(SPEEDWAY 1)
GREAT Britain boss Alun Rossiter says a partisan crowd with a weekend staging can help his side make progress in the World Cup later this month.Rossiter is delighted that the first round of the competition takes place at King’s Lynn’s Norfolk Arena on Saturday July 26 – a change from previous Monday events.He said: “The meeting taking place on a Saturday is a massive bonus for the Great Britain boys, and whoever made that decision is a genius in my eyes! “More people will come with it not being a weeknight, I think it will be a sell-out and it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere for our team to race in, with all of those people cheering them on.“It will be a tough meeting, but with the British following behind us I think it can really raise the boys to take it up another level. “I want speedway fans all over the country to be right behind the team, and be positive. I’ll be doing my bit with the riders, and it’s down to the fans to come and support us.“I’ve gone with the squad which I genuinely believe is right, I know there are calls for some others whose time will definitely come in the future, and there’s only so many riders you can pick. “Hopefully there will be plenty more of the British lads about on the night to soak up the atmosphere and find out what it’s all about.”(SPEEDWAY 2 – THURSDAY REVIEW)
SWINDON became the first team this season to take maximum points from Elite League leaders King’s Lynn thanks to a 50-40 win at Blunsdon.The Stars led 32-28 after ten races but a fighting finish from the home side inspired by captain Troy Batchelor saw them take all three points.Batchelor combined with Nick Morris in Heat 11 and Peter Kildemand in Heat 15 for 5-1s over Niels-Kristian Iversen, and also defeated Iversen and Kenneth Bjerre in Heat 13 when racing solo after Kildemand had crashed out.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “I’m really happy, that was a great comeback and the team-riding of Troy Batchelor was outstanding. When he’s like that, he’s a joy to watch.“I think the big turning point was when Troy team-rode Nick home in Heat 11, to keep someone who’s just won a Grand Prix in Copenhagen (Iversen) behind them was a great job.”Edinburgh have made it 22 matches unbeaten at the start of the season with a 51-41 win at Redcar to go 13-points clear at the top of the Premier League table.The Monarchs were limited to three of the first eight race wins at the South Tees Motorsports Park, but were then successful in each of the last seven – with a key 5-1 from Steve Worrall and Max Fricke over Richard Lawson and Hugh Skidmore in Heat 10 putting them in control.Fricke then made sure of the maximum four points from the meeting by taking the honours in Heat 15.Monarchs boss John Campbell said: “I felt that if we were at our best we could hit 50, and that’s what we’ve done, a great effort.”Sheffield gave a strong all-round display to defeat Rye House 52-38 at Owlerton – answering manager Joe Screen’s call for more back-up to skipper Simon Stead.Stead scored 12 points whilst Ty Proctor collected a four-ride paid maximum and Taylor Poole was back in the points at reserve. Matt Tresarrieu led the way for the Rockets with 11+1.Sheffield star Leigh Lanham said: “It was nice to get a good win under our belts. Obviously we haven't had the start to the season that we wanted, but everybody chipped in tonight and we have a few matches in hand, so it is good for the confidence.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 – FRIDAY PREVIEW)
LAKESIDE promoter Jon Cook is looking for another big home performance from his side as play-off rivals Wolverhampton visit Purfleet.The Hammers got the better of leaders King’s Lynn in their last fixture at the Arena-Essex Raceway, and will once again be led by Richard Lawson with Rory Schlein guesting for injured skipper Davey Watt.Cook said: “After the team’s heroics to beat King’s Lynn here two weeks ago we need to keep that buzz going over these next two months of qualification.”Wolves can move into the top four with a positive result, and call in Danny King as a guest with Piotr Pawlicki and Jacob Thorssell absent due to Under-21 commitments.Skipper Tai Woffinden said: “Obviously it’s going to be tough without Piotr and Jacob but we still have a good team to go there. Danny King is a quality performer.“We will all need to be on form and hopefully we can get something from the meeting.”Meanwhile Coventry are hoping to keep their own home run going as Swindon – the last visiting team to win at Brandon back in early May – provide the opposition.The Bees bring in Lewis Blackbird to guest for the injured Kyle Howarth as they go for a fifth win in succession at Brandon, with the Robins looking to gain further ground on the play-off places.Coventry captain Chris Harris said: “It’s definitely a meeting we need to win, and we should be able to beat them. We are pretty much back at full-strength barring Kyle, but Lewis is a good guest who’s been going really well, so we should be winning at home.“Hopefully all the boys will be fighting fit and we can get back to winning ways, and we need the support behind us like we’ve had all season.”In the Premier League, leaders Edinburgh are seeking a quickfire double over Redcar after their away win on Teesside on Thursday – with their unbeaten run at the start of the season now standing at an incredible 22 matches.With Ipswich’s trip to Plymouth postponed – along with Somerset v Workington – Scunthorpe can go second in the table with a home win over Sheffield.The Scorpions, who were beaten heavily at Newcastle last Sunday, have been boosted by the news that Thomas Jorgensen did not suffer a broken scaphoid in that meeting and is therefore expected to ride against their local rivals.Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Our big defeat at Newcastle was a one-off; it was one of those nights for us. We won’t be dwelling on it.“What’s almost guaranteed is that it will be another cracking local derby – clashes between the two teams are always hotly contested.”Sheffield boss Joe Screen said: “Scunthorpe is a track our riders like, and we've already won there this season. It's hard to say what will happen, it should be a tight meeting but I think we have a good chance.”In the National League, King’s Lynn host Coventry with the visitors able to go back to second in the table if they can take an away win.Manager Laurence Rogers said: “I think we can pull it off, we’ve got a useful guest for Sarj (James Sarjeant) in Dan Halsey, and hopefully we should have Stef (Nielsen) back. We do need to get some more points away from home and we’re looking for the win.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY JULY 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, Plymouth v Ipswich OFF, Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Workington OFFNATIONAL 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
