(SPEEDWAY 1)
RICKY Ashworth remains stable but serious in an induced state following his crash at Scunthorpe on Friday.Ashworth, who is in Hull Royal Infirmary, is to undergo a medical procedure today to aid his recovery.Without their No.1, Ashworths Berwick team-mates raced to a 46-44 win over Edinburgh in a close Premier League fixture at Shielfield Park.Bandits boss Ian Rae said: We spoke to the lads after the Scunthorpe match and to a man they wanted to race, and dedicate their performances to Ricky, and what a performance it was to beat the favourites for the League title by two points in a last-heat decider.(SPEEDWAY 2)
GREAT Britain star Tai Woffinden is just five points off the World Championship lead after finishing second in Saturdays Italian Grand Prix.Woffinden gained eight points on title rival Emil Sayfutdinov, even though the Russian was third on the night, and there was a first-ever GP win for Kings Lynn No.1 Niels-Kristian Iversen.Woffinden said: It was a good meeting for me Im a little disappointed with how my last ride went but thats speedway. I still collected a lot of points to close the gap on Emil, so I have to be pleased with it overall.I said before the meeting I wanted to start putting pressure on Emil and I did that well just have to see what happens over the next few rounds now.(SPEEDWAY 3)
PLYMOUTHS inconsistency continued as the Devils suffered a fifth home defeat of the Premier League season at the hands of Redcar.Aaron Summers was unstoppable for the Bears with a 15-point maximum in their 52-40 success as the Devils failed to build on their dramatic away win at Workington one week earlier.Plymouth co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: We were always on the back foot after being two points down following the first four races. That is when we should be making home advantage count.It was pleasing to see Rasmus Jensen do well on his debut. His form and that of Mikkel Bech were the highlights of the evening for us.(SPEEDWAY 4)
WORKINGTON maintained their position as Premier League leaders with a 54-40 home win against Rye House at Derwent Park.Comets captain Richard Lawson, in his first meeting away from the No.1 position this season, top-scored with 13 points.Manager Tony Jackson said: After last weekends home defeat to Plymouth it was good to get back to winning ways and secure all three league points. Six of our seven riders won at least one race while the other had a paid win so it was a solid team effort that brought us the victory, which is what you want to see; with anyone capable of getting a race win when you need it.
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LEICESTER are back into the Premier League play-off places but dropped another home point in their narrow win over Scunthorpe.The Lions were limited to two points from a 46-43 victory as for the fifth time this season they won a home match but not by enough to secure the maximum.Co-promoter Alan Jones said: We are making it really difficult for ourselves to remain in the top six and a play-off position at the end of the season. Whilst all the leading teams have dropped points at home our record is the worst of them all because in five out of the eight wins we have not collected the maximum three match points. Had we done so our position in the league table would be much more secure. There are still seven fixtures remaining and it is still possible to achieve our aim but first of all we have to rediscover our early season form. Next weekends back-to-back fixtures against Rye House will go a long way to determining where we may ultimately finish.
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KINGS Lynn heat-leader Rory Schlein faces a period on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg in Poland on Sunday.Schlein had won his first three races in his match for Lodz but came to grief in his fourth outing, and following examinations was transferred to another hospital for an operation.Meanwhile Birmingham have suffered a further injury blow with Nico Covattis injury in the Italian Grand Prix now confirmed as a broken left wrist.The Brummies are already without No.1 Chris Harris, who broke a collarbone at Eastbourne last Monday and they face two Elite League fixtures this week.(SPEEDWAY 7)
NEWCASTLE returned to fourth place in the Premier League table with an emphatic 66-29 win over Sheffield at Brough Park.Richie Worrall and Andrew Tully both scored paid maximums for the Diamonds with three other riders in double-figures as the home side gained revenge for a defeat at Owlerton three nights earlier.Newcastle boss George English said: This was a highly satisfying victory over Sheffield especially after the manner in which the match was won by Sheffield down in Yorkshire on Thursday nigh.But tonight's massive victory from the Diamonds more than makes up for that and all the lads pulled their weight and scored brilliantly well.(SPEEDWAY 8)
FORMER Glasgow favourite Josh Grajczonek returned to haunt his old club with a 15-point maximum in a perfect guest appearance for injury-hit Rye House.Grajczoneks full-score, deputising for the injured Olly Allen, inspired the Rockets to a 47-43 away win at Ashfield with reserve Pontus Aspgren notching 14 from seven rides.Rye promoter Len Silver said: This was an astonishing victory given the weakness of the side, and one achieved on a very difficult track. Our guest, Josh Grajczonek, was totally brilliant, closely followed by Jason Bunyan with a captains performance. But all the boys gave their absolute all. Now all we need is to get our named seven back out on the track.(SPEEDWAY 9)
MILDENHALL are back on top of the National League after overcoming Kings Lynn in a match of two halves at West Row.Josh Bates scored a 15-point maximum in the Fen Tigers 52-36 win after they had trailed the Young Stars by five points at the halfway stage, and reserve Aaron Baseby added paid-14 from six rides.Manager Robert Henry said: It was important to get back into winning ways today and after a shoddy start the lads clicked into gear in the second half of the meeting to take a vital win. There were too many mechanical problems for my liking but I was pleased with the spirit shown by the team. Aaron looked back to the rider we know he is capable of being today and although not race fit after his break he produced the goods and will be a very useful rider at reserve for us.
(SPEEDWAY 10)
DUDLEY maintained their 100 per cent National League record with a 50-38 win at Stokehours after confirming Knockout Cup progression on aggregate at Buxton.The Heathens hectic schedule of two meetings in one day was not, however, without incident as skipper Ashley Morris and Gareth Isherwood both picked up injuries at Loomer Road, but Lewis Blackbird and Paul Starke scored maximums to anchor the victory.Heathens boss Will Pottinger said: It's a superb win considering Ash and Gareth only scored one point apiece, and we're absolutely delighted with the result."When Ash pulled out whilst we were three points down I would have taken a point in all honesty, so to come away with all four is a tremendous effort by everybody.(FIXTURES)
MONDAY AUGUST 5:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton OFF, Poole v Eastbourne 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Coventry 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 6:PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Workington 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Dudley 7pm
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Wolverhampton 7.30, Kings Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 8:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30, Sheffield v Glasgow 7.45
FRIDAY AUGUST 9:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 7.30, Lakeside v Eastbourne 7.45, Peterborough v Swindon 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Plymouth 7.30
