(SPEEDWAY 1)
KING’S Lynn skipper Rory Schlein has undergone spinal surgery in Poland after a crash on Sunday afternoon.Schlein was involved in an accident in Heat 1 of the Lodz v Daugavpils fixture and was taken to hospital immediately.The full extent of Schlein’s injuries are unconfirmed, but initial reports indicate that the operation has proved successful.
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SUNDAY REVIEW)
GLASGOW made it two wins out of two in the Premier League with a 52-41 victory over Newcastle at Ashfield on Sunday.Reserve James Sarjeant top-scored for the Tigers with Richard Lawson adding 11+1, and manager Stewart Dickson believes the result will provide a launch-pad for further success.Dickson said: “We started the match well and built up a healthy lead, but we let them re-take the initiative in mid match. However, we finished the match strongly and really never looked in any trouble.“There were one or two excellent performance from the team, most notably from James and Richard, but I still believe that as a unit we have still to hit top form.“We have fallen behind in our fixtures in relation to other clubs, so we are now playing catch up. We have arranged lots of fixtures in June, so by the end of the month we should have a good idea on how our league hopes are shaping up.”In the City Gearboxes National League Cradley’s remarkable run of 29 successive wins in official competitions was ended by Eastbourne, who secured a 52-40 victory at Arlington.Bradley Wilson-Dean raced to a 15-point maximum for the Eagles, who overcame dropped points due to falls and engine problems in an eventful meeting. Max Clegg picked up 15, including a successful tactical ride, for the Heathens.Manager Glenn Martin said: “There was a huge build-up to this match and I think there was a bit of nerves around in our side of the pits. Everyone was totally keyed up for this match and we got the result we wanted and deserved.“Once we settled down, we did ease away from Cradley and it was only the double points tactical ride that brought them back into it. It was a great result from a huge team effort that was spearheaded by Bradley Wilson-Dean's 15-point maximum. We have seen some wonderful racing and I am delighted with the result.”Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “Of course we are disappointed because a point was the minimum requirement we were looking for. We were very close, but unfortunately we just fell short in the end. All the lads tried their hardest, but it just wasn’t our day and we didn’t quite manage to get a point.“We’ve pushed Eastbourne who are a very strong side at home, and so we have to take the positives out of it and just look to move on.”There was an impressive return to racing for Buxton’s Liam Carr who top-scored with 12 points as the Hitmen overcame Mildenhall 47-43 at the Hi-Edge Raceway.The home side turned around an early four-point deficit with Carr joined in double-figures by Ryan Blacklock on 10+1, whilst Dan Halsey scored 13 for the Fen Tigers.Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “It was a fantastic result today. We really needed that after starting with a loss last time out at home. The track rode really well, it was well-prepared, which also helped with the early morning rain we had which is always the best way to water a track!“All the boys mucked in and helped each other. It was also pleasing to see that all seven riders scored points. There was also improvement in our gating and the lads are now starting to get dialled in to their home track.”Mildenhall promoter Kevin Jolly said: “It is a disappointing result to be honest, even though we took a point. There were some in and out performances and we need to find a little more consistency. “I do think if we could have used Connor (Coles) more we would have nicked it, but Connor wasn’t 100 per cent after his fall and we didn't want to risk him.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 - MONDAY PREVIEW)
COVENTRY have booked former skipper Scott Nicholls to guest for Chris Harris in their top-of-the-table Elite League encounter with King’s Lynn at Brandon on Monday.Nicholls comes in because Harris is involved in a Grand Prix qualifier, whilst the visiting team will also include an ex-Bees rider as a guest with Adam Roynon stepping in for the injured Lewis Kerr.Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: “The Bank Holiday always makes it tougher with the number of matches, and you can find yourself really scratching around trying to get a decent guest, so I put in a call nice and early to get Scott and hopefully he can do a job for Bomber. The way he’s been going this season I certainly think he can.”Wolverhampton skipper Peter Karlsson is confident they can get back to winning ways as they take on Lakeside at Monmore Green.Peter Adams’ side are expected to welcome Freddie Lindgren back from injury at No.1, whilst Lasse Bjerre will step in as a guest for the injured Tobiasz Musielak at No.3.Meanwhile, Lakeside will be without second strings Kim Nilsson and Richard Lawson due to a GP qualifier and Premier League meeting respectively, with Ulrich Ostergaard and Nikolaj Busk Jacobsen guesting in their places.Karlsson said: “It’s been a good start to the season overall, and we are still in a very good position. We just need to get back on track with a win against Lakeside on Monday, and I’m confident we can do that.“We’ve beaten Lakeside already quite comfortably this season, so we know we can beat them and we just need to ride the same again. Hopefully everyone can be on form and riding well to make sure we get the win and remind everyone what we are capable of.”Meanwhile Lewis Bridger makes his home debut for Leicester as champions Poole provide the opposition at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.The Lions also have Grzegorz Zengota in for fellow Pole Grzegorz Walasek due to the GP qualifier, and require guest cover for the injured Josh Auty at reserve.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “The visit of Poole is one of the most attractive meetings of the fixture list and the Pirates have also had to contend with recent injuries. “Davey Watt, Maciej Janowski and Kyle Newman have now returned which puts them back to full strength and they have no visible weakness so we will have to be at our very best in order to combat their threat to ensure that it is us who banks the match points and not Poole.”Poole promoter Matt Ford is wary of the threat of ex-Pirates rider Jason Doyle at No.1 for the home side.He said: “Jason has made great strides to become the rider I always felt he was capable of becoming. He is a hugely talented rider and while his progress might not be as rapid as Chris Holder’s, I am convinced that he will soon be challenging the best riders in the world.”In the Premier League, there are two afternoon fixtures as Rye House host Redcar with Steve Boxall back from injury for the home side, whilst rider-replacement is in operation for the injured Anders Mellgren.Rockets boss John Sampford said: “We are definitely on a high after last weekend. Without a doubt, last Friday’s victory – and four match points – at Scunthorpe has given us a totally new lease of life in the league, and our Cup victory has opened up another avenue for success. We’re determined to show that there is plenty more where those results came from on Monday.”Scunthorpe bring in Ryan Douglas and Ben Wilson for their seasonal debuts as Somerset visit the Eddie Wright Raceway.Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey believes the team changes will transform the prospects of the Lincolnshire side, who use rider-replacement for the injured Josh Auty as planned bookings for Andre Compton and Ashley Birks were also foiled by crashes.Godfrey said: “The introduction of Ryan Douglas and Ben Wilson could be a real game-changer for us this season. It gives our team real strength throughout.“It’s a big afternoon ahead. We’ve lost our first two home Premier League meetings, and we need to beat Somerset. It’s going to be an afternoon of some top notch speedway action.”The meeting is followed by a four-team tournament over 16 heats between the Scunthorpe Stags, Halifax Dukes, Exeter Falcons and Belle Vue Colts.Newcastle will be chasing revenge over Glasgow when the sides meet at Brough Park as the Tigers raced to an eleven-point victory in the reverse fixture at Ashfield on Sunday.Richie Worrall continues to cover for Lewis Kerr for the home side, whilst Glasgow bring in Max Clegg to replace James Sarjeant who is on Elite League duty.Newcastle boss George English said: “We are glad to have Richie covering for Lewis’s absence on Monday, and hopefully we will be able to gain a vital three league points.”Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “We are going to Brough Park looking to win the match, in order to keep pace with the other sides at the top of the Premier League. We haven’t won there since 2011, and we have to believe that a positive result for us is on the cards.”In the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup, Peterborough boss Carl Johnson is looking for a double-figure advantage from their first leg tie against Plymouth on Monday afternoon.The Panthers will use rider-replacement at No.1 for the injured Olly Allen as they look for revenge over the Devils who put them out of the competition last season.Johnson said: “It is essential we take control of the tie by building up a good advantage. People will no doubt point out that we have already won twice at Plymouth this season, but that does not mean we want to have to do it for a third time in this competition.“Our last two home performances against Rye House and Workington have been very impressive and it is a case of continuing that sort of form.”Plymouth bring in Matt Williamson for Sam Chapman at reserve, and co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We know that Peterborough have had two convincing wins at Plymouth already this season. But we are getting stronger as a team and we know that we are capable of being a difficult side to contend with.”In the League Cup, Workington entertain Berwick in a fixture which will complete the Border section after being postponed due to the weather earlier in the month.The Comets will be missing the in-form Ricky Wells, who will be racing in the Elite League, but have brought Edinburgh’s Justin Sedgmen into the side as a guest.Manager Tony Jackson said: “Naturally we would prefer to have all of our team members with us at all times but occasional fixture clashes such as this are unavoidable and in Justin Sedgmen we have the best guest available. He rode as a guest for us here just over two weeks ago and gave a solid performance so we had no hesitation in offering him another opportunity to ride for us.”There is also City Gearboxes National League action on Monday afternoon with Kent hosting King’s Lynn at Central Park.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PLYMOUTH have re-declared their team with Australian Todd Kurtz returning to the side in place of Ashley Morris, who has been released.
Kurtz comes in on a 5.96 average, slightly higher than Sam Simota (5.80), who drops down to reserve.
Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “Ashley Morris missed out because of the averages. But we have to look at the bigger picture of the team and we wish Ashley well for the future. He will not be without a team for very long.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY MAY 25:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v King’s Lynn 7.30, Leicester v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30, Rye House v Redcar 2pm, Scunthorpe v Somerset 3pmTRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Peterborough v Plymouth 2pmLEAGUE CUP: Workington v Berwick 3pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v King’s Lynn 3pm4TT: Scunthorpe Stags v Halifax v Belle Vue Colts v Exeter (follows PL fixture)
TUESDAY MAY 26:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Coventry 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 27:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Leicester 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Cradley v Stoke 7.30
