(SPEEDWAY 1)
BIRMINGHAM and Swindon go into the final night of Elite League racing prior to the play-off cut-off with both sides able to finish top of the table.The Brummies host King’s Lynn at Perry Barr and a point will be enough, but should they slip up the Robins can overhaul them for first place if they take maximum points against Lakeside at the Abbey Stadium.And the meeting in Wiltshire will also determine the fourth and final play-off position as the Hammers need all four league points, with an away win by seven or more points, to move ahead of Poole.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “We are desperate for a good display tonight, we want to go into the play-offs with some momentum. We can’t afford any complacency and we are urging all our supporters to come down and get behind us.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)SOMERSET and Ipswich are set to resolve the Premier League leadership ahead of the play-offs when the sides meet at the Oak Tree Arena on Monday.The Rebels and the Witches are level on 54 points going into their final match, so the Witches need a draw or better to take over at the top. Somerset promoter Debbie Hancock said: “Although the winners of the play-offs will be crowned the 2013 Premier League champions, as well as the kudos that goes with finishing top of the league table, there is also a trophy presented to the team that ends the league campaign in first place.“Plus, whoever finishes ‘top of the tree’ will get the all-important first pick of their opposition in the play-offs, so it goes without saying that we will be gunning for victory on Monday, though I am sure that Ipswich will want to have a say in that.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
NEWCASTLE have the chance of a top-three Premier League finish as they go into their second home match in two nights against Plymouth on Monday.The Diamonds defeated Edinburgh 49-41 in a hard-fought encounter at Brough Park and can now overhaul the Monarchs with a win over the Devils – if the Scottish side miss out in their visit to fifth-placed Workington.Newcastle boss George English said: “Our lads rode hard against stiff opposition and pulled out some vital points just when we needed them, and Lewis Kerr's races later in the match were vitally important to our victory which strengthens our position in the play-off top six.“Tonight, of course, we have the chance to overhaul Edinburgh for third place in the table if they lose at Workington and we beat Plymouth on our home shale, but either way at least we are already guaranteed a play-off place.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
GREG Hancock and Darcy Ward head the line-up at Wolverhampton for the fund-raising Joe Hughes Individual meeting on Monday.The event, in memory of former rider Hughes, will raise funds for Cancer Research and new training facilities for youngsters in Burton.Wolves owner Chris Van Straaten said: “The organisers of the meeting have done a fabulous job putting this field together in memory of Joe.“Ward is pure box office and it’s wonderful to see Greg Hancock, with all his connections to this area, back at Wolverhampton. It’s a high-quality field and I’m looking forward to a super night of racing.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
ISLE of Wight co-boss Chris Hunt is wary of paying too much attention to past results when his side take on Mildenhall in the semi-finals of the National League KO Cup on Tuesday.The Islanders are looking to build a first-leg lead and are boosted by 58-34 and 60-33 home wins against the Fen Tigers earlier this season.Hunt said: “Whilst really good from our point of view, those results count for nothing come tomorrow evening and despite operating the rider replacement regulations to cover for the inured Ben Hopwood, it is up to us to go out there, battle for every single and build up that healthy lead we'll be aiming for to take with us to Suffolk on Sunday."Hopefully our fans will be backing us to the hilt from the grandstand and terracing and cheering us onto a handsome victory."
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30, Peterborough v Belle Vue OFF, Swindon v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Plymouth 7.30, Somerset v Ipswich 7.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7.30JOE HUGHES INVITATIONAL: Wolverhampton 7.30JOHN CEARNS CUP: Kent v Wimbledon 6.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7pm
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F REPLAY 1st leg: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19:LEAGUE CUP FINAL 1st leg: Ipswich v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20:BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F REPLAY 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30WESTERNAPOLIS: Plymouth 7.15
