(SPEEDWAY 1)
JOE Screen is looking to add another title to his glittering career collection when he defends the Premier League Pairs with Glasgow on Friday.Screen teamed up with James Grieves to win at Somerset last season, and he will be partnered at the Oak Tree Arena this year by Australian rider Josh Grajczonek.Screen said: Id love to do it again. It was one of the highlights last year. I dont think we were one of the fancied pairs, but conditions played into our hands and we went on to win the event.Josh and I will need to work very hard in what is a high-quality field to make it into the final stages. The key in these meetings is working as a pair, and I will have a chat with him to discuss our strategy.(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM missed the opportunity to gain ground on the Elite Leagues play-off placesdespite top-four team Lakeside suffering a heavy defeat.The Hammers were beaten 60-31 at Coventry but the Brummies lost their local derby 53-40 at Wolverhampton meaning Kings Lynn, 55-38 winners at Belle Vue, moved level on points with the Brummies and Peterborough.The three teams in the chasing pack trail Lakeside by six points with Kings Lynn having raced one more meeting than their rivals, whilst Eastbourne are just a point ahead of the Hammers.Birmingham star Ben Barker said: We were bitterly disappointed with the defeat. We came here to get a result so we aren't pleased to be going home empty handed. It is going to be tough to make the play-offs now but we are just going to have to dig deep and get some results where were not expected to.
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IPSWICH will stage a tribute meeting to former promoter John Berry with Rye House providing the opposition at Foxhall on Thursday.The Witches plan to run the whole evening in as near as possible to the format used when Berry, who passed away recently, was in charge of the club, with the meeting itself consisting of a 13-heat match followed by a Champion of the Evening second half.Ipswich will field their normal line-up with Stefan Nielsen coming in at reserve for the injured Cameron Heeps, whilst the Rockets have called up Nicolai Klindt and ex-Witch Kevin Doolan to guest for Charlie Gjedde and Anders Mellgren.The Witches have also invited a long list of former riders and track officials who will give their recollections of Berry during the evening.
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BERWICKS Micky Dyer is set to make a surprise early return to racing despite suffering a deep gash to his thigh which initially seemed to require an operation.Dyer is expected to line-up for the Bandits for their rare Wednesday home match this week, where they take on Plymouth with admission reduced to 8 for all adults with accompanied under-16s free.Manager Ian Rae said: Despite the size of the wound it didnt need an operation, and the doctors at Edinburgh Royal were able to draw it together with half-a-dozen or so big stitches. As of (Monday) morning, we didnt think Mickey would be able to resume racing this weekbut these Aussies seem indestructible!Despite the risk of bursting a stitched wound, we left the last-minute decision up to the rider himselfand he said that, if we needed him, hed have a go and we do!(SPEEDWAY 5)
STOKE star Ben Reade has been ruled out for a fortnight with a knee injury.Reade will miss the National League Fours at Loomer Road on Sunday with his place to be taken by Liam Carr, following his crash at Buxton on Sunday.Manager Malcolm Vasey said: I'm disappointed for Ben as he has been superb this season and we of course wish him a speedy recovery. It now means young Liam gets the nod and he is absolutely delighted to be given the chance although disappointed with the way it has come about but Liam is an individual who is determined to go places and wants to win and I know he will be giving a hundred and ten per cent.
(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY AUGUST 21:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Dudley v Mildenhall 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Buxton 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Kings Lynn 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Plymouth 7.45JASON LYONS FAREWELL: Birmingham 7.30JOHN BERRY TRIBUTE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 24:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Peterborough 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset 7.30
