BIG EVENT LATESTFORMER World Champion Jan O Pedersen has pledged to find British riders for the future - and the 1991 title holder is ready to launch the British Speedway Academy.The scheme, which is being run in line with the government's action sports Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence initiative, will be officially launched this autumn. It is open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 18, and has been officially approved by the BSPA and SCB.Fans and sponsors can get involved with full details on the academic and practical courses plus the supporters' membership scheme on http://www.speedwayacademy.co.uk/ .Pedersen said: As a Dane I am obviously aware of how successful my nation has been in producing riders through youth training and taking them to World individual titles and World Team Cup victories. British Speedway has needed a comparative structure for decades and I am pleased to play my part. I must stress that the scheme is not only open to riders in the sport's Youth championship but riders from other motorcycle disciplines such as Motocross and Road Racing.Pedersen has already held a meeting with Great Britain Youth co-boss Phil Morris, who has responsibility along with Neil Vatcher for all levels up to the Under-21s, and they have discussed the scheme and potential future candidates for the course.Pedersen added: Phil was supportive and informative. He gave me an insight into the current pool of riders taking part in age-group categories for the various British championships. We will be in regular contact and I am hoping that Phil will work alongside me at speedway training schools as an ex-rider himself. I would also stress that the course will also be open to youngsters from other motorcycle disciplines such as Motocross and Road Racing too. Already we have seen the success of such British riders as Craig Cook, Richie Worrall, Ashley Birks and Richard Lawson in switching to Speedway from Motocross, plus Rohan Tungate who is a convert from Road Racing.Meanwhile the next major event on the domestic calendar is the hugely popular Premier League Fours at Peterborough on Sunday July 14 (2.30pm start).The line-up for the meeting is to be declared shortly, with Berwick having taken victory at the Showground last season ahead of Leicester who had to be content with the runners-up spot for the second successive year.And the top riders in the third tier will feature in the National League Pairs at Mildenhall on Sunday June 30. Cameron Heeps and Lewis Blackbird took the title for the Fen Tigers in 2012.SPEEDWAYGB EVENTS SERIES 2013BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: ROBERT BRANFORDBRITISH FINAL: TAI WOFFINDENPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: SOMERSETPREMIER 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
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BELLE VUE manager Jason Attwood was pleased with another solid effort from his side at home in banking maximum points from their 49-41 win over Peterborough on Monday.Attwood told the Manchester Evening News: Its like I say every week, it is all right having a No.1 but you need people to back him up. We had a brilliant No.1 in Jason Crump for years but we still lost meetings because the rest of the team werent performing.Matej (Zagar) has done well tonight, Cookie (Craig Cook) has done well and the reserves have done well. We are a team. We win as a team and we lose as a team.BIRMINGHAM star Chris Harris is targeting a return to the No.1 race-jacket following an impressive performance in the Brummies win over Belle Vue last week.Harris told the Sunday Mercury: That's my goal now - to get back to No.1. That's where I want to be, I want to establish myself as a No.1 so I need to get some momentum going to make it happen.We're getting to know the bikes more which is a good thing. We know how we want to set them up and how to get the best out of them, and that's going to make a big difference I think.COVENTRY skipper Scott Nicholls said the Heat 15 win from Grzegorz Zengota to secure a narrow 47-43 win for the Bees against Kings Lynn was a crucial effort.Nicholls said: It was a bit of a mish-mash of teams on both sides, but Kings Lynn are a good outfit and Zengi was fantastic in the last race to beat (Niels-Kristian) Iversen, who is super-quick everywhere right now.I managed to get a couple of wins and the team won as well which is the most important thing. We had to do that for the fans, I think if wed come away losing it would have been a big problem.EASTBOURNE overcame the Heat 1 loss of Lukas Dryml with a broken collarbone to edge out league leaders Wolverhampton 47-43 in a tight contest at Arlington.Eagles boss Trevor Geer said: We were already without Cameron (Woodward) and Denis (Gizatullin) but to lose Lukas before a race had been completed, well I know Wolverhampton had their own problems in that department, but the signs did look bleak.In the end, it was about the scoring of three riders that pulled us through, though Timo Lahti and Kyle Newnman weighed in with some crucial points when we needed them most. A special mention has to go to (guest) Lewis Bridger however, he did a terrific job for us throughout the evening.KINGS LYNN will include Danish youngster Nicklas Porsing for their home clash with Swindon on June 26, having signed the Under-21 star to replace the injured Mads Korneliussen, joining spectacular Latvian Andzejs Lebedevs as a recent recruit for the Stars.Manager Rob Lyon said: We had been in discussions with (Porsing) for the past week, he impressed us with his professionalism. Yesterday (8th) he decided to fly over and meet us before signing.Nicklas knows what he wants and is prepared to put the effort in, he's a very switched-on guy. He comes into the side as cover for Mads.LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook is keen that Mondays defeat at Wolverhampton does not disrupt his sides momentum, especially after reporting a 1500-plus crowd for the Hammers last home match against Poole.Cook said: Our feet are firmly back on the ground after a great run of seven wins on the trot and we now need to set up for revenge against the Wolves, who are our next visitors to the Arena Essex Raceway a week on Friday (21st June).It's important we don't let one defeat ruin the feel-good factor and concentrate on the many positives our turn in form has brought.PETERBOROUGH reserve Patrick Hougaard was fortunate to escape with concussion from an horrific crash at former home track Belle Vue on Monday.Panthers co-promoter Trevor Swales said: Its a big relief that nothing is broken for Patrick. It was a horrible crash and I really feel if that hadnt happened, we would certainly have got something from the meeting, and quite possibly won it because Patrick looked to be riding so well.Dak (North) was outstanding and overall it was a better away performance from us, but we still had too many last places and thats a concern.POOLE promoter Matt Ford continues to be busy on team matters, having been relieved to see Przemyslaw Pawlicki and Tomas H Jonasson back into action after recent injury scares.Ford said: We have already suffered a catalogue of issues, most influenced by outside sources and it just makes life impossible trying to put a team together.I was relieved to learn that Shamek suffered no serious damage after his crash on Friday and then doubly delighted that Tomas made his comeback so well in the GP qualifier.SWINDON star Peter Kildemand says now is the time for the reigning champions to re-ignite their title challenge after suffering problems in recent weeks, including rain-offs at Blunsdon.Kildemand told the Swindon Advertiser: Wolverhampton and Birmingham are doing well, and we started the season good but we are struggling a little bit now, but we have always had one rider missing and I think now is the time to get going.I think riders will always keep coming back, and I will come back even if we have as many rain-offs as last season, because it is always a good place to come.WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams hailed the all-round performance leading to a 50-40 win over Lakeside despite the absence of both Tai Woffinden and Ty Proctor due to injury.Adams said: I said to the boys it was quite easily our best win of the season in my mind. Lakeside are a team in formtheyve won six on the bounce and are very solid from top to bottom.We couldnt have asked from any more from the last two meetings, especially given our injury problems, so were delighted with that.
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BERWICK boss Ian Rae says the manner of the Bandits 48-45 home win over Ipswich last weekend can spark a major confidence-boost for his side. Rae said: This was a far better show from Berwick, and as expected Ipswich really pushed hard especially the brilliant maximum from Ben Barker. This result has really boosted our lads confidence and now we can start to build this 2013 season to the level we know we deserve to be at.EDINBURGH were left stunned by a late Redcar comeback to overturn a 12-point deficit and grab a 47-46 away win at Armadale, with the Monarchs unhappy with their display in the closing stages.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: We were absolutely shocking over the last five races, I cant believe we let a good lead slip. Redcar took their chances and we have no real complaints.GLASGOW boss Sean Courtney accepts the need for change as the Tigers continue to go through a tough spellbut says the club will not rush into making the wrong move.Courtney said: The changes weve got to make have to be right for the team. Its no good changing like for like because we need a big-hitter, to take a bit of pressure off the other ones and turn it round for us.IPSWICH co-promoter Chris Louis heaped praise on No.1 Ben Barker who completed a highly successful weekend with a 14-point haul in the Witches 45-45 draw at Newcastle.Louis said: Ben was brilliant again, he rode like the number one that we signed him to be. Having said that it was a great effort from all the boys and with the character shown tonight we can be a match for anyone. I was really pleased with the attitude of the whole team.LEICESTER made it seven straight wins in the Premier League by getting the better of Glasgow 55-39 for their highest score yet this seasonalthough the depleted Tigers took some credit for their performance.Lions co-promoter Alan Jones said: I thought that for all their problems the Glasgow team rode with great spirit and should be proud of their display. Missing James Grieves, who was stranded due to his vehicle breakdown, they made a real go of it and actually shared the points in the last six races. The margin of the result has helped our points scored for and against difference which may be a deciding factor for a top six finish.NEWCASTLE boss George English took the positives from a home draw against Ipswich, not least the high level of entertainment on show at Brough Park between two evenly-matched teams.English said: We said these Witches were no push-overs and so it was proved with a fantastic match between two great speedway teams with probably the fairest result at the end of the day. There were a few small points where points were lost not least where Lewis Kerr and Ritchie Hawkins came together which certainly sent Kerr going backwards, but thats speedway and at least we rescued one league point.PLYMOUTH have called upon Josh Grajczonek to guest for injured No.1 Ty Proctor when they face Ipswich at the St Boniface Arena on Friday in a clash of two in-form sides.Devils skipper Cory Gathercole said: We are looking forward to the visit of Ipswich and our former rider Ben Barker. They just beat us down here last time in the League Cup, but things will be a lot different this time and we will be aiming to give them a bit of a hammering.REDCAR are chasing a place in the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup for the first time when they face Scunthorpe over two legs this week.Promoter Brian Havelock said: Despite the status of our opposition we have every chance of making it through on aggregate as our victories over Somerset at home and away at Edinburgh last week prove that the boys are on form.RYE HOUSE are assessing their options for covering for No.1 Olly Allen who suffered a broken arm in Saturdays shock 44-46 home defeat by Plymouth, and is expected to be out for four to six weeks.Rockets boss John Sampford said: The injury nightmare continues, doesnt it? To lose Jason early on in the fixture was a handicap to start with, although we still managed to build a lead after that. It went pear-shaped after Ollys injury, though.SCUNTHORPE No.1 Josh Auty has become the second-highest scorer in the clubs history, behind only current skipper David Howe after overhauling Byron Bekker.Promoter Rob Godfrey said: Josh was scoring points freely for us in 2006 and 2007, when we romped to back-to-back Conference League titles. Meanwhile, I dont think anyone will ever forget the final race of the 2012 season at the Eddie Wright Raceway, when Josh and Nick Morris combined for the final race result that clinched the Premier League championship for the Scorpions. Its fitting that Josh has moved into second place in our list of all-time top scorers.SHEFFIELD skipper Simon Stead expects to return to action this week after aggravating a shouder injury and suffering soft tissue damage to his left leg in a crash at Coventry on Friday.Stead said: You can go years and years without injuring your shoulder, it just so happens that Ive had four crashes this year and every one has knocked it! The latest crash is a bit of a setback but nothing serious and Im confident Ill be leading the boys on Thursday.SOMERSET boss Garry May was delighted to see his side hit top form at home with a 61-29 win over Rye House featuring strong contributions throughout the team.May said: Youve only got to look at the score-chart to see that this was virtually an ideal team display, with every rider contributing to such an extent that we only ran two last places all match and one of those was when Doyley (Jason Doyle) was excluded in Heat 1. What made it all the more remarkable was the fact Josh (Grajczonek) was far from 100 per cent, though he was much better than the previous night when we lost at Redcar.WORKINGTON take a break from Premier League action this week in order to concentrate on the Knockout Cup quarter-finals, when they take on fellow title-contenders Somerset, who last month took over from the Comets as PL Pairs champions.Team manager and co-promoter Tony Jackson said: After a good weekend where we took all seven league points on offer we now have to park that to one side and focus on the two cup matches against Somerset, which we believe will be our toughest challenge so far this season. Like ourselves, the Rebels have made a good start to the season and we have to get every single point that we possibly can from Saturdays first leg to take back down to Somerset next Tuesday.Unfortunately we will still have Tero Aarnio out through injury for these matches, but the rest of the team showed what they can do over the weekend and we need that to continue. Our skipper Richard Lawson is in the form of his life right now and of course both he and Rene Bach got some useful practice around the Oak Tree Arena two weeks ago in the Pairs, which wont have done them any harm.FIXTURE PICTURE
TUESDAY JUNE 11:PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Dudley v Coventry 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 12:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30, Poole v Birmingham 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 13:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Plymouth 7.45PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30
FRIDAY JUNE 14:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Ipswich 7.15PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F: (1st leg) Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, (2nd leg) Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Kent 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Sheffield 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Workington v Somerset 7pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Stoke v Isle of Wight 7pmCHALLENGE: Border Raiders v Dudley (at Berwick) 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 16:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Mildenhall v Kent 4.30RED REVOLUTION OPEN: Glasgow 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 17:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Peterborough 7.30CHALLENGE: Kent v Rye House Raiders 6.30
TUESDAY JUNE 18:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Somerset v Workington 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Kent 7pm
WEDNESDAY JUNE 19:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Poole 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Kings Lynn v Stoke 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 20:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Somerset 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 21:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Eastbourne v Poole 7.45, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30WESTERNAPOLIS: Plymouth 7.15
SATURDAY JUNE 22:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm, Leicester v Somerset 7.30, Rye House v Newcastle 7pm, Workington v Edinburgh 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Coventry 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 23:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Berwick 3pm, Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 4.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Buxton v Dudley 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 24:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Kent v Isle of Wight 6.30
TUESDAY JUNE 25:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Dudley v Mildenhall 7.30, Isle of Wight v Stoke 7pm
WEDNESDAY JUNE 26:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Kings Lynn v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Belle Vue 7.30
