(SPEEDWAY 1)
REDCAR promoter Brian Havelock is relishing the club’s staging of the Premier League Fours Final at the Media Prime Arena on Thursday.Ipswich, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Somerset will meet on neutral territory over 16 races after the original event at Peterborough in August had to be abandoned following the serious crash involving Diamonds star Lewis Kerr.Havelock said: “It is without doubt the biggest event we have staged here since the sport returned to Teesside back in 2006. The Fours always provides plenty of entertainment, it is always a highly charged affair and I'm certain Thursday will be no different.“As a club we will be making every effort to do the meeting justice in much the same way as Peterborough always have done down the years.”
(SPEEDWAY 2 - MONDAY REVIEW)
BELLE Vue mounted a dramatic late comeback to draw the first leg of the Elite League Grand Final 46-46 with Poole in the last-ever meeting at Kirkmanshulme Lane.The Pirates dominated the first half of the meeting to go into a 13-point lead with reserves Paul Starke and Kyle Newman in outstanding form.The visitors still led by ten points with three heats to go but the Aces finished with two 5-1s and a 4-2 to leave the Final all-square ahead of Wednesday’s second leg at Wimborne Road.Matej Zagar, who scored 14+1, and Craig Cook (12) both produced spectacular passing moves to claw their side back into contention whilst Chris Holder top-scored for the Pirates on 10+1 with both reserves scoring 9+2.Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It's always nice to get off to a good start but unfortunately that's not always possible. We didn't have a lot of good fortune early doors but these are the things you have to contend with in sport.“How you respond under pressure is what's important and quite clearly, quite visually we responded in the right manner and that is a credit for us to take and continue on Wednesday.“The boys put in an amazing effort to fight back, and fight hard, in the manner that they did. It was great to have Matej back in the team and doing the job we know he's capable of doing.”Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “We looked to be in a commanding position at one stage, holding a 13-point lead after six heats and it took them (Belle Vue) ten heats to gain their first genuine heat advantage, so it was a disappointment to come away on level terms. “But we always knew it was going to be tough and genuinely if you had offered me that option before a wheel was turned I would have taken it. It is going to be a very interesting second leg, that's for sure.”
(SPEEDWAY 3 - TUESDAY PREVIEW)
SOMERSET host Edinburgh on Tuesday in the first leg of the Travel Plus Tours KO Cup Final - with the Rebels looking to take the trophy for the third time.The Oaktree Arena side were victorious in 2008 and 2013 with wins over Workington and Rye House respectively, and they now go into action against the current holders of the silverware.The Rebels have brought in Hynek Stichauer as guest replacement for the injured Oliver Greenwood, and boss Garry May is optimistic of building a first leg lead.May said: “Although Edinburgh came and won here at the Oaktree Arena in the league back in August, I don’t think too much can be read into that match, which has now been consigned to the history books and Tuesday’s first leg encounter is a brand new page in that book.“The boys are especially keen to put in a good performance on Tuesday night, not only in order to build up a lead ahead of Friday’s second leg back up in Edinburgh, but to make amends for that league defeat as they know that they are a much better side than they showed on that occasion - as our second-place finish in the league table and the fact we have come through to the Final of the KO Cup without losing a match, home or away, proves.”(SPEEDWAY 4)
SWINDON owner Terry Russell has firmly dismissed speculation of a possible move to Oxford for the Robins next season.The club stage the final meeting at the existing Abbey Stadium on October 11 before work begins on their new stadium ahead of the 2016 campaign. Russell said: “I have absolutely no idea where these rumours have come from – if anyone should have started them then it should have been me, but there is nothing in it.“Swindon Robins will be moving into the new stadium at some point early in the 2016 season. From the moment work begins on the new site it is a five-month build, possibly a month longer depending on circumstances.”(SPEEDWAY 5)
PETERBOROUGH have drafted in Elite League star Nicklas Porsing as guest number one for both legs of their mouth-watering Premier League play-off semi-final showdown against Edinburgh.Panthers bosses have turned to the King’s Lynn man who has already stepped in for a couple of appearances in red and black this season and will replace the injured Ulrich Ostergaard in the clashes with the Monarchs.Joint team boss Dale Allitt said: “We have a great working relationship with King’s Lynn and it is brilliant to be able to use that to our advantage to secure the services of Nicklas for both legs of the semi-final.“He is a class act who has experience of riding in play-offs in the UK, Sweden and Poland, and we’re delighted to have him on board. He gets on well with the management and our riders, and he is already popular with the supporters after a couple of previous outings for us as a guest.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
BIRMINGHAM have been hit by injury to teenage sensation Zach Wajtknecht who will miss the remainder of their Gold Cup campaign.Wajtknecht crashed heavily during a grasstrack meeting on Sunday and suffered Grade 1 concussion.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “Zach has been told he can't race for at least three weeks meaning his season is over unfortunately. I'm disappointed for the lad because he's had a dream debut season and it would have been nice for him to get through this year completely unscathed.“Zach will still be coming along for the presentation and to help the boys out on Wednesday on what will be a night not to be missed as we are presented the National League trophy.”
(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29:TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30:ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30GOLD CUP S/F 2nd leg: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 1:PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS FINAL: Edinburgh v Ipswich v Newcastle v Somerset (at Redcar) 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2:PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Plymouth v Glasgow 7.15TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30KENT COUNTY FOURS: Kent 6.30
