(SPEEDWAY 1 – WEDNESDAY REVIEW)
KING’S Lynn No.1 Niels-Kristian Iversen returned from the New Zealand Grand Prix with a full 15-point maximum as his side opened their Elite League campaign with a win.The Stars overcame a 22-26 mid-meeting deficit against Lakeside to inflict the Hammers’ first defeat of the season, taking 5-1s in Heats 12, 13 and 15 to win 51-39 and take all three points.Lynn boss Rob Lyon said: “The way we have set our team out helps us in the second half of the meeting, we have three heats in particular where we are quite strong on paper - on paper is one thing but riding is another, I know that, but percentages tell you that overall it will go in your favour.“That was probably the perfect way to start, we ended up with a 12-point win. It was a bit tight earlier on and we had a few problems with Lewis (Kerr) trying too hard. I think we have seen enough from the team to show they have a lot of potential to go a long way.”Elsewhere on Wednesday there was a morale-boosting win for Birmingham who edged out local rivals Coventry 46-44 in a close-fought derby at Perry Barr.In-form Polish star Adam Skornicki won his first three rides and collected a last-race 3-3 with captain Danny King as the Brummies held out following a Bees fightback which had cut the gap from eight points to two, and ultimately gave them a league point from the meeting.Birmingham boss Jack Lee said: “I've got a smile on my face for a change because we really needed that win. I thought we'd let it slip when they got within two but we got the boys going for Heat 15 and they did what they had to do.“At least we've now got a win on the board which will give everyone a big lift and improve everyone's confidence ahead of next week.”Coventry boss Gary Havelock added: “We just fell a little short but to pull it back from eight down with five races to go and take it into a last-heat decider and a point, we’ll take that. We’re sitting on five points from two away meetings and when you think back to last year we’re doing alright.”Champions Poole overcame the absence of the injured Darcy Ward to record a 52-37 win over South coast rivals Eastbourne at Wimborne Road.Polish duo Przemyslaw Pawlicki and Maciej Janowski secured 5-1s in Heats 11 and 15 to ensure the Pirates took the maximum haul of league points, with former World Champion Chris Holder set to return to the club next week as cover for Ward.Eastbourne boss Trevor Geer accepts his side need to improve their away form, saying: “We will work on this and talk some more to get us over this problem. I’m calling on the team to take our frustrations out on Belle Vue on Saturday.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – THURSDAY PREVIEW)
SWINDON hand a debut to reserve Dan Greenwood in their Elite League clash with Belle Vue at Blunsdon on Thursday.Greenwood has joined the Robins as a replacement for the seriously injured Darryl Ritchings, and admits he is keen to take his opportunity.He said: “I’m really happy to have the chance to ride for Swindon in the Elite League. I can’t wait to get started against Belle Vue on Thursday, and I’m just looking to make the most of my chance for the rest of the season.”The Robins welcome back skipper Troy Batchelor from the New Zealand Grand Prix as they chase their first win of the season, whilst the Aces are on-track for the first time after two postponements so far.Promoter Chris Morton said: “We’ve had a very stunted start to the season due to inclement weather which is now about to take off over the next couple of weeks and hopefully, by the end of the month, we will have some idea of what this team can do. The next few days will be a big test for our guys.”Sheffield promoter Peter Mole says the Tigers need to keep their strong start to the season going when local rivals Scunthorpe visit Owlerton in the League Cup.Mole said: “We had the perfect start at Scunthorpe and then against Newcastle last week and we want to keep that going. We could do with some good weather, but you can only deal with what you get.”Scunthorpe are boosted by ex-Tiger Josh Auty declaring himself fit from a knee injury, whilst Claus Vissing guests for injured No.1 Anders Mellgren.Elsewhere in the League Cup, Ricky Wells stands in at No.1 for Ipswich as they host Plymouth – who include 2013 Witches’ top rider Ben Barker.And North-East rivals Redcar and Newcastle meet at the South Tees Motorsports Park with the Bears eager for revenge after a heavy defeat at Brough Park last month.(SPEEDWAY 3)
BELLE Vue’s new stadium plans have taken a step forward with Manchester City Council giving the project their full approval at a meeting of the Executive.Aces bosses David Gordon and Chris Morton are confident recent hurdles have now been cleared, and the Council are now likely to move to stage a public consultation before commencing the development once planning permission is approved.Gordon said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be in the position we are now with the new stadium. The last few months have proved to be a challenging experience but we are absolutely delighted with the progress that has been made; this is a big step forward to achieving our goal.“We have worked tirelessly with Manchester City Council over the last few months to overcome some major issues which presented themselves, and the final approval of the plans is a sign that everyone’s hard work and determination has paid off.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PETERBOROUGH have recruited the services of Great Britain boss Alun Rossiter to stand in as team manager for their trip to Somerset on Friday.Regular Panthers bosses Trevor Swales and Blayne Scroggins are unavailable for the League Cup clash at the Oak Tree Arena, in which the visitors will use Aaron Summers as a guest for No.1 Ryan Fisher.Swales said: “It doesn’t get much better than being able to call on the GB boss. Alun has kindly agreed to step in and we’re very thankful to him. “It is not often that a team manager picks up a guest booking, but Rosco is looking forward to taking charge of Panthers and I'm sure the riders will be keen to perform for him.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BERWICK reserve Steen Jensen has enlisted the help of Danish legend Hans Nielsen to overcome his issues at the starting-gate.The four-times World Champion was renowned for his gating prowess and Jensen – who credits Nielsen as the inspiration behind his successful return to racing in Denmark - admits he is struggling to transfer his form in his home country to Shielfield Park.He said: “At home, I’m usually pretty quickly away. But in Denmark our starts are on harder, tightly-bound dirt – over here it seems they lay the gates deeper and looser, and I’ve been struggling to get the starting-gate set-up right.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
EDINBURGH skipper Derek Sneddon believes this weekend’s League Cup matches against Workington could be vital to the overall group outcome.The Monarchs collected a double victory over Berwick last week whilst the Comets will be racing their first away fixture when they visit Armadale on Friday.Sneddon said: “As we headed down to Berwick I knew it was going to be a very hard match. I hoped we could get close but I thought it would be very hard to win. So in the circumstances to take the win I thought was very good indeed, and once again everyone did their bit.“This week we know we are going to have our toughest test yet against Workington. It will be very hard down there but the buzz in the camp is the best for years, and I’m comfortable with the home match.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
SWINDON supporters will have an opportunity to assist seriously injured Darryl Ritchings when the Robins host Belle Vue on Thursday.Ritchings remains sedated in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital as doctors monitor swelling on his brain after a crash last week.Swindon’s Supporters Club will organise a collection for the local youngster at the Aces match, whilst 50/50 draw proceeds will be added to the total and a best wishes book can also be signed.Promoter Alun Rossiter said: “We've already had several people asking how they can help, and this is a chance for everyone to assist a great cause. Our thoughts and prayers are with Darryl and his family, and I'm sure the Swindon public will be happy to support him in this way.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY APRIL 10:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 11:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v King’s Lynn 7.30, Lakeside v Birmingham 8pmLEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Plymouth v Ipswich 7.15, Somerset v Peterborough 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 12:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30, Leicester v Lakeside 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Rye House v Somerset 7pm, Workington v Edinburgh 7pmSUNDAY APRIL 13:PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Somerset 3pmLEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Cradley (follows PL fixture)CHALLENGE: Stoke v Buxton 4pm
