(SPEEDWAY 1)
BIRMINGHAM produced a remarkable fightback to come from ten points down and edge out local rivals Coventry 46-44 at Perry Barr.The Brummies trailed 22-32 and had failed to score from a tactical ride, but they picked up four 5-1s in the last six races with Sebastian Ulamek and Bjarne Pedersen twice overcoming Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls in the closing stages.Boss Phil Morris said: “We were off the pace at the start and then we pulled through at the end. If we could do what we did today and what we did at Wolves in one meeting, we’ll give someone a good thrashing.“But what a night – a fantastic finish, and the two boys at No.1 and No.5 came good. I don’t think anyone would have expected that after the first eight heats. Heats 13 and 15 have been our Achilees’ heel until tonight, but when those riders are firing it makes all the difference.”
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TROY Batchelor scored a paid maximum as Swindon continued their play-off chase with a 53-37 win over top-four rivals Lakeside.Batchelor’s 13 (paid 15) was well backed by skipper Hans Andersen (12+1) and there was a spectacular debut from new signing David Lampart, who collected 11+1.Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: “I’m more than pleased that Troy is back to the rider he was. He’s not only making gates but coming from the back, and he’s got that old swagger about him.“I had to give Lasse (Bjerre) the chance to get the gist of the track and he will come good, I’ve got no worries about that, and what a start for young Dawid. He looked very smooth and was enjoying it.”(SPEEDWAY 3)
RYE House expect Saturday’s British Championship semi-final to go ahead with a new track surface having been laid at Hoddesdon.The first semi-final at Sheffield was postponed on Thursday, but a reserve date of Tuesday July 17 is already pencilled in for the Rye House event should the weather intervene.However, the club are optimistic for Saturday with a new silver granite surface which was laid earlier in the week expected to react well to wet weather, and with a promising forecast for Saturday.
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LEICESTER have released Simon Lambert and replaced him with Swedish rider Linus Eklof in a loan deal from King’s Lynn.Eklof, who started the season with Belle Vue in the Elite League, is set to make his Lions debut on Sunday in the Knockout Cup tie with Workington – with the club still assessing the rider market with reserve Simon Nielsen on the injured list.Manager Glyn Taylor said: “It has been a difficult recent period for Simon who always gives full commitment to his racing but the points have not flowed as much as we would have liked or indeed for him. “Riding at number two in the team like Simon has done all season is possibly the hardest position for someone to cope with. It was not an easy decision to make and we will do all we can to get Simon fixed up with another club.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
MILDENHALL have been boosted by the return of Joe Jacobs ahead of their National League clash with Stoke on Sunday.Jacobs has been out for five weeks with a broken wrist after a crash at Dudley, having been in the best form of his career before the accident.He said: “The wrist is still a bit stiff, but I was told to expect that after having it in a cast for a few weeks. But with the exercises I'm doing it's getting better all the time, so I am ready to go again.“It's annoying as I was scoring well and enjoying myself, but these things happen and when they do you just have to get on with it. I haven't had chance to have any practice so I'll be getting straight back into things on Sunday, but I am confident I can pick up where I left off.”(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JULY 7:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Rye House 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Somerset 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Isle of Wight 7.30
SUNDAY JULY 8:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Plymouth 4pm, Newcastle v Somerset 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Leicester v Workington 6pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Stoke 4pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Eastbourne 3.30
MONDAY JULY 9:WORLD CUP EVENT 2: GB v Australia v Czech Republic v Germany, King’s Lynn 7.30
TUESDAY JULY 10:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v King’s Lynn 7.30FAST GOLDEN HAMMER: Dudley 7.30
