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STEFAN Nielsen retained the British Under-19 Championship with a stunning ride to win the Final at Coventry.Nielsen came through the semi-final after scoring 12-points in the qualifiers, but got the better of automatic finalists Ashley Morris and Adam Ellis with a spectacular outside blast on turn two, leaving Morris second and Ben Morley third ahead of Ellis.Nielsen said: “I didn’t get gate one, and I didn’t make the best start because I lifted a bit, I was third going into the corner but I had the momentum around the outside and it worked a treat.“I enjoyed it, it’s the first time I’ve been to Coventry and I’m very happy with the win. I’d like to say a special thank-you to Michael Lee, I borrowed his engine for two meetings before and I felt it would suit this track well from what people were saying, and it was amazing.”
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SHEFFIELD skipper Simon Stead has admitted his pain at missing out on the chance to win the Premier League Riders’ Championship on his return to the second tier this year.Stead saw his season ended by a broken leg in practice at King’s Lynn earlier this summer, meaning he is unable to be involved in Sunday’s showpiece at Owlerton – nine years after one of the most talked-about races in the event’s history.Stead said: “I remember it so well, I was unbeaten going into the final and it was my last season in the Premier League, I was so desperate to win it. Me and Andre (Compton) crashed on the last turn of the last lap and I was the one that got excluded, I’ve never forgotten it and it’s still a target of mine to win it. “Unfortunately I’ve missed it this season but hopefully if I fully recover it’s something I can target for next season.”
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SWINDON reserve Ashley Birks will miss the Elite League play-offs after suffering a back injury in a crash at Plymouth on Friday.Birks was competing in the Westernapolis Individual event and now requires an operation, although he has movement in his feet.Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: “It’s devastating for Ashley and we wish him well for his operation and hope he is up and about as soon as possible.“It means we have to bring in a guest at reserve and I’m working on that immediately, but naturally our thoughts at the moment are with Ashley.”
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SOMERSET are through to the Premier League KO Cup Final after a successful defence of their 26-point first leg lead at Edinburgh.The Monarchs won 48-42 on the night but it is the Rebels who advance to face Rye House in the Final, with the first leg to be staged at the Oaktree Arena this Friday (September 27).Somerset boss Garry May said: “The boys did an excellent job. They knew that they could not let Edinburgh get a foothold in the match and the longer we kept it tight, so the pressure built on the Monarchs.“Every one of the team rode superbly. Edinburgh are an excellent team but we knew what we had to do, and the boys did it to perfection.”
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WORKINGTON have been hit by illness and injury problems ahead of their opening Premier League play-off clash with Edinburgh, which forms part of a double-header at Derwent Park on Saturday (6.30pm).The Comets take on the Monarchs twice, the second fixture being a regular Premier League match, but at least two of their team will be missing.Boss Tony Jackson said: “We were already going into this match without Ashley Morris, who is competing in the NLRC at Rye House, and are grateful to former Comet Chris Schramm for agreeing to ride at reserve as a guest replacement for him tonight. We then had news that Kyle Howarth has been ill for three days, which forced him to miss last night’s under-19 championship at Coventry. Hopefully he will be fit to ride this evening, although how much the illness has taken out of him we do not know. “Then, late last night, Tero Aarnio called me from hospital to say that he had been involved in a crash in Sweden and suffered a shoulder injury. At present we do not know the full extent of that injury, but he is certainly not fit to ride against the Monarchs. You begin to wonder what will happen next!”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Workington v Edinburgh 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Rye House 7pm, Workington v Edinburgh (follows previous fixture)NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22:PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 5pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 4.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 6: Iwade 12pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Swindon v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Birmingham 7.30SILVER SKI HOLIDAYS CHAMIONSHIP: Kent 6.30
