(SPEEDWAY 1)
NEWPORT have made further team changes with the acquisition of Jason Doyle following the completion of his short-term deal with Rye House.Swedish rider Kim Nilsson has been released after an issue about his availability, and Mark Jones returns in place of Alex Davies.Club owner Steve Mallett said: “Kim had indicated that he would be missing for several fixtures and I felt that I had to act because we need to be firing on all cylinders in order to pull our season around. “Jason became available after recently covering for Steve Boxall at Rye House and he is clearly a class act at Premier League level. To fit him in we have handed a reprieve to Mark Jones and I'm confident he can now do a good job from the reserve berth.'
(SPEEDWAY 2)
GLASGOW co-promoter Stewart Dickson praised youngster Nick Morris after the Tigers secured Knockout Cup qualification against Leicester.The Ashfield side overturned an eight-point first-leg deficit with a 55-35 win on their home circuit and Morris followed up his 12+3 score from Saturday with a bumper 14+2 haul at reserve.Dickson said: “Before the meeting I was a bit concerned that we might have some problems given that we were without both Josh (Grajczonek) and Christian (Henry) but I could not have asked for any more from the side and their performance really was top drawer. “Once again I was delighted with Nick Morris, who really is a star of the future, and his performance over the two legs has been pivotal in our qualification.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
NEWCASTLE overcame Rye House in a titanic Knockout Cup struggle to ensure their defence of the trophy continues.The teams had drawn at Hoddeson on Saturday and the Rockets put up a strong display in the return fixture, taking a narrow lead with four heats to go – but the Diamonds then hit back with vital 5-1s in Heats 13 and 14 to make sure of aggregate victory.Newcastle boss George English said: “The lads gave us an unnecessary bout of nerves mid-match with too many points going to Rye House, but thankfully their class shone through again and we got the undoubted result we deserved by progressing to meet Somerset in the next round. “Maybe next time they will eliminate the tense heart-in-your-mouth moments.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BRITISH Youth speedway organiser Phil Morris has reflected on a hugely successful start to the 2011 championship at Newport on Sunday.An impressive total of 39 riders took part across the three different categories, with Nathan Stoneman (500cc), Nathan Greaves (250cc) and Henry Atkins (125cc) taking the overall victories.Morris said: “I thought the day ran very well, the riders all listened and made it run smoothly and I was very proud to have helped get double the amount of riders we have ever had in a meeting. Hopefully this is the start of the new British Speedway conveyer belt of talent.“The 250cc was definitely the class which had most of the crowd talking, and the Final was a race that will take a lot of beating. If we are to see a better race this season in any form of speedway then I will be surprised!”(FIXTURES)
MONDAY MAY 16:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough OFF, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 7.30
TUESDAY MAY 17:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Dudley v Belle Vue 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 18:NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Newport 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 19:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Sheffield 7.45SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Glasgow 7.30
FRIDAY MAY 20:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Scunthorpe 7.30SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newport 7.30, Plymouth v Workington 7.30
