(SPEEDWAY 1 - FRIDAY REVIEW)
EDINBURGH took control of the League Cup Final with a 55-34 win over rivals Glasgow at Armadale.The Monarchs will take a 21-point advantage to Ashfield for Sunday’s second leg with skipper Craig Cook scoring a paid maximum.Kevin Wolbert was also unbeaten until Heat 15 whilst Sam Masters and Justin Sedgmen only dropped points in one ride apiece, with the Tigers limited to just two heat wins.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “We could have scored more, we threw a few points away, but we’d have settled for that before the start. Now we just need to stay calm and finish the job on Sunday.”Meanwhile Coventry’s Mark Baseby won the Silver Ski Holidays Cup at Kent, defeating Ben Morley, Aaron Baseby and Danny Ayres in the Final.
(SPEEDWAY 2 - SATURDAY PREVIEW)
RYE House host the top riders from the third tier with their annual staging of the National League Riders’ Championship at Hoddesdon.Mildenhall’s Danny Halsey defends the title against a host of contenders in the event sponsored by Paradise Wildlife Park.Rye House boss John Sampford said: “Adam Ellis stands a great chance. If you include his bonus points, he’s averaged over 10 both home and away for Birmingham this year, and that’s been a key reason the Brummies have won both the League and the Fours.“You can’t rule out Ben Morley, who has plenty of experience and knowledge of the Rye House track. Ben has had a really good year with Kent - in his case, he’s not been too far shy of the 10 point mark - and he’s won the Pairs. He also finished third in this event a year ago, so he would love nothing more than to go a couple of places better this time“Of the possible dark horses, the one that stands out to me is Danny Ayres, who has enjoyed a real breakthrough year – and not just because of winning the Pairs - although you know that Danny Halsey won’t let go of his title without a fight. But they are all there on merit, and they are all capable of being spoilers at the very least.”Meanwhile the British Youth Championship reaches a conclusion at Northside on Saturday afternoon, with 500cc winner Jack Parkinson-Blackburn chasing a unique clean sweep of meeting victories, having won all five rounds in the series so far.Rostrum places are still up for grabs in both 500cc and 250cc categories after Tom Brennan also clinched the latter title at Rye House last weekend.
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BELLE Vue are expecting to be back to full strength for the first leg of the Elite League Grand Final on Monday.Aces No.1 Matej Zagar has been absent for the club’s run-in and the play-off semi-final victory over Swindon, with Andreas Jonsson guesting in both legs, but the Slovenian is due to return against Poole in Manchester.Belle Vue reserve Steve Worrall said: “We've had some amazing guests do a great job for us, but it’s great to hear Matej will be back. He’s a great guy to have around, he's so confident and just never seems to be fazed.“This whole team gets on extremely well together and has done all season. Every one of us is so pumped up for the Final now, and to be back at full-strength is exactly what we wanted.“From 1-7 we’re as strong as the Pirates so there’s no way either side can afford to let up. Poole are experts at their home track, just as we are around ours, so I’m certain we’re in for quite a Final.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
INJURED talisman Ulrich Ostergaard is flying in to back Peterborough's bid for a place in the semi-finals of the Premier League play-offs.The Danish ace, out for the rest of the season with a broken foot which required surgery, will be present at the East of England Showground when the Panthers take on Sheffield in the second leg of their quarter-final tussle having won the opener 46-44 in South Yorkshire.Ostergaard said: “I've ridden in the Premier League for a long time, but never been in the play-offs. I thought that was about to change, but then I picked up the injury at the worst possible time.“I'm looking forward to coming over on Sunday and catching up with everyone. The boys got a great result at Sheffield in the first leg and I'm sure they can finish the job to get into the semi-finals.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
SOMERSET’S Travel Plus Tours KO Cup Final clash with Edinburgh on Tuesday is also set to mark a milestone event at the Oaktree Arena.The first leg of the tie, in a competition the Rebels won in 2008, will be the 400th meeting to be staged at the venue since their opener against St Austell on June 2, 2000.Promoter Debbie Hancock said: “Much has happened since those fledgling days, back then I was the car park attendant collecting people’s £1 as they drove into the Arena!“Despite all the changes which have occurred over the years, the things which have stayed consistent throughout are the Oaktree Arena producing excellent racing and the Somerset team being one which is entertaining to watch.“Of course the more recent years have seen Somerset gain success on a regular basis as far as trophies are concerned, but it has been a road of continual improvement here, both on and off the track, as the saying goes, from a tiny acorn the might oak tree does grow, and I would like to think that also applies to things here at the Oaktree Arena.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
BELLE Vue reserve Stefan Nielsen is keen to play his part in the Elite League Grand Final when the Aces take on Poole next week.The World Under-21 finalist knows the clashes involving himself and team-mate Steve Worrall against Pirates duo Kyle Newman and Paul Starke could be crucial in the battle for the title which starts at Kirkmanshulme Lane on Monday.Nielsen said: “We’re on a roll. The team is working well together, our spirits are high and everyone is raring to go. We know Poole don’t favour Belle Vue’s track but all the same, it won’t be easy.“I’m actually looking forward to going to Poole! It’s a place I really like to ride. The last time we were there, I got a race win in Heat 12 and that gave me an idea as to what set-ups work there.”
(SPEEDWAY 7)
LEICESTER promoter David Hemsley insists he still hopes to keep No.1 Jason Doyle at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium next season.Reports surfaced this week suggesting Doyle, who is a Swindon asset and current Grand Prix rider, would favour a midweek home track in 2016 due to his Polish commitments on Sundays.Hemsley said: “I can fully understand Jason's position as he is the consummate professional who wants to give off his very best wherever he is racing. We certainly do not want to see him go as he has been a beacon for the club both in domestic competitions and internationally. “If we can find ways of alleviating Jason's concerns then we will work towards that in the hope that he can see a way forward to leading Leicester again next season.”
(SPEEDWAY 8)
THE sixth and Final round of the 2015 Mitas British Youth Championship moves North to Cumbria this Saturday afternoon - as the Northside track in Workington hosts the event at the second time of asking.Plans to initially stage the round last month had to be postponed due to the track being vandalised.British Youth Boss Neil Vatcher said: “All credit to the staff at Northside who have done a tremendous amount of work and effort to the stadium to get it up and running after tragically being vandalised only four weeks ago.“For me personally, this Northside track is what British Youth speedway at this level is all about. It is a great little venue, and an ideal size of track for all these young riders learning how to not only ride but also race a speedway bike regardless of what class they are riding in.“This season’s series has been unreal, and I know we say it every year but the series really does get better each and every year, and the 2015 series is certainly no different.“We have some great sponsors on board, which now includes Kandysoft Solutions who have assisted us all this season for which we appreciate their help, along with all our loyal sponsors Mitas Tyres, Wessex Marine, Friends of Speedway, Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, PBHS of Barnsley, Duck Smart Cleaning Products and Trend Creative, who have designed and created our fantastic website, Twitter and Facebook accounts, which has given the Youth Series a higher profile.“With both the British Titles in the 500cc and 250cc being clinched at Rye House last Sunday with Jack Parkinson and Tom Brennan respectively, there are still rostrum places up for grabs, and also we will see if Jack can claim a remarkable record of winning all six rounds, an achievement that has never been done before.“There is a good turnout of 39 riders meaning an afternoon’s entertainment of 43 races including a Final in each of the four classes.”
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26:NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House 7pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 6: Northside 2pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Peterborough v Sheffield 5pmLEAGUE CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Rye House 6.30CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 3.30
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29:TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
