(SPEEDWAY 1)
SWINDON have added Chris Schramm to their squad in a lower-order re-shuffle brought about by Justin Sedgmen joining Premier League Newport.Sedgmen will still be part of the Robins squad, sharing a spot with Cory Gathercole, whilst Schramm joins Josh Grajczonek in the other doubling-up position.But captain Simon Stead's hopes of returning for the clash with Wolverhampton on Thursday have been quashed, as he needs another week of rest for his troublesome rib injury.Manager Ronnie Russell said: "Simon, and us, have been assured he will be ready to race after another week to 10-days and we look forward to having him back in the side. Believe me, nobody is more frustrated with this situation than Simon himself."
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue boss Jim Lynch has confirmed that talks have taken place with struggling Pole Dawid Stachyra as rider and club look to bring about an improvement in his form.Stachyra finished second in his first race for the Aces, but has since endured a nightmare run of eleven successive last places.Lynch said: "I've had a talk with him and he is adamant he wants to stay to prove himself. He's got to start scoring consistently and, if he does, we can go upwards and onwards as a team."He insists his problems are mechanical but the longer this goes one, the more difficult it will be to get out of it. It's not that he's been finishing last, it's the fact that he's not even been in the races."
(SPEEDWAY 3)
NEWCASTLE have been forced to postpone their Premier League clash with Ipswich on May 22 due to the non-availability of their track.Stadium owners William Hill need to make emergency repairs to the greyhound circuit, and these will take place over a three-day period ruling out any possibility of speedway on either race-day or the club's alternative of Monday.Newcastle director Alan Hedley said: "We are extremely disappointed that we cannot welcome Ipswich to Tyneside on that weekend and fully understand the frustrations of both sets of supporters who were looking forward to the meeting."It is particularly disappointing for the Witches supporters who were scheduled to finish off a three day tour on Tyneside but our own supporters will be equally as disappointed as it will mean another blank weekend of action after we sat out May 8."
(SPEEDWAY 4)
ISLE Of Wight will take an 18-point lead to Newport on Saturday for the second leg of their National League Knockout Cup tie.Brendan Johnson led the Islanders' scoring in Tuesday's first leg with 13 points from five rides, with Paul Starke and reserve John Resch also in double figures - with Hornets' top two Todd Kurtz and Jay Herne scoring 26 of their team's 38 points between them.Islanders boss Chris Hunt said: "I think it has been satisfactory for us, this is the amount of points we aimed for at the beginning of the meeting."We needed as many points as we could to take to Newport, it's going to be a different meeting altogether there."
((SPEEDWAY 5)
SCUNTHORPE manager Richard Hollingsworth feels the British semi-final on Friday could provide some of the best racing ever seen at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
Seven places are up for grabs for next month's Final with the home side represented by David Howe, Ben Wilson and Joe Haines, and several Elite League riders are also in the line-up.
Hollingsworth said: "Those who saw the meeting against Sheffield on Sky will remember that was a good meeting and we have had many like that.
"My personal favourite was back in 2008 when the Scorpions defeated a Ben Barker-inspired Stoke 46-44. It was an absolute classic but I have a strong feeling that Friday could be right up there as one of the very best."
(SPEEDWAY 6)
LEICESTER have moved to sign Frenchman Matheiu Tresarrieu as a replacement for the injured Ilya Bondarenko.
The Russian rider is out with a shoulder injury and Tresarrieu joins in a loan deal from Redcar, having appeared in the Elite League for Peterborough last season.
Lions boss David Hemsley said: "I have been sounding out various riders for over two weeks now but the main stumbling block has been the fact that we ride our home meetings on a Saturday which clashes with commitments of riders who race in Europe at weekends.
"At this stage of the season there are not that many riders available whose match average fits what we are looking for. Having signed Mathieu means that we no longer have to rely on using rider replacement and have a full team now for the first time since April 17."
(SPEEDWAY 7)
KING'S Lynn's National League win over Buxton on Wednesday was marred by serious injuries to two of their riders.
Young Stars' No.1 Darren Mallett looks likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken femur in the final race of the night, and team-mate Lewis Kerr had earlier broken his ankle.
Team boss Dale Allitt said: "Darren was kept in hospital overnight and will have an operation on Thursday. I've spoken to him and he's in as good spirits as he could be given that he's had so much bad luck with injuries, and he was riding particularly well.
"Lewis is probably going to be looking at six weeks out, and it's a massive blow for both riders and the club. We wish them both well for their recoveries."
(SPEEDWAY 8)
NEWPORT owner Steve Mallett has cast doubt over the continued operation of the club's National League team.
Mallett is unhappy with attendances for Hornets fixtures and is hoping for an improved turn-out for Saturday afternoon's KO Cup tie against the Isle of Wight.
He said: "I have already had preliminary talks with the sport's governing body about the implications in terms of fines etc but matters cannot continue to be sustained at the present level of attendance.
"We have one of the best infrastructures for rider development in British Speedway in terms of running training schools, a team in the National League and a senior team in the Premier League but the sums don't add up and a tough decision with respect to the Hornets is pending. If fans want to see the lads continue in action they need to get down to Queensway Meadows and show their support."
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY MAY 12:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMEIR LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Ipswich v Scunthorpe 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45
FRIDAY MAY 13:
BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Scunthorpe 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30; 1st leg: Somerset v Plymouth 7.30
SATURDAY MAY 14:
PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Plymouth v Somerset 7.30, Workington v Redcar 7pm; 1st leg: Leicester v Glasgow 7.30, Rye House v Newcastle 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Newport v Isle of Wight 4pm
SUNDAY MAY 15:
PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Glasgow v Leicester 4pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Newport 3pm, Mildenhall v King's Lynn 4.30 BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1: Newport 2.30
