(SPEEDWAY 1 – FRIDAY REVIEW)
COVENTRY moved level on points with the Elite League play-off places by overcoming Belle Vue 52-39 at Brandon.The Bees’ big guns were all in-form with Hans Andersen top-scoring on 12+1, Michael Jepsen Jensen adding 11+1 and Chris Harris dropping only one point from four rides.Matej Zagar won two races for the visitors on his way to ten points, but the Aces are without an away win this season with just one more opportunity to correct that record.Bees boss Gary Havelock said: “That was our best performance around here this season without a shadow of a doubt. We wanted to go hard right from the start, and after a couple of 3-3s we really kicked in with a lot of 5-1s.“It could have been a bit ‘iffy’ for us without Jason (Garrity) because he’s been doing fantastically well, but the top five did the job that they’re paid to do and I’m really happy. At no time during the meeting were the nerves coming – it was pretty smooth all the way through.”Lakeside moved into second place, ahead of Poole on points-difference, after a hard-fought 47-43 home win over Eastbourne, who held the lead for much of the meeting.The Eagles were 33-27 up after ten races but 5-1s to the home side in Heats 11 and 13, both involving guest Rory Schlein, put the Hammers ahead, and skipper Davey Watt then won Heat 15 to seal victory.Back-from-injury Watt scored 12+1 for Lakeside whilst in-form reserve Lewis Blackbird (12+2) and Bjarne Pedersen (12+1) led the way for the Eagles, who picked up a league point.In the Premier League, rampant Edinburgh exceeded the 23-match unbeaten run of Arena-Essex in 1991 with an emphatic 63-29 win over Workington at Armadale.Each of the home riders scored at least seven points, led by a paid maximum from Craig Cook, as the Monarchs went 15-points clear at the top of the table.Boss Alex Harkess said: “There’s no way we could fault that performance, everyone was outstanding and as always they all worked hard for each other all night.”Scunthorpe enhanced their position in the chasing pack with a 60-35 home win over Rye House, highlighted by a six-ride paid maximum from David Howe.The Scorpions recorded six 5-1s on the night, Howe being involved in five of those, with his 14+4 score added to by 16 from Ryan Douglas and 14+2 from Thomas Jorgensen. Edward Kennett (12+1) top-scored for the Rockets.Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “David had some new engines a few weeks ago. He’s been working out the best way to set them up, and tonight it all clicked for him.“He was gating, he was fast; he was the David Howe of old and it was a delight to see. We scored sixty, but for bike problems for Ash (Birks) and Nicolai (Klindt) it could have been even more.”Rye promoter Len Silver said: “What was the story of our night? We couldn’t make starts to save our lives. We were on the pace once we got past the first two bends, but we were really struggling from the tapes. That was the story of our night.”Somerset moved back into the top four with a 59-35 home win over Newcastle, taking charge of proceedings with a run of four successive maximums mid-meeting.Nick Morris put his Pairs disappointment of last Friday behind him with a score of 12+1, with Brady Kurtz (11+2) and Olly Allen (10+1) also in double-figures, whilst Danny King won three races for the Diamonds on his way to 15 points – but new signing Simon Nielsen suffered friction burns in a Heat 9 crash.Rebels boss Garry May said: “With most of the boys not having ridden here for best part of a month, there was the risk of them perhaps being a bit vulnerable early on, but to their credit they were on it right from the off and never gave Newcastle the slightest sniff of causing any upset.“In saying that, Newcastle made sure that we had to work for our points and there was some excellent racing out there, but we had far too much for them to handle and I think that showed in our final margin of victory.”Diamonds manager George English said: “Simply we were left sadly lacking in many departments, and it was a desperately unlucky debut for Simon winning his first and then ending up in an ambulance with friction burns, so we really hope his time with us improves rapidly.”Plymouth’s recent team changes had the desired effect as the Devils defeated Glasgow 53-41 with new signing James Wright sharing in three 5-1s on his way to a paid-nine score in his first competitive meeting for over a year.Reserve Sam Simota scored an impressive paid-17 for the home side, whilst Rusty Harrison notched 15+2 for the Tigers but No.1 Kevin Wolbert failed to score.Plymouth boss Lee Trigger said: “It was good to see the new riders doing well, especially with James picking up points from the back. Sam did particularly well at reserve, dropping only one point in his six races.“There was a good atmosphere in the pits and we will hope to carry that buzz through to our meetings against Somerset next weekend.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SATURDAY PREVIEW)
EASTBOURNE have called up Scott Nicholls to guest for Mikkel Michelsen in their South coast derby clash with Poole at Arlington.Michelsen is unavailable due to the first round of the World Under-21 Final, whilst Poole use the rider-replacement facility for Vaclav Milik who is absent for the same reason.Eagles boss Trevor Geer said: “I still think that we can get the better of Poole, especially if Scott rides like he did earlier in the season when visiting for Belle Vue.”Pirates promoter Matt Ford said: “Unfortunately it has not been possible to secure a suitable guest, which we are entitled to, for Vaclav. With just a six-man team it leaves no room for error.”Leicester take on Lakeside at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium looking to build on an encouraging week including away points at both King’s Lynn and Swindon after their dramatic home victory over Eastbourne.The Lions have James Sarjeant on stand-by to guest for Josh Bates who was injured in the Eagles match, whilst the Hammers again bring in Rory Schlein for World Under-21 finalist Mikkel Bech.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “There are no easy matches in the Elite League and this one will be a stern test for us. Our home form has shown a marked improvement and it is in meetings like this that you gauge just how far we have come as a team. “Lakeside know that they need at least another away win to boost their points tally and our goal is at the very least to remain unbeaten in the ‘B’ fixtures at home.”Berwick are the latest team to attempt to stop the Edinburgh run of success, as the clubs meet in the first leg of their Knockout Cup quarter-final at Shielfield Park.Bandits director George Hepburn said: “When we raced them in the early-season League Cup, the teams entered Heat 15 on level terms, and although they won that one, there is no reason to believe their team is any better now than on April 5. But ours just might be!“Whatever is going to happen, this is the big one, and a very real chance of our little country club pulling off the big surprise and becoming the first team to post a win over the mighty Monarchs in 2014.”In the National League Stoke host King’s Lynn at Loomer Road with the Potters hoping to receive medical clearance to include reserve James McBain after a six-week lay-off.Manager Malcolm Vasey said: “James feels more than ready to return and that will provide us with a big boost in the present circumstances. We need every point that we can get against Kings Lynn to make sure we remain in contention for the play-offs and James’s presence in the team would be a massive help.”(SPEEDWAY 3)
BUXTON will be without Ryan Blacklock for their forthcoming schedule after he suffered a hand injury in a crash last week.Blacklock has his hand in plaster after coming to grief in the Hitmen’s defeat against Cradley, and he will therefore miss the home clash with Mildenhall on Sunday with Liam Carr also unavailable.Manager Jayne Moss said: “Ryan is likely to be out for up to three weeks - just when he was hitting some form too.“We will operate rider-replacement in his absence and we have booked Chris Widman to cover Liam - he’s having a good season and rides Hi-Edge well.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JULY 19:ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Poole 7.30, Leicester v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Peterborough OFF, Workington v Somerset OFFPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 20:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 3pm, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30, Peterborough v Edinburgh 5pmNATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Mildenhall 3pmBRITISH 125cc FINAL: Peterborough 2.30
MONDAY JULY 21:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30THE LAURELS: Kent 6.30
TUESDAY JULY 22:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Coventry 7.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 23:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30
