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DARCY Ward took top honours in Fridays memorial meeting for Lee Richardson at Lakeside as a huge crowd packed the Purfleet stadium.Ward scored a 15-point maximum in his five qualifying races but there was drama in the Final when he came to grief after a battle with Peter Karlsson.However, all four riders were invited back for the re-run with Ward taking victory over Lewis Bridger, Andreas Jonsson and Karlsson.World Championship contenders Chris Holder and Greg Hancock along with treble champion Jason Crump all took part as the sport paid fitting tribute to the former GB international star.
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SOMERSET No.1 Jason Doyle was unbeaten through all ten of his rides as Somerset gained a double victory over Newcastle from a bumper night of racing at the Oak Tree Arena.The Rebels first beat the Premier League leaders 53-37 in the first match of their play-off group, and then established a 50-40 lead in the League Cup semi-final leaving the tie finely poised ahead of Sundays returnwhich is also a double-header.Somerset promoter Debbie Hancock said: Doyley was just superb, not just in the fact he got two maximums on the night, but also in the way he created opportunities for his race-partners to come through to secure additional points that could prove to be extremely vital come the final reckoning. The rest of the guys gave him great support, so yet again it was a tremendous all-round team effort. It was a really tough night for both sets of riders, but overall I think we definitely deserved our two wins.
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GLASGOW co-promoter Alan Dick is hoping his side can claim silverware in the Premier Challenge Trophy to round off the current regimes time in charge at Ashfield.Dick and colleague Stewart Dickson are looking to complete the clubs sale, but in the meantime the Tigers face Berwick home and away over the weekend with Redcar already having made a strong start to the group.Dick said: I have said it many a time, we have been far too inconsistent but we do have a small opportunity to win something and I want our team to go out there and do the business. It is a short, sharp event and any failure at home would just about end any chances that you have.Our fans have been very good over the years that we have been in charge and with this being our swansong we are as determined to give them a small crumb of comfort after what has been a frustrating season.
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MILDENHALL co-promoter Michael Lee says the Fen Tigers will be taking the threat of opponents Isle of Wight in the National League play-offs very seriously.The West Row side host the first leg of the semi-final on Sunday afternoon as part of a double-header with a National Trophy encounter, and have booked Jason Garrity to guest for injured No.1 Cameron Heepswhilst the impressive Adam Ellis will be available for the Islanders.Lee said: I am glad we have a full team out, as anyone who thinks it's a foregone conclusion that we'll beat the Islanders easily over the two legs is an idiot. This is their chance to win some silverware this season and they will be well up for it. Our place and Smallbrook are as different as two tracks could be, so everyone will have to be at their top of their game. Okay, we had a weakened team out in the Trophy there a few weeks ago, but they still beat us by 16 points, which underlines the size of the lead we need to be looking at taking there on Tuesday.(FIXTURES)
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
