(SPEEDWAY 1)
BIRMINGHAM will be without Bjarne Pedersen for the second leg of their Elite League play-off semi-final at Swindon on Thursday.Pedersen suffered an ankle injury in his crash in Heat 13 of Monday nights 35-55 defeat against the Robins at Perry Barr, and the Brummies have no option but to cover his absence with the rider-replacement facility.Co-promoter Graham Drury said: Bjarne contacted me yesterday to say he had a reaction to the ankle and that he wouldnt be able to ride at Swindon.Its a blow because we are going there looking to restore some pride and he flies around there.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EDINBURGH star Craig Cook will miss their fixtures this week following his crash at Scunthorpe last Sunday.The full extent of the damage suffered by the Monarchs No.1 is not yet clear, with his ribs the main area of concern, but he definitely misses the KO Cup semi-final trip to Ipswich on Thursday and the home play-off fixture against Scunthorpe 24-hours later.Monarchs will also be without newly-crowned German Under-21 Champion Marcel Helfer for both fixtures as he is competing in the Bundesliga Final for Landshut.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SHEFFIELD are offering admission to their Premier Challenge Trophy fixtures for 10, starting on Thursday against Rye House.Prices for all adults (including senior citizens) have been capped at 10 while under-16s will be admitted for half of that price.Tigers owner Neil Machin said: Weve had a tough year on the track and we know that we havent performed as well as we would have liked, but the PCT competition gives us something to go for and something for us to try and give the fans.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.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
DUDLEY and Stoke will race their National League play-off semi-final with Stoke back-to-back next week after a second postponement.With Tuesdays clash at Loomer Road called-off, the first leg will now take place at Monmore Green next Tuesday with the return 24-hours later.Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson said: Everyone at the club is extremely frustrated by the delays because of the weather. We will now race each other on successive daysand again the Wednesday date has been agreed between the two clubs to ensure the availability of both sets of riders.The other semi-final has also been hit by the weather, with the Isle of Wight and Mildenhall now scheduled to race to a finish at the Smallbrook Stadium next Tuesday.
(FIXTURES)
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 7pmPREMIER 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
