(SPEEDWAY 1 - WEDNESDAY REVIEW)
NIELS-Kristian Iversen scored an 18-point maximum as King’s Lynn consolidated their position in the Elite League play-off places on Wednesday.Iversen raced to six wins out of six for the Stars as they defeated second-placed Coventry 54-35 at the Adrian Flux Arena in the only meeting to take place on the night due to rain-offs at Poole and Belle Vue.Iversen was well-supported by guest Freddie Lindgren with 12+1 whilst the Bees saw Danny King withdraw after two rides and their hopes of taking a point were hit when both of their reserves were disqualified in a controversial Heat 12.Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: “There were at least four or five massive things there that changed the meeting, and I’m disappointed because I think we could have run them really close if not even beaten them.“But we’ve got to re-group now, and the injury situation is not good. I’ve talked all season about how important it is to stay injury-free, but we seem to be gathering them now at the most crucial point. It’s unfortunate that we’re in this position, but we’ll go away and look at things ahead of Friday.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - THURSDAY PREVIEW)
SWINDON will face arguably their biggest meeting of the season so far as they host play-off rivals King’s Lynn in a mouth-watering clash at the Abbey on Thursday.The Robins know only a win will do as they aim to keep their top four push on track in a vital battle with the third-placed Stars.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It’s a massive meeting with both teams trying to get into the play-offs, and it’s been made harder for us by the fact they’ve got two top riders in Freddie Lindgren and Dakota North as guests. “It’s going to be tough, but we have to just concentrate on our job, and we know we really need to win to keep on track for the top four.”In the Premier League, Sheffield will look to extend their unbeaten home record to 11 meetings as they welcome in-form Edinburgh to Owlerton.Jack Lee’s side will hand a Premier League debut to British youngster Zach Wajtknecht as a guest for injured reserve Arthur Sissis, and Brady Kurtz once again deputises for Simon Stead in the No.1 spot as the Tigers look to climb up to third in the Premier League table with a win over the leaders.Sheffield’s Josh Bates said: “It's going to be a really good meeting and in my eyes I reckon we'll give them a good run for their money but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.“They did really well before when they came earlier in the season but we just came away with a decent win. Sheffield have got great fans and if they are cheering us on hopefully we can get the win.”Sixth-placed Ipswich face a patched-up Berwick team at Foxhall with Kevin Doolan now joining the Bandits’ injury list.Richie Worrall, Theo Pijper and Luke Bowen are all named as guest riders for the visitors whilst Tero Aarnio guests for the Witches as Ashley Morris is on Elite League duty.Doolan said: “Hopefully, I'll be OK to ride on Saturday against Somerset, but I'm afraid Ipswich and Scunthorpe, two tracks I love racing on, and I would hope to make money at, may be a bit too early. “If I tried to ride there, it would just set me right back and I feel I have to focus on resting up, and getting right for the Rebels.”Meanwhile Plymouth will look to gain further ground on the top six as they visit Redcar, with Ryan Fisher back in the side after recovering from an ankle injury.The Bears have Richard Lawson guesting for Lasse Bjerre with Matthew Wethers standing in for Adam Roynon.Redcar manager Jitendra Duffill said: “Plymouth are a team in very good form and are looking to make the play-offs.“I'm looking forward to watching Jack Holder, I've heard lots of good things about him, and Thursday will be the first time I will have seen him ride. This meeting promises to be another very close and exciting encounter.”Devils boss Lee Trigger said: “It was good to get a convincing win against the (Rye House) Rockets and score 50-plus points again.“Although we were operating rider replacement for Ryan, we still had six riders capable of winning races and that should give us confidence to take away to Redcar. We are working as a team and the results are showing.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BEN Barker is targeting a Premier League title charge as he prepares for an unexpected return to racing with Peterborough.Barker, who started the season with Berwick before suffering broken vertebrae in a horror crash at the British Final in June, is set to make his Panthers debut in their home match with Newcastle on Friday.He said: “I've not won anything in the Premier League in the past and hopefully this is the year that can change. I've not just come here for a few meetings. I'm here to get to the play-offs and go for the title.“I know Peterborough have had a lot of injuries this year, but they've clearly got a good team. I just want to add to that and hopefully I can get started by winning heat four on Friday night and going from there.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BUXTON have confirmed they have parted company with David Holt as they expect to make a new signing next month.Hitmen boss Jason Pipe has praised Holt for his efforts in adding nearly half-a-point to his starting average in his first regular stint of National League racing.Pipe said: “I've done a deal to bring in a new exciting rider from next month, who isn't attached to another club and there's also a very good chance he may be a Buxton rider again next season. With this in mind and also it being my job to try and bring in future club assets, I've had to make the hard decision on who to remove from the current team.“It's very unfortunate what's happened to David, but at the end of the day, I approached Belle Vue about making him a Buxton asset at the beginning of this season, they declined and I had to respect their wishes. It was agreed that we would take David on and give him some NL experience in readiness for him going back to Belle Vue.“He is a great kid, he's been a pleasure to work with and was a popular rider in the team. It's been great having him in this Buxton team and I'd like to thank him for what he has done for us this season and wish him well on whatever his future holds in the sport.”(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY AUGUST 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Berwick 7.30, Redcar v Plymouth 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 21:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30, Peterborough v Newcastle 7.30, Scunthorpe v Berwick 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Cradley 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: King’s Lynn v Buxton (follows previous fixture)
SATURDAY AUGUST 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Wolverhampton 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Somerset 7pm, Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.15, Rye House v Ipswich 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Rye House 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 23:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Somerset 3pm, Newcastle v Redcar 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Rye House 3pm, Coventry v Cradley 4pm, Eastbourne v Birmingham 3.30, Mildenhall v Kent 3.30
