(SPEEDWAY 1)
POOLE boss Neil Middleditch says a fast start from his team is vital when they bid to pull back a ten-point deficit against Swindon in the semi-finals of the Elite League play-offs.Middleditch is looking for the Pirates to put pressure on the Robins at Wimborne Road on Monday, and knows that may mean them facing tactical rides from visiting manager Alun Rossiter.Middleditch said: “To overhaul ten points means we run the risk of them having the chance of double points. That said, we really need to be hitting them hard as early as possible. Drain the confidence out of them and pump up the belief in ourselves. “We know we can't rely on them giving us anything, we are going to have to work really hard to turn this around.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM co-promoter Alan Phillips has spoken of his pride with the Brummies favourites to book a place in the Elite League Grand Final.The Perry Barr side topped the regular table and go into Monday’s semi-final second leg against Wolverhampton two points up after an away win at Monmore earlier this week.Phillips said: “Monday is all set up to be a mind-blowing night for the city of Birmingham, expectations are high of our boys and as a fan of the Brummies for many years as well as the current co-promoter I am so proud of what we have achieved this season.“Every single member of our team has contributed throughout the year and weighed in with match-winning performances, and I can’t think of a better, more worthy bunch of lads to win the league, they truly deserve it.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IPSWICH boss Pete Simmons admits his side face an uphill battle to reach the Premier League play-off Final after they slipped to a 43-47 home defeat against Workington.The Comets had dropped a point at home to Edinburgh in the three-team group but hit back strongly at Foxhall, with Richard Lawson and Rene Bach both scoring 11+1.Simmons said: “We now face a very difficult task to win our group as both Workington and Edinburgh are strong on their home tracks, and Edinburgh are also good at our place as well. We had too few heat wins and were often struggling to keep up with them from the gate. “We must try to bounce back at Workington on Saturday and then head to Newcastle on Sunday in good spirits to bring that League Cup back to Foxhall.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
NEWCASTLE manager George English says his side need to regain their spark quickly after going down to a 37-53 defeat at Redcar in the Premier League play-offs.The Diamonds led 9-3 after two races but were quickly reeled in and were unable to take anything from the meeting, despite an 11+1 haul from Lewis Kerr at reserve.English said: “We were comfortably six points up early on and looking good for a solid away win in our most important match of the season, yet we dramatically lost our direction and in some cases it looked like our determination as well, and the final result can only be described as very, very disappointing indeed. “It now makes our job all the more harder to make the Final itself next month, and I only hope the determination I know these lads possess returns rapidly.”(SPEEDWAY 5)
FORMER Buxton captain Dean Felton has organised a packed programme of events at the Hi-Edge Raceway on Sunday afternoon as the club look to raise funds for an air-fence.The meeting will feature riders and machinery from five decades of the sport with former World Champions Jan O Pedersen and Sam Ermolenko heading the line-up.Felton said: “I approached numerous riders going back through the 1970s and 1980s and we have come up with 16 riders and a whole host of names from that era who were more than willing to support the club.“We’ve also got a lot of ex-riders coming along and there will be a load of other attractions such as the Men in Black, the North West Speedway Museum, Bruce Penhall’s 1981 World Final bike and so on.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Somerset v Rye House 7.30CHALLENGE: Plymouth v Exeter Select 7.15
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Workington v Ipswich 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Redcar 7pm RICKY ASHWORTH BENEFIT MEETING + TROPHY: Berwick v Sheffield 7pmMIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester 7.30
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Plymouth 3pmLEAGUE CUP FINAL: Newcastle v Ipswich 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Mildenhall v King’s Lynn 4.30RETRO CUP 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Sheffield 3pmAIR FENCE BENEFIT CHALLENGE: Buxton 3pm
