(SPEEDWAY 1)
PETERBOROUGH skipper Kenenth Bjerre goes into Saturday’s Grand Prix Challenge at Poole as one of the favourites to book a place in the 2014 series.Bjerre has been in top form in recent weeks and gained a further confidence boost with a maximum at Wimborne Road in the Panthers’ Elite League win there earlier this month.He said: “Everyone wants to be in the Grand Prix and after being there before I am even more desperate to get back – it’s a big target of mine to qualify.“I know I am capable of competing in the GP’s, so I just need to give myself another chance to show what I can do.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
STEFAN Nielsen will defend the British Under-19 Championship at Coventry on September 20.The line-up also includes recent World Under-21 Wild Cards Kyle Howarth and Adam Ellis as well as four other riders who have won major British titles at junior level – Ashley Morris, Brandon Freemantle, Nathan Stoneman and Nathan Greaves.World 250cc Champion Daniel Spiller, who is based in Germany, gets a Wild Card, although Robert Lambert is unavailable due to prior commitments.LINE-UP: Josh Bates (Mildenhall), Liam Carr (Buxton), Max Clegg (Dudley), Connor Coles (Kent), Adam Ellis (Ipswich/Isle of Wight), Brandon Freemantle (Isle of Wight), Nathan Greaves (Dudley), Oliver Greenwood (Coventry), Kyle Howarth (Swindon/Workington), Ben Morley (Kent), Ashley Morris (Workington/Dudley), Stefan Nielsen (Somerset/Mildenhall), Darryl Ritchings (Isle of Wight), James Shanes (Coventry), Daniel Spiller (Unattached), Nathan Stoneman (Mildenhall). Reserves: Adam Kirby (Kent), Jack Kingston (Kent).(SPEEDWAY 3)
SWINDON'S top-of-the-table aspirations were dealt a huge blow as they suffered a shock 48-42 defeat at home to Belle Vue.Former Robins favourite Matej Zagar scored a 15-point maximum for the visitors, whilst Peter Kildemand was withdrawn from the meeting for the home side after a heavy crash in his second ride.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “Obviously the loss of Peter was a big blow for us but I have to say Hans Andersen was well below par for us and he looked a shadow of the rider he was at the start of the season. “It’s not the result we wanted, but top spot isn't too important for us and we remain confident we can beat whoever is put in front of us in the play-offs despite this result.”
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ROBERT Miskowiak is to return to Wolverhampton for a second spell with the club.Miskowiak, who started the season with Poole, re-joins Wolves as a replacement for the injured Ty Proctor having also stood in for the Monmore men in 2012.Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “Robert was one of the first riders we spoke to once it became clear that Ty was sidelined for the rest of the season but he had an unhappy experience with an injury at Poole earlier this season and wanted to ensure that he was fully ready to come to our aid for the second season running.“During our search it was important that the replacement rider had an average higher than Ludvig Lindgren, to retain Ludvig’s strength in the reserve berth. This applied both to riders with previous experience in the UK and newcomers on an assessed average.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
SCUNTHORPE kept their outside hopes of a Premier League play-off place alive with a 46-44 win at Sheffield – their first success on the road this season.Former Tiger Josh Auty held his nerve in the last-heat decider, getting the better of Sheffield guest Richard Lawson on the opening lap for the 3-3 the Scorpions required, with Auty’s 15+1 well backed-up by reserve Lewis Blackbird on 12+1.Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “It’s nice to finally get an away win under our belts. We’ve been close in our last four or five away meetings, so it was about time a close result went our way.“Lewis Blackbird had a fantastic night – it makes a real difference when a reserve is scoring so well. Josh was every bit a No.1, he was full of confidence and looking unstoppable by the end of the meeting.”(FIXTURES)
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
MONDAY AUGUST 26:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Peterborough 7.30, Poole v Swindon 4pm, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Berwick 2pm, Scunthorpe v Leicester 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Dudley 3pmBRITISH 125cc FINAL: Rye House (follows PL fixture)CHALLENGE: Scunthorpe Select v Halifax (follows PL fixture)
TUESDAY AUGUST 27:PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Dudley v Isle of Wight 7.30
