(SPEEDWAY 1 – SUNDAY REVIEW)
LEICESTER made a flying start to the season with an emphatic win over Coventry in the first leg of the East Midlands Bowl.The Lions triumphed 63-27 at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium with captain Jason Doyle and debutant Josh Auty both scoring paid maximums, and there were several other impressive displays from newcomers in the home side.Coventry skipper Chris Harris scored ten but the rider-replacement facility for unavailable No.1 Hans Andersen was worth just two points for the Bees.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “On the face of this meeting our Achilles heel at reserve last season seems to be solved if Josh’s performance today is anything to go by. “Considering it was the first time on track as a team in a competitive meeting I was pleased with how the new pairings worked out for us. Each and everyone did their job and that makes life much easier for a team manager, and with five of the side all making their debuts for the club we were as much the away side as Coventry were. “Above anything the most important aspect of the match was to give our riders valuable track time so they begin to work out the best racing lines before we launch into our Elite League fixtures.”Coventry manager Gary Havelock said: “It was a meeting to blow the cobwebs away although obviously it would have been nice to put on a better show for the fans who came here.“It’s always difficult starting away from home, whether it’s a challenge match or not, and it will definitely be a different story on Friday. We’ll bounce back, and we certainly want to start off with a win at home.”Peterborough overcame the early loss of Adam Roynon with injury to defeat a GB Select team 48-45 at the Showground.Roynon crashed in Heat 1 but reserves Simon Lambert (11+1) and Ollie Greenwood (8+1) both impressed for the Panthers, and Lewis Blackbird and Olly Allen also added double-figure scores.Richard Lawson took a late call-up for Alun Rossiter’s side and top-scored on his former Elite League track with 15+1 for the Select.Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “We wanted to start with a win and it is particularly pleasing to do that after the adversity of losing Adam so early on.“GB Select proved to be the tough opposition we expected and hopefully this victory will set us up nicely for the season ahead.”Meanwhile King’s Lynn riders filled three of the first four places in Rory Schlein’s Testimonial meeting at the Norfolk Arena.Kenneth Bjerre took victory with Niels-Kristian Iversen marking his return from injury with second place, whilst Chris Harris took third from Schlein himself with Dakota North fifth in the five-man Final.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
PETERBOROUGH’S Adam Roynon has suffered multiple broken ribs and a bruised lung.The injury-cursed Panthers racer was involved in a spectacular crash during the opening lap of the 2015 season and was taken to hospital following the smash in which he was also briefly knocked unconscious.Co-promoter Trevor Swales said: “I've had word from the hospital that Adam has broken a number of ribs and also suffered a bruised lung. He is continuing to undergo tests and I'm told he is likely to remain in hospital for a few days.“We will no doubt get a clearer picture as to how long Adam is likely to be out in the coming days, but we are thinking it is likely to be at least four-to-six weeks. It is such a horrible way to start the season and is such a cruel blow to a man who has had more than his fair share of bad breaks.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
REDCAR’S South Tees Motorsports Park has been re-named after rights were acquired by a company based in the United Arab Emirates.The Bears will this year race at the Media Prime Arena with the Dubai-based firm agreeing a one-year deal with promoter Brian Havelock.Finance Director Paul Wilkin said: “In the past we have enjoyed hospitality at events like horse racing, tennis and football, and while the likes of Ascot and Emirate Stadium offers a more recognisable environment, speedway at Redcar offers something different.”Havelock added: “To my knowledge, Redcar is the only speedway club in Britain to have backing from a Middle Eastern firm. I have always said that the sport can attract commercial deals from far afield, as speedway may not hold the cache of football, for example, but it remains as attractive and as thrilling as it ever has been, and as commercially viable.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
EASTBOURNE have confirmed the signing of Bradley Wilson-Dean – who they describe as key to their entire team planning.Wilson-Dean is now in the UK after a flight from New Zealand and has an impressive record of success in both junior motocross and speedway.Eagles director Connor Dugard said: “We have been trying to get him over for the last four years but he has not been able to commit to riding a full season because he wanted to learn a trade. He was our first signing once we knew that the club had a place in the National League.“The whole team has been built around him. He will become a full asset of Eastbourne Speedway. We really believe Brad is a huge talent who will set the National League alight this year, once he has settled in.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY MARCH 18:TRAVEL PLUS TOURS CHALLENGE 1st leg: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY MARCH 19:BILLY SANDERS MEMORIAL: Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY MARCH 20:EAST MIDLANDS BOWL 2nd leg: Coventry v Leicester 7.30REMEMBERING #RICO SPRING CLASSIC: Lakeside 8pmTHEO PIJPER TESTIMONIAL: Edinburgh 7.30
