SPEEDWAY News & Fixtures 03.07.15‏

(SPEEDWAY 1)

SOMERSET host the Premier League Pairs at the Oaktree Arena on Friday (7pm) with ten clubs battling for the silverware.The hosts were edged out by Edinburgh last season in a controversial Final to a meeting which always attracts a bumper crowd coming just a day before the British Grand Prix at Cardiff.The ten clubs are split into two groups of five, with the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals.Group A: Edinburgh (Sam Masters/Kevin Wolbert), Ipswich (Danny King/Rohan Tungate), Rye House (Edward Kennett/Nikolaj B Jakobsen), Peterborough (Ulrich Ostergaard/Michael Palm Toft), Newcastle (Lewis Kerr/Steve Worrall).Group B: Glasgow (Nick Morris/Richard Lawson), Somerset (Brady Kurtz/Josh Grajczonek), Workington (Kyle Howarth/Ricky Wells), Redcar (Lasse Bjerre/Stuart Robson), Berwick (Thomas Jorgensen/Kevin Doolan).Pre-meeting comments:Carl Johnson (Peterborough manager): “Our aim is to get through the group stage and there is no reason why we can't manage that if both guys are at their best.“Ulrich's (Ostergaard) form has dipped in the last few meetings by his own admission and this is the perfect opportunity for him to step up at the start of a month in which he moves to number one in our averages.“And Michael (Palm Toft) has shown us many times this season that he is capable of beating virtually any rider at this level on any given night.”Richard Lawson (Glasgow): “We're both riding pretty well at the minute. I've had a quick look at the other pairings and nobody really fazes us too much.“It's all about how well you ride with your team-mate. Obviously Nick (Morris) rode at Somerset last year so he should be able to share some track craft with me.”Garry May (Somerset manager): “We had come so close on so many occasions to winning the Pairs in the past that it was with some degree of relief as well as much elation when we finally lifted the trophy in 2013, Doyley (Jason Doyle) and Josh (Grajczonek) going down in Rebels history with their victory on that never to be forgotten occasion.”“Of course we had the controversy of last year’s Final, which saw us once again end up as runners-up, so we are doubly keen to see that Pairs trophy back on display in the Oaktree.”Tony Jackson (Workington manager): “This is the first time that either Kyle (Howarth) or Ricky (Wells) have represented the Comets in this competition, but hopefully they can continue our recent record of at least reaching the semi-final stage. “However, there are no easy races in this competition as every race is like a heat 15, but if you can avoid last places then you have every chance of getting out of your group and into the semi-finals; after which anything can happen on the night.”

(SPEEDWAY 2 - THURSDAY REVIEW)

SWINDON struck form after a recent below-par spell by running up a 60-32 win over Wolverhampton at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.Polish star Grzegorz Zengota carded a 12-point maximum for a Robins team who had all of their riders in the points, whilst Ricky Wells won a tactical ride for Wolves on his way to 13+1, the visitors having gone 2-15 down in a disastrous opening to the meeting.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “We were very poor at Leicester on Monday but all the boys picked themselves back up and got the job done.“It was great to get Lewis Rose firing tonight too; Troy (Batchelor) lent him an engine and he was certainly much more on the pace.“It was a great night of speedway on a beautiful evening and we managed to get a super result too!"Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “I think we’ve caught Swindon on a night where they know somebody is on the way out and are all keen to impress to keep their jobs.“We also caught them on a night where they had a guest for (Adrian) Miedzinski in the form of Hans Andersen who probably scored more points than Miedzinski has scored all season, and we are very low on confidence at the moment.“If you combine all those things together you can understand the result. We are very low on confidence, and the only bright spark really was Ricky Wells who I thought rode superbly.”In the Premier League, Ipswich are up to seventh place after a 56-35 win over Plymouth at Foxhall.The Witches were led by Nico Covatti on 13 points and new skipper Danny King on ten, whilst recent signing Ashley Morris collected 8+2 against his former club as the home side dominated at reserve. Jack Holder scored 9+2 for the Devils.Ipswich boss Phil Hilton said: “That's more like it - a very positive attitude in the pits with everyone contributing on the track as well.“Nico was excellent again and Danny still scored double figures while having a few bike problems and handling his new role as skipper in a very professional manner. Ashley had a very good debut and showed what he is capable of.”Redcar are off the bottom of the table thanks to a 49-41 win over Scunthorpe at the Media Prime Arena, with Lasse Bjerre scoring a 15-point maximum.The Scorpions lost Alex Davies after a crash in Heat 4 which saw him sustain a bump to the head and a shoulder injury. Reserve Nike Lunna piled up 13+2 from seven rides.Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “We showed a lot of backbone, and we played a major part in an entertaining meeting. Our riders put on a show, and credit to them for that. It was encouraging to see, after the performances at Workington and Newcastle over the weekend, which were much less impressive. “With seven of our own riders, I'm convinced we could have won. Four of our riders scored 36 points between them in this meeting.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

BELLE Vue have named three former World Champions in the line-up for the opening of the National Speedway Stadium next year.Treble champion Nicki Pedersen will be joined by Chris Holder and Tai Woffinden in the Peter Craven Memorial Trophy at the Aces’ new home on March 19, 2016.Club boss David Gordon said: “When we initially approached the riders, their enthusiasm was fantastic and we couldn't be more thrilled to already have three World Champions in the line-up for this event.“A Grand Prix-style format is what we've always envisaged for the stadium's grand opening meeting and even now we're in discussion with several other World class riders.“There's still a long way to go until March 2016, but the level of interest from riders worldwide in competing at this venue will guarantee us a brilliant night of speedway.”

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY JULY 3:PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset 7pm

SATURDAY JULY 4:BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 5pm

SUNDAY JULY 5:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Redcar 4pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v King’s Lynn 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Eastbourne 3.30


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