(SPEEDWAY 1)
GREAT Britain will take a 1-0 lead into the Second Test against Australia at Lakeside on Friday – after Chris Harris clinched a dramatic 46-44 win in the series opener at Poole.GB recovered from a disastrous start which saw their opponents go 10-2 up, but they quickly recovered and a tight battle ensued with Harris taking the vital Heat 15 win over Poole regulars Chris Holder and Darcy Ward.Harris said: “That was a good win. I do like coming here, it’s a track I enjoy riding on and I was making some good starts tonight and some sensible decisions at the first turn. The win has set up nicely now for Lakeside on Friday.”Lakeside owner Stuart Douglas added: “It’s a great honour for our club to have such a prestigious meeting and with Wednesday’s result we are all counting down the hours for what could well be one of the highlights of our tenure here at the Arena-Essex Raceway. I hope the fans will come out in great numbers to create a partisan atmosphere and help the Great Britain team to victory.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
TAI Woffinden will be chasing a unique double of British titles when he competes in the national Final at Wolverhampton on Monday.Woffinden, recently back from injury, won the British Under-21 Final at Lakeside earlier this season and now wants to take the senior crown for the first time – with a Wild Card for the British GP at Cardiff thrown in too!He said: “Now I’m in the meeting I am determined to win it. I’m not going into it just to look for a Wild Card in Cardiff, although that would be nice, but I want that national title.“I won the British Under-21 title and now I want to make it a double with the senior title. It’s my home track but a lot depends how I come back from injury I guess.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey insists a 20-point deficit is not an insurmountable gap when his side take on Ipswich in the Knockout Cup on Friday.Godfrey took further encouragement from the performances of David Howe and Ben Wilson in the recent British semi-final at the Eddie Wright Raceway, and believes the Scorpions can collect the majority of race wins.He said: “It’s not like it’s forty points, it is twenty and whilst Ipswich have some high calibre riders they don’t have too much experience of winning races at the Eddie Wright Raceway. Kevin Doolan and Jerran Hart are the obvious exceptions but if we get all seven riders on form then we can give teams a thumping.“We’ve seen it in the past when highly fancied teams have been well–defeated and it would be great if we could pull another one out of the bag on Friday.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
LAKESIDE skipper Lee Richardson says a British Final victory remains high on his priority list as he prepares for Monday's showpiece at Wolverhampton.
The experienced Richardson has come close to the national title on several occasions, notably when he led the qualifying scores at Poole two years ago, but has never taken the crown.
He said: "It's just one thing which has always eluded me, funnily enough. It would be a nice thing to win but the other side of it is every British rider would like to be the national champion.
"Now I'm in the Final, I'd like to win. I've been in the Final a few times and never managed to do it, but it's something I'd like to do before I finish my career."
(SPEEDWAY 5)
NEWPORT have moved to sign Danish star Charlie Gjedde as a replacement for the injured Kyle Legault.
Gjedde, recently released by Berwick, will make his home debut in the Wasps' home fixture against Glasgow on Saturday with Legault ruled out due to injury to his throttle hand.
Newport chief Steve Mallett said: "'We have had to run with a six-man team since Kyle's accident and it cost us a potential victory away at Ipswich as the rider replacement points by no means matched what Kyle was capable of scoring.
"We have recently strengthened our team and did not want to lose momentum so have made this decisive move. Charlie has an excellent pedigree racing at the highest level both in this country and abroad and will no doubt make an impact."
(SPEEDWAY 6)
KING'S Lynn have finalised a deal to purchase the contract of Czech Republic international Filip Sitera from Coventry.
Sitera has impressed the Stars since joining them on loan at the start of the Elite League season, and he is now set to become a full asset of the club.
Co-promoter Jonathan Chapman said: "Filip has a lot of potential and it's definitely a good move for the club. It shows our intent to buy riders who are happy to commit to the club and we are very happy!"
(SPEEDWAY 7)
MILDENHALL have been given a major boost with the news that teenage Australian Cameron Heeps is in the country and will be at West Row on Sunday.
The Fen Tigers are unable to confirm as yet whether paperwork will be finalised in time for Heeps to race against Hackney on Sunday but he will have practice laps if he cannot compete.
Co-promoter Chris Louis said: "It's been a long haul but we are all delighted that Cameron is able to link up with us at last. I'm not a hundred per cent sure yet that he'll ride against Hackney, as there is still some paperwork to be finalised. But we have a workshop ready for him, so hopefully we are almost there.
"Whatever happens he will be at West Row on Sunday and I'm sure he'll get a warm welcome from our supporters who have waited patiently for this to happen."
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY JUNE 3:
TEST MATCH: Great Britain v Australia (at Lakeside) 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Plymouth v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Ipswich 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 4:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v King's Lynn 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Leicester v Plymouth 7.30, Newport v Glasgow 7pm, Rye House v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Somerset 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Stoke v Buxton 7.30
SUNDAY JUNE 5:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 4pm, Newcastle v Somerset 6.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Dudley 3pm NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Mildenhall v Hackney 4.30
MONDAY JUNE 6:
BRITISH FINAL: Wolverhampton 7.30
