SPEEDWAY 1 – TUESDAY REVIEW)
PETERBOROUGH amassed a six-point advantage in their League Cup semi-final showdown against Workington after another tense thriller at the East of England Showground.The Panthers had moved 11-points clear but the Comets clawed their way back into contention ahead of next month’s second leg at Derwent Park.Visitors’ guest Richard Lawson lowered the Premier League track record in the first race and they remained in the tie despite twice tracking just one rider due to further ankle problems for Kyle Howarth.Ales Dryml top-scored for the Panthers with 11+2 whilst Lawson collected an impressive 14 for the Comets.Panthers boss Trevor Swales said: “The boys rode well and I felt they were unlucky not to win by more. Nicki (Barrett) had a retirement in one race after starting his debut so well and Lasse (Bjerre) broke a chain in the last heat, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.“Workington are a very strong side, but we need to go into the second leg with a mindset of trying to win, rather than defending our advantage.”Cradley have moved to the top of the National League with an emphatic 64-30 win over Stoke at Monmore Green, with Max Clegg and Paul Starke both racing to maximums.Clegg’s score of 14 (paid 15) included an effort from 15 metres in Heat 5 when he had been penalised for breaking the tapes, but still came through to join Nathan Greaves for a 5-1.Heathens boss Will Pottinger said: “I can't fault anybody - it was another great team effort and an excellent result. It was a solid team performance with everyone playing their part again, so we've got to be pleased with that.“It's great to go top of the table, and hopefully we can continue our good run of form to make sure we stay there.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
POOLE promoter Matt Ford is warning his side to respect the threat of new-look Leicester as the Pirates look to add to their Elite League total for the first time since May 22.The Wimborne Road clash sees the Lions hand debuts to Krzysztof Buczkowski and Nicolai Klindt, and Ford is keen for the Pirates to bounce back from two successive home defeats.He said: “I really think that they look a lot stronger with these latest changes and we have to ignore the fact that they are bottom of the table. With new riders in a side there is always that added freshness and determination to impress and our boys will need to be on their guard against that.“We haven't had things our own way around Wimborne Road this season with back to back defeats against Coventry and King's Lynn and we need to try and reverse that.”Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “We go there in the knowledge that two teams have already won at Poole this season so it is not beyond reasonableness to think that we can get something out of this match. “Since April we have had to fall back on the use of sixteen guest riders to cover for injuries and whilst there will be occasions when we will have to dip back into the guest rider system due to fixture clashes I am hoping that we can now look forward to a more settled period.”Leaders King’s Lynn have booked club asset Simon Lambert to guest for the injured Lewis Kerr in their Norfolk Arena clash with Belle Vue.Kerr misses out due to a shoulder injury sustained when racing in the Premier League for Newcastle last weekend, and Lambert comes in as the Stars bid to go 14-points clear at the top of the table – whilst the Aces are still searching for their first away win of the season.
(SPEEDWAY 3)
WOLVERHAMPTON have signed Cradley rider Tom Perry as cover for injured reserve Ashley Morris.Perry, recently released by Elite League rivals Leicester, has extensive experience of Monmore Green from his time with the Heathens and concluded a deal with promoter Chris Van Straaten at the British Final on Monday with Morris on the sidelines for at least six weeks due a head injury.Van Straaten said: “We were very surprised when Leicester released Tom from their Elite League team so this has come at a good time for us.“Ashley isn’t able to ride in the near future and for Tom it’s a great opportunity as a local lad to step in and get an opportunity. What happens when Ash is fit again is down to Tom to force us into a tough decision. He will, of course, continue to ride for Cradley in the National League.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
KENT have made a change at reserve with National League newcomer Jason Garrad joining the Kings in place of 15-year-old Luke Harris.Garrad has graduated to speedway from motocross via training schools held at Rye House, and has impressed so far in his outings in the Midland Development League.Manager John Sampford said: “We have been concerned that despite Luke Harris’ undoubted talent and potential, insufficient direct progress has been made in the dozen or so matches he’s ridden in the Kings’ side and feel it’s best that he is given a spell away from the pressure of having to contribute in the number six race jacket. We wish Luke well in his racing and especially in his pursuit of the GB Youth title where he’s next in action at the weekend up at Northside. “The National League is all about giving riders who show potential, a chance to step up to the mark and progress and we feel from what we’ve seen at close quarters of Jason Garrad that he has that potential and a steely determination to succeed.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
THE British Youth Championship moves to Cumbria on Sunday afternoon as the Northside track in Workington hosts the third round of the series.After two excellent rounds at Scunthorpe and Leicester there is another impressive turnout of competitors, with a record for the venue of 39 riders taking part across the four classes.GB Youth co-boss Neil Vatcher said: “We are delighted with the continued number of riders that are attending the 2014 British Youth Championships, as common sense will tell you that the more riders compete, the more will have a chance to make it!“In 2013 we only had four riders competing in the 500cc class at Northside, whereas this year there will be 11 riders in this class trying to win Round 3. This can only be a positive for the future of British Speedway.“The proof of how successful this breeding ground is for British Speedway showed only two weeks ago in the Under 21 World Team Cup Semi Final where the British team only missed out on qualifying for the Final in the very last race, and were represented by four riders that have all competed in the Youth Championships in previous years.”Supporters visiting Northside on Sunday should note the satnav code of CA14 1NG.(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Leicester 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 19:LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Poole 7.30, Lakeside v King’s Lynn 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Rye House 7.30, Scunthorpe v Ipswich 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30
