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GREAT Britain squad member Ben Barker will be amongst the favourites for Sundays Premier League Riders Championship at Sheffield.Barker admits the event ranks high on his list of priorities as he has never previously managed a rostrum finish despite reaching the Final last year.He said: Its an event I really want to do well in. Im top of the averages but Ive never managed to win this one yet, so Im desperate to change that. Its a big meeting and to lift the trophy would be a massive honour.Sheffield is a big, wide track and it is one of those circuits where if you get out in front you can definitely build up some speed. Its a tough meeting, there are some very good riders in it and I will just give it my best shot.
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ELITE League leaders Poole have elected to face Lakeside in the play-off semi-finals which start on Monday.The Pirates will travel to Purfleet in the first leg, leaving Swindon to face Birmingham with the Brummies staging the opener in a repeat of Wednesdays fixture which the Robins won 46-44.The result was still enough for the men from Perry Barr, who carried a points difference advantage over Lakeside into the final week of the season which keeps them third in the table.And Lakeside too maintained their play-off spot after nearest rivals Peterborough, needing a win or a draw to pip them, lost 52-40 at Coventry.(SPEEDWAY 3)
BIRMINGHAM boss Phil Morris says the play-offs are a fresh start after his side proved good enough to reach the Elite Leagues top four after a 28-match programme.The Brummies finished their regular campaign with narrow home defeats to Swindon and Poole, and will immediately face the Robins again in the semi-finals.Morris said: I probably have the same emotions as I did against Poole on Monday really - we did well but not well enough and they came back at the end.The positive is that we are in the play-offs now. Forget everything that has gone on, we now have two massive meetings to concentrate on.
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LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook says the Hammers place in the Elite League play-offs is a reward for the clubs efforts in the most difficult of seasons. The Purfleet side, who will now face Poole at home on Monday, have been racing since mid-May in memory of their former skipper Lee Richardson.Cook said: After the season we have had this is stunning news. Its a testament to the resolve of the riders to keep going and I can't praise them enough for this achievement. I texted them all and said this is not because of a couple of results elsewhere this week but of a seasons hard work and we absolutely deserve it. We have spent all but six days in the top four in the table and now we can plan for our own Cup Final this Monday.
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NATIONAL League leaders Dudley will take on local rivals Stoke in the play-off semi-finals.The first leg has been set for Monmore Green next Tuesday with the return at Loomer Road a week later, which will ensure both sides can field their strongest-possible line-ups.Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson said: Once we made the decision to select Stoke as our opposition we started talking to Dave Tattum about potential dates. We went there in July to fill a gap in their fixture schedule and in return it was agreed that any play-off clash would be staged on nights where there are no clashes with Premier League fixtures.Dudleys choice means the second semi-final will be between Mildenhall and the Isle of Wight, who booked their place with a 50-40 win at Kings Lynn on Wednesday.
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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Swindon v Peterborough OFFPREMIER 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 5pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 4.30
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Birmingham v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 7.30SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Newcastle v Workington 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Dudley v Stoke 7.30
