(SPEEDWAY 1 – WEDNESDAY REVIEW)
POOLE fought back from an early deficit to take an opening-night 48-42 Challenge match win over Lakeside.The Pirates trailed by four points mid-meeting with skipper Darcy Ward retiring in his first two outings, but the Australian and Przemyslaw Pawlicki took control later on with the Pole top-scoring on 12 points despite a fall in Heat 15.Danish youngster Mikkel Bech notched an impressive 11+1 on his Lakeside debut with Adam Ellis the highest-scoring reserve on the night with 7+2.Poole boss Neil Middleditch said: “I’m very happy with the way the team went - lots of positives.“It was a great shame that Vaclav (Milik) blew his bike up in his first ride and had problems. But I’m happy for him to hopefully get all these gremlins out of the way before the league starts!”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – THURSDAY PREVIEW)
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter is keen to lay down an early statement of intent when the Robins face Poole in the first leg of the Elite Shield on Thursday.The rivals have won the Elite League title in the last two seasons and although the Pirates are without captain Darcy Ward they have brought in former World Champion Chris Holder for a one-off appearance for his parent club.Rossiter said: “This is a fantastic way for us to launch the season against the reigning league champions.“I think it also shows how much Poole want to win the Shield by bringing in Chris Holder. They know they need the very best to come to us so I suppose it’s a compliment.”The League Cup competition continues with Rye House, already away-match winners at Peterborough last week, travelling to Ipswich in the Witches’ opening home fixture.Rye boss John Sampford said: “We’ll be going to Ipswich with the aim of emulating what we did at the Showground. Mathieu Tresarrieu will be going back to a former stamping ground, and Jason Garrity will hopefully have got to the bottom of the bike problems he suffered last week.”Elsewhere on Thursday, Redcar face Berwick in the first leg of the Tweed/Tees Trophy, whilst Sheffield launch their new era with an individual Air Fence Fund Bonanza to raise funds to meet the cost of their new safety barrier.Co-promoter Damien Bates said: “This is what we’ve been building up to and we are all bursting with enthusiasm.“We’re going to have a wheelie competition and lots of other fun on the night but I believe the racing will be fast and furious.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer says his side must make their home Arlington circuit a fortress this season.The Eagles launch their Elite League campaign against Birmingham on Saturday and Geer says his riders will be left in no doubt as to the club’s intentions for 2014.He said: “I will make it crystal clear to our lads that we are out to win the league this year and go on to take the title in the play-offs.“The first step to doing that is by winning your home meetings and taking three points every time.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
SCUNTHORPE have completed their National League team with the signings of Danno Verge and Danny Ayres.Motocross convert Ayres, however, will not be included during the early stages of the season so Tyler Govier is set to step in, starting from the Stags’ home opener against Kent on Sunday.Chairman Richard Hollingsworth said: “Our plans had to change but I’m really pleased with the two signings we have made. Danno is already ready for the National League and got a few meetings last year. He was very quick in practice at Scunthorpe and he has only just turned 18.“Danny is a real raw talent and I’m sure he will soon be in the Stags’ line-up. I’m not exactly sure when that will be but, for now, Tyler Govier has agreed to be in the line-up to start the season and, at the very least, he will ride in four of the first five meetings.”
(FIXTURES)
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 OFF (Now Sun Mar 30, 3pm)
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 3pmCHALLENGE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 3pm
