BIG EVENT LATEST…

THE first seven riders for the 2015 British Final will be known following the first semi-final at Sheffield on May 7.Former champion Chris Harris, who took the title in 2007, 2009 and 2010, is amongst the contenders at Owlerton, whilst defending champion Tai Woffinden and seven-times winner Scott Nicholls both ride at King’s Lynn in the second semi-final on May 20.The top seven from each meeting qualify for the Final at Wolverhampton on June 15, and two Wild Card places will also be named.SHEFFIELD (Thursday May 7): 1 Richie Worrall (Somerset), 2 Edward Kennett (Lakeside/Rye House), 3 David Howe (Scunthorpe), 4 Ashley Morris (King’s Lynn/Plymouth), 5 Ashley Birks (Lakeside/Sheffield), 6 Lewis Blackbird (Wolverhampton/Peterborough), 7 Richard Lawson (Lakeside/Glasgow), 8 Ritchie Hawkins (Ipswich), 9 Adam Ellis (Lakeside/Birmingham), 10 Chris Harris (Coventry), 11 Paul Starke (Poole/Somerset), 12 Andre Compton (Sheffield), 13 Stuart Robson (Coventry/Redcar), 14 Jason Garrity (Coventry/Sheffield), 15 Ben Barker (Berwick), 16 Josh Auty (Leicester/Scunthorpe). Reserves: Josh Bates (Wolverhampton/Sheffield), Oliver Greenwood (Peterborough).KING’S LYNN (Wednesday May 20): 1 Robert Lambert (King’s Lynn/Peterborough), 2 James Wright (Unattached), 3 Adam Roynon (Unattached), 4 Craig Cook (Belle Vue/Edinburgh), 5 Stefan Nielsen (Belle Vue/Ipswich), 6 Steve Boxall (Rye House), 7 Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Newcastle) 8 Danny King (Coventry/Ipswich), 9 Tai Woffinden (Unattached), 10 Kyle Howarth (Swindon/Workington), 11 Carl Wilkinson (Scunthorpe), 12 Kyle Newman (Poole/Plymouth), 13 Lewis Kerr (King’s Lynn/Newcastle), 14 Scott Nicholls (Belle Vue), 15 Leigh Lanham (Somerset), 16 Charles Wright (Swindon/Somerset). Reserves: Lewis Rose (Swindon/Newcastle), Simon Lambert (Leicester/Peterborough).

THE first round of the Mitas British Youth Championship has attracted 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.

BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2015:ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: JASON DOYLEBRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: KYLE HOWARTHBRITISH FINAL: Wolverhampton, Monday June 15PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, Friday July 3PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Peterborough, Sunday August 2PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 6

BRITISH SEMI-FINALS: Sheffield, Thursday May 7; King’s Lynn, Wednesday May 20

NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry, Sunday June 14NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn, Saturday September 5NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, Saturday September 26

ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…

BELLE VUE collected a 45-45 draw at Poole last Wednesday to maintain an encouraging improvement in form to the delight of boss Mark Lemon.He said: “Overall, we’ve had a really productive week. Our fortunes look to be greatly improving and, having put away six league points in the last seven days, are starting to pay dividends.“With every match I see the team improving and gaining momentum, and certainly tonight everyone can drive home with their heads held high having done a superb job.”COVENTRY took six points from their Bank Holiday fixtures against Lakeside, winning 47-42 in a last-heat decider at Purfleet and then overcoming the Hammers 39-24 in a rain-curtailed return at Brandon to maintain their position at the top of the table.Boss Gary Havelock said: “One thing that can make you come unstuck is being complacent, and we wanted to start as hard as we could because if you can get on top of a team who don’t travel too well in the first five or six heats their heads tend to go down.“As they have done all season, the boys listened to what I had to say, they took it on board and it was another good win. The rain wasn’t forecast to come in until about 10pm, but that’s the good old British weather!”KING’S LYNN hit form away from home for the first time this season with an impressive 50-34 win at Leicester on Bank Holiday Monday.The result moved the Stars up to second position in the Elite League table ahead of the return fixture against the Lions at the Adrian Flux Arena on Wednesday.LAKESIDE chief Jon Cook is confident the Hammers will come through their worst run of form of his and club owner Stuart Douglas’s reign.Speaking after the home defeat to Coventry on Friday, Cook told lakesidehammers.co: “It’s obvious to all that with Steve Boxall fit we’d have taken at least six home points and probably a couple of bonus points away such are the importance of reserves nowadays. That said, you couldn’t wish for worse luck than we had in Heat 14 and it’s a crying shame for the efforts put in particularly by Edward (Kennett), Kim (Nilsson) and Richard (Lawson).“We’ll be back at the Raceway next Friday against Poole, ready to bounce back, with Mikkel (Bech) on an engine that hasn’t been mistuned and adopted Hammer Rory Schlein filling in for AJ (Andreas Jonsson), who will himself return to action in our later May dates.”LEICESTER suffered a heavy home defeat at the hands of King’s Lynn with a 34-50 reverse on Bank Holiday Monday despite 16 points from reserves Josh Auty and Simon Lambert.The Lions will look to claw their way off the bottom of the Elite League table in Wednesday’s return fixture in Norfolk whilst leaders Coventry visit the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium on Saturday.POOLE are set to be without Kyle Newman for their remaining fixtures this week – and with skipper Maciej Janowski also on the sidelines, promoter Matt Ford is frustrated by the injury problems.Ford said: “I have been in touch with Somerset's Charles Wright and secured his services for Wednesday as it is clear that Kyle won't be ready by then, and I also have a rider on standby should we need that contingency on Friday night when we travel to Lakeside, and I have to say I think it is looking that way.“In addition I have asked Chris Harris to guest for us on Wednesday too as Magic is still not recovered from his broken knee, and as grateful as I am to the likes of Josh Grajczonek and Lewis Rose (on Monday) and Charles and Bomber on Wednesday I just long to be in a position to have a fully fit one to seven of our own to line-up for us this season.”SWINDON are hoping to pack the Abbey for the visit of Sky Sports on Tuesday, May 26 – having announced admission prices of £5 with children up to the age of 11 free of charge when high flying Coventry hit town.Boss Alun Rossiter said: “We want to see the place packed for the TV meeting. It should be a great night of racing and we want a special atmosphere.“We want people who haven’t been before, or who haven’t been for a few years, to come down and take a look and hopefully it will in some small way help us create extra interest in the new stadium.“Obviously we’re hoping we will be in the play-offs which means a return for Sky, but this will be one of the last times they are with us in the current venue and we want to put on a great show. Admission for a fiver is a real bargain. It really will be the best value night out you could wish for.”WOLVERHAMPTON kept up their impressive home form with a 55-38 win over reigning champions Poole on Bank Holiday Monday – making it four wins out of four on their own circuit.Wolves No.1 Freddie Lindgren said: “It was a really good night for the whole team. We were in control for the whole meeting, and even though Poole got some points back with the tactical ride we got a few more heat advantages and won quite easily in the end.“We are gelling together well as a team, everyone is doing a good job at the moment so things look promising. We have a tough meeting on Wednesday at Poole, but we are going there with plenty of confidence and hoping we can come away with some points.”PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…

BERWICK have signed Richard Hall in place of Luke Crang following an unsuccessful League Cup campaign.Club boss John Anderson said: “Richard will replace Luke at reserve and we feel his experience and track knowledge will put a bit more solidarity to the side.“He has won both the Premier and Elite League titles whilst at other clubs and therefore knows and perhaps expects the team he’s racing for to do well.”EDINBURGH made it two out of two in the Premier League with a 50-40 away win at Scunthorpe on Monday.The scores were level with ten heats gone, but four heat advantages and a share of the spoils in Heat 15 saw the Monarchs claim all four league points available.Promoter Alex Harkess said: “I was very happy with the way the whole team stuck to their task and came through strongly in the end.”GLASGOW’s James Sarjeant is looking forward to the Tigers’ Premier League clash with Plymouth this Sunday. “I got eight paid nine in my last meeting so any more like that and I’ll be happy,” he told the Evening Times. “Everyone is good with the team, the manager, the directors – I’ve been getting on well with them all.”IPSWICH team Manager Phil Hilton was left “hugely disappointed” after his side’s 49-44 home defeat at the hands of Sheffield on Monday.He said: “I think several of the riders need to sort out quickly why they are underperforming as we cannot carry on like this.“I want to see more determination and commitment next time out and less silly mistakes!”NEWCASTLE face a busy weekend as they kick off their 2015 Premier League campaign with two meetings in three days.The Diamonds come up against two of the sides tipped to have a successful season as they travel to Edinburgh on Friday before hosting Ipswich on Sunday.The new greensheet averages for May will see Lewis Kerr move to the No.1 position. PETERBOROUGH continued their unbeaten start to the 2015 Premier League with a 52-40 away win at Plymouth on Friday.Team boss Carl Johnson was delighted with the win and was more than pleased with guest No.1 Ben Barker. Said Johnson: “Ben did a terrific job; his performance on the track and his attitude off it were both very impressive.”“It was another terrific all-round team performance to continue what has been an excellent start to the league.”PLYMOUTH hope to end a run of three consecutive home defeats when they host Redcar on Friday.The Devils will be without captain Kyle Newman and have booked Richie Worrall as a guest.Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We are not going to single out any opponents as easy pickings, but we still believe that we have a side capable of beating any team on our own track.”REDCAR will be looking to build on last week’s home win against Rye House as they round off their League Cup campaign against Sheffield later tonight.Team manager Jitendra Duffill said: “I’m sure that we will see a very close and exciting encounter; we have performed well in each of our last three fixtures and we will be aiming for another home win.“The fact we cannot progress to the next stage of this competition does not make us any less determined to add another three points to our League Cup tally.”RYE HOUSE picked up their first Premier League victory of the season with a 50-42 win against Somerset on Monday.The meeting saw Danish rider Kasper Lykke return from injury for his first home match in a month and he bagged an impressive 10+2.He said: “The team has been sticking together and we’ve been helping each other our; we are still struggling a bit with injuries and availability, but when we get everyone back, we’ll be very strong.”SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey was feeling “a little disheartened” after his side’s 50-40 home defeat to Edinburgh on Monday.He said: “I can’t point the finger to any particular rider; we were simply beaten by a better side and we didn’t have enough race winners.“There’s not much we can do at the moment with the team; we just need to get through May and then there should be something we can do at the end of the month.”SHEFFIELD bounced back from a heavy defeat at Somerset with a stunning 49-44 away win at Ipswich on Monday.Team manager Jack Lee said: “It was a brilliant win for us; straight from heat one we led and all the riders played their part again.“To come to Ipswich and win is a great result, and hopefully we can build on this and put together a good run of form.”SOMERSET boss Garry May is remaining positive despite missing out on a Premier League point after losing 50-42 away at Rye House.He said: “If we can take anything from this match it is the fact that the boys didn’t let their heads drop, despite the arrears, and almost came back to pick up that away point.“We were all gutted not to come away from this match with an away point to our names.”WORKINGTON get their Premier League season started with a home meeting against Plymouth on Saturday – but will be without their three Danish riders.Team manager Tony Jackson said: “Whilst this is not the ideal way to start our league fixtures, I am sure that the guests we have in place will put on a good show for our supporters and hopefully see us get our league programme off to a winning start.“After Saturday’s Danish fixture, Kenneth Hansen, Rene Bach and Nicki Barrett will all fly back to the UK for our meeting at Peterborough.”

CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…

BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury was delighted to see his side make it two National League wins out of two with a 51-39 victory over Stoke at Perry Barr last Wednesday.“It was another fantastic team performance and I think we were good value for our win in the end," said Drury.“Things were pretty close early on but, as I expected, we were strong in the second half and managed to pull away.“Adam Ellis was in a class of his own, Zach was absolutely superb, Tom Perry did his captain's role really once again and the other boys chipped in with some important points.”BUXTON boss Jason Pipe refused to be downbeat despite seeing his side suffer a heavy 56-37 defeat at King’s Lynn in their National League opener.Pipe said: “We scored more points than we did last season! Kings Lynn are really good at home and you have to be really fit to ride here. I was particularly chuffed with Ryan (Blacklock), and he was well supported by Tony Atkin.“We’ve had to cover for Paul (Bowen) and Cameron (Hoskins) tonight and the guys who replaced them are not quite ready yet but we’ve given them a chance.”COVENTRY boss Laurence Rogers was disappointed to see his Storm side suffer a narrow 48-42 defeat in a closely-contested clash with Mildenhall at West Row on Sunday.Said Rogers: “It’s disappointing because we threw away a lot of points in that meeting.“At least we came away with one league point. I told Dan (Greenwood) and Darryl (Ritchings) that it had to be a 3-3, and Darryl had to go for it in Heat 15 to get the point, but really we should have had three if you look at the misfortunes.“It was just one of those days, and I’m very pleased with Conor (Dwyer) – he is really getting down to it and scoring well, and it was a great heat win from him.”CRADLEY youngster Luke Harris admits he has been disappointed by his early season form – but he is confident he will turn things around.The talented 16 year old said: “I’ve started the season on the back foot really, and that’s not what I was hoping to do.I was expecting to do a lot better than I have done so far, things just haven’t gone my way and I’m disappointed with the way I’ve been riding.“But I know it’s still early days in the season, and I’d rather get my bad patch out of the way now and progress throughout the season. Even though I’ve not been scoring too many points I’ve been learning a lot, and I still feel like I can show everyone what I’m made of as the season goes on.”EASTBOURNE man Richard Andrews is pleased to have good friend Mattie Bates joining him at Arlington as a replacement for injury victim Danny Warwick.Andrews told the Speedway Star: “He’s a cracking racer if he can get out of the gate. He can hold the line as well as anyone else, he’s a decent rider.“I didn’t have to sell Eastbourne to him. I do that anyway because I’m always telling him about riding here every time I go back. “I think he will do all right. He needs to get his gating right. If you do that and hold the line, you’re very hard to pass at Arlington.” KENT star Danny Ayres was delighted to help the Kings snatch a 45-45 draw at Rye House following a tense last-heat decider on Saturday.Ayres, who notched 11 points on his return from a hand injury, said: “The hand is sore but the adrenalin is pumping. I’ ve got a double figure score in my first meeting back and I’m still buzzing. It was great to get an outing in a Heat 15 in such a vital match“We did really well to get two points against a very good side with a bit of luck we could have won it. There are a lot of positives to take from it to honest.”KING’S LYNN picked up their first National League points of the season with a comprehensive 56-37 victory over Buxton on May 1.James Cockle raced to a faultless four-ride maximum to lead what was a fine all-around team display from the Young Stars.Dale Allit’s side will be back in action on Wednesday as they travel to Perry Barr to take on National League newcomers Birmingham. MILDENHALL young gun Jack Kingston was in jubilant mood after his double-figure points haul helped the Fen Tigers edge a 48-42 win over Coventry at West Row on Sunday.Kingston, who also claimed the Bronze Helmet from Dan Greenwood, was delighted after a memorable afternoon: “I am so chuffed and I think that showed in my reaction at the end of the race. Things really seem to be going well now and I am enjoying my racing so much.“I can honestly say I have never had things working so well so early in the season. To score ten points and then win the Bronze Helmet is a very good day’s work and I am now looking forward to more of the same.”RYE HOUSE skipper Luke Chessell is hoping he can pass on his experience to his Raiders colleagues in 2015.The Hoddesdon outfit field a young team this year, and Chessell has told the Speedway Star how he hopes to help his team-mates progress.Said Chessell: “Every year seems to be a learning curve wherever I am. I learned a hell of a lot last year and hopefully I can pass some of that on to the younger lads in the team this season. “STOKE skipper Jon Armstrong admitted he was disappointed to see them leave their National League opener at Birmingham empty handed last Wednesday.However, the experienced No.1 is confident the Potters will soon find their feet and begin climbing the table.Said Armstrong: “We are obviously disappointed that we didn’t come away with anything from the meeting but there are encouraging signs and I feel we can turn things around.“I suffered a carburettor problem in my first ride and then started to get going once we’d sorted it out but Birmingham have got a few meetings under their belts compared to us. We need to get some laps in, but I’m sure we will be okay.”

FIXTURE PICTURE…

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

THURSDAY MAY 7:BRITISH SEMI-FINAL: Sheffield 7.30ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 8:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Plymouth v Redcar 7.15

SATURDAY MAY 9: ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Workington v Plymouth 7pmTRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Berwick v Ipswich 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Buxton 7pm

SUNDAY MAY 10:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Plymouth 3pm, Newcastle v Ipswich 6.30, Peterborough v Workington 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Kent 3pm, Mildenhall v King’s Lynn 3.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Eastbourne v Rye House 3.30BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1: Scunthorpe 3pm

MONDAY MAY 11:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Kent v Coventry 6.30

TUESDAY MAY 12:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 7.30

WEDNESDAY MAY 13:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Mildenhall 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Peterborough 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30, Peterborough v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Sheffield 7.15, Scunthorpe v Rye House 7.30, Somerset v Berwick 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Stoke 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Coventry v Kent 7.30

SATURDAY MAY 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pmTRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Workington v Rye House 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v King’s Lynn 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Stoke v Cradley 7pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2: Eastbourne 5.30

SUNDAY MAY 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Scunthorpe 3pm, Newcastle v Edinburgh 6.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Rye House v Workington 5pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Eastbourne 3.30

MONDAY MAY 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 7.30CHALLENGE: Kent v Wimbledon 6.30