(SPEEDWAY 1)
GREAT Britain’s Stefan Nielsen is through to the World Under-21 Final after successfully coming through Saturday’s semi in Italy.Nielsen overcame local favourite Paco Castagna in a run-off for the final qualifying place to become GB’s first qualified Finalist since 2012, with the meeting being won by his Belle Vue team-mate Max Fricke of Australia.Nielsen and fellow countryman Ashley Morris were accompanied to Terenzano by SCB Prime Officer Graham Reeve, with British Youth boss Neil Vatcher travelling to Slovakia with Josh Bates.Reeve said: “It was touch and go for Stefan, because he knew he needed nothing less than a win in his last race to have a chance of qualifying.“Then he coolly grabbed the opportunity to beat Castagna in the run-off, where despite him leading from the off the heat was re-run due to an unsatisfactory start - but once again he led the race and held off Castagna’s many challenges to book a very well-earned place in the World Final series.“Both lads performed very well in the Italian heat, and had it not been for a first-heat fall when in a clear second place, Ashley could have been joining Stefan to challenge for a place in the Final.”Morris scored five points, whilst Bates was two points off the qualifying mark after scoring seven at Zarnovica.Meanwhile there was frustration for British Under-21 Champion Kyle Howarth in Pardubice on Friday, as he scored ten points but missed out in a run-off for the final qualifying place to Somerset’s Australian rider Brady Kurtz.
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SATURDAY REVIEW)
LEICESTER returned to winning ways with a 53-37 victory over Wolverhampton in Saturday’s Elite League fixture at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.The Lions put a tough month behind them with an impressive all-round display headed by a five-ride paid maximum from skipper Jason Doyle.Wolves guest Jason Garrity starred at reserve with 13 points but No.1 Freddie Lindgren was reduced to a score of just two.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “We really needed this result and it was a real team performance from one-to-seven, and the three guests did us proud. “At the end of such a difficult month where we have had three riders leave the club it is long overdue for us to have some good fortune. Our fans have been brilliant throughout this spell and we now have a quiet spell when we can look at the various options that are available to complete the team before our next fixture.”Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “You only have to look at the programme and see that your No.1 has only picked up two points - the chances are you're going to have struggled.“That's no overall criticism of Freddie though, because all riders have off nights. He always gives it his best, he always works hard and he just can't put his finger on what went wrong for him tonight. This is a relentless format and if you've already got one or two riders missing and one or two others have off nights then your hands are always going to be tied.”In the Premier League, Ipswich were emphatic 65-25 winners over Redcar with Danny King scoring a four-ride maximum and Nico Covatti piling up 16 from six outings with Gino Manzares on 13+3.Witches co-promoter Chris Louis was delighted with the result but warned his side will face tougher tests at Foxhall in the coming weeks.He said: “It was a much stronger team performance and they all chipped in to achieve this result. Special mention to Gino after his disappointing start to the season through injury, he rode very well.“And a big thank you to our guest James Sarjeant, who provided excellent cover for Stefan (Nielsen). We need to build on this form now and continue to progress upwards in the League table.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 - SUNDAY PREVIEW)
RYE House have been boosted by Edward Kennett’s return to fitness as they prepare to face Berwick at Hoddesdon on Sunday.The Rockets skipper suffered what was initially feared to be a broken bone or bones in his hand when suffering a last race fall against Redcar on Bank Holiday Monday, but he escaped with bruising.Meanwhile the visitors have suffered a further injury blow with Richard Hall ruled out due to concussion after a crash at Peterborough on Friday.Rye boss John Sampford said: “We’re aware of what the Bandits did at Ipswich and Workington, so we know what they are capable of. They’ve got a team full of experienced riders; there are no real greenhorns in there.“But all our boys are pumped up too. They are in really good spirits, and they want to keep that going by maintaining their current form and record. The best way to do that, as I’ve said on numerous occasions, is to keep things simple and straight-forward, and to focus on everything on a race-by-race, match-by-match basis. That’s how we’ll tackle it again against Berwick.”Newcastle and Sheffield wrap up the Northern section of the League Cup at Brough Park with the Diamonds requiring a large home win to join the Tigers in the semi-finals.Josh Grajczonek takes the place of injured Sheffield skipper Simon Stead, with James Sarjeant replacing Josh Bates who has been in World Under-21 action this weekend.Newcastle boss George English said: “We have a awful lot of points to make up simply because of a poor refereeing display against Redcar that prevented us from winning by the points margin that we deserved.“Our first job against Sheffield is to win the match, once we have done that then we will look at the margin of victory and see if we have done enough.”Sheffield star Jason Garrity said: “I'm in a decent run of form at the minute and I want to carry that on with another good score at Newcastle.“I've only ever raced there once and I got double figures so I should enjoy it and I'll be looking to do the same again. It's going to be a good meeting but we'll all go out there and give it our best shot as always and hopefully we can get another win.”In the National League Knockout Cup, Eastbourne need to pull back a five-point first leg deficit when they face Birmingham in their second-leg tie at Arlington.Richard Andrews returns for the Eagles after suffering ligament damage in a crash at Mildenhall, whilst the Brummies bring in Connor Coles to guest for Sam Chapman with Harvie Banks also ruled out.Eastbourne chairman Martin Dugard said: “The Brummies are, like Cradley last Sunday, a top team in this division and we can expect they will challenge us every inch of the way to try and dump us out of the cup.“Against Cradley we had a number of falls and mechanical problems which made the task that bit harder. We are seeking to eliminate those mistakes but we must remember that at this level, the boys are still learning.”Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “It's going to be a tough challenge for our riders, but they're going to go down to Eastbourne and give it everything they can.“Eastbourne are very dominant at home and we know we're in for a battle, but I will gee my riders up before the meeting and who knows what could happen.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY MAY 31:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Berwick 5pmLEAGUE CUP: Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Cradley OFFNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Birmingham 3.30
MONDAY JUNE 1:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30, Coventry v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Birmingham 6.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 3:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Buxton 7.30, King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30
