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SOMERSET have confirmed Nick Morris and Olly Allen will be their combination to defend the Premier League Pairs at the Oaktree Arena on Friday July 11 (7pm).The Rebels took victory in the event last year for the first time since it moved to their home circuit, with Jason Doyle and Josh Grajczonek being their successful partnership.But Doyle is now racing full-time in the Elite League and Grajczonek will head up the Workington challenge in 2014, with Morris and club captain Allen selected by the Somerset management.Boss Garry May said: “With each competing club required to nominate two out of their top three riders by average, it was a relatively straightforward choice.“Both Nick and Olly have been excellent around the Oaktree Arena this season and fully deserve their opportunity to defend our Pairs crown.”The Rebels’ opposition in Group B includes runaway Premier League leaders Edinburgh, who will be represented by Sam Masters and Max Fricke with Craig Cook on duty as Wild Card at the British Grand Prix.The group also contains former Somerset rider Claus Vissing, who now lines up for Berwick alongside David Bellego, whilst in-form Simon Stead leads the Sheffield challenge along with Leigh Lanham, and Rasmus Jensen and Kalle Katajisto line up for the Rebels’ local rivals Plymouth.Workington are the most successful club in the history of the competition, having been successful on a remarkable six occasions since the current Premier League structure was put in place in 1997.Grajczonek is joined in the Comets’ combination by Rene Bach, who was one half of their winning pairing in 2012 with Adam Roynon.The Comets are joined in Group A by newcomers Peterborough, who have selected Lasse Bjerre and Ulrich Ostergaard with regular No.1 Ryan Fisher currently on the sidelines.Lewis Kerr is back from injury and earns a call-up to the major event for Newcastle alongside Stuart Robson, whilst Redcar will have high hopes with big-scoring No.1 Richard Lawson joined by Aaron Summers.Ipswich’s major winter signing Richie Worrall is one of half of the Witches’ challenge alongside Testimonial man Morten Risager.Supporters should note the 7pm start-time, which is half an hour earlier than in previous seasons.

GROUP A: WORKINGTON – Josh Grajczonek/Rene Bach, PETERBOROUGH – Lasse Bjerre/Ulrich Ostergaard, REDCAR – Richard Lawson/Aaron Summers, IPSWICH – Richie Worrall/Morten Risager, NEWCASTLE – Stuart Robson/Lewis Kerr.GROUP B: EDINBURGH – Sam Masters/Max Fricke, SOMERSET – Nick Morris/Olly Allen, PLYMOUTH – Rasmus Jensen/Kalle Katajisto, BERWICK – Claus Vissing/David Bellego, SHEFFIELD – Simon Stead/Leigh Lanham.

SPEEDWAYGB EVENTS SERIES 2014:ELITE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Re-staging TBCBRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: JOSH BATESBRITISH FINAL: TAI WOFFINDENPREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, July 11PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Peterborough, August 3PREMIER RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, September 21NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS:NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: STOKENATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry, August 10NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, September 28BRITISH SPEEDWAY FIM EVENT DATES:WORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP Semi-Final: MIKKEL BECHGRAND PRIX QUALIFIER: LINUS SUNDSTROM

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BELLE VUE skipper Scott Nicholls admitted Monday’s home clash with Birmingham had been a useful workout after a lack of racing at Kirkmanshulme Lane.Nicholls said: “If we hadn't have won we would have needed a good kick up the backside! No disrespect to Birmingham, but having not raced together at home for a good few weeks it was quite handy for us to have a slightly weaker team come here.“Whether the points remain or not is still to be seen. But what mattered in the end was for us to get a big win to get our confidence back, and if all the boys continue to gel together then I'm sure we'll be stronger for our next meeting.”BIRMINGHAM raced what could turn out to be their final meeting when they went down 36-59 at Belle Vue on Monday.The club’s future is in serious doubt and there were emotional scenes following the conclusion of the meeting at Kirkmanshulme Lane.Brummies star Ben Barker said: “It was emotional. We won't let the Brummies die without a fight - it's a club with a fantastic history.”COVENTRY skipper Chris Harris is targeting a continued strong home run for the Bees, who have won their last four outings at Brandon.Harris said: “Obviously at the start of the season we had a few issues with the track, but that has got better now and things are going well.“We’ve picked up at home, and I think if we can keep on this good run we are a team that is going to be hard to beat, especially when all seven of us do click.”EASTBOURNE are seeking new promoters for 2015 after confirming the current set-up of Bob Dugard, Mike Bellerby and Trevor Geer will disband at the end of the current campaign.Dugard said: “The personal circumstances of the current promotion and difficult trading resulting in a projected large loss this year means we are unable to commit to running speedway at Arlington Stadium in 2015.“New people at the helm will have the opportunity of doing things their way and effectively re-launch the sport at Eastbourne. They will have the opportunity to put their stamp on proceedings and ‘sell’ the sport to a new audience.”KING’S LYNN will return to a full-strength line-up this week with Lewis Kerr and Nicklas Porsing back from injury in time for the home clash with Coventry on Wednesday.Manager Rob Lyon said: “The boys are on fire at the moment and that is the way we want to keep it all the way to the end of the season.”LAKESIDE skipper Davey Watt is targeting a return from his recent back injury in time for the Hammers’ clash with Eastbourne on July 18.Manager Neil Vatcher told Speedway Star: “The main thing is for Dacey to make a complete recovery, it’s his well-being that is the most important issue.“We’ll book guest replacements to cover his absence.”LEICESTER have announced details of reduced admission prices for their televised clash with Eastbourne at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium on July 14.Promoter David Hemsley said: “I have set a price of £10 for adults and concessions with children aged 10 and under sixteen remaining at £5 and a family ticket for two adults and two children priced at a lower figure of £20. “The pricing structure represents fantastic value for our regular supporters and hopefully it will encourage people to come along to the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium who perhaps have never seen a live speedway meeting before.”POOLE skipper Darcy Ward has stressed the importance of a top-four finish – with the Pirates having proved last season that anything can happen in the play-offs.Ward told Speedway Star: “When you lose two home meetings it’s not very good, especially when we want to be title contenders again this year.“Losing at home to Coventry and King’s Lynn isn’t great. King’s Lynn are the favourites. We went and lost some meetings last year, but when you make the play-offs anything can happen.”SWINDON manager Alun Rossiter admitted World Champion Tai Woffinden and Polish star Piotr Pawlicki had been too hot to handle as the Robins were unable to take any league points from Wolverhampton on Monday.Rossiter said: “We gave it a good go but we had no answer for their top two really. Woffinden and Pawlicki were superb, and although we gave it our best shot they made the difference in the end.“The play-offs are still our aim and we aren't giving up yet that's for sure. It would have been nice to come away with a point but there are still plenty more points up for grabs.”WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams was pleased with his team’s all-round display in bouncing back from losing at home to King’s Lynn by seeing off Swindon at Monmore on Monday.Adams said: “Obviously we were pleased to get back to winning ways and pick up all three points. Swindon are a tough side but I think they were let down in one or two positions, and we were able to capitalise on that which was good.“It keeps us right on the tails of the pacesetters in the top four and that's where we want to be, ready to pounce at the finish.”

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BERWICK team and track manager Ian Rae has stood down from his positions with the club citing concerns over his heath and workload due to his current schedule.Bandits co-director George Hepburn said: “The decision was Ian's and of course he is welcome at all club events - everything in every way. When Ian feels refreshed again after taking time out from active participation in track and team affairs, there will always be a role for him within the Bandits' organisation, we can all guarantee that!”EDINBURGH made it 21 matches unbeaten in 2014 with a hard-fought 51-42 win over Peterborough – although the injury-hit Panthers took it to the last race before the Monarchs secured maximum points.Edinburgh manager Alex Harkess said: “It was a struggle and you have to give the Panthers a lot of praise for their efforts.”GLASGOW star Kasper Lykke admits he is enjoying life at Ashfield – after a match-winning display in the Tigers’ narrow victory over Plymouth last weekend.Lykke said: “I'm very thankful to Glasgow for taking me in and I can't thank them enough for giving me the chance. The way they're treating me now is just awesome.”IPSWICH caretaker boss Brian Messenger got off to a winning start with a comeback win over Rye House at Foxhall – and has stressed his belief in the Witches’ riders to perform to their ability.Messenger said: “We have got to work hard and prove to our fans we have got what was promised at the start of the season. Individually the riders are all capable of maximum scores, they have just got to start doing it at the same time and then we can still secure a top-six position. Plus we are still in the Knockout Cup too and anything can happen in that.”NEWCASTLE struck top form in impressive fashion at Brough Park on Sunday with an emphatic 67-22 demolition of Scunthorpe, with four riders scoring maximums.Manager George English said: “We were due a big win, and with our team falling back into place after injury its unfortunate that Scunthorpe were to ones to suffer the hammering - but after their win on Friday night, lets not hide the fact that revenge is sweet!”PETERBOROUGH completed an eventful Northern tour with an impressive 52-35 win over Berwick – to ensure they met the target for the week set by new manager Carl Johnson.He said: “I set the lads an eight-point target for this run of fixtures – and they’ve hit it in superb style. We’ve spent the past four days together and the lads have all bonded brilliantly. The team spirit is absolutely superb and we’ve produced some excellent performances on the track.”PLYMOUTH believe the result of their Premier League clash with Ipswich on Friday could have a crucial bearing on the remainder of the season.Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “Friday will be a really big meeting for us against top class opposition and it will set out the stall for what we can do for the remainder of the season.“We gave ourselves a boost with our home win over Redcar last Friday, but it is important that we show some consistency by winning regularly in front of our home supporters.”REDCAR have moved for veteran Australian Mark Lemon to bolster their middle order, with reserve Luke Crang the rider to make way.Manager Jitendra Duffill said: “I am sorry to see Luke leave the team, he is a rider that has a bright future in Speedway but unfortunately our team has not been strong enough to allow him the time he needs to develop into a proven points scorer in the Premier League. Speedway can be a cruel game at times but I'm sure everybody would agree that a change was needed.”RYE HOUSE boss John Sampford reflected on a possible missed opportunity as the Rockets went down 38-52 at Ipswich despite holding a six-point lead at the halfway stage.Sampford said: “We were in the ascendancy when the circuit was damp and grippy, and they didn’t seem to be able to handle it as well as us. Once it had dried out a little and slickened off, their trapping became much better than ours – and on a slicker surface that became critical.”SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey is hoping for a big crowd for this week’s local derby with Sheffield – after the turnout last week against Newcastle was affected by rain before and during the meeting.Godfrey said: “Just down the road, there were flash floods, and naturally it puts some people off travelling. But it would have cost us far more to have called off the meeting at the start-time.“I’d like to thank the fans who came along; the hardcore were there as always. I think a lot of our fans have learnt that we’ll get on the meeting if it’s possible.”SHEFFIELD have named skipper Simon Stead and fellow experienced rider Leigh Lanham as their representatives for the Premier League Pairs at Somerset next week.Stead said: “I like the Somerset track, it’s great to race on and I’m sure it will be a good meeting for the fans to enjoy. Both Leigh and myself will go there to win it. We have the experience, let’s see how we go.”SOMERSET host Workington at the Oaktree Arena on Friday – and Rebels boss Garry May says a hefty home win over the Comets earlier in the season should not leave th home side resting on their laurels.May said: “Despite having already beaten Workington at the Oaktree this season by 30 points, that counts for nothing come Friday night and we cannot, and will not, take anything for granted.”WORKINGTON are hoping to get their away Premier League campaign back on track this weekend with away fixtures at Somerset and Rye House - their first away league matches for two months!Comets manager Tony Jackson said: “It has been a very strange start to the season so far. Here we are entering July having only raced six league fixtures and only one of those was away from home, which we won back in early May at Newcastle. Since then a combination of rained off and re-arranged fixtures has meant that our visit to defending league champions Somerset on Friday will be our first away league match for exactly two months.“We are under no illusion how tough it will be having lost heavily there earlier in the season in the Knockout Cup, and since then the Rebels have continued to notch up big scores. The visit to the Oaktree Arena will also provide valuable practice for Josh Grajczonek and Rene Bach, our representatives there next week in the Premier League Pairs. Then, after Somerset, we travel to Rye House for what promises to be another tough fixture on a track that is very different to our large Derwent Park home.”FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY JULY 1:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Redcar 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Leicester OFF, King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 3:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30, Sheffield v Rye House 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, Plymouth v Ipswich 7.15, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Workington 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 5:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v King’s Lynn 7.30, Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm, Rye House v Workington 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Stoke v Kent 7pm

SUNDAY JULY 6:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm, Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Cradley 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Kent 3.30

MONDAY JULY 7:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Mildenhall 6.30

TUESDAY JULY 8:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Rye House 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Devon 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 9:ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Eastbourne (TBC) 7.30, Poole v Belle Vue 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 10:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Poole 7.30, King’s Lynn v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 11:PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Devon v Kent 7.15

SATURDAY JULY 12:BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 5pm

SUNDAY JULY 13:LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Workington v Peterborough 7.30LUKE BOWEN TESTIMONIAL: Rye House 2pm

MONDAY JULY 14:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Eastbourne 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Scunthorpe 7.15NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Cradley 6.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 16:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 8pm, Birmingham v Lakeside (TBC) 7.30, King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30