(SPEEDWAY 1)
TRIBUTES have been paid to Newcastle rider Matej Ferjan, who has been found dead in his car at his Polish home.Ferjan joined the Diamonds earlier this season having previously won major honours with Poole at Elite League level in over 100 appearances for the club.A Newcastle statement read: "Everyone at Newcastle Speedway is shocked at this tragic news, and we are struggling to understand the nature of what is being reported in the Polish media. Since joining the Diamonds, Matej was jovial and seemingly happy, which makes this even harder to comprehend."Poole chief Matt Ford said: ""I really can't believe it, Matej was a likeable lad and always had a positive approach to his riding. This is indeed tragic news and our thoughts are with his family at this exceedingly difficult time."
(SPEEDWAY 2)
KING'S Lynn promoter Buster Chapman admits he is excited by the prospect of Russian sensation Emil Sayfutdinov making his Elite League debut at the Norfolk Arena on Wednesday.Sayfutdinov is set to line up for the Stars' opponents Coventry, but Chapman says his side must concentrate on their own job of maintaining their play-off challenge.He said: "This meeting is one that no speedway fan in the country will want to miss, it is a show stopper and what our move into the Elite League was all about. For Emil to be making his British debut at King's Lynn is simply sensational and I have no doubt he will take to the fast and grippy race track quickly."Saying that, our team must try to not let their attention be drawn to all the hype of Emil's appearance and instead concentrate on getting a win and maintaining our place in the Elite League's top four!"
(SPEEDWAY 3)
TAI Woffinden is to return to hospital for further x-rays on his broken shoulder.The Wolverhampton star was expected to make his comeback in Monday's Elite Shield clash against Poole but was forced to pull out over the weekend.Team boss Peter Adams said: "We had been expecting Tai back and named him in our team but it's still a problem for him so he's pulled out."A broken collarbone is one thing, but a broken shoulder is worse. He's going back to hospital on Monday morning for more x-rays."(SPEEDWAY 4)
NICKI Pedersen has been ruled out of his return to former club Eastbourne after suffering an injury in Poland on Sunday.The Danish ace was set to make his first appearance at Arlington since joining Peterborough, but he suffered arm and leg injuries in a clash with Dennis Andersson, and also aggravated a coccyx injury sustained in Sweden last Tuesday.Panthers boss Trevor Swales said: "Nicki called straight after the meeting to say his arm and leg were stiffening up."He had to change his plans so that he could fly home to Denmark to see his physiotherapist for immediate treatment."
(SPEEDWAY 5)
GLASGOW co-promoter Stewart Dickson admitted his relief after the Tigers secured all three Premier League points from a tough clash with Scunthorpe.The visitors led by six points early on and it required a last-heat 5-1 from Joe Screen and Josh Grajczonek to extend the home side's eventual winning margin on the day to the crucial seven points.Dickson said: "That was a lot harder than it should have been but we did enough to get through, just. However I think it is a sign of this team that they can record the maximum points without having raced that well. "We have to hold our hands up and say that Christian Henry was not ready to return and we will have a look at his situation ahead of next week."
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY MAY 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v King's Lynn 8pm, Eastbourne v Peterborough 7.30 ELITE SHIELD 2nd leg: Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
TUESDAY MAY 24:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Belle Vue 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 25:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 26:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Birmingham 7.30, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Newport 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Sheffield v Buxton 7pm, Sheffield v Stoke (follows previous fixture)
FRIDAY MAY 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Rye House 7.30, Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.30, Somerset v Leicester 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Hackney v Dudley (at Lakeside) 8pm
