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MARTIN Smolinski is hoping to create history for Germany by making the top three in the Grand Prix Challenge at Poole on Saturday – to book a place in the 2014 World Championship series.Smolinski’s stunning season has been one of the main reasons for Birmingham’s strong challenge for Elite League honours, and he admits individual success would be a further bonus.He said: “If I could manage to get in the series for 2014 it would be absolutely huge, not just for me but for the whole sport in Germany. We have never had a German speedway rider in the GPs.“For the German people to see one of their riders there would be great for the future of the sport in our country. It would be amazing if I could be the one to make it there and make that happen.”
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PETERBOROUGH co-promoter Trevor Swales insists his side can still make the Elite League play-offs – despite an agonising last-race defeat at Birmingham.The Panthers gained a point from their 44-46 reverse having led for much of the Perry Barr encounter only to go down to a Heat 15 5-1 from Danny King and Ben Barker which took the Brummies back to the top of the table.Swales said: “Birmingham rode well to pull us back after we pulled clear a few times, so fair play to them.“The only time we were behind was after Heat 15 which is not good, and we would have obviously liked more than a point to help our chase for the play-offs. We've still got plenty of fixtures remaining so I'm confident we can still make that top four.”
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COVENTRY dealt a blow to King’s Lynn’s play-off aspirations by limiting the Stars to two Elite League points from their clash at the Norfolk Arena on Wednesday.Bees stars Krzysztof Kasprzak and Scott Nicholls collected 4-2s from Heats 13 and 15 with the final score of 48-43 giving the Brandon club their first away point for nearly three months – whilst the Stars were left to rue the absence of top man Niels-Kristian Iversen, who was racing in Denmark.Nicholls said: “We battled hard and I daresay we took advantage of them not having Niels. It would have been a much tougher job had he been here, but you have to take the opportunities when they’re there.“We know our play-off dream is over but it’s about getting as many points as we can, so to come away with a point is a good result and a whole lot better than nothing.”
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LAKESIDE are building up to a massive Elite League clash at home to Poole on Friday – with the Hammers knowing a win is vital to their play-off hopes.The two sides are direct rivals for the fourth and final play-off spot, with Lakeside’s remaining schedule following the meeting being away from Purfleet.Co-promoter Jon Cook said: “Defeat would leave us no way back, and the boys are determined to keep our season alive with a top performance.“This is a must-see finale to our home season and we are going to start the meeting with the parade at 8pm and first race around 8.15pm to take into account Bank Holiday traffic. We couldn't have hoped for a more attractive meeting with Greg (Hancock) and Darcy (Ward) in action and pre-ticket sales are already at a record level.”
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EDINBURGH have confirmed Josh Bates is set to play a major part in their team plans for their run-in to the Premier League campaign.Bates impressed in the Monarchs’ win over Somerset last week with two race wins, and will be back in the side for the visit of Rye House on Friday.Edinburgh co-promoter John Campbell said: “Josh has agreed to fill the gap left by the injury to Mitchell Davey at Sheffield in the Monarchs’ remaining matches this season, the only proviso being that should there be a clash with any Mildenhall fixtures in the National League he will race for the Fen Tigers. At the moment there are no such clashing dates in the diary.”
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ISLE Of Wight skipper Ben Hopwood is set to miss the club’s crucial upcoming National League schedule after suffering a shoulder injury on Tuesday.Hopwood crashed out of the Islanders’ win over Buxton on Tuesday when he tangled with Sean Phillips, and returned to hospital in Manchester for x-rays which appeared to reveal no broken bones but extensive swelling.He said: “They checked me over and then told me I’d have to come back in three weeks’ time as the scanner was fully booked for use until then! Only after they’ve scanned it will they be able to tell me whether or not I’ll need an operation. “I’m gutted as I was having my best season ever up to Tuesday and it kind of puts a downer on it, but I’m trying to get back into the saddle before the season finishes.”(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY AUGUST 22:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Glasgow 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.45
FRIDAY AUGUST 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Coventry 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Rye House 7.30, Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.15, Somerset v Ipswich 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 24:GRAND PRIX CHALLENGE: Poole 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Rye House 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Isle of Wight 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 25:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Ipswich 3pm, Leicester v Berwick 6pm, Newcastle v Workington 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Dudley 3pm, Mildenhall v Stoke 4.30
