(SPEEDWAY 1 – MONDAY REVIEW)
SWINDON took maximum points over Belle Vue with a 42-33 home win – as the weather once again intervened in a meeting at Blunsdon.It was the Robins’ first home match to reach a result in a month, with steady rain forcing an abandonment after twelve races due to visibility problems.The meeting included a first-ever Elite League race win for 16-year-old Nathan Greaves on his home debut, whilst the Aces’ Michael Palm Toft defied the weather conditions to record a stunning Heat 11 win in a race also featuring Nick Morris, Matej Zagar and Troy Batchelor.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “That was an important win for us and I was naturally delighted for Nathan. He's got a fantastic attitude but I do feel there is something not quite right with his machinery. He was on Simon Gustafsson's spare bike when he won his race."It was important for us to get all three points, I think our league position is a bit false at the moment so hopefully we can climb the table."Meanwhile Wolverhampton gave their most complete home performance of the season with a comprehensive 61-32 win over Eastbourne at Monmore Green.Top two Tai Woffinden and Piotr Pawlicki dropped just one point apiece, to Joonas Kylmakorpi in an all-action Heat 5.The home side provided eleven race wins and suffered no last places, whilst skipper Cameron Woodward contributed 11 of the Eagles’ points.Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “We've been saying for a while that when this team clicks then someone is going to be in for a thumping, and that's exactly what happened tonight.“Unusually there were no last places for Wolves riders in 15 heats which showed what an impressive performance it was.”Peterborough are through to the Premier League KO Cup quarter-finals after a terrific first-round tie with Scunthorpe went right to the wire at the Eddie Wright Raceway.The Panthers were defending a narrow three-point first leg lead but restricted the Scorpions throughout the afternoon and secured a 90-89 aggregate triumph in a thrilling Heat 15 when Lasse Bjerre and Ulrich Ostergaard kept home man Ryan Douglas at the back, following in their countryman Nicolai Klindt.Panthers co-boss Blayne Scroggins said: “Not many people will have given us a chance of going through after arriving with such a narrow lead and without our number one (Ryan Fisher), but the boys gave it everything to pick up a really satisfying result.“Making progress in the cups is important to us and we're relishing the task of taking on Plymouth in the next round.”Scorpions manager Dave Peet said: “It couldn’t have been any closer over the two legs. The boys were giving it their all from beginning to end but it just seemed the Peterborough riders were quicker out of the start. Every time we have a daytime meeting, we seem to be sluggish out of the starts.”Coventry had four unbeaten riders in their 64-26 National League victory at Scunthorpe in the second half of the double-header.Oliver Greenwood, Dan Greenwood and guests Jon Armstrong and Marc Owen all went unbeaten for the Storm, whilst the Stags were pleased with the comeback from injury of Reece Downes, who scored seven.Coventry co-boss Laurence Rogers said: “The boys were on it, there was no stopping them and we got nine 5-1s in total. Jon and Marc came in and were really part of the team, and the partnership between Marc and Dan Greenwood was amazing – you’d have thought they’d ridden together for years.”Stags manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “It wasn’t our strongest performance but there were positives to come out it. Reece did very well on his return from injury and scored in every outing.”In the John Cearns Cup, Kent overcame Wimbledon 52-38 with Ben Morley top-scoring for the home side on eleven points, a total matched by Luke Bowen for the Dons.
(SPEEDWAY 2 – TUESDAY PREVIEW)
CRADLEY are back at their adopted Monmore Green track for the first time in a month when they face Kent in National League action on Tuesday.And boss Will Pottinger says the Kings, in their second season of National League racing, will provide a tough test for his Heathens side.He said: “This will be a tough test for us, particularly as we are still without Tom Perry because of his broken collarbone.“Hopefully the rest of the boys can step up to the plate and help us out. We know Kent have some big scorers and it's important for us to put in a solid all-round display.“It's frustrating having a lack of home meetings, but now we have three in two weeks with a double header next week, bring it on!”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
IPSWICH co-promoter John Louis has paid tribute to his former racing partner Malcolm Simmons, who passed away at the weekend.Louis has fond memories of racing for and against ‘Super Simmo’ both at club and international level.He said: “We were both part of the England team that won the World Team Cup in 1974 and 1975, and in the following year we went on to win the World Pairs Championship together in Eskilstuna, Sweden. I remember that in the qualifier in Hungary we both scored paid 18, which gave us great confidence going in to that final. “We also spent time together in America racing as part of a tour organised by Barry Briggs & Ivan Mauger which was a great experience for both of us.”Rye House promoter Len Silver worked with Simmons during his time as England manager during those glory days in the 1970s.He said: “He was one of two captains, alongside Ray Wilson, during my time as England team manager, and was undoubtedly one of this country’s greatest ever riders.“I have very fond memories of the match race he had against another England great and former national captain, Jack Parker, at the 50th Anniversary meeting I staged at Hackney. He had to ride an old dirt-track Douglas, while Jack was mounted on a modern day Jawa. It was a very special occasion indeed.”(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY MAY 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Glasgow OFFNATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Kent 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 28:ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 29:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Workington 7.45
FRIDAY MAY 30:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7.15, Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Coventry v Buxton 7.30
