THURSDAY REVIEW
GLASGOW moved up to second place in the Premier League with a hard-fought 47-43 win at Ipswich on Thursday.Aaron Summers and Richard Lawson were the last-heat heroes for the Tigers as they secured a 5-1 over home duo Danny King and Rohan Tungate.It completed an impressive display from Summers who scored 14+2 in Glasgow’s fifth away win of the season in the league.Tigers manager Stewart Dickson said: “We went there believing we could get something - no doubt about that. When we heard that Stefan Nielsen was out and they had to bring in the young boy Connor Coles at the bottom end, that was always going to give us a chance“The plan was to pin gate one and worst case scenario, take a draw. But Richard popped out off gate four with a fantastic gate - and this is what he's there for - to win the big pressure races. That's why we brought him to the club. Aaron’s doing a fantastic job.”Ipswich boss Phil Hilton said: “This loss started last night when Stefan got injured as I'm sure he would have scored something for us in this meeting. “Too many inconsistencies and last places cost us dear and if this doesn't get sorted out we will continue to struggle to get the desired results.”Redcar’s Travel Plus Tours KO Cup tie with Edinburgh was abandoned after twelve heats at the Media Prime Arena due to the curfew.The result stands as a 37-35 win to the home side but the Bears’ win on the night came at a cost with both Jan Graversen and Lasse Bjerre involved in crashes which required hospital treatment. Matej Kus scored a 12-point maximum for Redcar.Sheffield’s Select team defeated a Cradley Select 51-39 in a Challenge match at Owlerton after the scores had been tied 24-24 at the halfway stage.Arthur Sissis scored a 15-point maximum for the home side with Paco Castagna impressing on his debut with 12, whilst Ellis Perks picked up 13+1 for the Heathens but ex-Sheffield man Ben Wilson was withdrawn after a third-ride crash.Sheffield boss Jack Lee said: “The three of our Premier League boys did what was expected of them; it was a good practice for them and they all rode remarkably well.“It was good to see them getting out there and trying some different lines and I was impressed with all three of them.”Cradley manager Will Pottinger said: “Ellis did well at reserve again and we made the most of the opportunity to use him as much as we possibly could and it’s great to see him racing with such confidence like he was earlier in the season.“Matt Williamson progressed superbly as the meeting went on and although he didn’t manage a race win he put in some decent rides against some strong Premier League opposition.”
FRIDAY REVIEW
EDINBURGH moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 59-34 win over Rye House at Armadale on Friday.The meeting was held up for 25 minutes after heavy afternoon showers and when the action got underway it was the home side who dominated the race wins, taking the flag on 12 out of 15 occasions.Justin Sedgmen and Kevin Wolbert both scored 13+1 for the Monarchs with Edward Kennett notching 10+1 for the Rockets including a successful tactical ride.Edinburgh reserve Robert Branford said: “I take my hat off to the track staff tonight! What an awesome job.”Rye House boss John Sampford said: “The score didn’t really reflect the quality of the racing, but it was always going to be very difficult with rider-replacement and a long tail.“34 points is still relatively respectable against a strong team like Edinburgh. It’s also fair to say that we deserved a few points more than our final total. “Edward and Nikolaj (Busk Jakobsen) were on for a 5-1 in Heat 13 when Craig Cook fell and caused the race to be stopped, and we had to settle for a 3-3 in the re-run.”
SATURDAY PREVIEW
PLYMOUTH co-promoter David Short expects a tough test as his side host Premier League leaders Edinburgh at the St Boniface Arena on Saturday.The Devils, who are currently twelfth, could climb up to four places with a win and have booked Ellis Perks to guest at reserve for Roland Benko who has left the club. Brady Kurtz comes in for the injured Sam Masters at No.1 for the Monarchs.Short said: “The Monarchs have been highly successful in the league for several seasons now and are again riding well this year so the task facing the Devils is no easy one. “But a win would lift everyone as we look to make it into the end-of-season play-offs.”Third-placed Peterborough make the trip to Workington with several injury problems to contend with.Josh Grajczonek comes in for the Panthers on his old home track as a replacement for Robert Lambert, with rider-replacement in operation for Lewis Blackbird and another ex-Comet, Ashley Morris, replaces Simon Lambert at reserve.Co-promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We have again managed to draft in some very capable riders and we thank them for agreeing to help us out."Even though we have a big chunk of our team missing, we will go into the meetings this weekend looking for positive results.”Workington boss Tony Jackson said: “We gave away too much ground in the early stages of last weekend’s meeting with Newcastle and were up against it from then on, although a superb comeback saw us take the points as we rode like a different team in the second half of the meeting. “The team knows that we cannot allow ourselves to get into that position this weekend against Peterborough, who contain some former Comets in their side and have an excellent away record this season.”In the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup, Berwick take a six-point lead into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with Rye House at Shielfield Park, having notched an impressive away win at Hoddesdon recently.Matej Kus steps in to guest at No.1 for the Bandits and is keen to make an impression to assist his former club, whilst Liam Carr gets the nod at reserve with Richard Hall on Longtrack duty.Bandits boss John Anderson said: “With a difficult period now hopefully behind us and the burden of rider-replacement now put aside with the arrival of Mathias Thörnblom, we will track a seven-man team against Rye House, Eddie Kennett and all, who will themselves be pretty keen to turn us over which is where the support of our public will be vital.“Saturday's match is vital to the continuation of our so-far successful KO Cup run, and enthusiastic public support will be a vital factor in that success.”Rockets boss John Sampford said: “It’s a huge match for both sides, but hopefully we can hit them while they are down after losing their last three home matches. “As I said earlier in the week, it will be all about getting our gating boots on – and Robin (Aspegren) turning things around as he returns to his former track.”In the City Gearboxes National League, unbeaten leaders Birmingham head to Rye House as they bid to make it 12 wins out of 12.The Brummies have booked Sean Phillips to guest at reserve while temporary signing Josh Bates returns to the side as he looks to build on his debut maximum picked up at King’s Lynn just over a fortnight ago.Birmingham team manager Graham Drury said: “Because of the uniqueness and technical nature of the Rye House circuit, this is going to be a different sort of challenge for our riders.“However, we’re full of confidence, we’ve got a team of quality riders and we will go there with the belief that we can keep our unbelievable run of form going.”Meanwhile Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey insists a top four finish, and a place in the Gold Cup, is still a realistic target for his side as they prepare to host Kent at Loomer Road.The Potters are currently bottom of the table but could leap into the top six with victory over the Kings, who are currently two points ahead.Vasey said: “We need to win this meeting against Kent which will move us off the foot of the table. I still believe we have a chance of making the Gold Cup at the end of the season if we can go on a good run now, and that is what we will be looking to do starting on Saturday. “Kent are a good side and will be looking for points themselves to push on for a top four place and we will need to be at our very best for this vital meeting.”
SCUNTHORPE have confirmed both Josh Auty and Ben Wilson are set to be out of action for the rest of the season.Auty re-broke his hand in the post-Heat 10 incident with Rohan Tungate at the Eddie Wright Raceway last Friday, whilst Wilson suffered a broken pelvis when he crashed during a guest appearance at Sheffield on Thursday.Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “Josh has broken his hand again in the same place as before, and it’s a big blow for Ben. “We're going to be without both Ben and Josh for the remainder of the season, and we'll look at all the options for our remaining nine league meetings.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JULY 25:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Edinburgh 7.15, Workington v Peterborough 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Berwick v Rye House 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Birmingham 7pm, Stoke v Kent 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 26:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Peterborough 3pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Eastbourne 3pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Rye House 5pm
MONDAY JULY 27:ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Coventry 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 29:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 8pm, King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30
SWINDON and Newcastle’s Lewis Rose has been diagnosed with a fractured scaphoid after further tests on his injured wrist.Rose crashed heavily as his Elite League side defeated Poole at the Abbey Stadium last Monday.He suffered ligament damage to his right shoulder and was told to wait for swelling to reduce before undergoing scans on his wrist.X-ray results have now confirmed a fractured scaphoid, meaning he will be required to wear a cast for four weeks and therefore faces a spell on the sidelines.
LAKESIDE have extended their admission offer for Monday’s Elite League clash with Coventry to £5 for all adults.The Hammers had previously planned the promotion for advance tickets, but on-the-night admissions will also be £5 thanks to the support of event sponsors Andrews Garage, Beadles Van Hire, Hagon Shocks and team sponsor Vortex. Advance ticket holders who purchase their tickets online will enjoy speedier entrance through their own gate at the top of the entry road.Lakeside owner Stuart Douglas said: “With the future development of the Arena looming, this is probably the most important fixture in my time at the Club. We need to show our friends in Thurrock and everyone watching that The Hammers are a really important asset to the local community and Essex in general. “Our thanks go to the generosity of our Support Partners and I am calling on all those fans who have visited us for a night of Speedway over the years to come on back and show their support for the club and the sport. It will be a fantastic meeting and at a fiver it has got to represent unbelievable bang for your buck.”
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PETERBOROUGH’S injury situation has taken a turn for the worse with Lewis Blackbird and Robert Lambert both ruled out of their weekend fixtures.Great Britain international Lambert aggravated a hip problem when making his comeback for Elite League club King’s Lynn on Wednesday night after a fortnight out while Blackbird’s back has not responded as well as hoped to treatment for tissue damage - and reserve Simon Lambert is also on the casualty list for trips to Workington and Glasgow.Panthers promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We find ourselves in a very tough situation and it is getting to the point where I dread the phone ringing.“I keep telling myself that our luck must surely change at some point, but it is showing no sign of doing that at the moment.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY JULY 25:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Edinburgh 7.15, Workington v Peterborough 7pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Berwick v Rye House 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Birmingham 7pm, Stoke v Kent 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 26:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Peterborough 3pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Eastbourne 3pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Rye House 5pm
