(SPEEDWAY 1)
EASTBOURNE have named Finnish rider Timo Lahti as their new No.7 rider.The 18-year-old joins the Eagles, who are currently top of the Elite League table, as a replacement for Dawid Lampart, having had a successful trial at the Arlington circuit last weekend.Co-promoter Mike Bellerby said: "Taylor Poole has done a fantastic job for us since Lampart's departure and I know everyone at Arlington admires the way he races. However, his Ipswich commitments mean that he would miss many of our fixtures."We believe that if we are to sustain a championship challenge we need a regular seven-man team and that's why we have brought in Lahti. He is desperate to further his career and we think he fits the bill."
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue were left to reflect on a shock home defeat against Lakeside last night.The Aces went down 47-43 at Kirkmanshulme Lane where the Essex side were never headed after taking the lead in heat 3.The Hammers were led by Adam Shields who scored 11+1 and Lee Richardson gave the Australian excellent backing with 10. Charlie Gjedde was top man for the Manchester side with 11+1, but Aces boss Jim Lynch is concerned that some of his team's previous good early season work is now being done.He said: "We are in danger of wasting a good start to the season. Gjedde showed what can be done if you make some decent starts. He was brilliant on the night."
(SPEEDWAY 3)
WOLVERHAMPTON ended Eastbourne's 100 per cent start to the Elite League season with a dramatic last-heat victory at Monmore Green.Swedish duo Peter Karlsson and Freddie Lindgren combined for maximum points over the Eagles' top man Bjarne Pedersen to secure a 46-44 win, although the visitors did a point to their league total with the narrow defeat.Karlsson said: "That must have been a great meeting to watch but it was very tense to ride in."There was a lot of pressure in the last race but thankfully Freddie and me were able to do the business. It's nice for the fans and we are really pleased with the result. Credit to Eastbourne, they are a great team."
(SPEEDWAY 4)
KING'S Lynn Young Stars boss Dale Allitt says the local connections between his team and Mildenhall will make for an exciting meeting at the Norfolk Arena on Wednesday.Both sides have taken narrow wins from their opening National League fixtures, although King's Lynn's victory over Hackney was marred by the loss of Adam Lowe, who is likely to miss the rest of the season with broken vertebrae.Allitt said: "It's such a shame for Adam, he was looking good and leading by a country mile when the crash happened. We'll use rider-replacement for the time being but we are actively working on bringing someone in."The Mildenhall match on Wednesday will be really interesting, especially with the rider movement between the clubs over the winter, and our lads will be very much up for it."
(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY APRIL 19:NATIONAL SHIELD 1st leg: Dudley v Buxton 7.30 PETE REDFERN MEMORIAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Sittingbourne Select 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 20:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Swindon 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 21:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Birmingham 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Newport 7.30, Sheffield v Ipswich 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 22:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 1pm, Birmingham v Swindon 7.30, Coventry v Peterborough 8pm, Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.45, King's Lynn v Poole 7pm, Lakeside v Eastbourne 1pm, Peterborough v Coventry 11am PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30, Ipswich v Sheffield 2.30, Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Hackney v Stoke (at Lakeside) (follows EL fixture)
