(SPEEDWAY 1)
SIMON Stead was taken to hospital after a horror crash in the final race of Sheffield’s win at Rye House on Saturday.Stead was leading but fell on the exit of the fourth bend and was unavoidably struck by team-mate David Bellego, and after on-track attention he was airlifted to hospital as a precautionary measure, with initial reports of a possible left arm fracture and left hip injury.Sheffield co-promoter Peter Mole said: “We wish Simon all the very best and hope his injuries aren’t as bad as first feared. He was on fire once again so it’s a massive shame what happened to him in the end. “It was a tremendous performance from all the boys and a great win for us, it’s just sad it was overshadowed somewhat by what happened to Steady.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
THE 2015 500cc British Youth Champion will gain a Wild Card entry to the British Under-19 Final at Berwick on September 12.The Youth series runs over six events throughout the summer with the final round at Redcar on September 5.GB Youth chief Neil Vatcher said: “This is exciting news for the riders competing in the 500cc Youth Series. Not only are they now competing to become British Champion, but just seven days after being crowned British Champion at the final round at Redcar, the winner will be competing against the best of British at Under-19 level.“To ride in a British Final at any level is prestigious, but to compete in one just seven days after being crowned British Youth Champion is very special indeed.“With only three weeks to go for the first round to be staged at Scunthorpe on Sunday May 10, it is all building up to be an exciting summer of British Youth Speedway.“If speedway supporters can make any of the rounds, with the standard higher than it has ever been before, they are guaranteed not to be disappointed with the racing.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 – SATURDAY REVIEW)
SHEFFIELD’S first away win at Rye House in over a decade was marred by two serious accidents with Tigers skipper Simon Stead hospitalised after crashing in Heat 15.The meeting was abandoned at 50-37 in the visitors’ favour with no re-run of the final race, and at that stage the home side had themselves seen Steve Boxall withdrawn from the meeting.Boxall suffered a jammed throttle when attempting to pass Ty Proctor for second place in Heat 10 and crashed heavily into fence, re-injuring his right shoulder as he was also struck by his own machine in the process.Berwick were also victorious in the Premier League, overcoming a host of mechanical problems to defeat Scunthorpe 46-44 in a close contest at Shielfield Park.The Bandits were beset by no fewer than seven engine failures and a disqualification, but Thomas Jorgensen’s fourth-bend dive under David Howe in the last heat secured the win for his team.Berwick boss John Anderson said: “To pull off such a dramatic win in the last race was a magnificent achievement after all our engine problems and unexpected as I doubt many believed we could have managed that. “We got our first three league points of the year, and in a thrilling way too.”Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I couldn’t believe the amount of bad luck that Berwick had - they threw away a lot of points. But we then had our own bad luck in Heat 14. Carl Wilkinson, who was giving it absolutely everything as usual, had the race in the bag when he got out of shape and fell. Without that, we would have won.“The fog kept on coming and going, and made it a difficult night. We’re happy to come out of a night like that with something to show for our efforts.”In the League Cup, Workington collected a 48-42 home win over Glasgow, whose last heat 5-1 could yet prove crucial in the group as it gave them a point from the meeting to go level with leaders Edinburgh.Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “It was an excellent match for the fans as we had to fight back from being a couple of points down in the first half of the match. “We had a few problems on the night so to come back to take the win against a solid Tigers side was very pleasing and there is still plenty of improvement to come from us yet.”
(SPEEDWAY 4 – SUNDAY PREVIEW)
SCOTTISH rivals Glasgow and Edinburgh are level on ten points at the top of their League Cup group ahead of a Sunday clash at Ashfield.The Monarchs currently lead their hosts on points difference, with one meeting in hand, and the matches between the clubs today and next Friday at Armadale could well have a major bearing on who takes an automatic place in the semi-finals.In the Northern group, Newcastle take on Scunthorpe with the Diamonds needing big wins at home if they are to be able to reel in runaway leaders Sheffield.Poor weather so far this season means the Tynesiders have only hosted one meeting, that being the Ian Thomas Shield clash with Workington, so this evening’s fixture is their first of three in the League Cup at Brough Park.In the National League, Eastbourne face King’s Lynn with a full-strength side after Kelsey Dugard was declared fit despite an alarming crash in last week’s Championship of Sussex.Chairman Martin Dugard said: “Kelsey was badly shaken but he is fine to ride against the Young Stars.“King’s Lynn put down a marker for this league when they won last weekend at Mildenhall (in the KO Cup). I expect us to win and get our league campaign off to the best possible start. There’s a real buzz about this team and they must keep it going by winning in style on Sunday and entertaining the fans.”Meanwhile Mildenhall will have Jack Kingston back in their team to face Kent at West Row, whilst Nick Laurence also rides for the Fen Tigers after Liam Rumsey departed. The Kings will be without Danny Ayres, who broke a small bone in his hand last weekend, although the club are hopeful this will be the only league match he misses, and the rider-replacement facility will be in operation.Mildenhall boss Robert Henry said: “There is no doubt we have had a slow start, and not produced the results I would have hoped. But I feel now that with Jack returning and Nick on board we are ready to start winning some meetings. “We will not be taking Kent lightly, but I am confident that our league season can get under way with three points.”Kent manager Chris Hunt said: “The Easter weekend seems a long time ago now to be honest, but at least our lads had the rides afforded them in the largely in-house Invicta Pairs meeting last Monday to get some more racing sharpness; and for others like Ben Morley and James Shanes there’s been important individual meetings they’ve competed in too.”Stoke stage their first meeting of the season at Loomer Road with the second leg of their Knockout Cup tie against Rye House, leading by three points from an away win in the Easter Monday encounter at Hoddesdon.The visitors bring in Tom Perry to guest for the unavailable Rob Branford, and Brendan Johnson is set to make his debut in place of the injured Luke Priest.Potters boss Malcolm Vasey said: “We know that the job is still only half done. They have riders in their side that know the Stoke track well and are able to put in good scores on their day so we need to be at our very best to complete the job.“Providing we do that, we have will have a mouth-watering clash against Cradley in the next round which is a meeting the lads and supporters will relish against last season’s league champions.”Coventry Storm are also in home action for the first time in 2015, as they take on a combined Birmingham/Cradley team in a challenge match at Brandon, with the initially-scheduled league fixture against Cradley having been moved back to later in the season.Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “I wanted to start the new home season with a challenge rather than go straight into a league clash, especially with four new riders in our side, and also Cradley would have been missing several riders on Premier League duty. So this was seen as a sensible solution all round.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY 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
MONDAY APRIL 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30, Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 22:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Eastbourne 7.30
