(SPEEDWAY 1 – FRIDAY REVIEW)
LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook hailed the match-winning performance of young reserve Adam Ellis as the Hammers edged out Swindon 47-44 at Purfleet.The result ended a run of three successive Robins wins at the venue in the Elite League, their mid-match revival being frustrated by a significant 5-1 from Ellis and Richard Lawson over Nicolai Klindt in Heat 12; whilst a last-heat maximum from Peter Kildemand and Troy Batchelor ensured the visitors took a point from the meeting.Cook said: “Adam was awesome and to claim such a notable scalp on his home debut is a mouth-watering taster of what's to come in the seasons ahead. Praise too to Ben Morley for a terrific first Elite League meeting as a Vortex Hammer.”Swindon boss Alun Rossiter added: “I took all the positives out of that – for me, that result was as good as a win given how tough a place Lakeside is to visit. With our first meeting of the season being cancelled this was the first time all the boys had ridden together and it took a while to get going.”Meanwhile Craig Cook opened his season for Edinburgh with a paid maximum as the Monarchs established a 14-point advantage over Glasgow in the first leg of their Air Fence Challenge.Cook scored 14+1 in the home side’s 52-38 win, with two 5-1s and a 4-2 in the closing stages helping them build their lead.Edinburgh skipper Derek Sneddon said: “We have to be satisfied with that, there were points for everyone other than Aaron Fox who showed good signs in his last ride.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SATURDAY PREVIEW)
LEICESTER will face Great Britain’s two Grand Prix riders in their first-ever fixture at Elite League level when they welcome Wolverhampton to the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.World Champion Tai Woffinden is joined by Chris Harris in the Wolves ranks, with the Coventry man guesting for the unavailable Piotr Pawlicki (Polish Under-21 qualifier) – whilst Jason Doyle is included for the Lions after the resolution of his visa issues.Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “Piotr was desperate to ride for us at Leicester because he felt he had a good case to be seeded through given his performances last season. But they were very firm in their answer and made it clear – he has to be in Poland.“We are delighted to have ‘Bomber’ Harris on board and we know we will get total effort from him.”Eastbourne are also in home action for the first time this season, facing a Birmingham team who have called up Rohan Tungate, Ben Morley and Benji Compton to cover for unavailable riders.Eagles boss Trevor Geer said: “We have a good run of early-season matches and we must win these and get points on the board. Nothing breeds success like success – it sends team morale soaring and we know it gives supporters the vital feel-good factor.”In the League Cup Workington host Glasgow, meaning a rapid return to Derwent Park for new Tigers signing Rusty Harrison, who also stages his Testimonial at the home of the Comets next weekend.Berwick open their season at home to Redcar in the Tweed/Tees Trophy following this week’s double postponement of the Bears’ home leg, whilst Rye House host Peterborough in the East of England Cup.And Plymouth are set to host Somerset in their Air Fence Challenge, despite calling off the Devon v Coventry National League clash earlier in the day as a result of Friday’s heavy rain.Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We could not be confident of getting the track ready by 1.30 for an afternoon meeting. However, the forecast is for some good weather during the day on Saturday and there should not be any difficulty in having a good racing circuit ready for the evening meeting.”(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY MARCH 29:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30, Leicester v Wolverhampton 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Workington v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Devon v Coventry OFFTWEED/TEES TROPHY 1st 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
MONDAY MARCH 31:AIR FENCE FUND BONANZA: Sheffield 7.45TUESDAY APRIL 1:LEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Somerset 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 1st leg: Cradley v Coventry 7.30
