(SPEEDWAY 1 – SATURDAY REVIEW)
BERWICK’S Alex Edberg was injured in a Heat 11 crash on Saturday which forced the abandonment of the Bandits’ League Cup clash with Workington.The Comets were 34-32 up at the time and that result stands as it was not possible for racing to resume due to the curfew, with the county ambulance having been called to take Edberg to hospital.The visitors had earlier lost the services of Nicki Barrett in a second-bend fall in Heat 2, from which he suffered an elbow injury.Berwick boss John Anderson said: “More often than not this season we’ve had to wish riders well and now it’s Alex Edberg’s turn after his absolutely horrifying smash in Heat 12. “We hear he was complaining of pain in his hip, leg and foot before going off to Wansbeck for a full investigation, but injuries from a crash like that could have been far worse and we only hope it’s nothing too bad.”The result confirms Edinburgh’s position as Border group winners, giving the Monarchs a place in the semi-finals, whilst Glasgow will finish second and await the outcomes of the remaining matches involving the other group runners-up.In the City Gearboxes National League, Rye House and Kent fought out a 45-45 draw at Hoddesdon.Ben Morley top-scored for the visitors with 14 points, who took two league points from the meeting compared to one for the hosts, for whom Robert Branford scored 13.
(SPEEDWAY 2 – SUNDAY PREVIEW)
NEWCASTLE host Scunthorpe in the first leg of their Travel Plus Tours KO Cup tie at Brough Park on Sunday.The Diamonds will be without Anton Rosen, who suffered a broken collarbone in the win over Redcar last Sunday, whilst the rider-replacement facility is also in operation for the Scorpions with David Howe on the sidelines.Newcastle boss George English said: “We need to win by more than the 12-point margin we did last time because we need to have a big lead in preparation for the return leg.“Without Anton it does put some added pressure on the rest of the team but I am confident that we will be able to cope.”National League leaders Cradley head to Buxton, with Luke Harris declaring himself fit to race despite a crash at Kent on Monday – but they have a concern over a knee injury for Ellis Perks.Heathens boss Will Pottinger said: “We’ve made a good start to the National League season and we want to keep that going. After picking up four league points at Kent on Monday we want to keep it going at Buxton.”Mildenhall face Coventry at West Row with promoter Kevin Jolly confident that his team will develop as the season goes on.The Storm, who won at Buxton last week, bring in Luke Chessell to guest for Luke Crang and are boosted by the availability of Dan Greenwood after his Premier League match for Rye House at Glasgow was postponed.Jolly said: “I know a few supporters thought we looked a little weaker than previously but I wanted a side that would be available most of the time and had the potential to improve markedly as the season progresses. “I am confident we have that team and that people will see that over this Bank Holiday weekend. We are looking for two victories against Coventry on Sunday and at Kent on Bank Holiday Monday. Hopefully we will have a big crowd for Sundays meeting as the lads really appreciate the supporters’ backing and it clearly spurs them on.”Meanwhile Eastbourne hand a debut to Matt Bates for their home clash with Stoke, having recruited the former Devon man as a replacement for the injured Danny Warwick.Club director Connor Dugard said: “Our team has already shown that they can all win races so I am confident of success against Stoke.”Potters boss Malcolm Vasey said: “Eastbourne are very good around their home track and we will need to get dialled in very quickly. “Apart from Jon (Armstrong) I don’t think any of our team have ridden there, and Jon was there prior to the changes they have made to the track, but we are going there in a positive mind and hope that we can get something out of the meeting.”(SPEEDWAY 3)
THE first round of the Mitas British Youth Championship next weekend will feature the biggest entry list to date in the competition.Scunthorpe stage the 2015 opener on Sunday May 10 and a total of 51 riders have signed up across the four different classes – meaning a bumper 55-race programme is scheduled.British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “These are very exciting times to be involved in British Speedway with so much positivity surrounding the future - and everyone right from the top at the BSPA, SCB and ACU are all working closely together to try and get the Brits back at the top of the sport again.“For the first time in this championship the 500cc and 250cc classes have been very kindly sponsored by Mitas Tyres, so all competitors will have the option of using a brand new tyre for this championship for the very first time.“Also an extra incentive for the winner of the 500cc class is that they will get a wild card for the British Under-19 Final seven days after being crowned British Youth Champion in September.“It’s all building up to be a great summer of British Youth Speedway and we are all counting the days until next Sunday.”Vatcher has thanked the sponsors of the British Youth Championship: Mitas Tyres, Wessex Marine, Friends of Speedway, Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, PBHS of Barnsley, Duck Smart Cleaning Products and Trend Creative.(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY MAY 3:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Rye House OFFTRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30LEAGUE CUP: Workington v Berwick OFFCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Cradley 3pm, Eastbourne v Stoke 3.30, Mildenhall v Coventry 3.30
MONDAY MAY 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 7.30, Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Sheffield 1.45, Rye House v Somerset 2pm, Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Kent v Mildenhall 3pm, Rye House v Eastbourne (follows PL fixture)CHALLENGE: Scunthorpe Stags v Halifax Dukes (follows PL fixture)
TUESDAY MAY 5:LEAGUE CUP: Redcar v Sheffield 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 6:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30
