(SPEEDWAY 1)
SWINDON surged back into the Elite League play-off places with a commanding 51-39 away win at rivals Kings Lynn on Wednesday.Former Stars rider Troy Batchelor led the Robins superbly with 14 points from five rides, and reserve Ashley Birks added a vital eight as their side moved above Kings Lynn in the table ahead of Thursdays Blunsdon return.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: It was really important for us to get the win tonight, because we were drifting out the play-off picture a little bit. This result puts us right back in there; they are four big points and we just need to build on that now.Kings Lynn manager Rob Lyon said: I think this underlines how badly we missed Simon Stead, we only got three points from his rides which isn't good enough. We've had terrible injury problems this season, but fair play to Swindon - they came here and did a job.(SPEEDWAY 2)
POOLE moved to within three points of the play-offs with a 53-39 win over Belle Vue, making it a maximum eleven from their last three meetings.Maciej Janowski, Chris Holder and Przemek Pawlicki were all in double figures for the Pirates, and there was also a memorable ride from guest reserve Micky Dyer.The Redcar man, guesting for the injured Dawid Stachyra, swept past Belle Vues No.1 Matej Zagar for a crucial 5-1 in Heat 11 when the Slovenian was going for double-points, a race result which all-but secured the Pirates victory.The Aces were without Magnus Zetterstrom who suffered back and groin damage in a crash in Sweden on Tuesday and has been told to rest.(SPEEDWAY 3)
SIMON Stead is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a badly broken leg in a crash whilst practicing at Kings Lynn. Stead was preparing for his Elite League clubs clash with Swindon 24-hours before the meeting but will now be ruled out for the Stars and his Premier League club Sheffield and requires an operation.Sheffield co-promoter David Hoggart said: This is obviously dreadful news for us as a club, but first and foremost we want to send our good wishes to Simon, who has been brilliant for us this season.Its far too early at this stage to speculate on his likely time out of action, but I understand the leg is broken in three places so it may well be a complex recovery process.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SOMERSET boss Garry May admits the broken collarbone suffered by Stefan Nielsen at Leicester is a blow to the club.Nielsen was one home match away from achieving a new average, leaving the Rebels needing to cover his absence with National League ridersbut May still believes they can maintain their play-off challenge, with a crunch clash with Newcastle coming up at the Oaktree Arena on Friday.He said: Unfortunately injuries are part and parcel of the sport, but Stefan's comes at a particularly unfortunate time as he was still one home match short of attaining a 'true' average. That would have seen him on something like a five-point figure.In saying that, we were without Stefan for virtually all of the match at Leicester but the rest of the team pulled together to give us that fantastic win, so I am sure that they will all give that bit extra while we are without him over the next few weeks.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BERWICK star Kozza Smith is rated at 50/50 to make the trip to Plymouth on Friday after having to pull out of last weeks home meeting against the Devils.Manager Ian Rae said: We could see there was something up with Kozza. In both his races he was going quickly but erratically - and after a consultation with the paramedic staff, he agreed to stop racing.His problem is an inner ear infection, which is affecting his balance, something a speedway rider rather needs to have working 100 per cent, and until the infection has cleared up he simply cannot risk getting back on his bike.The Bandits will definitely be without Nicki Barrett following a crash in the same meeting, but fears of a broken arm or shoulder have proved unfounded, and he hopes to return for their next home match against Scunthorpe on Saturday week. Kasper Lykke is to guest at Plymouth.(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY JUNE 27:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Kings Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30OZCHEM TROPHY: Sheffield v Dudley 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7.15, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v Newcastle 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Mildenhall 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Somerset 7pm, Workington v Ipswich 7pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Stoke v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 30:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Ipswich 3pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: Mildenhall 4.30
