(SPEEDWAY 1)
COVENTRY kept up their recent revival with a thumping 58-34 win over Peterborough to add three more points to their Elite League total.The Bees are still outsiders for a play-off place but are also gaining in confidence ahead of the second leg of their Cup-tie against Wolverhampton next week.They won the first ten races in the Brandon clash with the Panthers to romp into a 26-point lead before ex-Coventry man Rory Schlein gained some consolation for the visitors, winning three of the last five races with Kenneth Bjerre taking the other two.Bees boss Alun Rossiter said: "I've said it's been coming for some time,this should have been happening a couple of months ago but we are building momentum and it's great to see."I think a few people are surprised and maybe a bit concerned about the form we're showing, and now it's a case of taking it on and hopefully it's not too late."
(SPEEDWAY 2)
ELITE League favourites Poole have injury concerns over several riders -despite not racing as a team on Friday! No.1 Chris Holder missed Somerset's anniversary celebration meeting as hewas nursing a wrist injury sustained in Wednesday's home clash with Wolverhampton.Reserve Jason Doyle crashed during that meeting and was withdrawn with concussion - whilst skipper Davey Watt guested for Coventry but had to pullout after two rides with a hand injury.
Pirates promoter Matt Ford said: "It has been a frustrating night with the telephone ringing and seemingly bad news after bad news. "I was pleased that Chris took the right advice and withdrew because he was in a lot of pain. We will have to wait and see the full medical condition of both Davey and Jason but its not the news we wanted especially now we are in the business stage of the season. "These injuries just go to emphasise the point I have been saying all year,its not about the 32 league matches its all about the play-offs."
(SPEEDWAY 3)
DARCY Ward proved to be the class of the field in Somerset's 10-year anniversary celebation at the Oak Tree Arena.The reigning World Under-21 Champion reeled off five straight wins from his qualifying rides, twice lowering the best time set at Somerset this year inthe process.He was then beaten by home star Sam Masters in the first semi-final but avenged that defeat in the Final, heading home Shane Parker, Masters and Jason Lyons.Ward said: "Its great to win the this meeting. Somerset is a track that I enjoy riding at and always look forward to my visits here. "Sam gave me a real fright when he beat me in my semi, so I made some changes to the bike as I didn't want him to do the same to me again in the Final! It was a great meeting and hopefully everyone here tonight enjoyed the show we put on for them."
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPE duo Tero Aarnio and Carl Wilkinson both recorded paid maximums in an impressive home win for the Scorpions over Redcar.The home side triumphed 57-34 with Aarnio and Wilkinson unbeaten, and David Howe and Magnus Karlsson both dropping just one point to Bears riders.The result gave the Scorpions a welcome boost after the news that Jerran Hart suffered three broken bones in his crash at Redcar on Thursday - a broken wrist, ankle and a sliced heel bone.Aarnio said: "It was really my first maximum in the UK tonight. You can't count my previous maximum at Berwick as it didn't include Heat 15 so Ididn't beat the hardest riders. "Of course it was a maximum but this one, to me, is much more important as I was number 3 so I met all their heat leaders and Heat 15 is always the four best riders of the night so it feels really good."
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY AUGUST 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Stoke vNewport 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 2.30,Bournemouth v Rye House (follows previous fixture)
NATIONAL TROPHY: Newport v Isle of Wight 2.30
MONDAY AUGUST 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Peterborough v Coventry7.30, 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
CHALLENGE: Poole v Australia 7.30
