(SPEEDWAY 1)
LAKESIDE skipper Davey Watt has been rushed to hospital with complications to a kidney problemand will miss the first leg of the Hammers play-off semi-final against Poole.The club have moved quickly to book Scott Nicholls as a guest and have an encouraging weather forecast for Mondays meeting with the track having been prepared to see off the worst of the rain.Co-promoter Jon Cook said: We wish Watty all the very best and we will update fans tonight. Scott is a first class replacement and this added misfortune only makes us more determined to rise to the occasion this evening.We have great drying weather on its way, the giant television screen is in place, riders are flying in and we are ready for a great nights entertainment.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM promoter Graham Drury insists play-off rivals Swindon are the team under pressure ahead of their semi-final clash at Perry Barr on Monday.Drury says the Robins, runners-up in the play-offs three years ago, are desperate to go one better and lift the title this time, with the Brummies happy to be the underdogs.He said: Its Swindon who will be feeling the heat. Their management will be so nervous because they are so desperate for success, but we can just focus on getting our heads down and riding the best we can.Swindon won at the same venue last week, and co-promoter Gary Patchett said: Its good to welcome Hans (Andersen) and Jason (Doyle) back for this one. Were looking for a similar performance to last week. We need to be wary of Birmingham bouncing back but were confident this team will beat anyone on top form.
(SPEEDWAY 3)PREMIER League leaders Newcastle have elected to face Leicester and Somerset in the group stage of the championship play-offs.The picks were revealed during Sundays abandoned PLRC at Sheffield, with Diamonds promoter George English having first pick of opponents.English selected Leicester, with his Scunthorpe counterpart Rob Godfrey then choosing Workington, and the second round of picks saw Somerset join Newcastles group with Edinburgh also going in with Scunthorpe.The teams finishing top of each mini-group will meet in a two-legged Final; meanwhile, a date is to be confirmed for the re-staging of the PLRC which was washed-out after four races.(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPE are set to stage two Sunday fixtures as they bid to translate their second-place finish in the table to a place in the Premier League play-off Final.The Scorpions have confirmed a home clash with Edinburgh on September 30 and expect to host Workington the following Sunday although that fixture is currently provisional.Co-promoter Rob Godfrey said: The play-off fixtures are absolutely huge meetings for this club. Weve never in contention before for the Premier League championship.Its no exaggeration to say that the meetings over the two weeks are the most important in the history of Scunthorpe Speedway. Weve been in fantastic form leading into the play-offs, and I see no reason why we cannot qualify for the final.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
SOMERSET will host a double-header against Newcastle on Friday as the two clubs have been paired in the closing stages of two major competitions.The re-arranged League Cup semi-final will now follow a Premier League play-off fixture starting at 7pm, and a similar arrangement will apply when the sides meet on Tyneside on Sunday with a 5pm start.Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock said: With the Diamonds scheduled to return here on Friday for the League Cup semi, then it did seem pointless to have them here one Friday only to have them having to travel back down a week or two later for the Play-Off match.We have tried to set the admission prices as fairly as possible, so that by using the re-admission and discount vouchers given out last Wednesday, the adult price of entry will be the same as a standard Friday night. For those that were not here last Wednesday, they will still be receiving a discount on what would have been the normal price for two matches.
(FIXTURES)
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 OFF (Now Mon Oct 1)PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Newcastle v Workington OFF
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Dudley v Stoke 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v Birmingham 8pmASHLEY JONES MEMORIAL: Kings Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27:PREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Redcar v Berwick 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: Somerset v Newcastle 7pmLEAGUE CUP S/F 1st leg: Somerset v Newcastle (follows previous fixture)LEE RICHARDSON MEMORIAL: Lakeside 8pmMIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS FINAL: Leicester 7.30
