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THREE top stars are hopeful of winning their fitness battles to take their places in the Premier League Riders Championship at Sheffield later this month.Berwicks Ricky Ashworth, Edinburghs Craig Cook and Charlie Gjedde of Rye House have all been on the sidelines in recent weeksbut having qualified for the Owlerton showpiece on September 23 as their clubs No.1s, all are currently rated as having a good chance of competing.Ashworth is a former winner of the event from his lengthy association with the host club, and has already tasted major event victory this year with Berwick in the Premier League Fours at Peterborough.The 2009 Champion is the only previous winner in the field but several riders have the potential to challenge for one of the most prestigious titles on the calendar.And Scunthorpe, Leicester and Plymouth have the added bonus of having two riders in the field, with their second-highest averaged riders having been nominated as Wild Cards.Mid-season Scorpions signing Nick Morris joins his team-mateand former Sheffield manJosh Auty, Ben Barker and Ryan Fisher will both represent Plymouth, whilst Lasse Bjerre, after impressive displays at Owlerton this season, is the second Leicester rider along with Kauko Nieminen.LINE-UP: Leigh Lanham (Ipswich), Charlie Gjedde (Rye House), Nick Morris (Scunthorpe), Jason Doyle (Somerset), Stuart Robson (Newcastle), Ricky Ashworth (Berwick), Josef Franc (Sheffield), Craig Cook (Edinburgh), Ryan Fisher (Plymouth), Ben Barker (Plymouth), Ulrich Ostergaard (Redcar), Josh Auty (Scunthorpe), Kauko Nieminen (Leicester), Richard Lawson (Workington), Joe Screen (Glasgow), Lasse Bjerre (Leicester).Meanwhile Sheffield are urging supporters to book early if they wish to take advantage of the superb restaurant facilities at Owlerton.A Sunday Special Carvery is being offered in the Panorama Restaurant, which also offers a perfect view of the circuit.This will be priced at 8.95 for adults and 5.95 for children, with a desert menu also available at 3.50 each.All bookings must be made by phoning the stadium direct on 0114 234 3074, and it is expected that the event will be very busyso bookings in advance are required.*NATHAN Greaves was crowned British Youth Champion in both 500cc and 250cc classes after a triumphant display at Sittingbourne on last weekend.Greaves, the series leader going into the sixth and final round of the competition, won both classes on the day to extend his overall lead.Second place in the 500cc standings went to Scunthorpes Danny Phillips, with Josh Bailey third.And in the 250cc category, Kelsey Dugard moved into second place with Zach Wajknecht third after being forced to miss the final round.
SPEEDWAYGB EVENTS SERIES:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: JOE HAINESPREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: BERWICKBRITISH FINAL: SCOTT NICHOLLSPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: WORKINGTONPREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 23ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon, Saturday October 20
NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENT DATES:NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: MILDENHALLNATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: MILDENHALLNATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, Saturday September 29
BRITISH SPEEDWAY FIM EVENT DATES:WORLD UNDER-21 TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL: AUSTRALIAGRAND PRIX QUALIFIER: CHRIS HARRISWORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP Round 3: MICHAEL JEPSEN JENSEN
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BELLE VUE boss Jason Attwood believes Danish rider Patrick Hougaard could be set for a strong finish to the season after he made changes for the recent home win over Eastbourne.Attwood said: Patrick tried a set-up that he had never tried before at Belle Vue as a bit of a last resort, and it just worked for him.He looked like the Patrick Hougaard that everyone knows, and it was brilliant for us to see him smiling again and enjoying himself, thats what it is all about.BIRMINGHAM promoter Graham Drury is billing this Thursdays showdown with play-off rivals Eastbourne as the biggest home meeting since the sport returned to Perry Barr in 2007.Drury said: This is a massive meeting and because of the way the league table is and the context of the season Im in no doubt this is the biggest match at Perry Barr since the sport returned here in 2007.Thats not just me with my promoters hat on, thats how I genuinely feel. A win will not only boost our own chances but it will also put us above Eastbourne and put them out of the picture. So Eastbourne know they have to win as well, so they will be coming here fired up and ready for action.COVENTRY boss Blayne Scroggins was happy with the efforts of the Bees in pushing Lakeside all the way at Purfleet on Monday and coming away with a league point.Scroggins said: Were pleased with the performance on a very slick track where you had to get out of the gate. The boys all dug deep and once they got their set-ups right, we did okay.Everyone chipped in and we have to be happy with the point. Its also pleasing to see that the team spirit is pretty good at the moment considering whats happened over the last few weeks, and the riders are working well together.EASTBOURNE co-promoter Mike Bellerby is hoping his side can complete a satisfying season by clinching a place in the play-offswith those hopes now depending on their trip to Birmingham on Thursday.Bellerby said: Bearing in mind we have had our No.1 missing for quite a few meetings, I think the home record has been pretty good again. If we finish things off with a play-off meeting and hopefully a good crowd, we will be pretty happy.LAKESIDE star Peter Karlsson scored a superb 17-points in the Hammers narrow home win over Coventry on Mondayand is now hoping the two points they gained will still be enough to help them return to the top four.Karlsson said: Im a bit sad for the team because we havent had the bit of luck we needed. Weve had engine failures and things like that going against us.Its a shame but I hope its enough anyway if we win on Friday (against Peterborough). The main thing is to get three points there and it would be nice if we could do that.KINGS LYNN promoter Buster Chapman is hoping for a good send-off for Elite League action in 2012 when the Stars host Coventry on Wednesday, having missed out on their play-off target.Chapman said: It doesnt look like we will be running Pride Of the East again this season, although we do plan to run an Ashley Jones Memorial meeting in a few weeks time but with a Premier League quality line-up.I know it is not ideal having a few guests in the team for the final match but I believe the racing will be second to none, therefore I hope the fans make the most of the forecasted sunshine and come along to enjoy their final fix of Elite League, the club will certainly appreciate their support!PETERBOROUGH are heading into a big week of away matches as they look to hold onto a play-off place, having taken six points from home clashes with Lakeside and Eastbourne to move into the top four.Manager Jan Staechmann said: We wanted the full six, and the boys have done the business for us. These two results have given us some momentum ahead of the three away meetings (at Lakeside, Belle Vue and Coventry) that lie ahead.POOLE star Darcy Ward secured his third successive home paid maximum in the Pirates 49-41 win over title rivals Swindon.But Ward was quick to pay tribute to recent signing Piotr Pawlicki, whose terrific Heat 14 race win set-up the result, saying: We owed it to the youngster tonight! Piotr was brilliant in Heat 14 and we needed something in that one. We still had to do it in Heat 15 but with Piotr winning Heat 14 it made things a little easier for us to be honest.SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter was in philosophical mood after a 41-49 defeat for the Robins at Poole on Monday left the Pirates in pole position to secure top position in the Elite League prior to the play-offs.Rossiter said: Its hard to know whether to be disappointed or frustrated about not coming away with anything, but Im certainly not disappointed with the efforts of the boys. Conditions were difficult for both teams.We really should have got a point but I cant blame the riders, they all gave it their best. Well re-group for Thursday, the ball is out of our court now for finishing top but well be going out there to do the best we can.WOLVERHAMPTON reserve Jacob Thorssell is hoping he has done enough in his half-season in the Elite League to earn a return to Monmore Green in 2013.Thorssell said: I am enjoying the experience and feel like I am learning all the time so I would like to be back and I hope they come and get me!The English riders are able to ride so good on the tracks over here and they are especially good at their home tracks, so it is difficult. I have had a couple of good meetings, though. I scored paid 10 at Poole a few weeks ago which I was very happy with, and have had some good meetings at home as well.
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BERWICK will offer 10 admission for adults again at this Saturdays home clash with Ipswich after reporting another excellent turnout for last weeks local derby with Newcastle.Club chief John Anderson said: Its been a complete pleasure to see the new faces and old who are returning to Saturday night speedway and look forward to welcoming them back again with this extended run of discounted Saturday night speedway.EDINBURGH No.1 Craig Cook is planning a practice session after suffering a broken wrist in mid-August as he looks to return for the Monarchs vital closing phase of the season.Cook said: I dont know how strong my wrist is because I havent been able to test it yet. Im planning to have a practice session this week, failing that Im going to do some moto-cross to see how my wrist stands up. I dont want to come back too early and risk getting injured again, especially as Monarchs look like reaching the play-offs.GLASGOW co-promoter Alan Dick has confirmed talks are taking place with one interested party as he and colleague Stewart Dickson look to complete a sale of the club.Dick said: If this deal is not one we can conclude then it will take someone coming out of the woodwork, and quickly, for us to be able to hand over the reins of this great club. There have been another couple of tentative enquiries over the past month, but nothing more concrete than that.IPSWICH boss Pete Simmons knows his side face a tricky run-in after maintaining their hopes of a top-six finish by taking four points from their matches against Edinburgh last week.Simmons said: Newcastle, like Edinburgh, will be a tough nut to crack at home, and Berwick (away) will of course also be tough, but we will take considerable heart from winning in the borders in the Knockout Cup.LEICESTER will stage an International Test Match between Great Britain and Young Australia at Beaumont Park next Tuesday, with Ben Barker and Lewis Bridger leading the home challenge whilst Ty Proctor captains an Australian side including Nick Morris and Sam Masters.Lions promoter David Hemsley said: There is a growing crop of young talent on both sides and it will be interesting to watch the future senior riders of the two countries pitted against one another.NEWCASTLE star Ludvig Lindgren scored another 15-point maximum to boost the Diamonds play-off prospects in an emphatic 64-30 home win over Plymouth.Manager George English said: You can only beat the opposition you are presented with, that was a thoroughly professional performance by our lads. Despite the final scoreline there was some good racing whenever (Ryan) Fisher and (Cory) Gathercole were on track.PLYMOUTH expect to have No.1 Ben Barker back for their home clash with Berwick on Friday, with a win essential if they to are maintain hopes of avoiding the Premier Leagues wooden spoon.Promoter Mike Bowden said: Ben expects to be fit to return to action in time for Birminghams Elite League match at home to Eastbourne on Thursday evening. If that is the case, he should be OK for our match against Berwick. But I will be making contingency plans to have a guest available in the event of Ben having a problem with the wrist on Thursday.REDCAR will welcome Middlesbrough FC manager Tony Mowbray as their guest of honour at Thursdays staging of the Silver Helmetthe oldest individual event in the sports history, having first been staged in 1928.Promoter Brian Havelock said: Hopefully we will see a Bear mount the top step of the podium but the visiting opposition is tough. I am also looking forward to seeing how young Aussie Damien Koppe fares against a higher standard of rider than he faced last month.RYE HOUSE promoter Len Silver is hoping for good news from his injured team members as the Rockets look to regroup for their final fixtures of the Premier League campaign.Silver said: I spoke to Charlie (Gjedde) on Thursday, and he is hoping to be fit for the coming week, but at the moment that can only be a maybe. Jason (Garrity) is going to have a try-out on Wednesday. There are no broken bones in his hand, but he does have nerve damage.SCUNTHORPE boss Richard Hollingsworth says the fitness of Thomas Jorgensen is more important for the play-offs rather than for this weekend, after the Dane suffered shoulder damage in a spill last Friday.Hollingsworth said: It isnt the end of the world if he misses a week. The most important thing is that he is rides in the play-offs because you only have to look at his recent performances at three of the play-off contenders, Somerset, Edinburgh and Ipswich (the latter whilst guesting on Thursday for Edinburgh), show how what he is capable of.SHEFFIELD co-promoter David Hoggart says the clubs management had been forced to speak out after some disappointing results this season, especially with recent home defeats to Berwick and Glasgow.Hoggart said: As a team and as a unit the team need to endear themselves to the fans again and they really dont have much time to do that. Theres a lot of people feeling let down by a string of results where we should have done better, its as simple as that.SOMERSET promoter Debbie Hancock insists the Rebels want to go into the play-offs by maintaining their winning mentality, with a League Cup semi-final against Newcastle also on their upcoming agenda.Hancock said: You invariably see in other sports teams that have been up there with the pace-makers take their foot off the gas and then all the good work put in during the season goes to waste when it counts. We want to maintain the winning habit and the confidence that goes with that as we look to start those all-important play-offs.WORKINGTON are aiming to consolidate a top-six finish and qualify for the play-offs by taking maximum points from their three remaining home fixtures despite having three riders ruled out with injury.Comets manager Tony Jackson said: We have made several attempts to sign riders or combinations of riders to bolster our injury-hit side but for one reason or another, things have not worked out. However we will continue to try and make some changes right up to the last possible moment. If we are unsuccessful we will have to rely on guests to see us through what promises to be a very busy end of season period. Meanwhile, we are still awaiting news on how long Adam Roynon will be out of action, but if he is able to return to the track before the end of the season it would be a great boost to the club.FIXTURE PICTURE
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30, Swindon v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Newcastle 7.30BRITISH U19 CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 7.45TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 8pm, Lakeside v Peterborough 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7pm, Edinburgh v Rye House (follows previous fixture), Plymouth v Berwick 7.30, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30, Somerset v Workington 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Ipswich 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Stoke v Mildenhall 7.30
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Rye House 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Buxton 4.30
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 17:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Birmingham v Poole 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18:INTERNATIONAL TEST MATCH: Team GB v Young Australia, Leicester 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Swindon 7.30, Coventry v Peterborough 7.30LEAGUE CUP S/F 1st leg: Somerset v Newcastle 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Swindon v Peterborough 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Leicester 7.30LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Ipswich v Workington 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30, Plymouth v Newcastle 7.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Edinburgh 6pm, Workington v Leicester 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Stoke (follows PL fixture)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23:PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 5pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: TBC v TBC 7.30, TBC v TBC 7.30SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Newcastle v Workington 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v Birmingham 8pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Stoke 7.30
