(SPEEDWAY 1)
SPEEDWAY riders throughout the world are urging fans to turn out in force for the Lee Richardson Memorial meeting at Lakeside on Friday.Richardson, Great Britain's all-time leading World Cup points scorer, died after a track crash in Poland in May.He was a firm favourite with Lakeside fans and his passing has touched the hearts of fans, riders and management throughout the sport.The meeting includes current world champion Greg Hancock and former Hammers star Andreas Jonsson, who will be making a rare appearance at the Arena-Essex track as they don't currently race in the UK Elite League.And triple world champion Nicki Pedersen, who is just two-points off series leader Chris Holder with one round to go in his chase for a fourth crown, said: I will be there at Lakeside on Friday to watch the meeting and support Lee's family.Lakeside star Peter Karlsson, one of the most popular riders in the sport, will make the trip from his Swedish base.He said: When we lost Lee, we lost our team. I hope this meeting is a massive success, I'm sure it will be. And Hammers promoter Jon Cook said: The loss of Lee is still so raw. We lost the heart and soul of this club, but that pales into insignificance when you consider Lee's family.I'm sure we will see a great turnout to pay tribute to a great rider and a great guy.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SCUNTHORPE skipper Ashley Birks says the Scorpions go into the Premier League championship play-offs in confident mood.Birks took over the club captaincy following injury to David Howe, and played his part in their second-place finish in the tableand they now face a play-off group with Edinburgh and Workington.Birks said: Weve got a young team who are eager to win, and keen to win races. I think thats why weve been doing so well. We just get out there and we all want to win.Our first two matches are both against Edinburgh, and we are capable of winning them both. Weve won at Edinburgh once already, while well try to get a good win against them at home. Well go out there and get some good results against Edinburgh and Workington, and see where that leaves us.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BERWICK co-owner John Anderson says the Bandits must hit back quickly from a heavy defeat at Redcar in their Premier Challenge Trophy opener.The Bears 58-36 home win on Thursday put them in early control of the three-team group, and Anderson is looking for a response at home to Glasgow on Saturday.Berwick will also be offering reduced admission of 10 for adults and accompanied under-16s free for the Tigers clash with their recent promotion having proved a major success.Anderson said: We seem to have a block when it comes to taking a good result from Redcar in 2012 and tonight really was no different, but we can still qualify for the PCT Final so long as we really up our game from now on.(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30, 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
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29:PREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Berwick v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: Newcastle v Somerset 5pm, Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 5pmLEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Newcastle v Somerset (follows previous fixture), Workington v Ipswich 7pmPREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Glasgow v Berwick 4pmNATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight (follows previous fixture)
MONDAY OCTOBER 1:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Lakeside 7.30, 1st leg: Birmingham v Swindon 7.30SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 2:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30, 1st leg: Stoke v Dudley 7.30
