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THE draw has been made for the Premier League Pairs at Somerset on Friday July 11.The event is firmly established as the forerunner to the British Grand Prix at Cardiff the following evening, with another bumper crowd expected at the Oaktree Arena for one of the most popular meetings of the season.Ten of the thirteen Premier League clubs will be represented, with the host club being the defending champions. The full rider line-up will be declared later this month.GROUP A: Workington, Peterborough, Redcar, Ipswich, Newcastle.GROUP B: Edinburgh, Somerset, Plymouth, Berwick, Sheffield.
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SCOTT Nicholls says his determination remains as strong as ever to add yet another British title to his glittering collection.The Belle Vue man has won the national Final on a remarkable seven occasions, and will again be amongst the favourites for the 2014 staging at Wolverhampton on Monday.Nicholls said: “I don’t think the national title has ever lost any of the prestige, it’s a massive thing for any rider and I am extremely proud of my record of winning seven – hopefully by the end of this meeting it will be eight.“The first priority is to get to the final itself and then anything can happen, as we know from the past few seasons at Wolverhampton. Yes, I’ve been involved in some close racing, even with team-mates at the time, but you have to push it that little bit extra if you’re going to become British Champion.”Advance tickets for the event will be available until 3pm on June 16 from the following link: http://tickets.sky.com/seats/British-Final?DCMP=bac-Non-Sky-BSPA_BF
(SPEEDWAY 3 – THURSDAY REVIEW)
WOLVERHAMPTON staged a stunning comeback from 14-points down to grab a 47-46 away win at Swindon in a dramatic Elite League clash.Piotr Pawlicki, riding for double points, and Ricky Wells launched the Wolves recovery with an 8-1 over Peter Kildemand in Heat 10, and the visitors were in front three races later thanks to Pawlicki and Tai Woffinden.Simon Gustafsson reeled off his fourth win of the night as the Robins edged back ahead with a 4-2 in Heat 14 – but Pawlicki and Woffinden hit the front in the decider, and although Troy Batchelor overhauled Woffinden he was unable to catch the flying Pole.Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “It was a very good performance, and to come back from 14-points down was fantastic.“It was disappointing to be that far behind in the first place, but the boys dug deep and got what they deserved in the end. That 8-1 turned the momentum in our favour really, and from then on the boys were brilliant.”Swindon manager Alun Rossiter said: “I don't know what happened at all, it was just a complete and utter collapse. We started well and looked to be in a good position, then that 8-1 gave them a big boost but we should have easily had enough in the engine room to still come away with the win,"I'm shell shocked myself and I really don't know what went so drastically wrong for us.”In the Premier League, Scunthorpe continued their remarkable run of success at local rivals Sheffield with a 49-41 away win – their third victory of the season at Owlerton, and the fifth in succession over the last two years.The result moves the Scorpions into the top three, with reserve Thomas Jorgensen piling up an incredible 16 (paid 18) as he was unbeaten until the last race. Simon Stead conceded a 5-1 in the first race for the Tigers but then won his next five rides in a losing cause.Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It is official, the Scorpions are better around here than the Sheffield team. I feel sorry for the home promotion but we were in a situation needing away points. It was a meeting we were definitely targeting and there are others coming up. “We’ve got Josh (Auty) and Thomas on new engines and they had great meetings. It was fantastic to see and the way the team is coming together I see no reason now why we can’t make the title playoffs now.”Sheffield boss Joe Screen said: “I’m pretty disheartened right now. You never want to lose at home in speedway – and certainly not three times in one season to your rivals.“We got ourselves back into the meeting at one stage following a poor start, but Scunthorpe just proved too strong with their Owlerton track specialists and a reserve scoring so well.”Meanwhile Redcar overcame Plymouth 52-40 with a solid team effort including double-figure scores from Richard Lawson, Aaron Summers and Jan Graversen, whilst Ben Barker picked up three race wins for the Devils on his way to a 14-point total.
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COVENTRY hand a debut to new signing Michael Jepsen Jensen in their Elite League clash with Belle Vue at Brandon on Friday.The Danish youngster, a former World Under-21 Champion, has joined the Bees in place of Ryan Fisher and promoter Mick Horton believes the move could transform their title hopes.Horton said: “Michael is really excited about joining us, and we’re excited to have him. It’s a big, big signing for the club and I really hope the supporters turn out in force to welcome him.“I have to say the attitude of all of our riders is absolutely superb. Everybody is pulling together in the same direction for the benefit of the club, and again on Friday we have Chris (Harris) riding the night before the GP which is brilliant.”Belle Vue bring in Danny King to guest for Craig Cook, and after disappointment at Birmingham on Wednesday boss Jason Attwood knows their away form needs to improve quickly.Attwood said: “I’m personally hurting because of how my team are performing away from home. Something has to change and it has to change now, purely for the fans if nothing else because it’s embarrassing.“At the minute, for one reason or another we just cannot seem to click at the same time, but the lads have shown me on more than one occasion exactly what they are capable of, and it's so frustrating that we can’t seem to reproduce our home form on the road.”Meanwhile second-placed Lakeside host Leicester, who are looking to climb off the bottom following Birmingham’s home win over Belle Vue on Wednesday.Hammers boss Jon Cook is warning against complacency and is calling on his side to produce a full 15-heat display to see off the Lions, who bring in Rory Schlein to replace the absent Patrick Hougaard.Cook said: “We've had a great seven days but our thrashing of Belle Vue at our Raceway last Friday still came with a poor end to the meeting.“With Leicester boasting three solid heat leaders, the in form Simon Stead and now British Under 21 Champion Josh Bates, this meeting will be far from a walk in the park.”Lions boss Norrie Allan, meanwhile, has memories fresh from their last visit to Purfleet when they found themselves 4-14 down after three races.Allan said: “It was a dreadful start, and in the end those ten points were the difference between the two teams because we actually matched the Hammers point for point in the remaining twelve heats so on Friday we have to ensure that we get off to a better start.”In the Premier League, Edinburgh take their record of 16 wins and a draw this season into a home match with Plymouth, and the Monarchs will be at full strength with Aaron Fox back after missing the last two weeks due to a leg gash.Fox said on Monday: “It’s healing up nicely. I think another day or two and I’ll be close to 100 per cent. I’m ready for Friday.”Former Edinburgh man Kalle Katajisto misses out due to injury for the visitors and is replaced by Mason Campton.Meanwhile Ipswich take a massive 40-point lead to Somerset for the second leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final.By coincidence, this is exactly the margin by which the Rebels defeated the Witches when the sides last met at the venue, and home boss Garry May is hoping to play on that fact.He said: “In reality all the pressure is on Ipswich as they have everything to lose, and having already been to the Oaktree Arena in the League Cup and lost by 40 points, which would have be greater but for the use of the tactical rides which aren’t permitted in the KO Cup, there will jitters amongst their riders even before a wheel has been turned.“By contrast, we are under no pressure whatsoever as nearly everybody has written us off, so we go into the match free of any nerves as hardly anyone expects us to pull back those 40 points. But the boys have been riding superbly at home this year and having hit the 60 point mark in five of our last six home matches, this tie is far from the forgone conclusion many think it is.”(SPEEDWAY 5)
MILDENHALL chairman Kevin Jolly is predicting an exciting battle for the National League Pairs at West Row on Sunday afternoon.Eight of the nine NL clubs are represented with Steve Worrall and Max Clegg defending the title for Cradley, whilst Joe Jacobs and Daniel Halsey line up for the home side – with normal admission prices applying for an 18-heat meeting.Jolly said: “We feel honoured to have been asked to stage this prestigious event for a third consecutive year and hope that it lives up to the two previous years. Who can forget Danny Halsey’s wonder ride to overcome the Coventry pairing of James Sarjeant and Robert Branford to secure our place in last year’s final group? “Sadly for us that day we couldn’t quite do enough to retain the trophy we won in 2012, being beaten by a fine and deserving Dudley pair of Ashley Morris and Lewis Blackbird in the final.“I am sure that this is a meeting that speedway supporters of all clubs will want to travel and see, these lads are some of the country’s most exciting prospects and you can be sure that they will put on some great racing on a well prepared track.”GROUP A – Coventry: Luke Crang & James Sarjeant; Stoke: Ben Wilson & Jon Armstrong; King’s Lynn: Darren Mallett & Marc Owen; Buxton: Liam Carr & Tony Atkin. GROUP B – Cradley: Max Clegg & Steve Worrall; Mildenhall: Joe Jacobs & Daniel Halsey; Kent: Simon Lambert & Ben Morley; Devon: Richard Andrews & James Shanes.
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FRIDAY JUNE 13:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 7.30, Lakeside v Leicester 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Plymouth 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Somerset v Ipswich 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Mildenhall OFF
SATURDAY JUNE 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Edinburgh 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Rye House v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Devon v Cradley 1.30, Devon v Scunthorpe 3.15, Stoke v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Somerset 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Glasgow v Rye House 5pmNATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: Mildenhall 3.30
