(SPEEDWAY 1)
WOLVERHAMPTON promoter Chris Van Straaten expects a classic battle for British title honours at Monmore Green on Monday.Former Wolves favourite Tai Woffinden is going for three successive wins with Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris having ten titles between them - and the highest-placed rider with the exception of World Championship regulars Woffinden and Harris will receive a Wild Card for the British Grand Prix.Van Straaten said: “There’s such immense pride with the British guys to make a big impression in this meeting and I’m sure they’ll serve us up a treat once again on Monday.“The Wild Card slot at Cardiff adds to the drama, and I think it’s a great way to offer that position out because it gives every single rider another objective to aim for.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EASTBOURNE are seeking to end their long wait for victory in a Fours competition when they take part in Sunday afternoon’s major National League event at Coventry.The Eagles have won league titles and Knockout Cups throughout their history at various levels of the sport, but a win in the Fours has eluded them so far - and now they are going for gold in their first season in the NL.Manager Glenn Martin said: “We look on paper to be in a tough semi-final but you have to beat your opponents at some stage to win the Fours and that’s what we want to do.“It would be a marvellous achievement and an amazing boost for everyone if we can do it.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 - FRIDAY REVIEW)
THE Premier League’s second and third-placed clubs both suffered home defeats in local derbies on a dramatic Friday evening of racing.Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone was left fuming by a series of mechanical problems as his side threw away an eight-point lead to go down 44-46 against Ipswich at the Showground.Guest Brady Kurtz (13) and skipper Ulrich Ostergaard (11+1) both scored double figures for the Panthers, but Witches skipper Danny King won the decisive final race with Rohan Tungate third for a 4-2 to secure the win for the visitors.Rathbone said: “It was quite embarrassing in all honesty to be beaten in that way. We didn’t lose this meeting - we gave it away after being eight points up and it is completely unacceptable. “The riders have been made aware of that and ordered to ensure it does not happen again. It was one of those nights where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.“Michael (Palm Toft) had problems with a bike that he has been flying around the Showground on and Simon (Lambert) has had clutch issues all night. We’ve sorted those problems after the meeting, but things like that should be done in the workshop as they are professional sportsmen.”Meanwhile Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess was similarly angered by a 42-48 home defeat to fierce rivals Glasgow - their first home defeat for nearly two years.The Monarchs required a 5-1 from the last race for a draw, but Richard Lawson took the win for the Tigers with home man Craig Cook second as the visitors extended their lead.Harkess said: “That was a shocking performance, I want to see a big improvement for the return on Sunday.”Edinburgh’s Robert Branford is doubtful for that meeting at Ashfield as he hurt a shoulder when he fell in Heat 8.Meanwhile former Scunthorpe star Ashley Birks made the perfect guest appearance for his old club with a 15-point maximum in a 54-38 win over Workington at the Eddie Wright Raceway.Birks reeled off five straight wins as the home side overcame their injury problems to take an impressive win, with Theo Pijper (11) and Carl Wilkinson (10+1) offering strong support.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I knew Ashley Birks would be a great choice of guest. He will always give 110 per cent for us. In terms of speedway, this is the track where he was born on, and he’ll never forget how to ride it. Ash was just fantastic.“It was a perfect result and perfect racing. It takes off some of the pressure and worries to win a meeting in this sort of style. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been able to sleep after speedway nights here this season. When it’s going badly, I feel it more than most.”
(SPEEDWAY 4 - SATURDAY PREVIEW)
RYE House boss John Sampford says his side must travel to Workington on Saturday in positive spirits - despite their injury problems.The Rockets have been unable to track their first choice one-to-seven since way back on April 6, and visit Derwent Park for the Premier League clash without Anders Mellgren (ribs) and Kasper Lykke (collarbone), with Nico Covatti booked to guest.Sampford said: “It will be another tough fixture, but we’ll definitely be buoyed by our performance in our last match at Somerset, when we were in really strong contention for the first half of the match. That’s the one we will carry forward to Workington.“We’ve got our favourite Argentinean-Italian in as a guest. Nico has produced some excellent displays in that role for us already this season, and we hope that he can do the business once more. The rest of the boys are up for every match and, regardless of the final result on Saturday, they’ll be giving it everything.”Meanwhile Eastbourne are looking to return to the top of the City Gearboxes National League with a win at bottom-placed Rye House.The Sussex club lost the leadership to Cradley when the Heathens defeated Kent in midweek, and Eagles boss Glenn Martin says away points could be crucial.Martin said: “We have been pretty close in all our away meetings this year but we must start converting these ‘near misses’ into victories.“It’s never easy away from home but we are targeting a win at Rye House to keep the pressure on at the top of in what is turning out to be a very competitive National League.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
THE 12 riders to compete in the British 125cc Final at Peterborough on Sunday June 28 have been selected.The event will again be sponsored by ‘Fen Signs Cambridge United Speedway Supporters’ and nine of the competitors have already reached a Final in at least one of their British Youth rounds this season held at Scunthorpe, Eastbourne and Leicester.British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “It is sure to be an exciting event at such a great speedway venue, and it’s one I know all 12 riders are really looking forward to.“We are of course delighted to link up again with Fen Signs, who have been great sponsors for the Young Lions in the last couple of years, at both Youth and Under 21 level.“Our thanks and appreciation goes to Richard and Alexander Nix, and Terry Drake from Fen Signs for their support.“The support we have received this season in particular has been fantastic, and I believe that more and more people want to get on board supporting the British Youth riders.”LINE-UP: Niall Cleaver, Jay Farish, Bailey Fellows, Leon Flint, James Hitchen, Harry McGurk, Sam McGurk, Jack Shimeltt, Mickie Simpson, Dan Thompson, Joe Thompson, Jack Wright.
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JUNE 13:PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Rye House 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Eastbourne 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 14:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm, Newcastle v Peterborough 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 15:BRITISH FINAL: Wolverhampton 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Rye House 6.30
