(SPEEDWAY 1)
WORLD Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden will have surgery on Wednesday to start his recovery from a badly broken collarbone.Woffinden crashed twice on his way to glory, racing through the pain barrier to realise his dream and he has been told he must have the operation to allow himself maximum time for a winter training programme in the build-up to the defence of his title.He said: “I'm having the operation next Wednesday in Derby. I will have the bent plate taken out and then the surgeon will decide how best to repair the damage.“It's regrettable that I will miss the Elite League Riders' Championship at Swindon next weekend, which means I won't get the chance to represent Wolverhampton and I sincerely apologise to supporters for that. I hope everyone has a great meeting.“I can confirm I will be at Wolverhampton for their Banks's Olympique individual meeting on Tuesday, October 22 and I look forward to seeing all the fans at Monmore Green that night, although this will be in a non-riding capacity.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SOMERSET produced a remarkable turnaround in the closing races of their play-off clash with Newcastle to secure all three points with a 51-39 win.The Diamonds led 34-32 on the night with just four heats to go, but the Rebels then scored three 5-1s and a 4-2, with late-season signing Charles Wright the hero with paid-14. The sides meet again at Brough Park on Sunday.Somerset boss Garry May said: “It was certainly tough, but then Newcastle are a quality side as their third place finish in the Premier League proved. We were on the rack for the majority of the meeting, but I knew we would come good in those final few heats and so it proved, with Charles putting in an exceptional shift for us from reserve.”Newcastle manager George English said: “While a lot of people may well have written us off we held this match well throughout and kept the scores tight, but the last few races proved to be our downfall which was devastating. We now have to see how good we can be on Sunday before we start planning any further home meetings in 2013.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
PETERBOROUGH reserve Norbert Kosciuch enjoyed his best night of the season as the Panthers completed the campaign with a 42-36 win over Belle Vue.Kosciuch scored paid-15 from six rides, only missing out when he fell in Heat 13 which turned out to be the last race of the night with the result declared due to worsening weather conditions.Peterborough co-boss Trevor Swales said: “Fair play to the riders on both sides for putting on some entertaining speedway in tough conditions – they all got stuck in and gave it a go.“Norbi obviously was going great guns which was good to see, but it was important for us as a team to finish off with a win and we’re very pleased to do that.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
COVENTRY have bolstered their line-up for Sunday’s East Midlands Bowl by bringing in World No.3 Niels-Kristian Iversen to face Leicester.The sides meet at Brandon at midday before a 6pm clash at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium, and the Lions have strengthened with Elite League heat-leaders Kenneth Bjerre, Hans Andersen and Krzysztof Kasprzak.Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “I want to win these meetings, I’m sure our fans want to as well, and I want us to show Leicester it can be tough in the Elite League!“They’ve shown plenty of ambition with the team line-up they’ve put together and I’m delighted to bring in another World-class rider in Niels which can only add to the entertainment in both meetings.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY OCTOBER 12:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 13:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Newcastle v Somerset 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F REPLAY 1st leg: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3.30EAST MIDLANDS BOWL: Coventry Select v Leicester Select 12pm, Leicester Select v Coventry Select 6pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 14:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Birmingham v Poole 7.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 15:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F REPLAY 2nd leg: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7pm
