(SPEEDWAY 1)

TONY Mole is backing Birmingham’s top man Adam Ellis as one of the favourites for next Tuesday’s British Under-21 title.The Brummies owner believes Ellis is the best rider in the National League and he has what it takes to be challenging for silverware in the showpiece event at Coventry.Mole said: “As always, it’s a strong looking line-up and it should be a brilliant meeting, but I personally feel that Adam should be one of the favourites. Some would feel that Robert Lambert or Kyle Howarth are probably the two main favourites but I have faith that Adam can do well.“I hope a number of Birmingham fans will make the short journey to Coventry and get behind their number one rider.”British Under-21 Final – Coventry, Tuesday April 14 – Admission prices: Adults £12, Concessions £10, Under-16s FREE.

(SPEEDWAY 2 – FRIDAY REVIEW)

ELITE League champions Poole maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a 48-41 win at Coventry – for their second four-point haul on the road this week.The Pirates raced in to an 18-6 lead in the first four races of what proved an eventful meeting, with captain Maciej Janowski forced to withdraw with a knee injury after a clash with Chris Harris, whilst Kacper Gomolski also picked up a knock.The home side got back to within six points, and then seven prior to the last race, but a win for Dakota North in Heat 15 ensured the full haul for the Pirates. North scored 12 with draft reserve Kyle Newman bagging 12+1, whilst Harris top-scored for the Bees with ten.Poole skipper Chris Holder said: “It was good to get this meeting under my belt being the first time back here since my big crash. It's nice to be able to walk out of here to be honest and even better that we do it with all the points. “I only hope that Magic and Kacper aren't too seriously hurt, Magic has a problem with his knee but hopefully it won't be too bad.”Harris said: “It’s always disappointing to lose at home, especially to the Pirates, but they were making quicker starts than us and the first four heats was where it was lost.“The decisions didn’t go our way either but we’ll bounce back, these things happen and it’s still early on in the season.”Elsewhere, Lakeside were big winners over a patched-up Swindon team with the Hammers coasting to a 62-28 success at the Arena-Essex Raceway.Mikkel Bech (12+2), Andreas Jonsson (12+1) and Edward Kennett (11+1) were all in double figures for the home side, whilst Scott Nicholls – one of four guests for the Robins, who also used rider-replacement - scored nine.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “I thought we’d do a little bit better than that to be honest, but it was a really tough night for us. The Lakeside boys are really dialled in around their home track, and we were never really comfortable with what is a really tough little track. “We’ve had a week from hell, but we’ve just got to forget about it, move on and focus on our next meeting against King’s Lynn when we will be back to full strength.”In the Southern section of the League Cup, Peterborough have charged to the top of the table – despite losing their opening two home matches.The Panthers were successful at Rye House on Monday and then added a comprehensive 57-36 away win at Plymouth on Friday, a result which was their biggest victory on the road since 2003.The visitors provided no fewer than 13 heat winners out of 15, as they claimed ten advantages with skipper Ulrich Ostergaard leading the way on 13 points, and teenager Robert Lambert was unbeaten until the last race.Peterborough manager Carl Johnson said: “It was an awesome performance. We went to Plymouth with the intention of winning and we laid down a marker immediately.“We were terrific from start to finish and it is another message sent out to the rest of the teams in the Premier League. Now it is a case of keeping this cracking form going.”Devils boss Lee Trigger said: “It was a disappointing home result as we were looking to build our confidence on our home track after beating Somerset a week ago.”Peterborough and Rye House have been joined on the ten-point mark by Somerset, who secured a 52-38 win over the Rockets at the Oaktree Arena.The Rebels were, however, pushed all the way with the lead changing hands in the first half of the meeting before Somerset finally established the advantage and claimed the match points in Heat 14.Skipper Josh Grajczonek scored a paid maximum with Leigh Lanham and Brady Kurtz (13+1) dropping just one point, whilst guest Claus Vissing (9) top-scored for the visitors.Somerset boss Garry May said: “As I said earlier in the week, I knew Rye House had the riders who could cause us problems and so it proved until we turned the screw over those final five heats to take the match win and all three points.“Rye House made it hard for us, but we came through in the end with some superb riding by the boys, on what was a terrific night of speedway action.”Rockets manager John Sampford said: “We held them tight for the first nine races and it was only in the second half that they pulled away. “We certainly gave them plenty to think about, and we were disappointed not to get to 40. After three drubbings here last year, we showed that we can compete with them at this place.”Edinburgh opened their Northern section campaign with a 56-37 win over Workington at Armadale, although they only stretched their advantage over the closing stages.Kevin Wolbert scored 13 for the Monarchs whilst Sam Masters (12+2) dropped his first home point of the season to Comets top-scorer Ricky Wells, who picked up 13.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “The best thing about this match was the confidence boost it must have given Kevin Wolbert and Erik Riss.”(SPEEDWAY 3 – SATURDAY PREVIEW)

LEICESTER boss Norrie Allan is desperate to see his side get off the mark in the Elite League when they host Belle Vue on Saturday.The Lions lost their home opener to Coventry last week and now face an Aces side who will be using rider-replacement for No.1 Matej Zagar whilst Richie Worrall stands in for Craig Cook.Allan said: “In the Elite League there are only fourteen home and away fixtures and so there is little margin for error, which means that teams cannot afford too many off nights or you are destined to be out of the race for a place in the play-offs. “On this basis and if history repeats itself teams can afford to lose a couple of matches at home and still make the cut, but at the same time a sprinkle of wins on the road are essential to compensate for those unexpected home reverses. We have the quality in the team and enough experience to pull it around and that has to start with a win on Saturday.”In the League Cup, Rye House – who were beaten at home by Peterborough on Monday - can go back to the top of the Southern section if they can take victory over Plymouth at Hoddesdon.The Rockets have called up Jan Graversen and James Sarjeant to guest for the injured Kasper Lykke and the absent Luke Bowen, whilst the Devils are looking for a replacement for Sam Chapman who picked up a hand injury on Friday.Rye House boss John Sampford said: “The way our group has shaped up means that one home defeat is not catastrophic to the chance of qualification, so we will be focusing on the future and not the past. Any team can beat any other team in this group, so there is still everything to race for.”In the Border group, Berwick welcome back Ben Barker after his opening-night crash and Thomas Jorgensen has also been declared fit to face Edinburgh at Shielfield Park.The Bandits will operate rider-replacement for the injured Matic Voldrih and director George Hepburn wants to erase the memories of two home defeats by the Monarchs last season.He said: “Of course, we beat them twice here as well, so it isn't as if they had it all their own way with us in 2014.“But that was then, this is now. They still have Cook, Masters and Sedgmen from their league-winning side, and they probably still have high hopes of winning on Saturday night. We shall see, however!”Meanwhile Rusty Harrison celebrates his Testimonial meeting at Workington, with the meeting set to go ahead after the misfortune of a double rain-off last season.Late changes to the line-up see Christian Henry, Hugh Skidmore and Dimitri Berge join the field for a full 16-man individual event.Harrison said: “Obviously we were hoping there would be no changes to the original line-up but in this sport things change constantly with injuries and fixture clashes etc. However, I am really grateful for the three riders who were only too willing to step into the line-up when there were places available and I thank them for that.“We are getting really close to the meeting now and the finishing touches to the plans are almost complete; so after all the planning we hope that everyone has a really enjoyable and entertaining night with some great racing.”

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY APRIL 11:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Rye House v Plymouth 7pmRUSTY HARRISON TESTIMONIAL: Workington 7pm

SUNDAY APRIL 12:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Workington 3pm, Peterborough v Plymouth 3pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Mildenhall v King’s Lynn 3.30CHALLENGE: Buxton v Redcar Select 3pmCHAMPIONSHIP OF SUSSEX: Eastbourne 3.30

MONDAY APRIL 13:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30INVICTA PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent 6.30

TUESDAY APRIL 14:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Coventry 7.30