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GREAT Britain’s World Cup campaign came to an end in Gorzow on Thursday as Australia and Sweden progressed to the Final.Neil Middleditch’s side were weakened by the absence of Scott Nicholls due to family reasons, but skipper Chris Harris (14) and the inexperienced Ben Barker (7) both emerged from the meeting with great credit.Australian boss Craig Boyce, meanwhile, believes the return of three-time World Champion Jason Crump this year will enable his side to give favourites Poland a stern test on their home circuit in the Final.Boyce said: “We have a great team spirit and it has been great to have Jason back in the team. That has boosted our morale again. Everything went to plan and the boys pulled together well right from the get-go.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
BERWICK have announced the signing of Ludvig Lindgren to replace injured fellow Swede Alex Edberg.Lindgren is the second rider from top-flight Wolverhampton to join a Premier League club as Ricky Wells is set to link up with Plymouth next week.Berwick boss Ian Rae said: “One of the reasons we’ve been able to bring a rider of Ludvig’s ability here is that, unbeknownst to us, when he got our invitation he immediately phoned our ace Sebastian Alden to ask about our club.“Seb told him in no uncertain terms just how much he was enjoying himself since becoming a Bandit, and that young Mr Lindgren should get himself up here right away. We consider ourselves pretty fortunate to have obtained his agreement to line up at Shielfield Park with immediate effect.”
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GLASGOW skipper Joe Screen has been given a boost with a significant improvement to his elbow injury.The Tigers had feared that Screen would require a season-ending operation but the former British Champion is now confident of racing on at the forefront of the club’s Premier League title challenge.Screen said: “I have been struggling with pain in my elbow that has required a lot of treatment and medicine, but on Tuesday it seemed to crack and from then on I have not had any major pain from it. “I have no idea what happened but it certainly seems a lot better and I went out to do some moto-crossing on Wednesday and it was fine. I expect that I still will require some attention to it at the end of the season, but that is for then and if I can carry on without pain then that is only a good thing.”
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NICK Simmons is the new holder of the Bronze Helmet after the Isle of Wight skipper defeated holder James Cockle in their race at King’s Lynn on Wednesday.Simmons’ victory was the start of a good night individually as he was beaten just once in five rides in the main meeting, although the home side racked up a 61-31 win with the Islanders losing Paul Starke to injury.Simmons said: “The Bronze Helmet was cool, right from the first lap I really felt in the mood and that the track was going to give me something to race on. “Now I'm disappointed that I dropped a point by half a bike, but that's how it goes. If you had said before the meeting that I would get 14, or 16 with the double points, and the Bronze Helmet I'd have taken it.”(FIXTURES) FRIDAY JULY 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Plymouth 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newport 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Hackney v Buxton (at Lakeside) 8pm
SATURDAY 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 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30, Workington v Ipswich 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 4.30
MONDAY JULY 18:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30, Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Ipswich 7.15
TUESDAY JULY 19:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30
