(SPEEDWAY 1 – TUESDAY REVIEW)
PETERBOROUGH were limited to just a two-point lead from the first leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final tie against Plymouth.The Devils, with No.1 Ben Barker in outstanding form with a 14-point score, restricted the Panthers throughout the evening with the final outcome being 46-44 to the hosts.Ales Dryml and Lasse Bjerre top-scored with 12+1 and 11+1 respectively for the Panthers, who successfully defended a three-point advantage in the previous round against Scunthorpe.Manager Trevor Swales said: “It was only our second home meeting in five weeks and that clearly didn’t help us, but I’m not going to make excuses. Plymouth rode very well whereas we had too many guys either struggling with machinery or form.“We had hoped to take a lead of around 10 points into the second leg, but we have now left ourselves with a tougher job to do down in Devon. There are no ifs or buts about it – we need to come away from Plymouth on Friday in possession of a place in the semi-finals.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
POOLE promoter Matt Ford is calling on his side to finish the job before Heat 15 when they host Wolverhampton in the Elite League on Wednesday.The Pirates have been beaten in both of their last two home matches, by Coventry and King’s Lynn, who each turned things around in the final race.Ford said: “Looking back on those defeats it is a bitter pill to swallow that we were only behind once in both of those matches - at the end of Heat 15. That does hurt.“Earlier this year we went to Wolverhampton and came away with two points and had it not been again for the fact we conceded a 4-2 in the final heat we would have had the win there. “So the message to our boys on Wednesday is clear. Let's get far enough ahead before the final heat so that we don't have that last heat disappointment.”Poole bring in their former rider Kyle Howarth as a guest for the injured Josh Grajczonek, whilst Wolves go into the meeting at full strength at the start of a busy run of away matches.Boss Peter Adams said: “We know we have dropped silly points at home and we have to get some back over these four meetings to claw our way back up the table.“It's going to be a tough schedule with the way the fixtures have fallen but the boys will be up for it.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
HUNGARIAN rider Norbert Magosi will make his return to Berwick on Saturday after receiving a late call-up to the Grand Prix Qualifier at Shielfield Park.39-year-old Magosi rode for the Bandits in 2008 and has been named as his country’s representative to replace their original nomination, Roland Benko, who is out injured.Meanwhile Josh Grajczonek remains keen to take his place in the meeting despite suffering severe facial injuries in a crash at Coventry last Friday.The Australian said: “After today’s discussion with the medical experts, I’ll make my mind up. I really, really want to make every effort to maintain my dream of qualifying for next year’s Grand Prix – but one problem I still have to face is the very real difficulty of getting a crash helmet on, over my sore head and face.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
LEICESTER’S Patrick Hougaard has elected to take a break from British Speedway.The Dane is recently back in action following a broken thumb and says he is lacking in confidence to appear in the UK, with promoter David Hemsley confirming the club have applied for a facility to continue using guest riders at this stage.Hougaard said: “I have had quite a few injuries in the last couple of years and I feel that I have struggled a lot to regain my form after these injuries, and therefore I have decided to step away from the British League for a bit of time to get my form sorted. The reason for that is I want to get back up to speed before riding in the UK again.“The Elite League is not easy and if you are not 100 per cent you won’t be scoring the points asked for. Also with me riding as a heat leader I need to be sharp and that will take a bit of time. So I think not only is this the best option for me but also the best option for the team.“I have to assure you that it has nothing to do with Leicester Speedway. I have been treated really well and there are no complaints at all. It’s purely because I don’t want to be lacking in confidence and I want to do a good job for the team when I’m there.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
CRADLEY have announced British Speedway President Tony Mole is to link up with the club to take charge of their new track project.Mole was the man responsible for taking the sport back to Workington in 1999 and Birmingham in 2007, and has also stepped in to ensure racing could continue at several other venues.Heathens co-promoter Gary Patchett said: “Tony will need no introduction to our supporters after all but bringing the club to a new home in Colley Gate nearly 10-years ago and his success in bringing defunct clubs back to the sport is unparalleled.“Tony’s brief will be to advise on any site possibilities but with a specific focus on the potential site we have had on the radar for some time.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY JUNE 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 5:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Birmingham 7.30, Swindon v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Glasgow 7.45PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Ipswich v Somerset 7.30
FRIDAY JUNE 6:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 7.30, Lakeside v Belle Vue 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Rye House 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Plymouth v Peterborough 7.15LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 7:WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING ROUND: Berwick 7pmELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30, Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Somerset 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 8:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30JAMES GRIEVES TRIBUTE: Glasgow 3pm
