BIG EVENT LATEST...PLANS are at an advanced stage for next month’s Premier League Fours to be the biggest speedway event in the UK this year outside the World Championship.The Fours has a new home with Leicester, who are in their first season back in the sport after an absence of nearly 30-years, set to host the prestige meeting at their impressive Beaumont Park stadium on Sunday, August 7.The draw for the event is expected to take place this week and there will definitely be new winners as Birmingham, who were victorious at Peterborough last season, have moved into the Elite League in 2011.Leicester City Council have given their wholehearted support to the local staging of the Fours, which is always one of the most popular meetings on the calendar and attracts supporters from all over the country.A major advertising and publicity drive is set to take place, and further discussions are scheduled between council bosses, the BSPA and Leicester Speedway in order to further develop the plans.One exciting development is the presence of a speedway display stand on the main concourse outside Leicester City FC’s Walkers Stadium for the club’s prestige pre-season friendly against Real Madrid.The Spanish giants visit the Foxes on Saturday July 30, the weekend before the Fours, and their appearance is set to draw a huge crowd for the match.Agreement has also been reached for the display of 12-sheet posters at prime city centre locations to further raise awareness of the event.Super7even SpeedwayGB Events co-ordinator David Hoggart said: “It’s a sheer pleasure to be able to deal with a local authority who are so supportive of bringing this major event to their city. The backing they are giving us is incredible, and we can’t thank them enough “Everyone is working hard to make this an event to remember and I am sure there will be plenty of interest in the draw. This is traditionally a tough event to win but a great day for those who do so!“I sincerely hope the people of Leicester and the surrounding areas turn out in force on the day, and I’m sure there will be lots of interest from travelling fans which will help to create a terrific atmosphere.”SUPER7EVEN SERIES SPEEDWAY GB EVENTSBRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: TAI WOFFINDENELITE LEAGUE PAIRS: POOLEBRITISH FINAL: SCOTT NICHOLLSPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: GLASGOWPREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Leicester, August 7PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, September 25ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon, October 15ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…BELLE VUE manager Jim Lynch admitted that riders from both sides had been unhappy with conditions at Kirkmanshulme Lane on Monday – but felt his team had made the best of it with a 58-35 win over Lakeside.Lynch said: “Two or three of our boys struggled early on and Ricky Kling was unlucky in that he was out in the first two races when it was really difficult and he struggled. Perhaps that was my fault for sending him out twice early on.“(Craig) Cook didn't like it but it didn’t stop him having his best meeting for us and Rory Schlein was unhappy but he still wasn’t beaten by a visiting rider in four races.”BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury was relieved to see No.1 Krzysztof Kasprzak regaining his form with a double figure score at Wolverhampton on Monday as the Brummies secured a point from the meeting.Drury said: “I never like singling riders out for criticism but he’s had more than his fair share over the last month so it’s only fair that I praise him after a display like that.“For him to beat Freddie Lindgren like he did in the opening race was very impressive and we just hope he can keep that form going.”COVENTRY star Kenni Larsen hit paid-twelve in the Bees’ 49-44 home win over King’s Lynn on Friday, and says he’s feeling more and more comfortable about life in the Elite League.Larsen said: “It was a tough match but we managed to get the win, and I’m pleased personally with how the meeting went.“I’ve said it before and I hope it’s going to be the case that this is what you’re going to see from me from now on. Having more home matches is good, I’m getting confident in the track and I think everybody else is too.”EASTBOURNE bosses have told their riders to up their game when the Elite League resumes after the World Cup break – to avoid wasting a hugely positive start to the season.Co-promoter Trevor Geer said: “We want the riders to get back to the form they showed at the beginning of the season when we led the table for several weeks.“We have big ambitions in both the league and the KO Cup and we are concerned that some of the riders seem to have lost their way a bit.”KING’S LYNN reserve Filip Sitera was pleased to put in an improved display back on his old home track at Coventry last Friday, as the Stars continue to add consistent points to their Elite League total.Sitera said: “After Peterborough I wanted to come back strongly and I did, but I probably could have got ten points at Coventry. I crashed in my third ride and then broke a chain in my last. That is just unlucky I guess.“I think we can say they were two good points away from home last week because both Peterborough and Coventry are strong on their own track. We are picking up points in most meetings.”LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook praised the Hammers’ performance in their 47-43 win at Swindon last Thursday.The result was followed up by a 48-41 home win over Belle Vue to make it six points from the week, although the Aces took revenge in the return fixture on Monday night.Cook said: “The boys were terrific at the Abbey Stadium, Blunsdon. Right from the start we showed that we meant business and along with a sublime performance from Lee Richardson I felt the rest of the team, with Peter (Ljung) and Piotr (Swiderski) in particular, showed that even when missing the start they had the determination to fire themselves to the front.”PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales is backing Polish rider Norbert Kosciuch to make a success of his move up from reserve into the main body of the Panthers’ team.Swales said: “Norbi has been exceptional all season. We see what he can do around the Showground in every single meeting here.“He has been beating top riders throughout the season and I don’t think the number he wears on his back will make any difference. I fully expect Norbi to become a fixture in the main body of the team in much the same way as his fellow Pole Krzysztof Buczkowski did last year.”POOLE’S Russian star Renat Gafurov says his winter efforts to ensure he could join the club have proved to be well worth it as he looks to play his part in the Pirates’ title challenge.Gafurov said: “It’s all been worthwhile. I made a good job over the winter sitting the English exam in Moscow and passing it.“I’m really happy I did that. I’m loving racing for Poole and want to help them win trophies. If we can make sure we finish on top of the table we can pick our opponents in the play-off semis, and that’s what we want to be able to do.”SWINDON boss Gary Patchett has explained the reasons for the postponement of this week’s fixture against Poole, with concerns over the availability of Australian riders before the World Cup.Patchett said: “When we opted to face Poole in the second half of the Elite League fixtures we did it because we knew the fans would want to see them. If there was a chance (Chris) Holder and (Darcy) Ward would be missing then that defeats the object.“It also means we have a three-week gap to carry out some major track work after comments made about the circuit on Thursday.”WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Peter Karlsson is hoping to quickly cure some set-up issues with the Monmore men looking to gain ground on the top four in Thursday’s return fixture at Birmingham.Karlsson said: “I feel as though I am letting points slip and losing races I should be winning, but the way things are this season we all know we have to keep working with the machinery to get the right set-up.“Hopefully now we can go to Birmingham on Thursday and get a good away result, if we can do that it will boost our chances of getting in the top four which is what we are aiming for.”PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…BERWICK’S young Swede Alex Edberg will make a full recovery from the injuries sustained in a horror crash at Shielfield Park on Saturday in the Premier League match against Rye House.Bandits bos Ian Rae said: “All indications are saying he will be fully and completely fit in around 12 weeks, but has been advised to keep off the bikes for a further three months. Considering what we all saw on Saturday and what we secretly feared, well, to be standing here now, just two days later, and seeing and hearing what we are is stunning.”EDINBURGH star Craig Cook defied the pain from a wrist injury to score a paid maximum in the Monarchs’ 49-44 away win at Leicester on Saturday.Cook said: “My wrist is still a bit sore but you just have to ride through some things and get on with it. It was just nice that we got the win which avenged Leicester's win at Armadale a few weeks ago.”GLASGOW co-promoter Alan Dick was delighted with the turn-out for the Tigers’ home victory over Leicester which maintained the Ashfield side’s strong challenge for the Premier League title.Dick said: “It was good to see a big crowd out in the sunshine and hopefully we will give them plenty to shout about in the coming weeks. This team is on fire at the moment and long may that continue.”IPSWICH progressed to the quarter-finals of the Knockout Cup with aggregate victory in their long-running tie with Scunthorpe, taking the replay by 24-points after a 37-53 defeat at the Eddie Wright Raceway.Manager Pete Simmons said: “It was mission accomplished, and I was impressed with the debut of Mathieu Tresarrieu at a track he was unfamiliar with.”LEICESTER promoter David Hemsley said he did take some encouragement from the Lions’ weekend displays, although he could look to make a further change in time for the weekend.Hemsley said: “We’re pretty happy now with the majority of our side, although we’ve got one or two riders who aren’t quite up to par at the moment. I’m trying, though I can’t promise anything at the moment, to see if I can put things in place to make a further change in time for Saturday.”NEWCASTLE boss George English praised his side for overcoming the injury absence of Stuart Robson to gain a home victory over Scunthorpe on Sunday.English said: “Without Robbo, I was always worried this could have been a home defeat. However, as they have done numerous times in this injury-ruined season, the rest of the lads dug deep to get us a narrow win.”NEWPORT promoter Steve Mallett admitted the club had been on the end of a surprise result when they were beaten at home by Scunthorpe on Saturday.Mallett said: “This result has shocked us big-time and we are seriously wondering where we go from here. Our heat-leaders were fine, it was the other four who underperformed although Todd (Kurtz) redeemed himself with a heat win followed by two solid thirds.”PLYMOUTH promoter Mike Bowden was frustrated by the disqualification of Kyle Hughes in a clash with Sam Masters in the penultimate race of a dramatic local derby draw with Somerset.Bowden said: “It was a controversial decision over what happened to Kyle, who I thought had got through cleanly. Having said that, it was a tremendous night's entertainment and the racing was very close. It was a very good team effort by our side.”REDCAR boss Jitendra Duffill said his side’s stroke of fortune when Berwick’s Sebastian Alden stopped in the last race of the Heat 15 decider last week, handing them a narrow win, was overdue for the Bears.Duffull said: “The outcome was justice really because if Matej Kus hadn’t had bike problems and Aaron Summers not stopped twice while in points-scoring positions, we’d have been well up and maybe we’d have taken all three points. We needed a bit of luck and it evened itself out in the end.”RYE HOUSE collected a point from their abandoned fixture at Berwick on Saturday, although manager John Sampford couldn’t hide his disappointment after the Rockets led the way until the very last race.Sampford said: “We are totally gutted, to be honest. Once we lost Jordan (Frampton) and then had the delay after Heat 8 we had to cram in the races as quickly as possible to try and beat the curfew, and we simply ran out of both riders and steam. But I am delighted by the way the rest of the team banded together in adversity.”SCUNTHORPE team manager Richard Hollingsworth was delighted with the Scorpions’ weekend work, which included an away win at Newport for three points and a further point gained the following evening at Newcastle.Hollingsworth said: “It was great to claim league points on successive away trips and if we continue like that we are going to climb the table. Michael (Palm Toft) has been an excellent addition to the team and not only are his points contributions having an impact but he is going to be a great entertainer.”SHEFFIELD are building up to a big home meeting on Thursday where the Tigers, who currently head the Premier League standings, take on reigning champions Edinburgh.Promoter Neil Machin said: “Last week against Workington I thought we were excellent and we will need to be on similar form for this meeting against the champions. It will need another solid all-round display from the boys. We have really enjoyed a good run and it’s nice to see the reserves chipping in with very useful scores.”SOMERSET will look to keep up their Premier League title challenge with a Wednesday evening clash against Edinburgh followed by a busy Northern tour weekend taking in the return at Armadale followed by matches at Berwick and Glasgow.Manager Steve Bishop said: “The team are now in a very busy period of matches, and whilst it goes without saying that we want all three points from Wednesday’s home match against Edinburgh, a good performance then could really set us up for the Scottish tour. Whilst it’s never easy doing three matches in as many days, I would like to think that we could come out of that weekend of matches with some further league points to show for our efforts.”WORKINGTON promoter Keith Denham believes the Comets’ fightback to ensure a home victory over Newcastle was the type of result which could define their season.Denham said: “It is these kinds of victories that win you championships. We will look back on this result at the end of the season as it could be a pivotal moment and points for us.”

FIXTURE PICTURE…TUESDAY JULY 5:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Dudley 7.30WEDNESDAY JULY 6:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Coventry v Peterborough 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30THURSDAY JULY 7:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Wolverhampton 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45FRIDAY JULY 8:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30, Plymouth v Newport 7.30, Scunthorpe v Leicester 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Hackney v Isle of Wight (at Lakeside) 8pmSATURDAY JULY 9:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Somerset 7pm, Leicester v Ipswich 7.30, Newport v Redcar 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 7.30SUNDAY JULY 10:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Somerset 4pm, Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Hackney 3pmMONDAY JULY 11: WORLD CUP EVENT 2: King’s Lynn 7.30TUESDAY JULY 12:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Dudley v Newport 7.30WEDNESDAY JULY 13:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Dudley 8pm, King’s Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30THURSDAY JULY 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Leicester 7.30, Redcar v Somerset 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.45FRIDAY JULY 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Plymouth 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newport 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30SATURDAY JULY 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Leicester v Sheffield 7.30, Newport v Newcastle 7pm, Plymouth v Edinburgh 7.30, Rye House v Glasgow 7pmSUNDAY JULY 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 4.30MONDAY JULY 18:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30, Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30TUESDAY JULY 19:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30WEDNESDAY JULY 20:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30, King’s Lynn v Peterborough 7.30