(SPEEDWAY 1)
SWINDON and Australia star Darcy Ward was last night undergoing surgery on a spinal injury sustained in a track crash in Poland.Ward’s parent club Poole issued a statement confirming that following the accident he had no lower body feeling. Pirates promoter Matt Ford said: “The thoughts of everyone associated with Poole Speedway at this time are very much with Darcy and I would like to assure everyone that as a club we will do everything we possibly can for him during this difficult time.“Middlo (Neil Middleditch) is going to be flying out to Poland in the morning. Neil has a very strong relationship with Darcy and it is important at times like this that Darcy has as much support as possible around him. “Fans will probably not be surprised to learn that Chris Holder deferred his flight plans back to the UK so that he could divert to Zielona Gora to be with his good friend.“There is not much that can be done other than to show Darcy that he has the support of everyone and I have been touched learning of the number of messages that have been flooding in for Darcy since the news began to filter through that his injuries were serious, but that is simply typical of the speedway family and the esteem that the riders are held in within our great sport, a sport that at times can be so cruel.“All I can say is that the speedway family continue to keep Darcy very much in their thoughts and prayers as we await further news on his condition.”With an adverse weather forecast also a factor, the scheduled Elite League clash between Poole and Swindon on Monday has been postponed.
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SUNDAY REVIEW)
SOMERSET made it seven points from their weekend Northern tour with a shock 47-42 Premier League win at second-placed Glasgow on Sunday.The Rebels are now just two points behind the Tigers with two matches remaining in the race to book automatic places in the play-off semi-finals.The visitors achieved the result despite being without recent signing Rasmus Jensen, with no facility for a replacement, but Josh Grajczonek returned from injury to score a paid maximum on his old home track, and reserve Paul Starke added a crucial 11+1 - whilst a series of clashes between Aaron Summers and Richie Worrall left the home skipper angry.Summers said: “He tried to swing at me and that started it all off. But it was his own fault - he's the one that tried to make a dirty move.”Rebels manager Garry May said: “I don’t think many gave us much of a chance going into the match as we did without Rasmus and having to use a junior rider in his place, but Josh played the true captain’s role, riding through the pain barrier to not only lead the side to victory but score a superb paid maximum of his own.“This has been a long and tough weekend of racing, but after a disappointing start on Friday night at Edinburgh, the boys turned things around and the seven league points we have picked up this weekend will make the long journey home so much more enjoyable.”Elsewhere, Newcastle racked up a 61-31 win over local rivals Redcar at Brough Park with Steve Worrall (14), Tero Aarnio (11+3) and Ludvig Lindgren (11+2) all scoring heavily.Diamonds boss George English said: “It was a very good win and an entertaining match. There is always plenty riding on any meeting against Redcar so it’s good to get the win and send the fans home happy.“We have to give so much credit to our track staff team tonight for getting this meeting on, they pumped 23,000 gallons of water off the track following lots of rain last night and they still managed to produce a great racing surface.”In the City Gearboxes National League, Eastbourne’s title hopes remain alive after a 51-42 win over Birmingham which left the leaders point-less at Arlington.Two 5-1s in the opening two races proved crucial for the Eagles, for whom Bradley Wilson-Dean scored 13 - whilst the Brummies’ Adam Ellis was disqualified from Heat 1 but was then unbeaten.Eastbourne boss Glenn Martin said: “It was a brilliant performance. We rode well as a team and everyone did their bit.”Birmingham manager Graham Drury said: “If you take away those first two races, it's an admirable effort and that has been the difference between us getting something and leaving empty-handed."OK, there were a few decisions and a few setbacks here and there that played their part but overall we shouldn't be too downhearted.”Eastbourne are now 11 points behind Birmingham with three matches in hand - and still have to visit Perry Barr - whilst Cradley are a further four adrift with an extra match in hand after being rained-off at Coventry on Sunday.Meanwhile Rye House have gone fifth thanks to a 48-42 win at Buxton, turning around a six-point deficit in tricky conditions in the closing stages of the meeting.Hitmen boss Jason Pipe said: “I said following the match against Kent that it was my lowest point as Buxton team boss but I think that has just eclipsed that. To be honest the last few heats were a farce and it has cost us. “That said, I still believe we can grab that last Gold Cup spot - yes, we will pretty much have to win all our remaining matches but given our September line up including our new signing I believe we are capable of doing it.”In the National Trophy Mildenhall defeated Kent 34-26 in a meeting curtailed after ten races due to rain, with the result standing.
(SPEEDWAY 3 - MONDAY PREVIEW)
BELLE Vue need a series of wins to maintain their chance of an Elite League play-off place - starting at home to Wolverhampton on Monday.The Aces are five points behind both Swindon and King’s Lynn and only have three matches to come, two of which are at Kirkmanshulme Lane.Boss Mark Lemon said: “Recent developments elsewhere in the league means it’s more important than ever for us to win our remaining fixtures if we hope to remain in the title hunt. Personally, I feel that is quite do-able.“It is very frustrating that our overall fate is, to a degree, out of our hands but we must do all we can to help ourselves. It’s all to play for still and that’s why it’s called racing. No one gives you an inch.”Wolves skipper Peter Karlsson said: “We've really struggled away from home this year, but it was a big boost for everyone to get a point at Leicester.“Hopefully we can carry that through to Monday's meeting against Belle Vue. We know it's going to be tough, they are trying to get into the play-offs, but we are going to give it our best to try to run them close and maybe snatch a win.”King’s Lynn need two home wins to guarantee a play-off place, and they face Leicester at the Adrian Flux Arena on Monday.Vaclav Milik is expected back for the Stars with rider-replacement covering for Robert Lambert, whilst Carl Wilkinson guests for Lewis Kerr at reserve. Jason Garrity is named as the Lions’ stand-in at reserve for Josh Auty.
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY AUGUST 24:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30, King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Swindon OFFCHALLENGE: Kent v Arena-Essex OFF (Now Mon Sept 14)
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Swindon 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v King’s Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 27:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Sheffield v Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 28:PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Plymouth v Newcastle 7.15, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Peterborough 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Kent 7pm, Coventry v Mildenhall (follows previous fixture), King’s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
