(SPEEDWAY 1)
FORMER Leicester No.1 Sergey Darkin will return to the club on Sunday to take part in the Pride of the Midlands individual event.Darkin rode for the Lions in their first season back in the sport two years ago, and several other previous team members are included although current skipper Kauko Nieminen has been ruled out with a knee injury.Co-promoter Alan Jones said: Since we announced the draw for the event there have been three withdrawals due to injury. Ashley Birks, who was involved in the accident with Christian Henry during the first race against Newcastle, is out due to a fractured scaphoid. So too is Jari Mkinen who broke his leg on Tuesday and Kauko has had to pull out as the knee he injured is still very swollen. Provided the swelling has subsided Kauko is booked in for a scan on Tuesday and we will know more about the extent of his injury during the week.
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SHEFFIELD have turned to former skipper Andre Compton after suffering a double shoulder-injury blow in the build-up to their clash with Rye House on Thursday.The Tigers were already without reserve Damien Koppe, who crashed in last weeks Top Gun Individual, whilst Compton comes in to guest for Joe Haines who picked up his injury in a mountain bike accident whilst training.Sheffield boss David Hoggart said: When Joe contacted us to inform us of his injury, it felt like the end of the world given the other injury problems we have at the moment.Andre was our first port of call, and fortunately he was available and jumped at the chance of helping out his old club. Hes actually cancelled appointments in London today to turn out for us, and we also thank Glasgow for their co-operation in making this possible.(SPEEDWAY 3)
PLYMOUTH will hand a debut to Swedish star Sebastian Alden when they face high-flying Workington at the St Boniface Arena on Friday.Alden has been signed by the Devils to replace long-term injury victim Ty Proctor, but Todd Kurtz (groin) also sits the match out whilst ex-Plymouth man Jason Bunyan guests for Mark Lemon who is the team manager of Australia in the World Cup.Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: The Comets have an impressive record at home and away, which saw them on top of the table before this weeks fixtures. All the indications are that they will provide us with some formidable opposition.
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KENT have re-called former skipper David Mason as they look to strengthen their side following a tough start to life in the National League.Mason was released from the Kings line-up to facilitate the signing of Benji Compton earlier in the season but now returns in place of Sam Woods with new averages allowing scope for the change.Mason said: Im really pleased to be back with the Kings and just hope that we can all pull together to give the fans a few wins, hopefully points that I score will make the difference. I havent ridden since the Isle of Wight meeting in May; Ill be having a practice this week to get myself ready for Monday.(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY JULY 18:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Scunthorpe 7.30, Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30, Sheffield v Rye House 7.45
FRIDAY JULY 19:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Plymouth v Workington 7.15, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Isle of Wight 7.30
SATURDAY JULY 20:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Glasgow 6pm, Rye House v Sheffield (follows previous fixture), Workington v Somerset 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 21:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Somerset 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 4.30PRIDE OF THE MIDLANDS: Leicester 6pm
