BIG EVENT LATESTADMISSION prices for the British Under-21 Final have been pegged at the normal National League levels of staging club Dudley.The Heathens will run the first major event of the 2013 season on behalf of the BSPA at Monmore Green on Tuesday April 23, with competitors chasing the double incentive of a prestigious national title and also a place in the qualification rounds for the World Under-21 Championship.
There will definitely be a new name on the trophy this season as 2012 winner Joe Haines is now ineligible, and several of the riders have proven records of success at the Midlands circuit.
Admission is 11 adults, 8 concessions, 2 children and the souvenir programme will cost 3.Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson said: As a club we are extremely honoured to be staging this major national event for a second successive season.
And the decision to peg admission prices underlines our commitment to providing supporters with value for money.We had a good turnout for this meeting last season and after the excellent turnout for our opener with Coventry were confident of more of the same.
Obviously it would be great to see (Dudley captain) Ashley (Morris) win it, but Kyle Howarth is riding superbly right now and he has been impressive for Elite League Poole.And of course we have Tom Perry, who is still a massive favourite with Heathens fans, coming back for the first time since he left us in the winter along with Darryl Ritchings, another popular former Heathen.
Its a great line-up and Im certain there will be some great racing.
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL DRAW: Jason Garrity (Rye House), Shane Hazelden (Kings Lynn Young Stars), 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: Liam Carr (Unattached), Adam Ellis (Ipswich/Isle of Wight).
*THE draw has been made for the British Semi-Finals which place this month at Edinburgh and Sheffield.The top seven riders from each meeting will qualify for the Final at Wolverhampton on May 13, with two Wild Cards to be added.Seven-times Champion Scott Nicholls begins his campaign at Sheffield on April 25 along with Grand Prix man Tai Woffinden, whilst treble-winner Chris Harris will race at Edinburgh on April 19.EDINBURGH (April 19): Carl Wilkinson (Redcar), James Grieves (Glasgow), Richie Worrall (Newcastle), Kyle Howarth (Poole/Workington), Chris Mills (Workington), Derek Sneddon (Edinburgh), Edward Kennett (Swindon), Charles Wright (Buxton), Danny King (Birmingham), Ricky Ashworth (Berwick), Chris Harris (Birmingham), James Wright (Glasgow), Steve Worrall (Newcastle), Craig Cook (Belle Vue/Edinburgh), Stuart Robson (Coventry/Newcastle), Richard Lawson (Lakeside/Workington). SHEFFIELD (APRIL 25): Chris Schramm (Plymouth), Scott Nicholls (Coventry), Jason Garrity (Rye House), Ben Barker (Birmingham/Ipswich), David Howe (Scunthorpe), Olly Allen (Rye House), Lee Smart (Stoke), Ashley Birks (Swindon/Scunthorpe), Lewis Bridger (Lakeside), Richard Hall (Sheffield), Joe Haines (Sheffield), Josh Auty (Birmingham/Scunthorpe), Tai Woffinden (Wolverhampton), Robert Mear (Lakeside), Simon Stead (Kings Lynn/Sheffield), Kyle Newman (Somerset).
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 delighted with a second strong home performance in succession as the Aces notched a 54-39 victory over Peterborough on Monday.Attwood said: We carried on from where we left off. We made a strong start with full points from three of the first four races, and that set us up to continue our target of becoming a strong side at home.(Matej) Zagar is really looking the part at No.1 and I am sure he will only get stronger as he gets more and more meetings under his belt.BIRMINGHAM skipper Danny King admits last weeks wet weather came as a frustration as the Brummies wanted to quickly hit back from their home defeat by Swindon.King told the Birmingham Mail: We really wanted to get one of those meetings on although we were depleted for the trip to Lakeside so I suppose of the two we wanted Eastbourne more.Its a major disappointment because to lose a home meeting like we did against Swindon is something we wanted to get out of the system as quickly as possible.COVENTRY promoter Mick Horton admits another change could well be on the way as the Bees look to recover from a start to the season which has seen them take just one point from six matches.Horton said: Well look at the averages, and I think we need one more change. I dont think anybody would disagree with me there, and over the next couple of weeks before the next meeting well be looking.The team spirit is really good and the riders are trying their hardest, but its just not working. As Ive said before, its a results business and weve got to do whatever it takes. Weve still got time if we make the right change.EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer says his riders are working overtime to get things right after a lack of consistency at the start of the new season.Geer said: Our whole team is built on the basis of every rider being able to win races and score good points. Thats not happening at the moment.We are doing all we can to get everyone riding at the level which we and they know they can. They are certainly not short of practice now. We have had a number of sessions at our track and we have ridden four matches.KINGS LYNN made it eleven points from a possible 14 at the start of the season with a hard-fought 49-41 win over Coventry last Wednesdaydespite being behind with five races to go.Manager Rob Lyon said: Seb (Alden) was a bit down in the dumps and couldnt understand why. I had a long chat with him and put a bit of belief in him. You could see his determination off the line in those races (Heats 11 and 12), he wanted to get to that corner first.You have to have belief in your own riders and I think it proved in the end that we have enough in the tanknot only a win, but to take all three league points which is really important for us.LAKESIDE manager Neil Vatcher believes the Hammers recent defeats against Swindon are not reflective of the kind of form they will show during the remainder of the season.Vatcher told Speedway Star: Obviously things havent gone to plan, although we have ridden against a really good team in Swindon. Pre-season they were my tip to retain their league title, and I havent see anything to make me change that view yet.So perhaps we shouldnt be too harsh on ourselves at the moment because its still early days for us, and Im sure the young riders will get better as the weeks go by.PETERBOROUGH boss Jan Staechmann insists there will be no panic measures after the Panthers suffered a 54-39 defeat at Belle Vue on Monday, following up from a home loss to Swindon three nights earlier.Staechmann said: Its difficult to know what to start really but we didn't perform very well at all.Making changes at this stage of proceedings would be a bit of a knee-jerk attempt to try and rectify something. If you look down the scorechart there are too many gaps and too many problems we need to solve, and in all honesty there is not any one thing you can say or do to fix it."POOLE promoter Matt Ford says the recall of Dennis Andersson was a logical move for the club when it became apparent that Robert Miskowiak would need an operation following his Easter crash at Wimborne Road.Ford said: It was clear that we had to act swiftly once we learned about the seriousness of Roberts injuryand particularly that he would be out for longer than we had originally anticipated.The important thing is that Dennis is a familiar figure at Poole and has enjoyed an Elite League title success racing for us. I am sure he will enjoy a rapturous reception on his return.SWINDON continued their near-perfect start to their Elite League title defence with a 50-40 win at Peterboroughthe Robins fifth straight win giving them 16 points from a possible 18.Manager Alun Rossiter said: When you start winning, it becomes a habit and weve got this belief running through the team. In the last quarter of the match we came very strong, and its amazing.We made some mistakes last year. We should have killed meetings off and got four points, and we probably could have finished on top of the table, but we threw some silly points away. We talked about that, and it was great to see how keen they all were to get all four points.WOLVERHAMPTON star Ty Proctor was involved in three 5-1s as his side got the better of local rivals Coventry 56-36 to move second in the Elite League tablewith both Tai Woffinden and Freddie Lindgren scoring maximums.Proctor said: Im really impressed with Mondays result, and for me its all about rolling back the clock and going back to 2009 when everything was working out. I was doing both leagues, Elite and Premier, back then, and Im very focused and determined to make things happen this year. It has to be my best performance here at Wolverhampton for a couple of years I would say.
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST
BERWICK boss Ian Rae is calling for a big response from his side when they visit Redcar on Thursday looking to keep their KO Cup aspirations aliveafter a 44-46 home defeat against the Bears in the first leg.Rae said: We were left woefully weak at the gate too many times and despite some cracking races from Seb Alden the good stuff was too far apart against a team like Redcar who really wanted the win and gated so well to get the points. They deserved their win, but now we have to go there on Thursday and do the same - and better!EDINBURGH made progress in the Knockout Cup by overcoming Leicester on aggregate, despite a scare in the East Midlands as they defended their 27-point first leg advantage.Monarchs captain Derek Sneddon said: We were worried because every time I looked Leicester were getting a 5-1, but we eventually turned things around and went through pretty comfortably after our big win at Armadale on Friday.GLASGOW co-promoter Colin Hamilton said the club had no choice but to postpone their Scottish derby League Cup clash with rivals Edinburgh last Sunday.Hamilton said: The track, with its improved drainage, could certainly have been made race ready but only if we had had a decent window in the weather. Unfortunately, the hour by hour forecast was for more rain, and that simply prevented us from doing what we'd have had to do. There was still the prospect of further rain during the meeting which depreciates the spectacle as well as placing the riders at greater risk.IPSWICH co-promoter Chris Louis says he never had any doubts that Witches reserve Cameron Heeps would make a successful comeback from the hand injury which ended his 2012 campaign.Louis told lovespeedway24.co.uk: I didnt believe for one second Cam would struggle. Hes had a sensible winter not doing too much but getting himself fit and strong. He certainly looks much fitter this season, which is showing in his results.LEICESTER co-promoter Alan Jones said a narrow second-leg win over Edinburgh at home gave the Lions mild consolation for their exit from the KO Cup after a heavy defeat at Armadale the previous evening.Jones said: It was a big ask to rescue the tie, and after Heat 10 when we were 14 points ahead and just 13 behind on aggregate there was a possibility of making further inroads, but all credit to Edinburgh who came back with a late rally and to such an extent that we did well to hang on to a home win.NEWCASTLES strong start to the season continued with aggregate victory over Scunthorpe in the Premier Shieldwith winter signing Lewis Kerr scoring an impressive paid maximum.Diamonds boss George English said: Lewis was again spectacular taking his first paid maximum for the Diamonds from four rides and whilst we knew we'd got a great find in our ranks I don't think even we could have hoped for such a superb start from him.PLYMOUTH face West Country rivals Somerset home and away in the League Cup this weekendhoping for a repeat of their Challenge match success over the Rebels at the St Boniface Arena earlier in the season.Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: We beat them by seven points at our place last time and that would be enough to give us the three match points at stake on Saturday. I am sure we are in for another good evening of speedway in what will be a big local derby.REDCAR take a two-point lead into the home leg of their Knockout Cup tie with Berwick on Thursday after a spectacular show from reserve Micky Dyer at Shielfield Park last weekend.Manager Jitendra Duffill said: We were very pleased but will remember that the job is only half done and the Bandits have the incentive that the winning aggregate is within touching distance. Micky has proved an oustanding signing for us so far this season and to have him available for up to seven rides in a match is a bonus.RYE HOUSE boss John Sampford admitted the Rockets gating had been awry in their 42-54 defeat at Somerset on Friday which leaves his side as underdogs in their League Cup group.Sampford said: They skinned us out of the starts early on before we were able to re-group a little. They were the better side on the nightand they are a very strong team generally - although the biggest damage was done at reserve, where their pair was paid for 19 against our four. In fairness, the group is now really Somersets to lose, but we will give it our best shot while we still can.SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey has declared that the Scorpions season starts on Thursday as they begin their Premier League title defence.Godfrey said: Its Thursday when our season starts, with our first league match of the season at Ipswich. Both Ryan Douglas and Josh Bates should be back for that one. Ryan had a badly damaged thumb after Friday, but its now looking a lot betterall the bruising has come out. Dont get me wrong, it would have been nice to have won the Premier Shield, but its the league meetings that really count.SHEFFIELD skipper Richard Hall scored a 15-point maximum as the Tigers secured top spot in their League Cup group with a home win over Leicester which takes them into the semi-finals.Hall said: The main thing today was to get through the group and we knew itd be tough, but everyone chipped in. Its nice to get a maximum of course, but the team qualifying was the main thing. Not everyone fancied us to do anything so its nice to prove some critics wrong already.SOMERSET boss Garry May says the away trip to Plymouth on Saturday will be crucial to the Rebels League Cup aspirationsand he believes his team must go for the victory.May said: From what we know already, and looking at the matches Ipswich and Rye House have left at home against the Devils, it looks as if we will probably need to come away from Plymouth on Saturday night with at least a point to our names if we are to stand a chance of topping our group - and even then it still might come down to points difference, so to avoid all that uncertainty well be going to the SBA looking for the meeting win.WORKINGTON riders follow their thrilling last heat home victory against Newcastle at Derwent Park last Saturday with a busy week ahead as they complete their League Cup group matches and get their Premier League campaign underway.Comets co-promoter and team manager Tony Jackson said: After opening up a good lead we let Newcastle back into the match last Saturday and, although we were able to take maximum points from the final heat to secure the home victory, it was too close for comfort. We certainly dont want to find ourselves in that position too often. This coming week sees our guys with a tough schedule; starting with a visit to Owlerton on Thursday and the return fixture with Sheffield at Derwent Park on Saturday, which sees the return of former Comets hero Simon Stead, who rates Derwent Park as probably his favourite track. Then, we finish the weekend off with a visit to Newcastle for our final League Cup group match where we really do need to get a result. Additionally, sandwiched in between the two Sheffield matches, we have Richard Lawson, Kyle Howarth and Chris Mills included in the line-up at Edinburgh for the British semi-final on Friday.
FIXTURE PICTURE
WEDNESDAY APRIL 17:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Eastbourne 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 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 Stoke 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
THURSDAY APRIL 25:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Sheffield 7.45SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Ipswich v Workington 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 26:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Birmingham (prov) 8pm, Peterborough v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Plymouth v Newcastle 7.15LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 27:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Workington v Ipswich 7pmCHALLENGE: Stoke v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 3pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Coventry 4.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Isle of Wight 3pm
MONDAY APRIL 29:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Coventry v Wolverhampton 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 30:PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Workington 7.30NATIONAL SHIELD: Dudley v Mildenhall 7.30CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v Stoke 7pm
WEDNESDAY MAY 1:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Eastbourne 7.30
