(SPEEDWAY 1)
THE British Speedway Promoters’ Association can confirm the Elite League fixture between Belle Vue and Birmingham at Kirkmanshulme Lane on Monday will go ahead as scheduled.Talks are ongoing at BSPA level with the aim of securing a buyer for Birmingham Speedway to ensure the continuation of the sport at Perry Barr.
(SPEEDWAY 2 – WEDNESDAY REVIEW)
POOLE’S Polish duo of Maciej Janowski and Przemyslaw Pawlicki were both unbeaten as Poole raced to an emphatic 60-32 win over Birmingham at Wimborne Road.Janowski reeled off five straight wins whilst Pawlicki picked up paid-12 from his four outings in a meeting in which the Brummies were limited to just one heat win, that coming from reserve Simon Lambert in Heat 2.Janowski said: “Our whole team deserved the Rider of the Night award, it wasn't down to just one or two riders but a complete team effort. It was good to get the win and it is more points we have now. We must now look forward to the next match and ride the same.”The result moves the Pirates into third place in the Elite League table whilst the Brummies await further news on their future following the decision of owner Alan Phillips to quit.Manager Jack Lee said: “To come down to Poole without a No.1 and with them at full strength was always going to be a difficult task."The lads tried their best under the circumstances we were in, and to get 32 points wasn't a bad effort really. There was some good racing and the boys made some good starts but the Poole boys were brilliant and were really dialled in with the set-ups.”Urich Ostergaard was another maximum man on Wednesday evening as Peterborough got the better of Sheffield 58-38 in their Premier League encounter at the Showground.The Panthers skipper scored 12+3 for the home side, with No.1 Ryan Fisher winning four successive races after being on the receiving end of a 5-1 in the first race. Simon Stead was top-scorer (10+1) for a Tigers team who again suffered disappointment.New Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “We didn’t get off to the best start with Sheffield taking a 5-1 in the opening race, but it was a tremendous performance from then on.“The riders all know what I expect from them and they rode their socks off for the cause. Ulrich certainly deserved his paid maximum and there could easily have been a couple more from other riders.”Stead said: “I’m desperately disappointed with the performance we produced. We ran into a Peterborough team riding really well, but we were exposed. None of us, myself included, really performed to the level we should be doing.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 – THURSDAY PREVIEW)
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter expects a tough fixture against Coventry on Thursday as the clubs meet at the Abbey Stadium for the second time this season.The Bees took an away win back in April with the Robins gaining revenge when they visited Brandon, and Rossiter feels the visitors now have a stronger line-up.He said: “We need everyone to be up for it, and I’m sure that will be the case, because I do think Coventry come this time looking a good deal stronger now that they have (Michael) Jepsen Jensen in their team along with people like Hans (Andersen) and Bomber (Chris Harris). “We are going to have to be on top of our game, and I certainly still believe we have a more than fighting chance of reaching the top four.”Bees No.1 Andersen said: “It’s a track I know really well although I didn’t do really well there last time because I got injured. That was a long time ago and it would be nice now to go back there and win another meeting.”Runaway leaders King’s Lynn are set to welcome back Nicklas Porsing for their home clash with Eastbourne, whilst Simon Lambert steps in for the injured Lewis Kerr at reserve and the Eagles name Kyle Newman as a replacement for the unavailable Lewis Blackbird.Stars boss Rob Lyon said: “Eastbourne have a solid top five and once again will provide us with a hard match. The team is however in a determined mood and will be looking to secure another three more league points to the total.”In the Premier League, Brian Messegner makes his return to team management duties for Ipswich following the decision of Chris Louis to stand down, as the Witches face Rye House at Foxhall.Louis says maintaining a strong run at home will be crucial to the club’s chances of securing a play-off place, with recent away trips having proved unsuccessful.He said: “Just two league points from four away meetings has left us with an awful lot of pressure to pick up maximum points from our nine remaining home fixtures and I would suggest at least 8–10 points from our five away fixtures. A tall order, but one that I know we are more than capable of.”The visitors bring in Marc Owen to replace the injured Stefan Nielsen, and Rockets boss John Sampford said: “Ipswich have blown hot and cold in stretches this season, and you are never sure which version of the side you’re going to get. “But we have to assume that it will be another tough match, and we will prepare for it accordingly.”Redcar boss Jitendra Duffill is hoping the Bears reserves can make the difference as Peterborough visit the South Tees Motorsports Park for the first time.The Panthers, who have matches in hand on most other clubs in the Premier League, are at the start of a three-day tour which also takes in trips to Edinburgh and Berwick.Duffill said: “I don't think that there will be much between ours and their top fives, and again the contribution from our reserves will be crucial. “Both Luke (Crang) and Rafal (Konopka) have proved that they can score good points at this level and they are learning all the time. A good meeting from them and we have every chance of winning this meeting and hopefully taking all three points available.”In the Knockout Cup, Sheffield go into their second leg tie 18-points down as Berwick visit Owlerton – and home skipper Simon Stead says a win on their own circuit is vital.Stead said: “We can’t afford to lose at home again, but we know we are in for another very tough meeting because Berwick have riders who perform very, very well at Sheffield.“We are going to have to turn things around quickly and make it a better day for everyone connected with the club. Some riders have got to realise they are under pressure and riding for their places.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY JUNE 26:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Eastbourne 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Redcar v Peterborough 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Sheffield v Berwick 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 27:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Peterborough 7.30, Plymouth v Redcar 7.15, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Berwick 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TROPHY 2nd leg: Coventry v Cradley 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Peterborough 7pm, Rye House v Redcar 7pm, Workington v Plymouth 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Scunthorpe 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 29:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Plymouth 3pm, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Cradley 3.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP: Buxton v Coventry 3pm
