BIG EVENT LATEST
TWO of British Speedways major individual titles will be decided on successive weekends later this month.The Premier League Riders Championship now takes place with a lunchtime start at Sheffield (1pm) on Sunday October 14 after rain forced the abandonment of the initial staging after four races in September.And the stars of the top flight will go head-to-head at Swindon the following Saturday, October 20, in the Elite League Riders Championship with Belle Vues Rory Schlein defending the title he won in thrilling style last season.No.1 riders from each of the ten clubs will be included with six other places remaining for a meeting which was regarded as one of the highlights of 2011 on its last staging.Injuries permitting, the same line-up will take to the track at Owlerton three weeks on from the PLRC abandonment, which had initially seen Jason Doyle, Sebastian Alden, Ben Barker and Richard Lawson make a flying start with opening race wins before a halt was called.Meanwhile Newcastle have unveiled details of a special admission offer for supporters who wish to take in two meetings in one day.Due to the re-arrangement for the PLRC, the Diamonds have put back the start time for their KO Cup semi-final clash with Workington that evening, which will now get underway at 7.30pm.Newcastle Speedway representatives will be issuing vouchers at the Sheffield turnstiles ahead of the PLRC, and supporters who then travel to Brough Park later in the day will receive admission for just 5.*RYE House promoter Len Silver was delighted with the entertainment levels at the clubs staging of the National League Riders Championship at Hoddesdon last weekend.Stokes Ashley Birks took the top prize, getting the better of defending champion Jason Garrity who fell in a run-off after both riders had tied on 14-points, whilst Gary Irving was third.Silver said: This was the best NLRC that we have staged at Rye House in terms of exciting racing. That is a credit to all the riders, who tigered and tussled for every single point that was available, and always went looking for any gap that was there ahead of them.Birks, a Scunthorpe asset, admitted he had used his experience to take victory in the deciding race with his time in the National League looking set to come to an end.He said: The last heat was a hard one, but I rode a technical race and it helped force Jason to make a mistake. This was probably my last season at this level, and therefore also my last chance at this title. Its good to be moving on in my career, along with others in the League.
SPEEDWAYGB EVENTS SERIES:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: JOE HAINESPREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: BERWICKBRITISH FINAL: SCOTT NICHOLLSPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: WORKINGTONPREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday October 14ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon, Saturday October 20
NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENT DATES:NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: MILDENHALLNATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: MILDENHALLNATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: ASHLEY BIRKS
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
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST
BELLE VUE boss Jason Attwood says the Aces can still take some consolation for a troubled season if they can overcome Birmingham in the quarter-finals of the KO Cup.Attwood said: Theyve done a good job on us in our other fixtures this year, but we are a different side now to the one that has ridden previously this year, weve got a bit of confidence and momentum now.Weve had some great results at home in the last six weeks or so, and I think our last home meeting against Peterborough was our best performance of the year. It was the most complete performance Ive seen from us for sure.BIRMINGHAM promoter Graham Drury says the nature of the Brummies 35-55 home defeat by Swindon in the first leg of the play-off semi-final could well play a part in the clubs decision-making process for their 2013 line-up.Drury said: I think one of the problems we had was the attitude of some of the riders was maybe, well we have reached the play-offs, we have reached our target. Thats not acceptable. We had a very good crowd turn up.I have learned a lot about some of the riders and their attitude towards success, and what I have learned will go a long way when I am making my decisions about the team next year.COVENTRY have agreed to visit Elite League Grand Finalists Poole for a Challenge match on Wednesday October 10, with a return fixture at Brandon provisionally pencilled in for Friday October 19.Bees promoter Mick Horton said: Weve been looking at adding a couple of extra fixtures and Im pleased to have agreed this with (Poole promoter) Matt Ford. Weve only raced each other once home and away in the Elite League this year and that was way back on Good Friday, so it will be good to face Poole again before the end of the season.Chris Holder could be World Champion by then which would add something extra as well, and as weve been short of meetings over the last few weeks it will give everyone the chance to enjoy some more top speedway during October.LAKESIDE have passed on their sincere thanks to everyone who attended last Fridays hugely successful Lee Richardson Memorial meeting at the Arena-Essex Raceway.Co-promoter Jon Cook said We wish to thank every single person at the Raceway on Friday for a truly touching and remarkable occasion. The final crowd figure was well in excess of 6,000 and the racing was at times stunning from a group of riders who could so easily have gone through the motions.I know that Emma, Julie, Craig and the boys were taken aback by the strength of public feeling towards their loss of Lee. The efforts of the speedway family has been simply stunning, with fundraising now comfortably into six figures which is something that words really cant do justice, again thank you one and all.PETERBOROUGH owner Rick Frost has moved to deny speculation and headlines that he has put the Panthers up for sale.Frost said: I have never tried to hide the fact that on current attendance levels the sport would struggle to survive at Elite League level here without substantial continued investment.However, it is not true to state that the club is now up for sale and it is disappointing to see my comments mis-represented in this fashion.POOLE skipper Chris Holder admits to win another Elite League title with the Pirates would be a proud moment as it would be the first since he took over the club captaincy last winter.Holder said: There is a lot of pressure there but that comes with the title. If you want to be the best team, you have got to be good under pressure.I have managed to win the Elite League twice with Poole and it has always been a massive buzz. But to win as captain would be really good.SWINDON bosses are urging fans to get to the Abbey on Thursday and roar the team through to the Elite League Grand Final and theyve dramatically slashed admission prices.The play-off semi final 2nd leg against Birmingham sees the Robins lead by 20-points after a stunning display at Perry Barr on Monday. And admission for Thursday is just 10 adults, 5 concessions and in a smart move all children, juniors and season ticket holders go free.Boss Alun Rossiter said: We want to see the terraces packed and we want that Blunsdon roar to create an extra special atmosphere.It promises to be a memorable night and we want the people of Swindon and surrounding areas to come down and get right behind us.WOLVERHAMPTON ended their Monmore Elite League campaign with a hard-fought 46-44 win over Belle Vue, for whom Rory Schlein scored a maximum whilst home skipper Freddie Lindgren was withdrawn after a crash.Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: Freddie took a tumble but hes going to be OK, he just withdrew as a precaution.Rory Schlein was unbelievable and young Tom Perry was great value for Belle Vue. We were just pleased to get the win.
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST
BERWICK have pledged to continue their 10 admission offer for the remainder of the season, with the Bandits next in action at home to Redcar on Saturday.The Bandits major shareholder John Anderson said: With our kids free and 10 for everyone else deal we are hoping that 'word of mouth' will continue to spread the news and Berwick Speedway on a Saturday night will be seen as real value for money, as well as a spectacularly-thrilling evening's entertainment. We have been delighted with the response so far when reduced admission charges were applied, and will maintain the reduction right through to the end of the season.EDINBURGH have not given up hope that No.1 Craig Cook could be back in action for Thursdays KO Cup tie at Ipswich despite suffering rib damage in a crash on his comeback at Scunthorpe on Sunday.Monarchs boss John Campbell said: Craig doesnt know what the position is at the moment. He saw a doctor yesterday but was unable to get final confirmation that he has broken his ribs. He is scheduled to see another doctor to be told one way or the other exactly what his injuries are.GLASGOW have an injury crisis in the closing stages of the season with Josh Grajczonek and Henning Bager joining skipper Joe Screen on the sidelines.Screen is ruled out with a knee injury whilst Grajczonek and Bager both crashed out early in last Saturdays defeat at Berwick, sustaining ankle and shoulder injuries respectively.IPSWICH boss Pete Simmons was delighted with a 57-35 win in the Witches Premier Challenge Trophy opener at home to Sheffield as they now prepare for KO Cup action.Simmons said: That's just what I was looking for, we now need to keep this form going in our remaining matches. We have an important fixture against Edinburgh next week so I will expect more of the same against them to build up a good lead to take to their place.LEICESTER co-promoter Alan Jones says his sides play-off opener at Somerset on Friday will be a key encounter given that the Rebels already have points on the board from their matches against Newcastle.Jones said: The Rebels are in the driving seat and will be quietly confident of consolidating their position against us on Friday. Titles are won on performances away from your own backyard when you have to raise your game above the home team. That is where successful teams are judged as to whether they have the mental character to pull it off.NEWCASTLE boss George English is urging his side to focus on the remaining trophies this season after just missing out to Somerset in a thrilling League Cup semi-final which went to a last-heat decider.English said: Overall I think Somerset deserved the win, but only just we gave it a good go but it was just not to be. Theres still the Knockout Cup, not to mention the Premier League Title which can still come our way. The seasons far from dead.REDCAR boss Jitendra Duffill recognises the threat posed by a revised Glasgow team for Thursdays Premier Challenge Trophy encounter, with the Tigers having booked Ryan Fisher and Sam Masters as guests.Duffill said: The boys are in good form from top to tail but we do not underestimate the task on Thursday. It is essential to bank another victory before we go on the road to Glasgow and Berwick. However I am my usual optimistic self that we can eventually head the Northern Group and qualify for the National Final.RYE HOUSE promoter Len Silver is calling on the clubs fans from Hertfordshire and Essex to rally round the tram and show their support in big numbers for Premier Challenge Trophy matches against Ipswich and Sheffield.Silver said: We need to end the year on a high note. After such a disastrous season our riders are rallying to bring some late success and there is no doubt that the quantity of support will help that cause. Our result against Edinburgh was a clear demonstration that the Rockets can beat the best and I am very confident that the team will succeed.SCUNTHORPES in-form reserve Michael Palm Toft reflected on a near-perfect performance from the Scorpions in their play-off-opening 59-34 home win over Edinburgh.Palm Toft said: Im pretty happy. I only dropped one point, which is good; although Im a bit gutted I still cant quite get a maximum.This is the best track in the league, so we get good racing here. With the right set-up, its possible to pass, and I scored a few points like that tonight. We needed a good win to get off to a good start in the play-offs. We will now see if we can keep up the momentum and win at Edinburgh on Friday.SHEFFIELD are offering adult admission to their Premier Challenge Trophy fixtures for just 10 starting this Thursday against Rye House.Promoter Neil Machin said: Times are tough, we know that, and we all have a responsibility in the sport to try and make it as affordable as possible. We want to see as many people on our terraces as we can because it gives the team a real lift, they thrive on having a large home support.SOMERSET promoter Debbie Hancock is keen for another maximum points haul from the Rebels play-off encounter with Leicester on Friday to remain on-track for a place in the Final.She said: Having got our home campaign off to an excellent start with the win over Newcastle last Friday and then earning ourselves a more than well-deserved away point in the return at Newcastle on Sunday, we need to keep that momentum going with another win over Leicester on Friday night.But as its Leicesters opening group match, they will be equally fired up to get their quest to qualify for the Grand Final off to the best possible start, so it has all the makings of being another Oaktree Arena classic.WORKINGTON are facing up to a major fixture backlog following their sixth home postponement of the season last Sunday - as they attempt to negotiate the Premier League Championship play-offs in addition to the semi-final stages of both the League Cup and Knockout Cup competitions.Comets manager Tony Jackson said: We have had our season decimated by a combination of injuries and wet weather but we are still in contention in the latter stages of all three major competitions and additionally we still have one league fixture to stage. All the lads are determined to try and win a team trophy this season however, we realise that we have now got a major fixture headache to contend with, especially if we progress to the finals of any of these competitions, as time is running out and we could yet have anything between five and eight home fixtures to race before the end of the season!
FIXTURE PICTURE
TUESDAY OCTOBER 2:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall OFF, 1st leg: Stoke v Dudley OFF
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry OFFNATIONAL LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Stoke 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 4:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Swindon v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30PREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Redcar v Glasgow 7.30, Sheffield v Rye House 7.45
FRIDAY OCTOBER 5:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30, Somerset v Leicester 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: Leicester v Newcastle 7.30, Workington v Scunthorpe 7pm
PREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Rye House v Ipswich 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 7:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: Newcastle v Leicester 7pm, Scunthorpe v Workington 6pmPREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Glasgow v Redcar 4pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Kings Lynn 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Mildenhall v Dudley 4.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 9:NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Midenhall 7.30, 1st leg: Dudley v Stoke 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v Birmingham 8pmNATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Stoke v Dudley 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Rye House 7.30CHALLENGE: Poole v Coventry 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 11:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.45
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12:ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP S/F: Coventry v Belle Vue/Birmingham 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 13:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: Leicester v Somerset 7.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7pmPREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Berwick v Redcar 7.30, Rye House v Sheffield 7pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Stoke v Isle of Wight 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 14:PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 1pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Newcastle v Workington 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Stoke 4.30 (prov)
TUESDAY OCTOBER 16:BANKSS OLYMPIQUE: Wolverhampton 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 17:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Buxton 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 18:PREMIER CHALLENGE TROPHY: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30
