(SPEEDWAY 1 - SATURDAY REVIEW)
WORKINGTON maintained their unbeaten home league record on Saturday with a 46-45 victory over play-off place-sitters Somerset on a night of high drama at Derwent Park.Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: “That was a well deserved home victory over a solid Rebels side when we really did have our backs to the wall. We went into the match with both reserves carrying knocks and without Rusty Harrison. “We then lost the services of Kyle Howarth following an opening race crash with his best mate Josh Grajczonek in a racing accident on the back straight.“But, despite that, we opened up a ten-point advantage and forced the Rebels into using a tactical ride; and despite their fightback, we only needed a share of the points in the last race to give us victory. “However, the Rebels got themselves into a match-winning position before a rash challenge by Brady Kurtz on Rene Bach skittled everyone, earned him an exclusion and gave us the victory that our efforts really deserved!”Rebels boss Garry May said: “It was disappointing to just miss out on coming away with the win, but it wasn’t to be, despite the boys giving it their all.“Workington marshalled their troops well after Kyle Howarth was taken to hospital, Matt Wethers at reserve proving to be a real trump card for the Comets, and we hope that the news on Kyle is positive.“We still, however, come away from Workington with a point to our names, which keeps us up their at the business end of the league table and a top two finish with which to enter the Play-Offs is still within our capabilities.”Meanwhile Edinburgh returned to the top of the table with a four-point haul from a 52-40 win at Rye House.Craig Cook scored a six-ride paid maximum for the Monarchs and Justin Sedgmen piled up 15, whilst the Rockets were hampered by Edward Kennett suffering the effects of a first ride fall.Rye House boss John Sampford said: “You have to realise that on some days you just get beaten by a better team.“Having Nikolaj (Busk Jakobsen) available, and a fully fit Edward after Heat 1, would have made a difference, but whether it would have been enough I really don’t know.”Meanwhile Lee Payne raced to a 15-point maximum as Stoke defeated Coventry 50-40 in the City Gearboxes National League.Payne teamed up with Jon Armstrong for a 5-1 in Heat 15 which prevented the Storm from taking a point from the meeting after their top scorer Martin Knuckey (10) had been disqualified for a fall.Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “It was a hard fought victory and a deserved one which moves us back up the table once again. “It was a solid team performance from the whole team with everyone chipping in with vital points and we will look to continue this into tomorrow’s meeting at Coventry.”Coventry manager Laurence Rogers said: ““It was so close to a point for us, and it’s a shame we just missed out. Obviously Stoke’s strength at reserve told with 12 (paid 15) for them compared to one for our two kids there, but they both battled hard and are riders for the future.“It’s disappointing to miss out on a point but now we must make the most of our home matches starting on Sunday, it’s onwards and upwards for that and we hope for plenty of support.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SUNDAY PREVIEW)
PETERBOROUGH and Edinburgh clash for the second time in 48 hours in a big Premier League clash at the Showground.The Panthers, who are third in the table, won by a singe point in Scotland on Friday but the Monarchs moved back to the top with their victory at Rye House last night.The home side call in Rye House man Luke Bowen to guest at reserve in place of the injured Simon Lambert, whilst World Under 21 finalist Emil Grondal returns after missing the triumph at Edinburgh due to a fixture clash in his native Denmark. It will again be rider replacement for injured skipper Ulrich Ostergaard.Panthers boss Carl Johnson said: “It was a fantastic effort to win up at Edinburgh on Friday night, but we are well of the fact we can’t undo our good work there by slipping up today."It is important we pick up another win because we want to get a play-off spot secured as soon as possible. I feel we are only two victories away from doing that.“I feel sure it will be another humdinger of a meeting with very little between the two teams – just as was the case on Friday.”Second-placed Glasgow trail Edinburgh on points difference as they take on Redcar at Ashfield.The Tigers have introduced a ‘kids for free’ admission policy and bring in Josh Grajczonek to guest for Nick Morris at No.1 whilst using rider-replacement for Kauko Nieminen. Kevin Doolan and Arthur Sissis guest for the Bears.Glasgow co-chief Michael Facenna said: “We're working hard to build interest in Scottish speedway. Already we've had some bumper turnouts and it's great to see people who've come back to speedway in Glasgow for the first time in years.“We also want to make sure we're building the next generation of speedway fans, which is why we're happy to run this special kids go free promotion.”Meanwhile Workington have called upon the services of Sheffield’s David Bellego for their trip to Newcastle following the crash involving Kyle Howarth in last night’s home victory over Somerset.The Diamonds have Richie Worrall guesting for Lewis Kerr with rider-replacement in operation for Christian Henry.Workington co-promoter and team manager Tony Jackson said: “We are already missing Rusty Harrison and now Kyle has been ruled out following his big crash at Workington last night. Nothing appears to be broken but he’s pretty bashed about and has a king-sized headache!“We’d like to thank David Bellego for agreeing to stand in as a guest at very short notice and he will slot in the side in place of Rusty, while we will then operate rider-replacement for Kyle, which makes every team member eligible to take an additional outing.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Eastbourne give club No.8 Niall Strudwick his full debut in their home match against Buxton.The Eagles are unbeaten at home and need to gain ground on leaders Birmingham after losing at King’s Lynn on Friday, whilst the Hitmen begin a two-day southern tour as they also visit Kent on Monday.Eastbourne director Connor Dugard said: “Niall has said that we are not giving him the rides he needs in the second-halves and that he needs to be racing the likes of Richie Andrews, Georgie Wood and Kelsey Dugard.“Niall has been riding a 500cc bike round Arlington for nearly a decade so I think he can go and get five points on Sunday. That’s the target I have set him.”Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “One thing is for certain, we won't be heading down to Eastbourne just to make up the numbers. We will be going for it, because as a team we believe we can get something out of this meeting. “This is the strongest we have been all season and if they all ride to their capabilities then I'm sure we'll put up a great fight and it should be a great meeting.”Coventry promoter Mick Horton is calling on the public to back the club’s National League project ahead of a double header against King’s Lynn and Stoke at Brandon.The Storm have only raced one home league match so far although they completed their away programme at Loomer Road last night.Horton said: “The support for the Bees is absolutely tremendous, we’ve had some great crowds especially recently, but the future of the sport is the youngsters and we want to keep bringing them through.“For us to have a chance of keeping the youngsters riding and progressing with us for the future, we need the fans to come and support them. We have two matches on Sunday afternoon, it’s going to be a full afternoon of racing, and I’d urge everyone to get behind us so we can continue beyond this season.”Meanwhile Rye House host Mildenhall at Hoddesdon.
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY AUGUST 9:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 3pm, Newcastle v Workington 6.30, Peterborough v Edinburgh 5pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v King’s Lynn 2pm, Coventry v Stoke (follows previous fixture), Eastbourne v Buxton 3.30, Rye House v Mildenhall 3pm
MONDAY AUGUST 10:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Buxton 6.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 11:PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30FAST GOLDEN HAMMER: Cradley 7.30
