(SPEEDWAY 1)
CRADLEY skipper Max Clegg is targeting a rostrum finish in Tuesday’s British Under-21 Final at Coventry.Clegg won the recent semi-final at Mildenhall and is now hoping to make an impression in the showpiece event, where the qualifiers from West Row join the seven seeded riders.He said: “The Final will be another tough meeting but one I will be going there to win – but I know it won’t be easy.“We are producing a few decent riders now at Under-21 level which is good to see for the future of British Speedway in general. Hopefully I can get on the rostrum.”British Under-21 Final – Coventry, Tuesday April 14 – Admission prices: Adults £12, Concessions £10, Under-16s FREE.
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SUNDAY REVIEW)
GLASGOW are back on top of the League Cup Border group after a 53-38 win over Workington at Ashfield.The Tigers’ young guns were to the fore with James Sarjeant and Dimitri Berge both scoring ten in support of heat-leaders Richard Lawson (12+1) and Aaron Summers (11).Manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was a good win. We moved the pairings about and Dimitri responded excellently with ten points. I'm really pleased for him.“Nick Morris was a wee bit off-key - he just didn't have any power, he said. But all in all, pretty good. James and Dimitri are beginning to come to the party now.”The Comets, meanwhile, were hampered by the withdrawal of Rene Bach after a third-ride crash which necessitated a hospital visit.Manager Tony Jackson said: “Rene was the innocent victim after being hit from behind by Kozza Smith and he fell heavily, picking up a shoulder injury, which led to his withdrawal from the meeting. “He visited hospital in Newcastle on his return home and the x-rays have shown no breaks, although he may have some ligament damage to his shoulder. Hopefully that is not too serious and after some rest he can be back with us very soon.”In the Southern group, Peterborough were made to sweat by plucky Plymouth in a tight tussle at the East of England Showground.The Panthers produced a powerful burst of four heat advantages in the space of five races to come from behind and win 48-42 – their fourth successive victory in the space of six days, taking them back level on points with group leaders Rye House.Manager Carl Johnson said: “We found ourselves in a position where we needed to pull some heat advantages out of the bag - and we did it. The first half of the meeting was not good enough and it was a case of rallying round to get everyone going.“It is never ideal when falling behind at home as it increases the pressure, but thankfully it worked out in the end. The boys all pulled together.”Mildenhall suffered a 38-52 home defeat at the hands of King’s Lynn in the first leg of the National League Knockout Cup, with the Fen Tigers left to rue poor gating throughout most of the meeting.Manager Robert Henry said: “I really felt we would be able to build up a significant lead to take to the Norfolk Arena on Wednesday, but we came up very short. The lads still looked very rusty especially out of the gate and we were pretty much second best all afternoon. “Our reserves did all we could ask of them and Connor Mountain was always mixing it. I felt maybe Connor Coles just tried a little too hard and we threw away a number of points through silly mistakes. We now have a mountain to climb on Wednesday if we are to progress in the Cup, but we will regroup and give it our best shot.”Meanwhile Bradley Wilson-Dean reeled off five wins for a flawless 15-point maximum to win the Championship of Sussex at his home track Eastbourne.The Eagles’ top order dominated the meeting with Danny Warwick and David Mason completing the rostrum finishers ahead of Richard Andrews on countback, with all three riders having scored 12.
(SPEEDWAY 3 – MONDAY PREVIEW)
BELLE Vue kick off their home campaign on Monday when they host Leicester at Kirkmanshulme Lane.The Lions won the reverse Elite League fixture in the East Midlands over the weekend, leaving the Aces looking to get off the mark after three away matches so far.Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It’s going to be a tasty meeting for us and I know the boys are keen to put the frustration of the last couple of days behind them and get off to winning ways at home.“But to do that we need everyone to come to the party. Bad nights happen to all of us and there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’ve let your team down, although unintentionally. As I’ve said before though, at this stage of the season I’m not reading too far into the results so much as I am the performance and attitude of the team.”Meanwhile Kent celebrate the 85th anniversary of speedway in the county with the hosting of the Invicta Pairs meeting at Central Park.There are six competing pairs including all of the regular home riders, and each pair represents a team name from the history of the sport in Kent.Along with the Kings, there is representation for Crayford Kestrels, Crayford Highwaymen, Crusaders, Bombers and Romney Falcons with Darryl Ritchings and Brendan Johnson amongst the visiting riders.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BIRMINGHAM have been rocked by an injury blow to Sam Chapman.The former Scunthorpe man dislocated three fingers and pierced his palm whilst on Premier League duty with Plymouth on Friday and will miss Wednesday’s National League opener with Rye House at Perry Barr – a meeting which No.1 Adam Ellis will also be absent from due to a family bereavement.Chapman said: “I’m absolutely gutted I’m going to miss our first proper league meeting as a team. “My crash was just a first corner incident and I just felt myself straighten up and hit the fence. As I did that, I folded up on my bike, smashed my groin on the frame and my hands were still on the handlebars too. I knew something wasn’t right straight away – especially when one of my bones was sticking through the skin on the palm of my hand!”
(FIXTURES)
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
WEDNESDAY APRIL 15:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Rye House 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 16:LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 17:LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Plymouth v Rye House 7.15, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Ipswich 7.30
