(SPEEDWAY 1 – WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
POOLE open their season at Wimborne Road on Wednesday with the first leg of the Elite Shield against King’s Lynn.The two sides finished first and second in last year’s Elite League table before the Pirates knocked the Stars out in a tense play-off semi-final.There are five changes to the Poole team from 2014 although Chris Holder and Davey Watt both return to the side, whilst King’s Lynn bring back six of the seven riders who enjoyed a successful campaign before they were hit by injuries.Pirates promoter Matt Ford said: “I am looking forward to seeing how our side fares against such a strong looking team so early in the season as it will provide us with a good test of our abilities. “I will stress again that we need to give our newcomers time to settle in but I know that Dak (Dakota North), Kacper (Gomolski) and Paul (Starke) are all really keen to do well for us.”King’s Lynn manager Rob Lyon said: “Most of our team have taken part in various challenge meetings and individuals during the first two weeks of the season so we should be ready for the serious action when it all gets underway.”Meanwhile Cradley stage their first home meeting of the new campaign with co-tenants Birmingham providing the opposition in the second leg of the Travel Plus Tours Challenge, for the Dan McCormick Trophy.The Heathens were clear winners in their ‘away’ leg last week, and former promoter Colin Pratt has paid tribute to teenagers Max Clegg and Nathan Greaves, who joined the club as reserves two years ago.Pratt said: “It was great to see Max and Nathan out there last Wednesday night doing the business as the top dogs in Heat 13.”That’s what the National League is all about, it was great to see and it’s a testament to the Heathens just how far they’ve come. The progress that the Heathens have made with youngsters over the last few years has been tremendous.”Birmingham will be managed by Phil Morris, as regular boss Graham Drury is absent due to a prior commitment, and he says the Brummies riders need to enjoy their racing.He said: “We know what a fine team Cradley have, I know most of their riders from my time with the British Youth project.“I want the boys to enjoy it and learn from their mistakes along the way. I’m sure there will be a few and my job is to help and point out where they are going wrong.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
COVENTRY have announced the signing of Joonas Kylmakorpi on the eve of the new Elite League season.The Bees open their official campaign against Wolverhampton on Friday and have moved for the experienced Finnish rider to replace Jakub Jamrog after the Pole rode in their East Midlands Bowl matches against Leicester.Promoter Mick Horton said: “I feel Jakub needs more experience around the British tracks before coming into a team position like ours. I spoke to him and thanked him for the meetings he’s done, but I explained I have to put the club first.“I’m conscious of the fact that it’s a short season, with only 28 matches, and if we were to lose meetings by the odd few points then suddenly we’d be playing catch-up. I feel that the signing of Joonas makes us an unbelievable powerhouse. I’m not just saying that, I think he’s the best rider out there who is available to us.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SCUNTHORPE have named David Howe as their club captain once again for the 2015 campaign.The 33-year-old will be spending his seventh straight season with the Scorpions this year and is the club's all-time leading points scorer, but stood down from the skipper’s role during a previous injury-troubled spell.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Making David captain is the logical choice - he's got the experience and the knowledge.“David is starting the season at No.1, which means he can go out in Heat 1, and then give the rest of the team advice on set-ups and so forth. He is very much an integral part of this club - it is hard to imagine Scunthorpe Speedway without David Howe being part of it.”(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY MARCH 25: ELITE SHIELD 1st leg: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS CHALLENGE 2nd leg: Cradley v Birmingham 7.30
THURSDAY MARCH 26:LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.30ELITE SHIELD 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Poole 7.30A66 CHALLENGE 1st leg: Redcar v Workington 7.30BOB KILBY MEMORIAL: Swindon 7.30
FRIDAY MARCH 27:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 7.30, Lakeside v Leicester 8pmLEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Rye House 7.30CHALLENGE: Somerset v Poole 7.30
SATURDAY MARCH 28:LEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Somerset 7pmTYNE/TWEED TROPHY 1st leg: Berwick v Newcastle 7pmA66 TROPHY 2nd leg: Workington v Redcar 7pmSKILLS GROUP SPRING CLASSIC: Plymouth 7.15
SUNDAY MARCH 29:SPRING TROPHY 1st leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pmTYNE/TWEED TROPHY 2nd leg: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30M6 CUP: Stoke v Birmingham 3pmPALMER TROPHY: Mildenhall 3.30CHRIS HARRIS TESTIMONIAL: Coventry 2pm (1pm for British Youth races)
