BIG EVENT LATESTGREAT Britain boss Neil Middleditch is impressed by the progress of Kyle Howarthwho will start as one of the favourites for the British Under-21 Final.Part of Howarths club racing is for Poole boss Middleditch in the Elite League, and he also remains with Workington at Premier League level.And with a growing amount of top-flight experience, Howarth is expected to be amongst the contenders in the opening major event of the season, which is staged by Dudley at Monmore Green on April 23.Middleditch said: Kyle has all the right ingredients. Hes very keen to do it, thats what stands out in my mind. He really wants to do well in the Elite League.Chris (Holder) and Darcy (Ward) think the world of him. Hes a great talent and what we like about him is he never gives up.Kyle keeps tryinghe never stops trying. He just wants to do well. Ive seen him from when he first started, and Ive been impressed with him from day one. Its nice to watch him progress.Howarths Workington team-mate Ashley Morris is also expected to challenge for silverware at Monmore, his home track at National League level, and former Heathens rider Tom Perry will be keen to make a successful return to the club following his winter switch to the Isle of Wight.Perry doubles-up with Somerset, as does Mildenhalls Stefan Nielsen who has started the season in fine form with impressive scores at the higher level.And another rider with Monmore pedigree is Rye Houses Jason Garrity, who has enjoyed a consistent run of scores in the middle-order for Rye House during their positive opening to the campaign. *AN impressive total of 45 riders took part in the recent Under-16 Training Day at Leicesterwhich had been switched from Buxton at short notice due to the poor weather.The Young Lions Management team of Phil Morris and Neil Vatcher were present and former British Champion Joe Screen was also on hand to give tuition.The six-round British Youth Championship gets underway on May 4, also at Leicesterwhilst the Eastbourne round of the series on July 14 will include Daniel Spiller, a British rider currently based in Germany who holds dual nationality but has the option to race for GB in future.Spiller recently won the FIM 250cc Gold Trophy at Teterow, whilst 14-year-old Reece Downes travelled to Germany and scored a creditable nine points over the two-day event.
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL DRAW: Jason Garrity (Rye House), Oliver Greenwood (Coventry Storm), Robert Branford (Unattached), Darryl Ritchings (Isle of Wight), Ashley Morris (Workington/Dudley), Max Clegg (Dudley), Ben Morley (Kent), Josh Bates (Scunthorpe/Mildenhall), Stefan Nielsen (Somerset/Mildenhall), Kyle Howarth (Poole/Workington), Matt Williamson (Buxton), Tom Perry (Somerset/Isle of Wight), Danny Stoneman (Isle of Wight), James Sarjeant (Coventry Storm), Dan Greenwood (Dudley), Joe Jacobs (Glasgow/Coventry Storm). Reserves: Shane Hazelden (Kings Lynn Young Stars), Liam Carr (Unattached).
SPEEDWAYGB EVENTS SERIES 2013BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Dudley, April 23BRITISH FINAL: Wolverhampton, May 13PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, May 31PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Peterborough, July 14PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sept 22ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon, Oct 12NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS:NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: Mildenhall, June 30NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Stoke, August 18NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, Sept 21BRITISH SPEEDWAY FIM EVENT DATES:WORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP Round 3: Berwick, August 10GRAND PRIX CHALLENGE: Poole, August 24
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST
BELLE VUE boss Jason Attwood was impressed by the all-round effort of his side in their 52-41 win over Coventry, with six of the seven Aces scoring eight or nine points.Attwood said: It was a great team performance. We carried on where we left off in the draw at Coventry last Friday and to score 52 points without anyone reaching double figures says a lot for our team effort.It was good to see six of the boys winning races and they are really getting the track sorted out.BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury says his team have lived up to their pre-season billing as entertainers.Drury told the Sunday Mercury: Not only are we riding well but we are putting on a good show for the fans and there is a great feeling about the place.The team spirit is right up there with the best Ive known and Ive been in the sport a long time. Ive always taken great pride in getting my riders together and Phil Morris is doing a great job with the team.COVENTRY promoter Mick Horton has admitted the club are already considering their options after picking up just one point in their opening four Elite League meetings, and being defeated at Belle Vue on Monday.Horton said: Scott and KK had a couple of iffy rides but then Scott changed his bike and I felt they looked like a proper pair. I feel confident those two will turn the corner, I really am confident about that.Michal (Szczepaniak) was OK but the rest were disappointing, and I know were going to have to accept the criticism and move on, and try to improve. I know the riders give 100 per cent, but sometimes thats not enough and you have to be honest and say it isnt working. Its got to change, and it will change.EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer was relieved to emerge from a thrilling contest against Wolverhampton with a one-point win, after reserve Lukas Dryml took a bumper stint of five successive races at Arlington.Geer said: At the end of the day it was a fantastic meeting, but you wouldnt have found me saying that after Heat 13 Thank heaven for Bjarne Pedersen in that last race and for Lukas Dryml piling up the points in that mammoth five race spell, despite him suffering clutch problems throughout much of the evening.Despite being 10-points up we knew we couldnt afford to be complacent, we knew the tactical ride would come and all credit goes to Wolverhampton for a terrific comeback. Cameron Woodward picked up some vital points in later races and Denis Gizatullin rode really well for us but with the team we have we really need all the boys firing together, some of them just werent doing that tonight and that is a situation that we must all work together to correct.LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook called for perspective after the Hammers went down to a 43-47 against reigning champions Swindon at Purfleet.Cook told the clubs website: Its still very early in the season and we seem to be almost incapable of making starts and look short of match fitness, especially last night against a very impressive Robins team, who must be clear favourites for the title.I felt we lost our way mid-match but gave it our all from Heat 12 onwards and Peter Karlssons ride in Heat 15 was deserving of some reward, as it was one of the most committed passing moves you will see all year.KINGS LYNNs Nicolai Klindt believes his move to the Norfolk Arena can help him to regain his form after a season to forget in 2012.Klindt is part of a Stars team who have started the new campaign in impressive fashion, and he told lovespeedway24.co.uk: My plan last year was to make a big name for myself, and just before I got injured I felt I had got going. My average was like 7.40 and it was slowly going upwards.But when the year finished it had dropped by two points so I definitely want to have a smashing season. I just need to be more consistent than I have in the past.PETERBOROUGH captain Kenneth Bjerre top-scored for the Panthers in their 38-54 defeat at Swindon on Mondayand believes his side can gain revenge when they meet again at the Showground on Friday.Bjerre said: I'm mostly satisfied with my performance tonight. I still feel I need a few more meetings to get back to my very best and to get used to racing again. I am enjoying my racing though. It will still take some time to fully maximise my set-up with my new engine but I know it will come. It was a tough night for the team but we will be much stronger at the Showground on Friday and we will get our revenge then. We just need the fans to come out and support us, it's going to be a lively one!POOLE boss Neil Middleditch took the positives from a narrow defeat at Wolves on Monday, the main plus for the Pirates being fine displays from reserves Kyle Howarth and Rohan Tungate with a combined score of 17 (paid 19).Middleditch said: Kyle and Rohan were outstanding. We were criticised at the start of the season for having supposedly a top heavy team. I know its early days of the new campaign, but these two proved all the doubters wrong.Im sure its given them both a huge confidence boost ahead of Wednesdays home meeting with Wolves when we will need them to produce another show like tonight.SWINDON skipper Hans Andersen admits he is loving life with the Robins as he bids to lead them to back-to-back Elite League titles.Andersen scored a maximum against former club Peterborough on Monday, and said: Its been so far so good when it comes to my career with Swindon, and I would like to think I will spend a few years here.Im not sure how many years Ill have left in me being 32 now, but as long as I can keep performing well and keep scoring lots of points I cant see any need for me to change clubs any time soon.WOLVERHAMPTON have extended Ludvig Lindgrens short-term contact until the end of April after the Swedes superb start to the season as a replacement for the unavailable Sam Masters.Wolves boss Peter Adams said: Sam understands we cant hang around forever and we simply have to wait and see what happens but I dont think we can really leave it any later than the end of this month.Ludvig has agreed and been booked for all of our April fixtures now and hes happy with that arrangement. But if he continues in the form he is in right now, we will be forced into a difficult decision even if Sam gets his visa.
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST
BERWICK will welcome back former favourite Sebastian Alden to guest in their home clash with Redcar this Saturday as No.1 Ricky Ashworth recovers from concussion.Co-owner George Hepburn said: We all know very well what Seb is capable of as hes taken many wins at Shielfield Park and some in the most exciting of fashion, and of course is the fastest man ever to race at our track so we know weve got the best alternative possible - and to think he called us first means hell be totally committed to his old clubs cause.EDINBURGH reserve Jozsef Tabaka has made a highly encouraging start to the new season with a total of 20 points from his first two matcheswhich could well move him up the Monarchs order if his form continues.Tabaka told the clubs official website: I am very pleased with the way the season has started. I have had plenty of work done on my bikes during the winter as I know I can do better here. I am hoping that I can keep this good start going and I have no fears of moving away from reserve. I dont really know who I am racing against. I try to win all my races.GLASGOW boss Sean Courtney was delighted with the fans backing for the clubs opening home fixture of the season, as the Tigers edged out Berwick in a close League Cup match.Courtney said: Our supporters turned out and really backed us, and we simply had to reward them with an opening-day win. Berwick put us under pressure early on and we were always playing catch-up, however we turned the tide in the second half of the meeting when it counted.IPSWICH reserve Cameron Heeps is hoping he can build on the experience he gained in 2012 as he returns for a second season with the Witches, which he has so far begun in encouraging fashion.Heeps told lovespeedway24.co.uk: I had a tough time last year but I have made a good start this time around. I dont want to set any targets, I just want to remain injury-free and consistent.LEICESTERS 52-38 win over Scunthorpe on Saturday means top spot in their League Cup group and a place in the semi-finals will be fought out between the Lions and Sheffield at Owlerton on Thursday.Co-promoter Alan Jones said: It was a great team effort that won the day against a very good Scunthorpe team. We are not there yet by any means, but we go to Sheffield on Thursday knowing just what we have to do.NEWCASTLE boss George English believes the Diamonds empathic displays against local rivals Redcar, when they secured a 41-point aggregate win in the Tyne Tees Trophy, sets his side up well for the campaign ahead.English said: The lads were always up for these wins this last few days and I can say their defeat of the Bears both home and away was nothing short of emphatic and that can only set us up for some superb results now our official season starts next week. Its been excellent preparation, and we're ready for the serious stuff now.PLYMOUTH will come up against former No.1 Ben Barker when Ipswich visit the St Boniface Arena on Friday, with the Devils desperate to bounce back from last weeks home defeat against Rye House.Captain Cory Gathercole said: It was disappointing to lose to Rye House because we had been looking to go all season undefeated at home. But we must treat that result as a wake-up call. We will want to put things right against Ipswich and I am sure we have riders capable of doing that, although it will not be easy. Ipswich have some quality riders and Ben Barker seems to know his way around the Arena perfectly well.REDCAR are on the look-out for a new rider to replace German Max Dilger, who suffered a broken tibia in the Bears home defeat by Newcastle last week.Promoter Brian Havelock told the Evening Gazette: Im going to have to rename the 1-7. We cant carry on using National League riders.RYE HOUSEs Simon Lambert is keen to return to action by the middle of May, although that is dependant upon whether he requires an operation on his broken ankle.Lambert said: Ive set myself a personal target of being back on a bike for the away match at Sheffield on May 16, and if I miss that then the Rockets next match is not until into June, which would give me more recuperation time. But that is totally down to the doctors decision on the operation.SCUNTHORPE take on Newcastle in the Premier Shield this weekend with Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey keen to pick up their first item of silverware of the season.Godfrey said: We have every chance of beating the Diamonds over two legs. It was fantastic to win the Premier League last year, and it broke our duck at this level. This weekend, we will be looking for a second piece of PL silverware. Im sure there will be two great meetings between two quality sides.SHEFFIELD co-boss Nigel Hinchliffe says the Tigers are ready for their crunch League Cup clash with group rivals Leicester on Thursday.Hinchliffe said: Scunthorpe are now out of the running for a place in the semis, which sets us up for a great showdown against Leicester. If we let the Lions take a match point off us theyre in and were out. Our plan has to be to hit them hard right from the word go, demoralise them and not let them into the meeting.SOMERSET continue their defence of the League Cup with matches against Ipswich and Rye House this week, with a draw at Hoddesdon last Saturday putting them in a good position in the four-team group.Manager Garry May said: It goes without saying that we will be going to Ipswich on Thursday looking to add to our points tally, but Ipswich will be out to avenge the mauling we gave them at home on Friday. Equally, Rye House will be keen to leave the Oaktree Arena on Friday night with something to show for their troubles, so it is imperative that we stay on top of our game, as maximum points from our home matches has to be the order of the day if we wish to qualify for the semi-finals.WORKINGTON were delighted to get their first League Cup points on the board under their new promotional team with the defeat of Redcar at Derwent Park last Saturday, especially after having to make a late team change in the build-up to the meeting.Co-promoter Tony Jackson said: We were confident that Mason Campton would be arriving from Australia in time for the start of our League Cup programmebut neither Mason nor us could believe it when his visa got refused on Wednesday. Mason and his family have now got an immigration lawyer working on the case and naturally they are challenging the decision.Following that news we had to make an immediate signing to enable us to come to the tapes; but thankfully we were able to quickly agree a deal with Chris Mills and, considering the lack of preparation time he had, we were all delighted with how he rode on his debut in what was a very solid team performance.
FIXTURE PICTURE
TUESDAY APRIL 9:TRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 1st leg: Dudley v Coventry 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 10:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Swindon 7.30, Kings Lynn v Coventry 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 11:LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Somerset 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Leicester 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 12:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Kings Lynn 8pm, Lakeside v Birmingham 8pm, Peterborough v Swindon 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Plymouth v Ipswich 7.15, Somerset v Rye House 7.30PREMIER SHIELD 1st leg: Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 13:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Leicester v Edinburgh 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Berwick v Redcar 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pmCHALLENGE: Stoke v Isle of Wight 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 14:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pmPREMIER SHIELD 2nd leg: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Stoke 4.30
MONDAY APRIL 15:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 17:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Eastbourne 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 18:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Scunthorpe 7.30, Sheffield v Workington 7.45PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Redcar v Berwick 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 19:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Edinburgh 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Ipswich 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Somerset v Plymouth 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 2nd leg: Coventry v Dudley 8pm
SATURDAY APRIL 20:PREMIER LEAGUE: Leicester v Redcar 7.30, Workington v Sheffield 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Rye House v Glasgow 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Plymouth v Somerset 7.15
SUNDAY APRIL 21:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Glasgow v Rye House 3pmLEAGUE CUP: Newcastle v Workington 6.30CHALLENGE: Buxton v TBC 3pm
MONDAY APRIL 22:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 23:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Dudley 7.30SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Kings Lynn 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 24:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Lakeside 7.30, Kings Lynn v Poole 7.30
