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COVENTRY co-promoter Colin Pratt believes several of the rising stars on show at Brandon in tomorrows World Under-21 Final round three could have a big future at the top of the sport.Pratt spent eight years as an international manager and is looking forward to hosting the current crop of youngsters, including reigning champion Maciej Janowski and World Cup winners Michael Jepsen Jensen and Mikkel B Jensen.Pratt said: Looking back over the years of the competition, there is a terrific list of riders who have won the World Under-21 Final and then gone on to be either senior World Champion or established winners in the Grand Prix. Its always been a very open event with several potential winners, and I believe that is the same this year. It should be a terrific meeting.(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE returned to the top of the Elite League with an impressive 55-38 win over Birmingham at Wimborne Road.Swedish youngster Dennis Andersson (15) stepped up to help cover the absence of Krzysztof Kasprzak due to the Polish Championship and the Pirates opened the meeting with three 5-1s to roar into a 15-3 lead.The Brummies were well served by Sebastian Ulamek with 13, and boss Phil Morris said: The first three races were a shock to the system but we pulled it back and I strategically used the tactical ride in a race without Chris Holder or Darcy Ward, Pooles big hitters, but we came up a bit short in the end.It wasn't a good night at the office although Seb was excellent again, and he's so smooth and makes it look so easy.(SPEEDWAY 3)
EASTBOURNE will be without both Joonas Kylmakorpi and Lewis Bridger for two matches this weekend which could prove vital to their play-off chances.Kylmakorpi joined Bridger on the sidelines after a crash in Poland last Sunday, with the Eagles booking Ben Barker to guest at Lakeside on Friday and then Edward Kennett for the home match with Wolverhampton on Saturday.Manager Trevor Geer said: Naturally it is a big blow to lose our No 1 to injury again. With Lewis also still sidelined, that makes our task all the more difficult but the rest of the lads know just what is expected of them, I have every confidence that they can carve out the result we need.The play-off race is really starting to hot up now but in spite of our current injury problems we are as determined as ever to remain in the mix. A couple of profitable results this weekend would be just what the doctor ordered.
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SCUNTHORPE boss Richard Hollingsworth has confirmed the club are in the market to sign a replacement for injured captain David Howe.The Scorpions have booked Kevin Wolbert of Elite League Kings Lynn to guest for Howe in Fridays local derby against Sheffield.Hollingsworth said: Its far from ideal to have our No 1 missing. But, at the same time, we do have two other riders, in Josh (Auty) and Nick (Morris), who would be the No 1 at many other Premier League tracks. Plus all the rest of the team are capable of going out and winning a race at any point.We are looking to bring in a suitable replacement for David for the rest of the season; this club still has serious ambitions not only of reaching the play-offs but also winning the Premier League this season.
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THURSDAY AUGUST 16:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Workington 7.45SIMON STEAD TESTIMONIAL: Swindon 7.30JULIE LEWIS MEMORIAL: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 17:WORLD UNDER-21 FINAL Round 3: Coventry 7.45SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Eastbourne 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Berwick 7.30MATTHEW WETHERS TESTIMONIAL: Edinburgh 7.30WESTERNAPOLIS: Plymouth 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 18:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Wolverhampton 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Leicester 7pm, Rye House v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Ipswich 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 19:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Ipswich 4pm, Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Leicester v Workington 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Dudley 4.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Stoke 3pm
