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BERWICK have stepped in to stage a World Championship qualifying round at Shielfield Park on Saturday June 7.Chris Harris and Craig Cook have been nominated as the Great Britain representatives, with Richard Lawson as reserve, for the event which is part of the series to determine riders for the 2015 Grand Prix.Berwick have replaced Austrian venue St Johann on the schedule and it continues a recent tradition for the Border club in staging major events.Co-owner John Anderson said: “We are one of just three circuits in Britain currently authorised to stage FIM events.“Having been honoured to have a GP Challenge event here in 2012, and one of the World U-21 Finals last season, we honestly weren’t too disappointed not to be included in the 2014 international calendar – Britain was in fact only allocated one FIM event this year, the World Cup meeting at King’s Lynn in late July.“However, the authorities have apparently been having organisational problems with the GP qualifier to be staged in Austria, at St Johann on June 7, in just eight weeks’ time and Britain has been asked to step in and take over the organisation and staging of this meeting.“I am honoured, and so pleased that the FIM and BSPA have announced the event will come to Shielfield Park, maintaining the original date of Saturday June 7.”Elsewhere in the World Championship qualifiers, GB boss Alun Rossiter has confirmed that Danny King will travel to Ljubljana (Slovenia), also on June 7, whilst Richie Worrall will compete at German venue Abensberg on June 9.(SPEEDWAY 2 - SATURDAY REVIEW)
LAKESIDE are to make an official complaint after reserve Adam Ellis was withdrawn from the Hammers’ Elite League match at Leicester on Saturday.Ellis had been involved in a crash with team-mate Ben Morley in Heat 9, and Morley’s disqualification from the race meant the Hammers – who went on to lose the match by seven points – could not track a rider in the re-run.A Lakeside statement read: “Following last night’s 48-41 point defeat at Leicester Lions, The Vortex Lakeside Hammers will make an official complaint to the SCB against both referee Peter Clarke and the Leicester Speedway medical officer following the exclusion of Adam Ellis from the meeting against the riders and the clubs wishes.“Ellis was at the start of Heat 9 ready to race as the Hammers only rider in the line up, when he was called to return to the pits. The failure to provide a rider in the race following the exclusion of Ben Morley cost the club the extra point on the night.”Leicester’s seven-point win gave them all three Elite League points enabling them to break their top-flight duck at the fourth attempt – to the delight of manager Norrie Allan.He said: “It was an all-round display that won the day. Just three points separated the highest scorer in the side to the lowest and with the reserves chipping in the team performed exactly as it was set up to do with every rider in the one to five winning at least one race apiece.”Meanwhile Eastbourne made it three home wins from three but were run close by Belle Vue at Arlington, the Aces leading in mid-meeting and going into the last race with a chance of snatching victory.But a Heat 15 5-1 from Joonas Kylmakorpi and Cameron Woodward over Matej Zagar and Scott Nicholls not only secured the win for the Eagles, but also maximum points with a 50-43 success.Kylmakorpi said: “I have been struggling. I had a tough time at Poole which maybe was a good thing because I have changed back to last year’s engines.“It showed people that I can still ride. The Poole result was my worst, I cannot remember the last time I scored one point in the Elite League.”Edinburgh took full control of their League Cup group by completing a weekend double over Workington with an impressive 50-43 win at Derwent Park.The Monarchs have now equalled their club record best-ever start to a season, with six wins out of six so far, and they had four riders in double-figures including flying reserve Steve Worrall (13+2).Injured skipper Derek Sneddon said: “I'm gutted I couldn't make it to Workington but the guys did well and I'm buzzing for them.”Berwick are off the mark in the same group with a 55-37 win over Glasgow – with both Claus Vissing and David Bellego scoring maximums in the Shielfield Park clash.Manager Ian Rae said: “The confidence boost is probably the most important thing to come out from tonight's fine win, even more than how much we won by. It was especially good to see Steen Jensen score good points and it sets us up nicely for the rest of the season.”Somerset became the fourth club in the five-team Southern group to secure an away win as they collected maximum points from a 52-40 victory at Rye House, who suffered a second home defeat.Nick Morris top-scored for the Rebels with 14+2 as they used rider-replacement for Olly Allen, whilst ex-Rocket Pontus Aspgren added 12+2.Rebels boss Garry May said: “The boys were determined to make amends for the disappointment of Friday night, and although we went into the match without Olly who was still suffering the after-effects of his fall on Friday night, we still felt that we could come away from Rye House with the win and so it proved.”(SPEEDWAY 3)
SCUNTHORPE stage the first Premier League fixture of the season when reigning champions Somerset visit the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday.The match pits together the winners of the competition for the last two years – and home promoter Rob Godfrey is predicting a hard-fought encounter. Scunthorpe bring in Aaron Summers to guest for injured No.1 Anders Mellgren.Godfrey said: “We really get our Premier League campaign off to a home win – we don’t want to be playing catch up. It’s going to be a cracker. We need the Scorpions fans to be vocal to help cheer the team onto victory.”The League Cup continues with Glasgow hosting Berwick in their opening home group fixture, having been beaten at Shielfield Park on Saturday.Tigers star Mark Lemon remains confident in the team’s ability, saying: “The club's put together a good team on paper. You need a bit of luck, and everyone seems to be working in the right direction, which is nice to see.”Meanwhile Newcastle host Sheffield with both teams bidding to bounce back from disappointing defeats on Thursday.The Diamonds were beaten at Redcar in a result which gives the Bears a strong position in the group, whilst Sheffield slipped to a home defeat against Scunthorpe.In the National League, Scunthorpe host Cradley after their Premier League match has been concluded – and Heathens boss Will Pottinger says his side can benefit from a meeting they are expected to win.He said: “Obviously everyone is expecting a comfortable win but I will be looking for a solid performance from our lads with no mistakes. It will be good for the lads to be together once again and get more laps in before we go to Coventry on Easter Monday.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
KING’S Lynn boss Rob Lyon has a warning for the rest of the Elite League – the Stars can improve on their impressive start to the season.Lyon’s side followed up their home success over leaders Lakeside in their opening fixture on Wednesday with a 48-42 away triumph at Coventry, giving them six points from two matches.The Stars manager said: “Friday was the perfect tonic. I feel the team is a slow burner and we can get better. If we stay clear of any major problems we will get better and better as the season goes on. “I think you saw with Kenneth (Bjerre) having a bad one by his own high standards, we have still have come away with a six point win. He’ll bounce back – he’s too good a rider not to do that.”
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STOKE promoter Dave Tattum has admitted his frustration at the postponement of today’s season-opener against Buxton due to track conditions at Loomer Road.The Potters are set to call in outside expert assistance to solve issues created by extreme damp on the Main Stand side of the circuit, including a soft area close to the white line at the entrance to the first turn.Tattum said: “We will attempt to trace exactly where the severe damp is coming from, and if necessary examine the drainage, but above all we must safely unite the under-soil, the aggregate base and the top surface in a way that makes it safe to race on.“I cannot in all conscience ask riders to risk their limbs and their equipment on the present surface in the two affected areas and I attribute the problem to some residual heavy damp or a rise in the water table below the track surface. I hope people will understand that we have made extensive efforts to rectify this problem but have had to admit failure.”(FIXTURES)SUNDAY 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 OFF
MONDAY APRIL 14:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Coventry 8pm, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 15:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Cradley 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Plymouth 7.30
