(SPEEDWAY 1 - WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
KING’S Lynn will be without two members of their top five for Wednesday’s Elite League clash with Wolverhampton at the Adrian Flux Arena.The Stars are seeking to consolidate third place in the table but are missing Vaclav Milik due to a wrist injury whilst Robert Lambert needs more time to recover from his crash at Berwick last week.Max Fricke will stand in for Lambert with rider-replacement in operation for Milik, whilst Wolves return to full strength after a 32-60 defeat at Coventry last week.The visitors have switched their riding order with Peter Karlsson taking over at No.1 and Freddie Lindgren moving to No.5.Stars boss Rob Lyon said: “By their own admission, Wolverhampton have struggled this season after a bright start, but they are more than capable of an upset anywhere so we need to be on top of our game again to ensure victory comes our way.”Wolves manager Peter Adams said: “Freddie has clearly been lacking confidence, and it doesn’t help when he comes out in heat one and runs a last so we’ve got to try and do something to get him firing again.“Hopefully moving him to No.5 can help him start winning races again, and PK should still be able to hold his own at No.1.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Birmingham can move 14-points clear at the top with a home win over Kent at Perry Barr.The Brummies will be without Josh Bates who is on Elite League duty with Wolverhampton and manager Graham Drury has opted to use the rider replacement facility. Meanwhile, Drury has handed club No.8 Robert Parker a second opportunity after he endured a tough debut against Coventry last month.Drury said: “This is a meeting where every single rider is going to need to give it that little bit extra if they want to ensure we get another win on the board. “We're not at full strength, Kent can be a decent side on their day and if we're not prepared properly, then this is the sort of meeting that could be a potential banana skin.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
BEN Barker has been released from hospital following his horror smash at the British Final last month.Barker fractured four vertebrae as well as suffering severe lacerations to his mouth in the Heat 1 accident, and he spent nearly a fortnight in Wolverhampton before being transferred from Plymouth and then to Truro.He is now recovering at home with his family, with his wife due to give birth to their second child in around six weeks’ time.Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund secretary Paul Ackroyd said: “Ben has to wear the neck brace for a further 10 weeks. He also requires an operation on his leg to remove some floating bone which was from a previous accident and this will be done in about six weeks.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY JULY 15:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Kent 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Sheffield v Glasgow 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30, Plymouth v Workington 7.15, Scunthorpe v Ipswich 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 7.30
