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ROBERT Branford gets another chance to grab the limelight after receiving a late call-up to Thursday's British semi-final line-up at Sheffield (7.45pm).Branford won the British Under-21 Championship at Dudley on Tuesday and now gets the opportunity to go for further National glory after Lee Smart was withdrawn from the Owlerton event.Branford said: I'm still buzzing from (Tuesday) night and to get this opportunity as well is just awesome. Count me in.The top seven from the meeting will book their place in the British Final at Wolverhampton on Monday, May 13.REVISED LINE-UP: Chris Schramm (Plymouth), Scott Nicholls (Coventry), Jason Garrity (Rye House), Ben Barker (Birmingham/Ipswich), David Howe (Scunthorpe), Olly Allen (Rye House), Robert Branford (Coventry Storm), 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).(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM returned to winning ways with a 56-38 victory over Lakeside in their first meeting since a home defeat by Swindon a fortnight ago.Winter signing Jason Doyle top scored for the Brummies with 14 points and skipper Danny King added 12, with Peter Karlsson leading the way for the Hammers on 13.Birmingham boss Phil Morris said: I'm delighted with the whole team tonight. Jason was on fire and totally deserved the Rider of The Night Award. If this is how the team perform after a two-week break then I'm looking forward to the visit of the Eastbourne Eagles in 14 days time.Meanwhile Kings Lynn bounced back from their defeat at Lakeside on Tuesday with a 49-41 win over Poole in Wednesdays live Sky Sports fixture, taking maximum points from the meeting.Niels-Kristian Iversen and Rory Schlein secured a vital 4-2 in the last race to make sure of three points overall for the home side, despite the mid-meeting withdrawal of Mads Korneliussen following a Heat 8 crash.
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WOLVERHAMPTON have given in-form Swede Ludvig Lindgren the green light to continue for the rest of the season.Lindgren was signed on the eve of the campaign as cover for talented Australian youngster Sam Masters, whose visa appeal has now been rejected, and has responded with a series of high scores.Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: We're happy to have concluded an agreement with Ludvig for him to continue until the end of the season. He has done a great job and has matured an awful lot since he last rode for us.We've been in contact with Sam Masters, and we're almost in May so we think the sensible thing is to write this situation off now. His appeal failed, and I find it a terrible shame for the lad.
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EASTBOURNE promoter Bob Dugard has fired a warning to his side after recent below-par performances.The Eagles were heavily beaten at Wolverhampton on Monday and Dugard is demanding a reaction in their matches at Swindon on Thursday and at home to South coast rivals Poole on Saturday.He said: The performance at Wolverhampton was unacceptable and the team needs to respond at once. We are looking for an immediate improvement and are considering our options at this moment. There is no question about it, we will make changes to the team if we have to. The whole basis of the 2013 team was strength in depth and thats not happening. That must change without delay.
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FORMER Workington star Craig Cook has answered the Comets call to guest after Richard Lawson was hurt when racing in the Elite League for Lakeside.Cook will stand in at Ipswich on Thursday in the first leg of the Knockout Cup tie, with Lawson now the second Workington rider on the sidelines joining Chris Mills who broke a wrist in post-match practice last weekend. Manager Tony Jackson said: Yet again we find ourselves looking for guests early in the season. I couldnt believe it when Chris got injured on Saturday night. He was showing good form and was very much looking forward to visiting Ipswich.We thought that losing Chris was bad enough but then to lose Richard the night before our visit to Ipswich was a body blow. Thankfully, with the co-operation of the Edinburgh promotion, we have been able to secure the services of Craig, who is the current Premier League Riders Champion and is a rider that has a good record around Foxhall Heath.(FIXTURES)
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: 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 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Workington v Ipswich 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Plymouth 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
