(SPEEDWAY 1)
CHRIS Harris remains involved in the Grand Prix qualifying race for 2015 – but the Coventry captain has had to settle for a reserve position in the Challenge to be staged in September.Harris was the best-placed British rider from Saturday’s two semi-finals, finishing eighth at Polish venue Czestochowa, just two points behind meeting winner Kenneth Bjerre in a closely-contested field. Harris won a run-off with Swedish rider Oliver Berntzon for the reserve spot.Lakeside’s Lewis Bridger scored four points in the same meeting whilst in Croatia Danny King (Birmingham and Newcastle) picked up five points and Craig Cook (Belle Vue and Edinburgh) scored one as their involvement ended at Gorican.British League regulars to reach the Challenge were Bjerre, Przemyslaw Pawlicki, Cameron Woodward, Nicolai Klindt, Mads Korneliussen, Jason Doyle, Hans Andersen, Maciej Janowski, Peter Kildemand and Matej Zagar.(SPEEDWAY 2 – SATURDAY REVIEW)SWINDON overcame the absence of their top two riders Peter Kildemand and Troy Batchelor to record an important 47-45 away win at Leicester.It was the Robins’ second victory on the road in the Elite League this season, with the Lions’ strong fightback from a twelve point deficit after Heat 10 proving not quite enough as flying reserve Steve Worrall secured the Swindon success in the penultimate race.Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: “It was a last-minute stroke to bring in Sam Masters because I knew he’d done quite well around here, and I thought he could be my man. We got the boys fired up and full credit to them.“I was a bit gutted we didn’t get the four points, but that’s being greedy because if you’d offered me three beforehand I would certainly have taken them. I’m happy to go away with three points on the board and it makes up for the loss at home last week.”Leicester manager Norrie Allan said: “Time and time again we were caught napping at the start which enabled Swindon to build up twelve point lead. When the track was re-graded and watered it favoured us as we scored three maximums in the last five races but the damage had already been done. “Rory Schlein was magnificent for us and so too was Simon Stead who played a great captain's role in the absence of Mads (Korneliussen). I could not have wished for a better performance from Krzysztof Buczkowski who took a dreadful fall in his first race but came back to score double figures on his home debut and young Josh Bates had another good night and did his job at reserve.”In the Premier League Workington’s patched-up side fought back from an eight-point deficit with just four heats remaining to beat Ipswich 47-43 in an action-packed meeting at Derwent Park - with skipper Rene Bach picking himself up from a heavy crash in Heat 11 to win the decisive final race.Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “That was a tough night. We went into the match with rider replacement for Ricky Wells, who was riding in the GP semi-final in Croatia, plus guests for the injured Kyle Howarth and Ashley Morris. Then we feared we had lost the services of Rene after an horrific crash, but after receiving medical attention he carried on riding.“To fight back with three maximum heat advantages in the last four heats was nothing short of sensational, with two of those coming from our excellent guest Thomas Jorgensen and reserve Simon Lambert. Then, with Rene winning the last heat from the gate and Josh Grajczonek fighting through from last place to join him on a 5-1 I thought the roof was going to blow off the grandstand with the noise our supporters made!”An extraordinary meeting at Berwick was curtailed after ten races due to the curfew with the Bandits taking a 5-1 from Claus Vissing and Steen Jensen in the last heat possible against Redcar, for a declared 32-28 win.The delays had been caused by illness to Matej Kus with the paramedic then also falling ill, necessitating a dash to the circuit for stand-by doctor Alan Fortune – and then in Heat 8 Matthew Wethers suffered damage to his right hip in a crash.Berwick boss Ian Rae said: “I’ve been around speedway for longer than I care to remember, and I’ve spoken to folk who have been going a lot long than that and no one can recall a night like this one.“We lost both Mattys – Kus to a rapid onset of an illness that left him breathless and dizzy, then the paramedic became unwell and needed attention – with him soon leaving the track as well. We called Alan Fortune who was a total star to leave his meal half eaten and race a considerable distance to the track to take over officiating, which he did in good time and we can only thank him so very much for saving the meeting.”Somerset gained a narrow win at Plymouth in another meeting which was unable to go the distance, the Rebels being 40-38 up when a halt was called with two races to go.The delay at the St Boniface Arena was caused by a Heat 13 incident between Rebels guest Stuart Robson and home man Rasmus Jensen, with Robson suffering concussion and being taken to hospital. Only the re-run of that race was possible before the 9.45pm curfew was reached, and Somerset boss Garry May was pleased with the three league points after his side had been eight-down on the night.May said: “Of course it was not a satisfactory way to end a meeting and our main thoughts are with Stuart, who had been an excellent guest for us.“But with regards to the match itself, I was really pleased with the way the boys came back after Plymouth took that early eight-point lead. They didn't let their heads drop and were determined to fight back, which is what they did to great effect.”Plymouth co-promoter David Short said: “We apologise to the spectators but there was just not enough time to complete the final heats because of the delay. We began well enough and had a good early lead, but we let it slip.”Meanwhile Rye House ended a run of four successive Premier League defeats with a 49-41 victory over Glasgow at Hoddesdon.It was another meeting with an unusual delay, as racing was held up for 20 minutes due to a punctured tyre on the ambulance, but the Rockets took maximum points thanks to double-figure scores from Edward Kennett (14), Jason Garrity (12) and Jason Bunyan (10), with guest Michael Palm Toft top-scoring for the Tigers with 13+2 from seven rides.
(SPEEDWAY 3 – SUNDAY PREVIEW)
SHEFFIELD boss Joe Screen is targeting a major improvement on their last visit to Newcastle when they travel to Brough Park in Premier League action.The Tigers suffered a heavy defeat in the League Cup earlier this season, and Screen is keen to see his side hit back.He said: “That was a nightmare night and we must avoid that, we can’t suffer that embarrassment. As a former rider I have sympathy with the lads who are low on confidence or having bike problems and I’m certainly not going to go off shouting and screaming at people.“But we go to Newcastle looking for a good display and we have to take the positives from Thursday when we pushed Edinburgh hard for a big part of the meeting.”Elsewhere, Ipswich complete a busy weekend of away matches with a trip to Glasgow, having taken a point from Workington on Saturday despite being the victims of a late Comets comeback.In the National Trophy, Stoke host Leicester with Potters knowing a victory would put them in a virtually unassailable position for a place in the Final.Manager Malcolm Vasey said: “The boys are determined to do well in this one but Leicester have assembled a very useful side for this competition and we will have to work very hard to make sure that we win it.“There will undoubtedly be some mouth-watering racing on our very much improved surface and the fans from both clubs can expect a top battle with a Final at stake.”Northside host the third round of the British Youth Championships with an impressive total of 39 riders competing across the four classes.
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY JUNE 22:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Ipswich 3pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Stoke v Leicester 3pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 3: Northside 1.30pm
MONDAY JUNE 23:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F: Kent v Stoke 6.30
TUESDAY JUNE 24:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Scunthorpe 7.15NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Cradley v Mildenhall (follows previous fixture)
WEDNESDAY JUNE 25:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30
