Sunday May 4, 2014
(SPEEDWAY 1 – SATURDAY REVIEW)
LEICESTER overcame the absence of three of their top five riders to overcome Belle Vue 50-43 for maximum Elite League points at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.Home No.1 Jason Doyle, who top-scored on 13, won the final race to ensure the Aces would leave the East Midlands with no reward, and a key factor in the result was Lions reserves Max Clegg and Tom Perry outscoring their counterparts by 13 points to three. Skipper Craig Cook top-scored for the visitors with 14.Lions boss Norrie Allan said: “For once this season we held the upper hand throughout which was a refreshing change instead of chasing the game. “I was particularly pleased with the contributions of Tom and Max, who outscored their opposite numbers which made such a difference to the overall result, and in particular Max who had his best meeting for us by far and he showed real zest and determination.”Lakeside moved three points clear at the top of the table with a hard-fought 51-44 home win over Coventry, who fought back from 16-down to challenge for a league point in the closing stages.Peter Karlsson (12) and Davey Watt (10+1) led the way for the Hammers and made sure of a 3-3 in Heat 15 behind Hans Andersen to give the Hammers all three points.Andersen, who piled-up 17 for the Bees despite illness, said: “It was a very difficult night but I managed to put on a good show, and it’s just a shame that we didn’t get a point out of it because we definitely deserved it with the comeback we had.”At Arlington, Eastbourne moved into the top three with an emphatic 59-31 win over Wolverhampton, despite using rider-replacement for Mikkel Michelsen.Cameron Woodward top-scored for the Eagles with 15+2 and Joonas Kylmakorpi notched a four-ride paid maximum, whilst Wolves skipper Tai Woffinden won his last two rides but offered no excuses for the visitors’ display.Woffinden said: “It's disappointing and I'm pretty annoyed right now, I felt I was unlucky at times and could and should have done better.“But as a team we were just out-gated by the Eastbourne boys. They were quicker and sharper than us and when we missed the gate we couldn't get back at them. It's disappointing but let's get back to Wolves on Monday and put it right!”In the Premier League Knockout Cup, Berwick will take an 18-point lead to Sheffield on Thursday following a 54-36 win at Shielfield Park.The Bandits, with Steen Jensen (14) in inspired form at reserve, had led by 22 at one stage but the Tigers rallied in the closing stages, with skipper Simon Stead (14) dropping his only point in Heat 1.Berwick boss Ian Rae said: “Midway through it looked as though we would easily hit a good 60 points plus score which would have made the trip to Sheffield pretty comfortable, but they are an experienced side and it shone through in the latter half as them stemmed the tide and they scored a few good wins of their own.”Sheffield management member Simon Parker said: “That rally in the last third of the meeting has kept us in the cup. I believe we can pull 18 points back if the boys have their gating gloves on. That rally was a great team effort.”Meanwhile Workington No.1 Josh Grajczonek scored a six-ride paid maximum against his old club as the Comets defeated Somerset 52-38 in their first leg tie, ahead of Friday’s return at the Oaktree Arena.Manager Tony Jackson said: “The Rebels had us worried early on and we only led by four points after eight heats but a solid second half to the meeting saw us gain a useful lead.“With three of our regulars missing we were indebted to our two guests from Newcastle while Josh was fantastic for us yet again and Kyle Howarth recovered from a heavy fall in his opening ride to finish with two race wins that could prove to be crucial in the final reckoning.”Somerset boss Garry May said: “After keeping it so close for so long, it was disappointing to come away with a 14 point deficit. The boys gave it their all but we just seemed to run out of steam over those final few heats, but at least we go into that second leg knowing what we need to do if we are to progress to the quarter-finals, and if the boys ride anything like they have in our previous two home meetings then anything is possible.”Stoke opened their season with a 49-40 National Trophy win at home to Kent, with Ben Wilson and James McBain top-scoring on 10+1. Simon Lambert (17) led the way for the Kings, but both Benji Compton and Brandon Freemantle were withdrawn with hand injuries.(SPEEDWAY 2 – SUNDAY PREVIEW)
FORMER Newcastle star Rene Bach has been ruled out of Workington’s Premier League trip to Brough Park on Sunday.Bach suffered severe bruising in a crash in the Danish Championship semi-final on Friday, which also caused him to miss the Comets’ home KO Cup clash with Somerset.Manager Tony Jackson said: “Thankfully Rene’s injuries are not as bad as were first feared but he has suffered an injury to his hand and left hip, which has ruled him out of this weekend’s matches, and that means he will miss the visit to his former track Newcastle. “Hopefully with a week’s rest he will be fit to return to the side next weekend, but meanwhile we will operate rider replacement for him at Newcastle; additionally, both Mason Campton and Kyle Howarth are far from 100 per cent fit after recent crashes.”Glasgow will be without French teenager Dimitri Berge for the visit of Redcar to Ashfield.Berge remains under observation in hospital following his heavy crash last week, and the Tigers will operate the rider-replacement facility in his absence.Glasgow reserve Anders Thomsen said: “I think the win over Peterborough was fantastic. The team worked perfectly and everyone did their best. I feel now that we have got started and have learned to know each other that we can beat anyone.“It was great to beat them at Ashfield and there was super support from the fans who created a great atmosphere.”The final meeting in the Southern section of the League Cup sees Rye House host Peterborough at Hoddesdon – and despite already securing qualification as group winners, Panthers co-boss Blayne Scroggins wants his side to finish on a high.He said: “We certainly owe Rye House after they won at our place on our opening night and then beat us again a few days later. The fact we are already through to the semi-finals doesn't change our aim for this meeting. We're going to Rye looking for a victory to continue building our momentum.”Rye House will have Jason Garrity at reserve with Luke Bowen moving up into the top five, and boss John Sampford said: “Although we can’t qualify, we will certainly be riding for more than local derby pride, knowing we need to be building up for our home and away Knock-Out Cup matches against Glasgow the following weekend.”In the National League, Mildenhall begin a busy Bank Holiday programme with a home match against Devon, prior to their visit to Kent on Monday. James Sarjeant has been booked to guest at No.1 for the Fen Tigers in place of the unavailable Joe Jacobs.Mildenhall chairman Kevin Jolly said: “Neither meeting will be easy but there are seven points up for grabs and you can be sure we will be all out to bag the lot. “There’s bags of potential in our line-up for sure and although Joe will again be a big miss, in James Sarjeant I think we have bought in a good guest who always gives 100 per cent.”Meanwhile Buxton stage their first meeting of the season at the Hi-Edge Raceway, as the Hitmen meet local rivals Stoke.
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY MAY 4:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 3pm, Newcastle v Workington 6.30LEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Peterborough 2pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Mildenhall v Devon 3.30
MONDAY MAY 5:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 7.30, Swindon v Birmingham 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Newcastle 2.30, Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Mildenhall 3pm, Scunthorpe v Devon (follows PL fixture)
TUESDAY MAY 6:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Edinburgh 7.30
