(SPEEDWAY 1)
SHEFFIELD are counting down to the biggest event of the year at Owlerton Stadium this weekend.The club are once again proud to be hosting the Premier League Riders’ Championship on Sunday (5pm start) with a bumper crowd expected.Jason Garrity will be the home representative and he’s joined by the top rider from every Premier League club which means a host of international stars will be doing battle for the prestigious title.Sheffield chief Damien Bates said: “We are proud and honoured to be staging this event once again.“It’s a major honour for this club and once again we are expecting a fantastic atmosphere with fans from all over Great Britain coming along to enjoy the racing at one of the best venues in the country.“It’s impossible to predict a winner with any great confidence, obviously we would love to see Jason Garrity win it but there are 15 other genuine title hopefuls.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - TUESDAY REVIEW)
LEICESTER pulled off a shock away win at King’s Lynn on Tuesday to transform the race for the Elite League play-offs.The Lions won 46-44 for their first-ever victory on the road in the top flight - leaving the Stars outside the top four with just two matches to go.Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “No-one really gave us a chance and possibly our form guide suggests that, but it just goes to show how unpredictable sport is! “We needed to win as much as King's Lynn did but for different reasons. The result now gives us a chance to lift ourselves off the bottom of the table, but we still have work to do to achieve that and a win in our final fixture at home against Poole tomorrow (Thursday) is a must. “If we can secure the three points against the Pirates that would set us up for the trips to Coventry and Wolverhampton.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 - WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
FOUR of the Elite League’s play-off contenders are in action on Wednesday - and three of the qualification places could be resolved by the end of the night.Leaders Poole have already booked their spot and can take another step towards finishing first as they take on King’s Lynn at Wimborne Road.The Stars are now under increasing pressure after losing at home to Leicester on Tuesday, and should they fail to win in Dorset their destiny will be out of their own hands.Richard Lawson guests for the absent Vaclav Milik for the Stars, whilst Josh Bates replaces the injured Lewis Kerr.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “To be honest I have found it extremely difficult to think of anything else other than Darcy (Ward) and I know that feeling is prevalent within the club.“But we do have a season to complete and although that is going to be tough, as a club we are determined to get through it. We have a busy schedule coming up now and we will need to be focussed as much as possible on that. It is going to be tough and all I can do is ask for our fans to be right behind us, even more than ever.”Meanwhile Coventry have slashed admission prices for their important home clash with Swindon which sees the current second and third placed sides going head-to-head.All adults will be admitted for £10 at Brandon with all under-16s free, as the Bees look to secure their play-off place with Kyle Howarth making his first appearance since re-joining the club, and Max Fricke guests for the injured Joonas Kylmakorpi.Meanwhile the Robins have Peter Kildemand back in the team as a replacement for the injured Darcy Ward, and Lewis Rose makes his comeback after a spell on the sidelines.Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “This is a big, big meeting for us and it’s one we are desperate to win. We want to secure our play-off place and also set the record straight against Swindon.“The boys are all hungry and ready to go, and hopefully we’ll get a big crowd with the special offer. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to come along for £10, including maybe people who haven’t been for a while, especially with under-16s being free as well.“We want to prove a point after what happened here last time, and we want to beat Swindon here in front of everyone.”Swindon manager Alun Rossiter said: “We are very much looking to get another win against Coventry. We had a great result last time we were there so we want to do the same again. “Everybody kept saying we were going for fourth, but second is definitely achievable so if we can get two good results against Coventry we can make things easier for ourselves going into the play-offs.”Meanwhile a massive meeting in the City Gearboxes National League features the top two, Birmingham and Eastbourne, meeting at Perry Barr.The Brummies lead the Eagles by 11 points but have only two matches remaining, whilst the Eagles have three fixtures in hand.Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We know what we have to do in our final two meetings and our riders want this league championship so badly.“Our team spirit has been fantastic all year round and to win the National League in our first season back would mean so much to everyone. “We don't just want to beat Eastbourne, we want to beat them by a margin that means we send them home with nothing to show for their efforts.”Eagles director Connor Dugard said: “They’re coming to this meeting have lost four of their last five fixtures.“Frankly, we have nothing to lose, other than our title hopes whereas the bigger they are, the harder fall and that is exactly what Birmingham have been this year.“Their top three are good, no question asked. But it is their long tail that Mr Drury highlights that is where we can take advantage.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30, King’s Lynn v Kent OFF
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Workington 7.30LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich v Edinburgh 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Leicester 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7.15TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30CHALLENGE: Somerset Select v Exeter Select 7.30
