(SPEEDWAY 1 - WEDNESDAY PREVIEW)
CRADLEY boss Will Pottinger says they have a point to prove heading into their Gold Cup semi-final tie with Birmingham on Wednesday.The Heathens will look to seize control of the tie with a first leg victory as they host their co-tenants who have succeeded them as National League Champions this season.The home side draft in Darryl Ritchings to guest for Nathan Greaves at No.3 with rider replacement covering for Ellis Perks after he saw his season ended prematurely by a broken hand, whilst Tyler Govier is preferred to Luke Harris at reserve. Meanwhile, the Brummies have booked new 500cc British Youth Champion Jack Parkinson-Blackburn and Jack Smith to guest in their lower order.Pottinger said: “We want to prove that we can beat Birmingham, they have the target on their back now being league Champions, so it would be great to get one over on them.“I'm sure we are going to have two very close meetings as no team has got any home advantage over the other, but hopefully we can come away with a win on Wednesday to put ourselves in a good position.”Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We would love to progress through to the Final of the Gold Cup and edge a step closer to yet another trophy to add to our collection, but whatever happens on Wednesday, the tie is only half done and there’s still plenty to do next week.“I think the seven riders who will represent Birmingham on Wednesday are the most exciting septet we will have seen this season and I’m pretty sure it will be one of the youngest ever teams tracked in the clubs history.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue star Max Fricke says the Aces have nothing to lose when they take on Poole in the Elite League Grand Final next week.The Manchester side made it into the play-offs with a strong run of form at the end of the season and then eliminated Swindon over two legs to set up a clash with the defending champions.Fricke said: “We’ve been a solid team all season, but our results haven’t always reflected it. People may say we just scraped into the play-offs but we’ve shown that we definitely deserve to be here.“I think Poole will be a lot stronger around Belle Vue than they were last time they were here. Some of their guys do struggle here, but I’m sure that this time things will be different.“I believe we’re going to have two very close, very exciting matches on our hands. From our point of view it’s all to play for, as we’ve said all along we’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
GLASGOW legend James Grieves is predicting a dramatic League Cup Final between the Tigers and Scottish rivals Edinburgh this weekend.Grieves, who now works in the Glasgow pits with Nick Morris, was a member of the Tigers side who beat Edinburgh in the 1994 KO Cup Final - the last time the two sides went head-to-head for a national trophy.He said: “These are the kind of meetings that I would thrive on. I think it would be awesome to be part of it, with this being the new era at Glasgow - and the fact that it's Edinburgh and Glasgow in the League Cup final. “I just hope that most of our riders show the same passion I would have shown if I was riding in this kind of meeting. It would be just great for the club, for everybody who's involved at the moment, to win it - especially over Edinburgh.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PROMOTER Ged Rathbone wants the people of Peterborough and beyond to pack the East of England Showground for the club's huge play-off battle.The Panthers host Sheffield in a vital quarter-final tie on Sunday having secured a remarkable 46-44 win at Owlerton in last Thursday’s first leg.Rathbone said: “The fans have backed us superbly all season and proved that we did the right thing by stepping in last winter to keep the sport going in Peterborough. “Our crowds have been hovering around the 1,000 mark for the majority of meetings, but I really want to see the place packed on Sunday. I'll be absolutely over the moon if we can get a crowd of around 2,000 people and that can make a huge difference to the riders.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
FORMER Isle of Wight sponsors Wightlink Ferries are to back the club’s intended return to racing in 2016.The Smallbrook Stadium side have been out of action for the last two years but plans are in hand for them to return next season, with a Thursday race night rather than Tuesday, under the control of Barry Bishop and Martin Widman.Wightlink Head of Marketing Mark Persad said: “Speedway has a long and proud history on the Isle of Wight, in the past more than 3,000 people used to turn up to cheer on our team.“As part of Island Life, we at Wightlink are delighted to play our part in supporting the racers by assisting with travel costs and we are sure they will go from strength to strength next year.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23:GOLD CUP S/F 1st leg: Cradley v Birmingham 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24:16-LAP CLASSIC: Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25:LEAGUE CUP FINAL 1st leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
