(SPEEDWAY 1)GREAT Britain’s four riders to contest the FIM World Under-21 qualifying rounds next month have been announced.
Kyle Howarth, who won the British Under-21 Final at Coventry on Tuesday, will travel to Czech Republic venue Pardubice on May 29, whilst Stefan Nielsen and Ashley Morris will race at Terenzano, Italy on May 30 – and on the same day, Josh Bates will be in Slovakia at Zarnovica. Meanwhile, Adam Ellis will contest the FIM European Under-21 semi-final in Macon, France, on June 27.
GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher explained: “With only four places available for the FIM World Under-21 semi-finals, since the conclusion of the British Under-21 Final on Tuesday night I have been deliberating over which riders to select for this year’s allocation.
“It would be fair to say with the improvement of so many of the young British riders over the last 12 months, we could have filled double the number of places that we have been allocated, so of course there will be some disappointment amongst the riders not selected.
“However, these selections do not rule out any riders for places for the Under-21 Team semi-final that is taking place in Germany in August, as now everyone has a clean slate and it’s up to each and every rider to try and impress between now and August to secure a place in the GB Team.“The four selections for the Individual have been based on performances not only from the British Final, but also from previous performances in Under-21 and Under-19 events and also their season so far.
“One rider who will be disappointed to miss out on the World rounds will be Adam Ellis, who deserves a place but unfortunately missed the British Final with a family bereavement. But he has the consolation of being allocated a place in the FIM European Under-21 semi-final in his adopted country of France in June.
“Unfortunately Robert Lambert is ineligible to represent GB in the FIM World Rounds due to not being a Licence holder of the ACU, but we are looking forward to including Robert in the Team semi-final in August at a track that he is familiar with at Gustrow in Germany.“I would like to thank the BSPA and especially Chairman Alex Harkess for helping to secure all the available places.”
With all the young British riders travelling across Europe to ride in these events, the Young Lions management are looking for sponsors to help any of the selected riders with sponsorship for tyres. Each rider can use three tyres in an event.
If anyone would like to help towards the cost of a tyre – to purchase one or fifteen, or any in between, at a cost of £43.50 each – they are asked to contact Neil Vatcher by email at younglionsspeedway@hotmail.co.uk, and any help would be very much appreciated.(SPEEDWAY 2)LAKESIDE have named Steve Boxall in their team after impressive recent guest performances for the Hammers.
Boxall comes in to replace Ashley Birks who was due to miss several upcoming Elite League fixtures due to clashes with his Premier League club Sheffield.
Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook said: “It’s a rock and a hard place time for (manager) Neil Vatcher and myself.
“We're really enjoying working with Ash who has really fitted in well with the Club, but we simply don't have acceptable standard riders around to replace him within the next 28 days and as the rules stand Steve Boxall only has two more guest appearances for us, so this move has to happen for us to be at our strongest against Coventry and Poole.”(SPEEDWAY 3 – THURSDAY REVIEW)SHEFFIELD stormed to another comprehensive Owlerton victory to seize control of their League Cup group.
The Tigers continued their perfect start to the campaign with a dominant display as they raced to a 57-36 triumph over Newcastle.
Skipper Simon Stead continued his remarkable home form as he went unbeaten by an opposing rider for the fourth consecutive meeting, and experienced racer Andre Compton also bagged a paid maximum, joining forces with Stead for three 5-1s. Steve Worrall was top-scorer for the Diamonds with nine.
Compton said: “It was a good result, everybody performed well and obviously we won by quite a margin in the end so we have to be happy with that.“It was a good night for myself, I feel like I’m getting stronger every week and I’m pleased with how things are going.”
Elsewhere in the group, Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey insists there were positives to take from his side’s 40-53 defeat at Redcar.
The Scorpions made a disastrous start to slip 14 points behind after just six races, but recovered the deficit to just three points mid-meeting.
Godfrey said: “There were just so many positives I can take out of this meeting. Theo Pijper, Alex Davies and Nike Lunna have all improved, and joined Josh Auty and Carl Wilkinson amongst the points.
“We’re not far away from firing on all cylinders. I’m convinced we just need one win under our belts and then we’ll be away.”
In the Southern group, Ipswich raced to a 57-33 win over Plymouth to move to within three points of the top of the section.
Danny King scored a faultless 15-point maximum whilst reserve Nico Covatti collected his first paid maximum for the club as he was unbeaten from five rides. Ryan Fisher led the way for the Devils with 10 but both sides saw a rider withdrawn in the early stages – Gino Manzares (back and shoulder) for the home side, and Kyle Newman (arm and elbow) for the visitors in separate incidents.
Ipswich boss Phil Hilton said: “It was another convincing win on the face of it, but we did seem to take a while to really get going. Oddly, we seemed to pick ourselves up after Heat 4 and Newman's withdrawal.
“What can I say about Danny, I'm already starting to run out of superlatives to describe his excellent performances! The two reserves deserve a mention as well, they covered really well for Gino as well as scoring highly in their own programmed rides.”(SPEEDWAY 4 – FRIDAY PREVIEW)EDINBURGH are looking to return to the top of the League Cup’s Border group when they host Berwick at Armadale on Friday.
The Monarchs trail Glasgow by two points with a match in hand, ahead of a potentially crucial away match against the Tigers on Sunday.
Berwick have called up the in-form Michael Palm Toft to replace the injured Matic Voldrih, and the Bandits also operate rider-replacement for Claus Vissing who is racing in a qualifier back home in Denmark.
Edinburgh skipper Craig Cook has given his backing to German star Kevin Wolbert, saying: “He was awesome at the weekend. Ability’s not the problem with Kevin, it’s more mental. I don’t think he knows how good he is.
“We all believe in Kevin, I ask the promotion every year, is Kevin coming back? He’s a rider I rate highly and he’s a brilliant talent, it’s a pleasure to have him in the team. He’s not only a great rider but a really good friend.”
A busy night in the Southern group sees leaders Rye House visit fifth-placed Plymouth, chasing their second away win of the section.
The Devils are on a run of five successive defeats and bring in Luke Chessell to deputise for the injured Sam Chapman, whilst the Rockets have called up James Sarjeant and Oliver Greenwood to fill their gaps at reserve.
Plymouth co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We will be looking for our riders to face up against Rye House and show that we can be strong at home.”
Rye House boss John Sampford is reading little into last weekend’s 66-24 home win over the same opponents, and said: “They rebounded incredibly well from what we did to them to take a well-earned match point home from Peterborough the following afternoon, so we are well aware of their capabilities when everything clicks for them. Gating is going to be all-important tonight, given they have a small, tight circuit.”
If Rye House drop points, Somerset and Ipswich can both gain ground in their meeting at the Oaktree Arena, with both sides on ten – three adrift of the Rockets and Peterborough.
The Rebels are at full-strength and boss Garry May knows any slip-ups at this stage could well prove costly, as they look to avenge a 28-46 defeat at Foxhall last week.
May said: “We are now well and truly at the business end of possible qualification for the League Cup semi-finals, and it is vital that we win Friday’s match whilst at the same time stopping Ipswich from picking up any points.
“Our particular group is still wide open and with us having two home matches left, this Friday against Ipswich and then the visit of Peterborough to the Oaktree Arena a week later, we shall be looking to keep our excellent home form going in a bid to make it through to those semi-finals.”
Ipswich were convincing winners at home to Plymouth on Thursday, and manager Phil Hilton said: “Now we need to carry this form to Somerset and bring some points back to keep us moving up the League Cup table.”
In the Northern group, Scunthorpe are looking to get off the mark as they host Newcastle, who already have an away win to their name but need more points on the road if they are to put pressure on leaders Sheffield.
Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I think the visit of the Diamonds to the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight is going to provide a cracking meeting – it’s going to be top entertainment. And we really want to get that first win under our belts.
“It’s all coming together, and we will be ready for the start of our league matches at Berwick tomorrow.”(SPEEDWAY 5)RYE House Raiders have drafted in Brendan Johnson as a replacement for the injured Luke Priest.
Johnson, who rode for Mildenhall last year, had initially been lined up for Eastbourne this season but lost his place with the Eagles after confusion over averages.
Rye House boss Andrew Silver said: “The specialist said that Luke will be out for six weeks which, despite being quick for a scaphoid, means we have been forced to search for a suitable replacement.
“We have therefore brought in Brendan. We have informed him that his position is temporary while Luke recovers. It gives Brendan a chance to keep racing while on the lookout for something more permanent. Brendan has had a couple of outings this season and has been riding well.”(SPEEDWAY 6 – INJURY UPDATES)LEICESTER star Grzegorz Walasek has undergone surgery in Manchester on the left hand he damaged in a fall at Belle Vue on Monday.
The Lions rider had two rods inserted into his thumb and treatment to his little finger, and now returns home to Poland to recuperate.
Promoter David Hemsley has confirmed Walasek is in positive spirits and is looking forward to returning to the club as soon as he is able to.
Sam Chapman faces up to two months on the sidelines with the hand injury he suffered whilst on Premier League duty for Plymouth last weekend.
But Chapman, who also races for Birmingham in the National League, is determined to make a comeback before the date he has been given.
He said: “They did some further scans and x-rays and they decided to give me a new splint which I have to keep on for around six weeks they reckon.
“I’ve spoken to my physio and I’m going to see him early next week with the idea of hoping to bring that time-scale down!”
Meanwhile Rye House Raiders' Luke Priest will be out for around six weeks after breaking several bones during his side's National League opener at Birmingham on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old was unable to avoid the Brummies' Adam Kirby who had fallen in front of him, and suffered breaks to his hand, arm and wrist during the Raiders’ 49-39 defeat.
Manager Andrew Silver said: "The crash was no fault of his own - fingers crossed he isn't going to be out for too long.”(FIXTURES)FRIDAY APRIL 17:LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Plymouth v Rye House 7.15, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Ipswich 7.30SATURDAY APRIL 18:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Scunthorpe 7pm, Rye House v Sheffield 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Workington v Glasgow 7pmSUNDAY APRIL 19:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v King’s Lynn 3.30, Mildenhall v Kent 3.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Stoke v Rye House 3pmCHALLENGE: Coventry v Cradley/Birmingham Select 4pm
