(SPEEDWAY 1 – FRIDAY REVIEW)
BERWICK produced one of the shock results of the Premier League season so far with a 49-41 triumph at Workington on Friday.The Bandits opened the meeting with two 4-2s and moved eight points clear in Heat 11 when Kevin Doolan got the better of Rene Bach. Two shared races secured their success, and Claus Vissing confirmed maximum points by splitting Josh Grajczonek and Ricky Wells in the final heat.Grajczonek dropped his only point to David Bellego in Heat 1 but the Bandits were the more solid-scoring all-round, with reserve Steen Jensen (11+1) making a vital contribution in support of Vissing (12).Berwick boss Ian Rae said: “This was better than any of us could have dared hope for, with this win that will make all of the Premier League sit up and take note as Workington, along with several others, had thought they were untouchable especially at Derwent Park.“But we’ve done a magnificent job from one to seven and have taken a superbly deserved win.”Edinburgh notched eleven heat winners and only four last places as they eased past Newcastle 57-38 at Armadale for their 13th successive victory, a result which took them back to the top of the table.Monarchs skipper Craig Cook was beaten just once, by Stuart Robson in Heat 10, whilst Max Fricke got the better of Danny King when the Diamonds newcomer was taking a tactical ride.Reserve Aaron Fox scored seven despite his severe leg gash suffered last week, and said: “I didn’t try anything rash in my first couple of heats, and I even backed off a little in one of the first corners because I didn’t want to take unnecessary risks. But by the end of the night I was fine.”Scunthorpe have an injury concern over Ryan Douglas following a 40-55 defeat at Plymouth in which the Australian was only able to take two rides.Douglas suffered a wrist injury when he crashed out of his first race, and despite an impressive show from Nicolai Klindt (15) the Devils grabbed a healthy win with impressive displays from Ben Barker (12+2), Rasmus Jensen (12+1) and Kyle Newman (11+2).Plymouth boss Lee Trigger said: “It was a brilliant all-round team performance. We had nine of the 15 race winners, much the same as against Newcastle last week. But the difference was that we ran only four non-scoring rides and that helped us to pick up all three match points.”Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Ryan suffered a wrist injury when he came off. He took one more ride after that, but he was struggling to hold onto the bike and it was night over for him. “I’m hopeful that the wrist is not broken, but we’ll only know for sure once he’s gone to hospital for an X-ray. Ryan has been such a key rider for us this season, and our plan for the night fell apart without him.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SATURDAY PREVIEW)
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer has stressed the importance of taking all three points when Swindon visit Arlington in the Elite League on Saturday.The Eagles, who were rained-off at Coventry on Friday, have dropped just one point around Arlington so far this season and hope to have Joonas Kylmakorpi back after he suffered a knee injury in a crash at Birmingham on Wednesday.Geer said: “Our home form has been good this year with the only lapse on Good Friday when we dropped a point to Lakeside.“Swindon, like Coventry last week, will come to us without their full team. This can often be a spur to the other riders to pull off exceptional performances. We kept our focus last week and we must do the same again. Falls, engine failures, injuries can all blow a team off course. It is vital that it doesn’t happen to us against Swindon.”Lakeside will field their new riding order for the first time when Poole provide the opposition at Purfleet.The Hammers have switched heat-leaders Davey Watt and Peter Karlsson, with Watt moving to the No.1 position, following their home defeat against King’s Lynn on Monday.Meanwhile there is a Midlands derby at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium as Leicester face Birmingham.Lasse Bjerre makes his home debut for the Lions, who bring in Chris Harris and Oliver Greenwood to guest for injured duo Patrick Hougaard and Tom Perry – whilst the Brummies operate rider-replacement for Adam Skornicki.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “This is a must-win for us, and I am pleased that we have Simon Stead back. Lasse is in the form of his life at Peterborough and he knows every inch of the Leicester track so I am sure that he will turn out to be a good replacement for Peter Ljung.”Brummies manager Jack Lee said: “Leicester is going to be a difficult meeting of course being away from home, but we will be hoping to go there and get something. If we ride like we did on Wednesday then I don't see any reason why we can't get a point, so we'll see how it goes.”In the Premier League, Berwick face Workington at Shielfield Park with the Bandits keen to guard against a Comets backlash following their surprise away win at Derwent Park on Friday.Manager Ian Rae said: “We have to keep our heads as the Comets come to us on Saturday night – and we dare not let the pressure off or we might be the ones smarting instead!”National League action continues at Loomer Road as Stoke, having won both of their fixtures in the competition so far, host Scunthorpe.
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY MAY 24:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 8pm, Leicester v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Workington 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Scunthorpe 7pm
SUNDAY MAY 25:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm, Newcastle v Ipswich 6.30, Rye House v Plymouth 2pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 3.30
MONDAY MAY 26:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 7.30, Leicester v Poole 3pm, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30, Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Peterborough 3pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Coventry (follows PL KOC fixture)CHALLENGE: Kent v Wimbledon 3pm
TUESDAY MAY 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Glasgow 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Kent 7.30
