(SPEEDWAY 1)
BIRMINGHAM’S chances of a track return should become clearer at Perry Barr Stadium tonight.Former club owner Tony Mole is leading a bid to revive the club, which closed in July due to crippling financial debts, and he has called a meeting of potential sponsors and investors.Mole said: “We are already working on sponsorship for next year but the major factor for me is who will join me in a consortium to help revive the sport. I have made it clear I don’t want the responsibility of doing this all myself.“Tonight’s meeting will go a long way towards indicating what our chances are. We have a perfectly good track and stadium, we have the track equipment, we just need to be sure it is financially sustainable before making the commitment to the British Speedway Promoters’ Association.”(SPEEDWAY 2 – TUESDAY REVIEW)
CRADLEY seized control of their National League play-off semi-final tie as they raced to a comprehensive 68-27 first leg victory over Mildenhall at Monmore Green.Steve Worrall, Paul Starke and Max Clegg all scored maximums for the Heathens who finished the meeting with six 5-1s on the trot to build a 41-point lead ahead of Sunday’s return fixture at West Row. Dan Halsey picked up 12 points for the Fen Tigers.Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “We're delighted with that performance. Everybody contributed and having no last places was really pleasing to see.“We've got to be over the moon with a 41-point lead going into the second leg, and barring an absolute disaster we should be into the Final which is the main thing.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 – WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
SOMERSET and Scunthorpe clash at the Oaktree Arena on Wednesday with both sides facing two vital Premier League play-off matches this week.The Rebels took a point from the reverse fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday and will visit Ipswich on Thursday, whilst the Scorpions host the Witches on Friday.Somerset will continue to operate the rider-replacement facility for broken arm victim Brady Kurtz, whilst Scunthorpe are without Nicolai Klindt and Ryan Douglas due to scaphoid injuries, with Carl Wilkinson stepping in to guest after Kyle Newman was ruled out after suffering knee damage on Monday.Somerset manager Garry May said: “With just three teams in the group, it doesn’t leave any margin for error to the extent that race points difference could determine which of the three sides progress through to the Final.“So not only will we be looking for the maximum three match points from Wednesday night, but to also boost our race points difference in case that does become the deciding factor.”Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It never rains, but it pours; I just can’t believe our luck over the last few weeks. We’ve not only had three of our own riders injured, all with a broken scaphoid, but the injury bug is spreading to our guests. We booked Taylor Poole for a meeting last week and he bust his leg, and now Kyle Newman has also been sidelined.“But we’re not beaten yet. It feels like we now need a miracle, but this is speedway and miracles do sometimes happen. We will give it our all and see what happens.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Ipswich v Somerset 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 3:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Scunthorpe v Ipswich 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Coventry v Kent 7.30
