(SPEEDWAY 1)
EDINBURGH are through to the Premier League play-off Final after a 53-37 home win over Ipswich on Friday.The result means the Monarchs finish their group on eleven points, three clear of Workington, and now await the conclusion of the other section to determine their opponents.With their work done at Foxhall on Thursday where they took an away win, the Scottish side simply needed to avoid losing at home by 14 or more, and dispelled any doubts by racing into an early 26-10 lead.No.1 Craig Cook dropped his only point to Morten Risager, with Jozsef Tabaka also in double figures with three race wins, whilst guest Steve Worrall top-scored for the Witches on 12.(SPEEDWAY 2)
SOMERSET ran up a convincing 57-37 home win over Redcar to take an early lead in their Premier League play-off group.A 5-1 to the Bears in Heat 11 cut the gap to eight points but the Rebels finished strongly with Nick Morris completing a full maximum from five rides, and Jason Doyle was also unbeaten.Morris said: “Redcar made it difficult for us early on, but we knew that we had the strength within the team to win the match.“Gazza (team manager Garry May) had told us beforehand that race-points might be vital in deciding the group winners and he wanted no let up from us even when the match and all three match points were won. From a personal viewpoint, it was great for me to get my maximum, but more importantly the team won and we got all three league points.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
NEWCASTLE rounded off their regular Premier League programme with a 47-43 away win at Plymouth, leaving the Diamonds a clear third in the final table.They finished just two points short of leaders Somerset after victory at the St Boniface Arena thanks to an impressive night’s work from Ludvig Lindgren, who scored paid-16 from six rides and won four races.Newcastle boss George English said: “After Heat 1 I was a little concerned that it was all going to end up a very ‘end-of-season’ lacklustre affair, but far from it. The lads proved they wanted the win and raced with the exact attitude we've seen from them all season - the one that wins vital races and takes critical points just when they’re needed.“They thoroughly deserved the win which was a great way to finish the season's league programme, leaving the way clear for us to concentrate on turning the tables and unexpectedly make the play-off Final - which is a hard ask, but with racing like this we'll at least give it a go!”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
WORKINGTON bring down the curtain on their first season under the new promotional team, led by club owner Laura Morgan, with tonight’s Cumberland Open Championship individual meeting at Derwent Park (7pm).The Comets have thanked supporters for their backing during the campaign by reducing admission prices to £10 for adults and £7 for concessions for a full 20-heat individual meeting.Morgan said: “Overall we have got to be satisfied with our first season as a new promotion and the way that the team performed in the play-offs. But, now that our play-off push has ended we stage our final meeting of the season, and we are very pleased with the field we have been able to put together, which features not only the Comets riders but former Comets such as Craig Cook, Kevin Doolan and Ulrich Ostergaard.“Also, with riders from several Northern clubs taking part we are sure that supporters of other clubs will take the opportunity to come along, enjoy the racing and support their riders.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BELLE Vue Director of Operations Chris Morton feels the club’s home and away challenge matches with Leicester are a good move as they look at potential riders for the future.Regular skipper Craig Cook will lead a much-changed Aces side in the East Midlands on Sunday evening, with their plans for Wednesday’s return set to include club asset Richie Worrall.Morton said: “We thought we felt it was a fantastic opportunity to get some of the best young talent in the country together, while also giving the fans the opportunity to see a group of gifted individuals they may not normally get to see in action.“I think both of these matches will be very interesting, and it’ll certainly be tough for us at Leicester because their guys really know their way around their home circuit. But we've got some great riders who are more than capable of scoring some big points.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY OCTOBER 5:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7pmCUMBERLAND OPEN: Workington 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 6:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Rye House v Somerset 2pmCHALLENGE: Leicester Select v Belle Vue Select 5pmARGUS SUSSEX CHAMPIONSHIPS: Eastbourne 3.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 7:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Birmingham 7.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 8:NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Dudley v King’s Lynn 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9:NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Dudley 7.30CHALLENGE: Belle Vue Select v Leicester Select 8pm
