(SPEEDWAY 1)
BELLE Vue boss Jason Attwood pinpointed the displays of Craig Cook and Magnus Zetterstrom as giving cause for encouragement after their opening meeting of the season.The Aces were edged out 43-47 at Birmingham in a Challenge match at Perry Barr with Cook winning three races and Zetterstrom scoring paid-12, three days ahead of their first Elite League fixture at Eastbourne.Attwood said: It was an excellent workout for the boys on a night which was about performances rather than the result.Cook and Zetterstrom were great together and their partnership could be a trump card for us this season.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
PETERBOROUGH and Lakeside are set to warm up for the Elite League season with home and away challenge matches this week.Panthers boss Jan Staechmann is relishing the chance for his new-look side to take to the Showground track on Thursday, whilst the Purfleet return on Friday sees the Hammers stage their popular Open Day from 6pm with pre-meeting behind-the-scenes access.Staechmann said: The two challenge matches will give us a chance to have a look at the pairings, but we don't go to any meeting looking to finish second, that goes without saying, and I am sure Lakeside will have the same attitude.Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook said: Last year was a great night and this time we have added the competition of a meeting to follow. It seems an unusually long winter and we can't wait to welcome back the fans and enjoy the first action of the season.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
COVENTRY and Dudley are set to revive memories of classic British League encounters when the sides meet at National League level at Brandon on Friday.The hosts have entered the third tier for the first time and stage the opening leg of the Travel Plus Trophy, the two clubs having enjoyed a fierce rivalry during the days of Cradley Heath.Coventry co-boss Blayne Scroggins said: We will be locking horns with the Heathens for the first time since Cradley & Stoke visited Brandon in 1996, the year after the sad closure of Dudley Wood.I am pleased Mick Horton agreed to the idea of running a National League team, and I am really looking forward to working with the boys we have brought in to represent the Coventry Storm.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PLYMOUTH have confirmed they intend to find a re-staging date for Fridays postponed fixture against an Exeter Select.The Devils pulled the plug on the meeting due to a persistent spell of heavy rain forecast in the period leading up to Friday evening.Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: We will be looking to re-stage the meeting later in the season when we will hope for a suitable evening to do justice to what is an important fixture.As far as we are concerned, it will be a very significant meeting for us, taking into account the involvement of (new shareholders) ManorDelta and the memory of former Exeter promoter the late Colin Hill.
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY MARCH 21::CHALLENGE 1st leg: Peterborough v Lakeside offCHALLENGE: Swindon v British Lions off
FRIDAY MARCH 22:CHALLENGE 2nd leg: Lakeside v Peterborough 8pmTRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 1st leg: Coventry v Dudley 8pmASHLEY JONES MEMORIAL: Kings Lynn 7.30CHALLENGE: Plymouth v Exeter Select OFF
SATURDAY MARCH 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30
SUNDAY MARCH 24:DAVID HOWE TESTIMONIAL: Scunthorpe 3pm
