(SPEEDWAY 1)
EASTBOURNE promoter Mike Bellerby will be telling his riders to discount their comfortable early-season challenge match win over Poole when the two sides meet in the Elite League on Saturday.The table-topping Eagles enhanced their position with a win at Belle Vue on Monday, but the Pirates also have a 100 per cent record, winning both of their away matches so far.Bellerby said: "Forget completely what happened last time we met here, the Pirates had problem after problem to deal with and the result was simply a one-off."With the likes of track record holder Chris Holder and Davey Watt also in harness, those two in particular know the quickest way around Arlington and with the addition of Dakota North as cover for the absent Dennis Andersson, they certainly have the manpower to test us to the full."
(SPEEDWAY 2)
PETERBOROUGH have added Workington's former British Motocross Champion Richard Lawson to their Elite League squad.Lawson joins the Panthers as a replacement for the injured Alex Davies, and will take top-flight outings when fellow doubling-up rider Dakota North is on duty for Somerset.He said: "I jumped at the chance of joining the Panthers. I had been hoping I'd get a call to ask me to double up somewhere but it was still a surprise when they contacted me."It took me about 60 seconds to agree and I'm looking forward to racing for them as often as I can."
(SPEEDWAY 3)
NEWPORT'S deal to sign Chris Slabon as a replacement for the injured Robin Aspegren has been called off.The Pole had been expected to make his Wasps debut against Rye House this weekend, but commitments in his home country have scuppered the deal.Co-promoter Steve Mallett said: "It's back to the drawing board as we press on to find a solution to our injury problems. At least Anders Mellgren is definitely with us from Friday evening when we entertain the Rye House Rockets at Queensway Meadows before the return at the Rockets base in Hertfordshire on the Saturday evening."Rider-replacement is the likely option for those fixtures while we search for a new rider."
(SPEEDWAY 4)
HACKNEY joint-boss John Sampford was satisfied to snatch a point from the Hawks' first National League fixture of the season at King's Lynn.The visitors had trailed by eleven points with three heats to go, but recorded an 8-1 in Heat 13 thanks to Barrie Evans and Marc Owen, with the same combination picking up a 4-2 in the last race leaving the final score at 47-45 in the Young Stars' favour.Sampford said: "We came away with something from the match when at one stage that didn't look likely. In fact, it looked less than remote; some will no doubt have thought we didn't have a prayer."Overall, though, it was a good team performance, and one that we're determined to build on going forward."
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY APRIL 15:
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Lakeside 8pm
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Newport v Rye House 7.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 7.30
CHALLENGE: Plymouth v USA Touring Team 7.30
EMIL KRAMER MEMORIAL: Somerset 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 16:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Poole 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Scunthorpe 7pm, Leicester v Newcastle 7.30, Rye House v Newport 7pm, Workington v Redcar 7pm
CHALLENGE: Stoke v Scunthorpe 7.30, Northern Select v USA Touring Team (at Workington) (follows PL fixture)
SUNDAY APRIL 17:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Berwick 4pm, Newcastle v Leicester 6.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Dudley 4.30, Newport v Stoke 2.30
CHALLENGE: Buxton v USA Touring Team 3pm
