(SPEEDWAY 1)
POOLE have made a change to one of their doubling-up positions with Leicesters Linus Eklof replacing Todd Kurtz.Eklof started the season with Belle Vue in the Elite League before losing his place, but has already had some encouraging results back in the Premier League and is now set for several outings with the Pirates.Promoter Matt Ford said: "I have been very impressed with what I have seen of Linus and he brings with him that extra bit of experience that I think is crucial as we look towards a very tough run-in to the titles.I re-declared the side with Linus coming in to replace Todd last weekend before young Kyle Howarth sustained his injury at Newcastle last Sunday, so on that front the timing wasn't ideal but it will mean that Linus will have more opportunities for us whilst Kyle is out.(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAMS Danny King is battling to be fit for his clubs home clash with Swindon on Thursday following his British Final crash.The Brummies will definitely be without Tomasz Piszcz who is recovering from a heavy accident in their last home match.Promoter Graham Drury said: Danny hasnt broken anything but he has bruised his ribs and coccyx. He is hoping to ride for us on Thursday but we will leave a decision until the last minute.Tomasz is out of hospital and is returning to Poland, but he is battered and bruised and suffering from terrible headaches.
(SPEEDWAY 3)LEWIS Bridger is hopeful of returning to the Eastbourne team for a busy run of fixtures starting at home to Peterborough on Saturday.Bridger crashed out of two meetings last week suffering shoulder damage which kept him out of the Arlington clash with Kings Lynn and then the British Final.Eagles boss Trevor Geer said: Lewis set off on Monday to ride in the British Final but turned back because the pain was too much. However, he is desperate to ride on Saturday against Peterborough.He will have a behind-closed-doors session at the track on Saturday to see if he is fit enough to take his place in the team. If he is not, we will use the rider replacement rule to cover his rides. Everyone in the team is eligible to take one.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
REDCAR have made two team changes with former Ipswich skipper Kevin Doolan and recent Glasgow rider Jade Mudgway joining the Bears.The duo will make their debuts on Thursday against Workington in place of Michal Rajkowski and Justin Sedgmen, with the latter set to concentrate on Elite League racing for Lakeside.Bears promoter Brian Havelock said: We have made changes to the team which I don't like doing but circumstances have forced us to do so. We welcome Kevin Doolan into the squad and Teesside-based Jade Mudgway. I hope that they settle in quickly and produce more than the previous two did.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
FORMER Dudley star Kyle Newman returned to his old club to win the prestigious Golden Hammer at Monmore Green on Tuesday.Newman finished a point clear of Stoke duo Simon Lambert and Ashley Birks, the crucial result coming in Heat 17 which Newman won and previous meeting leader Ashley Morris finished at the back.Newman said: Its a good event, and I was gutted to miss it last year because of injury. It was a tough field and I knew I had to put five rides together.Sometimes if youre second or third its better to sit back and stack the points up three wins and two seconds was nice and consistent, I was good out of the starts and everything was perfect.
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Peterborough 7.30TEST MATCH: Team GB v Australia, Poole 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 2:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Swindon 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Leicester 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Glasgow 7.45
FRIDAY AUGUST 3:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm, Lakeside v Belle Vue 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Rye House 7.30, Plymouth v Ipswich 7.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 7.30, Somerset v Redcar 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 4:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Peterborough 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Rye House 7pm, Workington v Sheffield 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Rye House 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 5:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Berwick 4pm, Leicester v Edinburgh 6pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm, Mildenhall v Stoke 3pm
