(SPEEDWAY 1 – MONDAY REVIEW)
LAKESIDE’S Peter Karlsson made a triumphant return to former club Wolverhampton to take victory in the Banks’s Olympique Classic.Karlsson, who has battled back to fitness after serious injury last August, finished a point clear of reigning World Champion Tai Woffinden with Peter Kildemand defeating Scott Nicholls in a run-off for third place.Woffinden inflicted Karlsson’s only defeat of the evening but dropped two points elsewhere, and he admitted the evergreen 44-year-old was a deserving winner.Woffinden said: “Fair play to PK – it’s great to see a rider of his age still so enthusiastic about the sport and performing like that. You couldn’t have asked for a better winner and he definitely deserved it.“I’ve started the season pretty well which I’m happy with so I’ll just look ahead to the next meeting and hopefully go from strength to strength.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – TUESDAY PREVIEW)
PETERBOROUGH stage the first League Cup fixture of the season at the Showground tonight (7.30pm) as Rye House provide the opposition.The Panthers have stated their intention to make a fast start to the campaign at their new level after their Elite League challenge last year was severely hampered by several early defeats.Co-boss Blayne Scroggins said: “We’re new to the Premier League and we have to show what we’re about. That means stamping our authority from the word go against Rye House. We need to hit the ground running and make sure we top our group in this competition.”The Panthers are at full strength, led at No.1 by American star Ryan Fisher, whilst the Rockets operate rider-replacement for Jason Bunyan who is in New Zealand preparing for his Wild Card appearance in the forthcoming Grand Prix.Manager John Sampford said: “It will be very early doors, with just a few practice sessions to work with ahead of the match itself. But we will be aiming to do as well as we can, and we certainly have riders who can perform well on a big track.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
COVENTRY will stage the British Under-19 Final for the second successive season – with the meeting confirmed for Friday June 27.Stefan Nielsen retained the title on his first Brandon appearance last year, but there will be a new name on the trophy in 2014 as he is now ineligible.GB Youth co-boss Phil Morris said: “Three tracks applied to host the event, but after discussion it was decided that after the success of the meeting in 2013, it would be again held at Coventry for the second year running.“Coventry is a great venue for these type of events, and with the promotion supporting all levels of British Speedway, not only having teams in both the Elite League and National League but also running a third team in the Midland Development League, it felt right to award them this prestige meeting two years on the trot.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
GLASGOW have completed the signing of Danish teenager Kasper Lykke at reserve – after Joey Ringwood was forced to sit out the 2014 season.The Australian has fallen foul of visa issues so the Tigers have moved from Lykke, who rode for Rye House last year and will team up with fellow countryman Anders Thomsen at Ashfield.Co-promoter Colin Hamilton said: “Kasper had made it known to ourselves that he was available, subject to Joey Ringwood’s situation. If that wasn’t going to be successful, we had earmarked him for his position in the 1-7.“He’s got some decent experience, and we certainly hope that his experience at Rye House means we won’t notice Joey missing too much – although we’re disappointed that Joey couldn’t make it over.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
PLYMOUTH have signed Czech Republic rider Sam Simota as a temporary replacement for Alex Davies.The Australian has been delayed due to visa issues and with no guarantee as to his availability prior to the Devils’ first official fixture next Tuesday, former Reading and Peterborough rider Simota has agreed a short-term deal.Promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We are still working on completing the necessary paperwork for Davies to become part of our team, but it is difficult to put a timescale on things. We have spoken to Alex in Australia and we are totally committed to bringing him over here this season.“Riding for us will give Sam the opportunity to put himself in the shop window with a view to subsequently earning a place with another track.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
NEWCASTLE’S 2014 season launch incorporated the first-ever joint North of England event also featuring Berwick, Redcar and Workington.Local MP Nick Brown, who chairs speedway’s all-party parliamentary group, was also in attendance at Brough Park.Newcastle boss George English said: “Following our own team’s session on Sunday, Monday’s joint effort was a complete success with several TV crews and media representatives taking the chance to talk to all four North of England sides at one venue at one time, and our thanks go to the other sides for their extreme level of co-operation.“In all our years of promoting speedway I think this event has been our most magnificent of all, with the good weather playing its part - and our superb band of track men, who turned a complete quagmire of a track just three weeks ago into the best surface we’ve had in a good while for the lads to practice on.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
POOLE are preparing to launch a series of fundraisers for Julia’s House after naming the Dorset children’s hospice as the club’s charity of the year.Pirates promoter Matt Ford has confirmed the reigning Elite League champions will support Julia’s House, which provides respite care to help life-limited children, with a range of initiatives throughout the 2014 season.Ford said: “We are proud of our Dorset roots and we are delighted to be supporting Julia’s House with some exciting fundraisers this year. They do tremendous work.”Ian Wadley, community fundraiser at Julia’s House, said: “It is fantastic to be working alongside Poole Speedway. We are very grateful to have the support of Matt and his highly successful team.”
(FIXTURES)
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
