(SPEEDWAY 1)
BIRMINGHAM moved to within two points of Elite League leaders Wolverhampton with a 54-40 win over injury-hit Poole at Perry Barr.The Pirates lost Tomas H Jonasson with rib damage in a Heat 2 fall, and fellow reserve Dawid Stachyra also crashed out later in the meeting. In-form Ben Barker top-scored for the home side with 12 points, and Martin Smolinski added 10+2.Birmingham owner Alan Phillips said: Id like to personally thank every single Brummies fan for turning out tonight when they could have watched it on the box, the atmosphere on the terraces was electric and we did the city proud.I'm delighted for Ben getting Rider of the Night, the way he went past the World Champion (Chris Holder) in Heat 15 with Smolinski was pure class.(SPEEDWAY 2)
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer has confirmed the club will have Timo Lahti and skipper Cameron Woodward in their line-up for Fridays home clash with Poole.The Eagles duo are both involved in Grand Prix qualifiers the following day but will compete against the Pirates at Arlington, with new signing Kim Nilsson making his debut.Geer said: We are delighted Cam and Timo have made themselves available for our fixture on Friday. They have shown real commitment to Eastbourne Speedway and we are doing what we can to help them on their way to these important meetings on Saturday.Im calling on our riders to focus on this match and secure another home win. We really do want to keep our Arlington record intact.(SPEEDWAY 3)
COVENTRY manager Gary Havelock says the club are entering a vital run of home matches, with their next four fixtures all at Brandon.The Bees face Swindon on Friday and then take on Poole, Belle Vue and Birmingham with their next away match not until the last week of July.Havelock said: We do need to be picking up more points away from home, but one thing for absolute certain is that we cant afford to be dropping many more points at Brandon.We need to be winning by more than six points wherever possible, and in fairness our home performances have been solid for a while now, so we need to keep it that way.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
ANDRE Compton has come out of retirement and has joined Glasgowwith his debut set to come against Berwick at Ashfield on Sunday.The former Premier League Riders Champion replaces James Wright for the Tigers, who have also signed Danish returnee Jonas Raun for Harley Horwood who is returning to Australia due to family issues.Compton said: I was missing racing this year, and got an opportunity to ride in David Howes Testimonial in May at short notice.I did that and really enjoyed racing, and I thought I should look for a team place. Ive been fortunate that Glasgow can fit me in and Im looking forward to joining them.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
KINGS Lynn overturned a 25-point first leg deficit to get the better of Stoke in the National League Knockout Cup.The Young Stars were in front on aggregate by Heat 10 and eventually won the second leg 64-26 with teenage sensation Robert Lambert scoring a seven-ride paid maximum.Steve Worrall and Lewis Kerr were also unbeaten for the home side, who join Mildenhall as confirmed qualifiers for the semi-finals of the competition.
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY JUNE 20:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 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 OFF
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
