BIG EVENT LATEST…
NO less than eight Grand Prix stars - including two of the top three riders in the world - will do battle for the prestigious Elite Riders' Championship at Coventry.The meeting, which features the top rider from every club, is the first major event of the year on Sunday, March 23 (6pm).And over half of the permanent Speedway Grand Prix field, who will shortly be leaving for the opening round of the season in New Zealand, will be on display.World Champion Tai Woffinden, representing Wolverhampton, heads the field along with King's Lynn glamour boy Niels-Kristian Iversen who won the bronze medal in Torun last October.Swindon's Australian ace Troy Batchelor, who won a dramatic call-up to the SGP series recently, has accepted an invitation to appear at Brandon along with Freddie Lindgren, Kenneth Bjerre, Chris Harris and Slovenian sensation Matej Zagar.Reigning champion Rory Schlein of King's Lynn will also line up in a bid to defend his crown.British Speedway Chairman Alex Harkess said: “This is a wonderful way for us to start what promises to be a very exciting season of speedway.“For this event to feature eight Grand Prix stars is excellent news and represents a very attractive field.“We are looking forward to the meeting and with a 6pm start it means we will have a dramatic finish under lights at the same time as finishing at a reasonable hour for travelling fans to get home.“This a great time of year, everyone is full of optimism and looking forward to their speedway fix."The meeting will feature 20 heats with every rider having five outings. The top two scorers go into the final with the next four in a race-off for the last two places in the final. The new Elite Riders' Champion will be the winner of the final regardless of previous points scored.
DRAW: Danny King (Birmingham), Peter Karlsson (Lakeside), Craig Cook (Belle Vue), Niels-Kristian Iversen (King’s Lynn), Hans Andersen (Coventry), Tai Woffinden (Wolverhampton), Rory Schlein (King’s Lynn), Troy Batchelor (Swindon), Matej Zagar (Belle Vue), Freddie Lindgren (Wild Card), Peter Kildemand (Swindon), Darcy Ward (Poole), Bjarne Pedersen (Eastbourne), Chris Harris (Coventry), Kenneth Bjerre (King’s Lynn), Jason Doyle (Leicester).
SPEEDWAYGB EVENTS SERIES 2014:
ELITE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, March 23BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Cradley, April 15BRITISH FINAL: Wolverhampton, June 16PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, July 11PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Peterborough, August 3PREMIER RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, September 21NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS:NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: Mildenhall, June 15NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry, August 10NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, September 28BRITISH SPEEDWAY FIM EVENT DATES:WORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP Semi-Final: Leicester, May 10
ELITE LEAGUE LINE-UPS…KEY: * = Doubling-up riderPL only = Rider who doubled-up in 2013 but is only racing in Premier League in 2014.FTDP = Fast Track Development Programme reserveIN = Refers to top five riders only. Comparison is with club’s final declaration of 2013.
BELLE VUE: Matej Zagar, Craig Cook*, Scott Nicholls, Richie Worrall*, Michael Palm Toft, Stefan Nielsen (FTDP), Ben Reade (FTDP).IN: Nicholls (from Coventry), Worrall (from King’s Lynn), Palm Toft (from Plymouth PL).OUT: Kevin Wolbert (to Glasgow PL), Ales Dryml (to Peterborough PL), Ulrich Ostergaard (PL only), Magnus Zetterstrom, Kauko Nieminen (both unattached).
BIRMINGHAM: Danny King, Adam Skornicki, Edward Kennett*, Ben Barker*, Daniel Nermark, Paul Starke (FTDP), Simon Lambert (FTDP).IN: Skornicki (from Wolverhampton), Kennett (from Swindon), Nermark.OUT: Chris Harris (to Coventry), Jason Doyle (to Leicester), Josh Auty (PL only), Martin Smolinski, Nico Covatti (both unattached).
COVENTRY: Hans Andersen, Chris Harris, Kenneth Hansen, Ryan Fisher*, Kyle Howarth*, Jason Garrity (FTDP), James Sarjeant (FTDP).IN: Andersen (from Swindon), Harris (from Birmingham), Fisher (from Peterborough), Howarth (from Swindon), Hansen.OUT: Scott Nicholls (to Belle Vue), Oliver Allen (PL only), Aaron Summers (PL only), Stuart Robson (PL only), Linus Sundstrom, Grzegorz Zengota, Michal Szczepaniak (all unattached).
EASTBOURNE: Bjarne Pedersen, Joonas Kylmakorpi, Cameron Woodward, Mikkel Michelsen, Kim Nilsson, Lewis Blackbird (FTDP), Dan Halsey (FTDP).IN: Kylmakorpi (from Peterborough).OUT: Simon Gustafsson (to Swindon), Lukas Dryml, Timo Lahti (both unattached).
KING’S LYNN: Niels-Kristian Iversen, Kenneth Bjerre, Rory Schlein, Nicklas Porsing, Robert Lambert, Lewis Kerr (FTDP), Lewis Rose (FTDP).IN: Bjerre (from Peterborough), Lambert (from King’s Lynn NL)OUT: Mads Korneliussen (to Leicester), Richie Worrall (to Belle Vue), Lasse Bjerre (PL only), Kozza Smith (unattached).
LAKESIDE: Peter Karlsson, Davey Watt, Lewis Bridger, Mikkel Bech, Richard Lawson*, Adam Ellis (FTDP), Ben Morley (FTDP).IN: Bech (from Plymouth PL).OUT: Sebastian Ulamek, Piotr Swiderski, Tyson Nelson (all unattached).
LEICESTER: Jason Doyle, Mads Korneliussen, Patrick Hougaard, Peter Ljung, Simon Stead*, Tom Perry (FTDP), Max Clegg (FTDP).INS & OUTS: N/A – club new to Elite League.
POOLE: Darcy Ward, Przemyslaw Pawlicki, Maciej Janowski, Vaclav Milik, Josh Grajczonek*, Kyle Newman (FTDP), Lee Smart (FTDP).IN: Pawlicki, Milik.OUT: Rohan Tungate (PL only), Greg Hancock, Thomas H Jonasson, Micky Dyer (all unattached).
SWINDON: Peter Kildemand, Troy Batchelor, Nick Morris, Simon Gustafsson, Nicolai Klindt, Steve Worrall (FTDP), Darryl Ritchings (FTDP).IN: Gustafsson (from Eastbourne), Klindt (from Scunthorpe PL).OUT: Hans Andersen (to Coventry), Edward Kennett (to Birmingham), Kyle Howarth (to Coventry), Ashley Birks (PL only).
WOLVERHAMPTON: Tai Woffinden, Piotr Pawlicki, Ty Proctor*, Ricky Wells*, Jacob Thorssell, Ashley Morris (FTDP), Joe Jacobs (FTDP).IN: Pawlicki, Proctor.OUT: Adam Skornicki (to Birmingham), Ludvig Lindgren (PL only), Fredrik Lindgren, Robert Miskowiak (both unattached).
PREMIER LEAGUE LINE-UPS…KEY:* = also racing in National LeagueComparison is with club’s final declaration of 2013.
BERWICK: Kevin Doolan, Matthew Wethers, Claus Vissing, David Bellego, Matej Kus, Steen Jensen, Liam Carr*.IN: Doolan (from Leicester), Vissing (from Edinburgh), Kus (from Redcar), Jensen, Carr.OUT: Paul Starke (to Somerset), Sebastian Alden, Kozza Smith, Robin Aspegren, Nicki Barrett (all unattached).
EDINBURGH: Craig Cook, Sam Masters, Derek Sneddon, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Aaron Fox, Steve Worrall*.IN: Masters, Sedgmen, Fox, Worrall.OUT: Theo Pijper (to Glasgow), Claus Vissing (to Berwick), Jozsef Tabaka, Mitchell Davey (both unattached).
GLASGOW: Kevin Wolbert, Mark Lemon, Rusty Harrison, Theo Pijper, Dimitre Berge, Kasper Lykke, Anders Thomsen.IN: Wolbert (from Belle Vue EL), Lemon (from Plymouth), Harrison (from Workington), Pijper (from Edinburgh), Lykke (from Rye House) Berge.OUT: Joe Jacobs (to Peterborough), Joe Screen, Dakota North, James Grieves, Henning Bager, Joey Ringwood (all unattached).
IPSWICH: Richie Worrall, Rohan Tungate, Morten Risager, Cameron Heeps, Ritchie Hawkins, Gino Manzares, Adam Ellis.IN: Worrall (from Newcastle), Manzares.OUT: Ben Barker (to Plymouth), Leigh Lanham (to Sheffield).
NEWCASTE: Ludvig Lindgren, Stuart Robson, Anton Rosen, Christian Henry, Lewis Kerr, Chris Schramm, Lewis Rose*.IN: Henry, Rose.OUT: Richie Worall (to Ipswich), Andrew Tully (unattached).
PETERBOROUGH: Ryan Fisher, Ales Dryml, Lasse Bjerre, Ulrich Ostergaard, Lewis Blackbird, Joe Jacobs*, Oliver Greenwood*.INS & OUTS: N/A – club new to Premier League.
PLYMOUTH: Ben Barker, Rasmus Jensen, Alex Davies, Kyle Newman, Roland Benko, Kalle Katajisto, Ben Reade*.IN: Barker (from Ipswich), Davies (from Somerset), Newman (from Somerset), Benko, Katajisto, Reade. OUT: Mikkel Bech (to Lakeside EL), Mark Lemon (to Glasgow), Michael Palm Toft (to Belle Vue EL), Todd Kurtz (to Somerset), Hynek Stichauer, Jake Anderson (both unattached).NB: Sam Simota named as short-term replacement for Alex Davies.
REDCAR: Richard Lawson, Aaron Summers, Richard Hall, Hugh Skidmore, Carl Wilkinson, Jan Graversen, Luke Crang*.IN: Lawson (from Workington), Graversen (from Leicester), Hall, Crang.OUT: Ulrich Ostergaard (to Peterborough), Matej Kus (to Berwick), Micky Dyer, Max Dilger (both unattached).
RYE HOUSE: Edward Kennett, Mathieu Tresarrieu, Jason Bunyan, Steve Boxall, Jason Garrity, Luke Bowen, Simon Lambert*.IN: Kennett (was EL only), Boxall (from Kent NL), Lambert (from Sheffield), Tresarrieu, Bowen.OUT: Oliver Allen (to Somerset), Anders Mellgren (to Scunthorpe), Pontus Aspgren (to Somerset), Kasper Lykke (to Glasgow), Tyson Nelson (unattached).
SCUNTHORPE: Anders Mellgren, Josh Auty, Ashley Birks, David Howe, Thomas Jorgensen, Ryan Douglas, Matt Williamson*.IN: Mellgren (from Rye House), Williamson.OUT: Nicolai Klindt (to Swindon EL), Lewis Blackbird (to Peterborough).
SHEFFIELD: Simon Stead, Adam Roynon, Leigh Lanham, Taylor Poole, Simon Nielsen, Andre Compton, Josh Bates*.IN: Lanham (from Ipswich), Nielsen (from Leicester), Poole, Bates.OUT: Ricky Wells (to Workington), Simon Lambert (to Rye House), Danny Maassen, Facundo Albin.
SOMERSET: Ty Proctor, Oliver Allen, Pontus Aspgren, Charles Wright, Brady Kurtz, Todd Kurtz, Paul Starke*.IN: Proctor (was EL only), Allen (from Rye House), Aspgren (from Rye House), T.Kurtz (from Plymouth), Starke (from Berwick), B.Kurtz. OUT: Jason Doyle (EL only), Nick Morris (EL only), Josh Grajczonek (to Workington), Alex Davies (to Plymouth), Kyle Newman (to Plymouth), Lewis Rose (to Newcastle).
WORKINGTON: Rene Bach, Josh Grajczonek, Ricky Wells, Kyle Howarth, Mason Campton, Ashley Morris, Chris Mills.IN: Grajczonek (from Somerset), Wells (from Sheffield), Campton.OUT: Richard Lawson (to Redcar), Rusty Harrison (to Glasgow), Tero Aarnio.
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY MARCH 18:LEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Rye House 7.30
WEDNESDAY MARCH 19:SELCO CLASSIC: Birmingham 7.30INTERNATIONAL PRE-SEASON CUP: King’s Lynn v Zielona Gora 7pm
FRIDAY MARCH 21: TRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 1st leg: Coventry v Cradley 7.30GARY HAVELOCK FAREWELL: Poole 7.30
SATURDAY MARCH 22:BRITISH U21 SEMI-FINAL: Plymouth 7.15IAN THOMAS SHIELD 1st leg: Workington v Newcastle 7pmCHALLENGE: Leicester v Peterborough 7.30JOONAS KYLMAKORPI TESTIMONIAL: Eastbourne 7.30MORTEN RISAGER TESTIMONIAL: Ipswich 7.15
SUNDAY MARCH 23:ELITE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry 6pmIAN THOMAS SHIELD 2nd leg: Newcastle v Workington 6.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1: Scunthorpe 3pm
MONDAY MARCH 24:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Birmingham 7.30
TUESDAY MARCH 25:LEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Plymouth 7.30
WEDNESDAY MARCH 26:ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30CHALLENGE 1st leg: Poole v Lakeside 7.30NATIONAL SHIELD 1st leg: King’s Lynn v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY MARCH 27:ELITE SHIELD 1st leg: Swindon v Poole 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30TWEED/TEES TROPHY 1st leg: Redcar v Berwick 7.30AIR FENCE FUND BONANZA: Sheffield 7.45
FRIDAY MARCH 28:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 7.30, Lakeside v Swindon 8pmAIR FENCE CHALLENGE: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v Plymouth 7.30
SATURDAY MARCH 29:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30, Leicester v Wolverhampton 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Workington v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Devon v Coventry 1.30TWEED/TEES TROPHY 2nd leg: Berwick v Redcar 7pmEAST OF ENGLAND CUP 1st leg: Rye House v Peterborough 7pmAIR FENCE CHALLENGE: Plymouth v Somerset 7.15CHALLENGE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 7pm
SUNDAY MARCH 30:LEAGUE CUP: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Kent (follows LC fixture)AIR FENCE CHALLENGE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm
TUESDAY APRIL 1:LEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Somerset 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 2nd leg: Cradley v Coventry 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Lakeside 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: King’s Lynn v Scunthorpe 7.30
