can mathematically book their place in the play-offs with a win over Swindon at Wimborne Road on Wednesday - on a big night for the club with their National League outfit Bournemouth also facing a big match against Dudley following the Elite action.

Promoter Matt Ford said: "Both our sides will be put to a stern test on Wednesday and whilst the formbook probably favours the Pirates to run out winners in their match I do think that the Buccaneers' 100% home league record could be under threat. "Garry May and Neil Vatcher have been working extremely hard trying to strengthen the Bournemouth team as they look to make a final push towards making their play-offs but Dudley appear a very strong outfit themselves. I will be a very relieved man if we leave the stadium on Wednesday night with two home wins for the club."SWINDON boss Ronnie Russell insists the club's play-off hopes are not over despite their damaging home defeat against Peterborough last week.Russell said: "The sad part is we’ve now got a much, much sterner and more difficult task to take on."It was already difficult, now it’s very difficult, but I’m not prepared to say it’s impossible while it is possible." WOLVERHAMPTON star Adam Skornicki should not miss any further home meetings as he is set to return from an operation on a knee injury in time for the clash with Poole on August 23.Boss Peter Adams said: "Adam is up on his feet already and walking with the aid of a stick so he's making good progress which we're delighted about."At least we now know what the problem is and he will be having physiotherapy in preparation for his return to the saddle. He's a key rider for us and he's been in fine form."

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BERWICK's new signing Marcin Rempala made an impressive debut with two race wins in the Bandits' impressive 54-42 success over Edinburgh.Manager Ian Rae said: "Marcin set the place alight tonight with those passes, and in only his first match here was amazing. We worked well as a team and got the reward for it, and made our tenth place in the league more secure, but we want to be higher to make sure of a certain Young Shield place so we won’t be easing up as our season finally comes together."BIRMINGHAM star Steve Johnston says the Brummies can finish the season strongly despite seeing their flying start to the campaign halted by injury problems.Johnston said: "We don't become a bad team overnight and the fact that we didn't continue the form we showed early in the season is simply down to injuries, there is no other reason. There has been added pressure on guests and the rest of the team and it costs you eventually. Hopefully now with riders coming back we can do well and achieve something for the fans. That would be a nice way to end the season."EDINBURGH maintained their status as title favourites with a vital victory at Newcastle on Sunday - one day after a rare, disappointing display at Berwick.Manager John Campbell told The Scotsman: "We target every match as winnable and to leave Berwick empty-handed was disappointing. It was so important that we did something at Newcastle to redress the situation, and I'm so proud at the way all the boys dug in for victory."GLASGOW stars Joe Screen and Travis McGowan were the last-heat heroes as the Tigers snatched a dramatic draw from Monday's televised fixture at Somerset.Glasgow were six points down with two heats to go, but gained a 4-2 in Heat14 to go into a decider, with Screen and McGowan just holding Cory Gathercole at bay for a 45-45 outcome.KING'S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman says the club's wholesale changes - five in all - have been made with one eye on 2011 with the Stars set to hand over their Premier League crown this year.Chapman said: "Obviously it is hard making the decision to drop riders like Chris Mills and Casper Wortmann but we have to have one eye on the future as well as now. For example Adam Roynon has been signed on a two year deal, and at the end of this month he will be due a new average much lower than what he is currently on, even though I believe he is a seven point rider through and through."NEWCASTLE boss George English was magnanimous in defeat after Edinburgh won the crunch Premier League clash at Brough Park last Sunday - with the Diamonds losing Kenni Larsen and Derek Sneddon to injury during the meeting.English said: "Congratulations to the Monarchs. We had a nightmare of a night losing two riders to injury and suffering other mechanical problems.Against any other side we may have been able to cope but the Monarchs took full advantage of our difficulties.”NEWPORT look to extend their run of four consecutive home wins when they switch to Friday night Premier League racing this week with the visit of Rye House.Promoter Steve Mallett said: "We have to keep up this momentum and the lads now have the incentive of extra meetings. Since we had nearly a month's break in June the team have come back on good form. We have four riders in their first full season in British Speedway and we are seeing their improvement as the season ticks on. Also Kyle Legault has really dialled into the track after an inconsistent start to his Newport career."REDCAR boss Brian Havelock has explained the decision to release last season's rider of the year Ben Wilson in favour of British Under-21 Champion Joe Haines.Havelock said: "'Despite the disappointing season that we have had, the management will continue to seek to improve the team so that we endeavour to finish strongly and build a platform for next year. We thank Ben for his efforts and wish him well for the future. We welcome Joe to the club as one of Britain's finest young prospects and are looking forward to working with him."RYE HOUSE star Stefan Ekberg was one of several frustrated riders after the Rockets' home clash with Glasgow fell victim to the weather.Ekberg said: "It’s not good to go more than a month without a home match, that’s for sure. At least, we had a strong Northern Tour to keep our momentum going. We could have had a little more luck at Berwick – it rained heavily just before the meeting to spoil it a bit – but it was a good weekend overall except for losing Jordan (Frampton) with injury. It’s going to be a real challenge to cope without him as, together with Linus (Sundstrom), he has been scoring plenty of points for us."SCUNTHORPE will be making a change at reserve subject to BSPA approval as they look to mount a strong conclusion to the season.Promoter Rob Godfrey said: "The experiment of using Gary (Irving) and Steve(Worrall) has definitely been a success. They have progressed and proven they definitely have a future in the Premier League. They are very much part of our plans for the future but with the Young Shield being a competition where matches are won on aggregate every point is going to be vital." SHEFFIELD star Josef Franc says the Tigers are feeling positive about a push for the Premier League play-offs after their impressive weekend win at Stoke.Franc said: "It's a nice feeling to win away from home and it certainly improves our league position. We're in a confident mood and hopefully we can keep this form going into the week when we go to Birmingham, which will be a very hard test for us."STOKE manager Malcolm Vasey gave credit to opponents Sheffield after seeing his side beaten at home on Saturday - with a further Potters team change seemingly now in the pipeline.Vasey said: "There are positives with Frank Facher and Lubos Tomicek, and Lee Smart who did well to see the match out due to a stomach bug and even he weighed in with a victory. But at the end of the day we were just short, and you have to admit that sometimes you're not just good enough and that Sheffield were just a little better on the night."SOMERSET boss Steve Bishop believes the Rebels have a line-up to match any other for Sunday's Premier League Fours at Peterborough - a competition in which they have historically been successful.Bishop said: "Everyone seems to be tipping the likes of Newcastle, Birmingham and Edinburgh to be in the shake-up for the title, which suits us just fine as it means that we go into the meeting without the pressure of having the ‘favourites’ tag pinned on us. It was the same in 2005, the team were not amongst the fancied front runners, but they did the business on the night and came away with the trophy."WORKINGTON defeated King's Lynn at home and came close to a point at Glasgow despite tracking a depleted team with Peter Kildemand and Andre Compton injured, and Rusty Harrison unwell.Manager Ian Thomas told getnoticedonline.co.uk: "I don’t think there’s any doubt that we would have won (at Glasgow) with our regular line-up because Peter Kildemand and Rusty Harrison in particular go well round Ashfield. But having said that the lads who came in as guests rode their socks off and I couldn’t fault their effort and commitment."

NATIONAL LEAGUE action continues and you can find all relevant news, reports and other information in the NL section on speedwaygb.com

FIXTURE PICTURE...

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Swindon 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Sheffield 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Dudley (follows Poole fixture)

THURSDAY AUGUST 12:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.45, Ipswich v Coventry 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45 BRITISH UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Isle of Wight 7.30

FRIDAY AUGUST 13:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Swindon 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Newport v Rye House 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Buxton 7.30, Plymouth v Bournemouth 7.30CHALLENGE: Weymouth v Tamworth Saxons 7.15

SATURDAY AUGUST 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Stoke v King’s Lynn 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Plymouth 7pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 15:PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Peterborough 2.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Rye House 3pm, Newport v Weymouth 2.30

MONDAY AUGUST 16:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Ipswich v Swindon 7.30 GARY PETERSON MEMORIAL: Wolverhampton 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 17:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Dudley v Rye House (at Wolverhampton) 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Buxton 7.30

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Rye House 7.30, King’s Lynn v Somerset 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 19:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.45 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30, Sheffield v Rye House 7.45

FRIDAY AUGUST 20:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Peterborough 8pm, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Newport v Glasgow 7pm, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Weymouth 7.30 10th ANNIVERSARY MEETING: Somerset 7.15

SATURDAY AUGUST 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Stoke v Newport 7.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7pm NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15

SUNDAY AUGUST 22:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Berwick 4pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm, Bournemouth v King’s Lynn NATIONAL TROPHY: Newport v Isle of Wight 2.30

MONDAY AUGUST 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Peterborough v Coventry 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 24:NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7.30

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Coventry v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Birmingham 7.30, Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Dudley v Weymouth (at Birmingham) 7.30