(SPEEDWAY 1 - WEDNESDAY REVIEW)
CRADLEY reached the National League KO Cup Final for the fourth year running after a 57-33 win over King's Lynn. An impressive all-round display clinched a 36-point aggregate victory, totalling 108-72 over the two legs with Max Clegg and Matt Williamson both completing unbeaten performances throughout the tie.The Heathens will now face Eastbourne in the Final, with the first leg to take place at Perry Barr next Wednesday.Manager Will Pottinger said: “It's great to race to such an emphatic win over the two legs and it certainly fills us with confidence ahead of the final.“We got off to a pretty slow start but we restricted them to just the one race win and it was a really impressive performance from the boys.“We're under no illusions - it's going to be a tough Final against Eastbourne but we know we're more than capable of winning over two legs and all the lads will need to dig deep and hopefully we can finish off the season with a trophy.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
EDINBURGH skipper Craig Cook has turned up the heat on title rivals Glasgow ahead of the Premier League Grand Final this weekend.Cook leads the reigning champions into action at Ashfield on Friday before the Monarchs stage the return fixture the following evening - and he is pleased to be racing away in the first leg.Cook said: “I feel the pressure is on Glasgow, they are the team which has been hyped up with all this money and a fantastic league-winning team. We are just out there having fun, so let them have all the pressure and we will go out there and do our thing as usual.“I’m quite happy that the first leg is in Glasgow, we know how strong we are at home. We can look for damage limitation at Glasgow, or better still let’s just go and win it there! That would make it easy for us at home.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
SWINDON have clarified matters in relation to the successful staging of the Abbey Farewell meeting last weekend.The club have acknowledged correspondence from some individuals in relation to media reports that Sunday’s meeting may not turn out to be the final event at the old Abbey circuit as they await the commencement of work on their new venue.Club owner Terry Russell said: “Three weeks ago I checked with our landlords, Gaming International, and the developers about the progress for the new stadium. I made the point I didn’t want to be left with egg on my face over the Abbey Farewell.“There have been delays which are frustrating, but the final planning issue should be resolved by the end of October and the contractors are ready to go.“It is our intention to start racing our home meetings at the new Abbey Stadium in May and we will be informing the British Speedway Promoters’ Association accordingly.“I have done what I believe is in the best interests of Swindon Speedway by safeguarding next season, but let me assure everyone there will not in any way be another Abbey Farewell meeting – that’s been done and very successfully.“It is our intention to start next season in the new stadium, but at least Swindon supporters can relax in the knowledge there will be a team in action next season rather than just closing down for a year.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BIRMINGHAM’S Adam Kirby has announced his intention to take a year out of racing.Kirby was ever-present for the National League champions throughout 2015 but found himself racing through the pain barrier on several occasions after a number of crashes.He said: “It’s been a real hard year – I’ve damaged my hip, I burnt the skin away on my calf more-or-less right down to the muscle which has caused me a lot of pain, I’ve just been through the wars and it’s just reached that point now.“I’ve had a few big accidents this year and I think taking a year out and working on my fitness is going to be the best thing for me in the long run.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
KENT have signed 16-year-old Jack Thomas on a full contract after he impressed the club towards the end of the season.The young East Anglian was spotted at the British Youth Championship meeting at Rye House where a fall in the Final cost him the chance of winning the 500cc class, and he also gave a promising display in the Silver Ski Championship at Central Park.Kings boss Chris Hunt is delighted to have confirmed the signing of Thomas with the lower-order of the team having caused concern in 2015.Hunt said: “I have great hopes for this very keen young man. He intends to practice intensely during the winter to hit the ground running when we open at Easter next year, and I am very happy that he has joined us.”
(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 16:PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17:PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Rye House 3pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 18: CITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v King’s Lynn 3pm, Stoke v King’s Lynn 7pm
