(SPEEDWAY 1)
SCUNTHORPE pulled off a stunning opening-night 48-41 win at Ipswich in the first League Cup fixture of the season.The Scorpions only provided five heat winners but crucially four of those came in 5-1 race advantages as they produced a far more solid-scoring display than that of their hosts.Alex Davies led the way for the visitors with 13 points, with reserve Carl Wilkinson adding 9+2, and youngster Josh Bailey shared in a Heat 2 maximum.Danny King scored 14 for Ipswich with Morten Risager also in double figures on 10 – but the Dane could now be set for a spell on the sidelines due to a broken metatarsal.Scunthorpe boss Dave Peet said: “I take my hat off to the boys. Our attitude was that we were going to give it a go, and that's exactly what we did all the way throughout the meeting.“It was a real team performance – everyone contributed, all of them. Young Josh Bailey scored a paid win in Heat 2; it was a terrific ride from him and was the difference between us taking four points rather than three from the meeting.”(SPEEDWAY 2)
COVENTRY promoter Mick Horton wants to inflict an early defeat on Poole when the teams meet in the second leg of the Elite Shield at Brandon.The Bees are set to welcome back Krzysztof Kasprzak, who missed Wednesday’s clash in Dorset due to injury, whilst the Pirates travel with a 22-point lead from that encounter.Horton said: “Wednesday night was extra practice to get things right before we start at home. Bomber (Chris Harris) was superb and we were delighted with Kacper’s (Woryna) performance in his first meeting.“I know Poole are attempting to go through the entire season unbeaten but we can stop that talk straight away by winning on Friday. It will be tough, but the boys can do it and it would be great to see a big crowd cheering us on.”Lakeside open their season with the Spring Trophy Individual at Purfleet, with all of their squad involved along with former Hammers Stuart Robson and Leigh Lanham.Home supporters will get their first sight of Lewis Kerr in their colours, whilst Lewis Bridger also makes his competitive return to the sport.Kerr said: “The Spring Trophy meeting will be a good chance to get some laps in around my new home track, so hopefully I can hit the ground running with a good meeting there.“I’ve gone quite well at Lakeside in the past and I’m looking forward to having it as my home track. It can be quite tricky to get to grips with but getting those laps early in the season will be important.”Plymouth also launch the campaign with an individual meeting, as the Spring Classic takes place at the St Boniface Arena.New Devils signings Charlie Gjedde and Ellis Perks will be in action along with three of their team-mates, whilst former Plymouth riders Ben Barker, Mikkel Bech and Ashley Morris are also included.Co-promoter David Short said: “We have an attractive field and it will give our riders a chance to get in some useful track time against quality opposition before the official season starts.“It will also enable our supporters to see a quality field in action at the St Boniface Arena.”The opening meeting of the season at the Oaktree Arena sees a Somerset Select take on a Swindon Select – with each club having three riders who race for both clubs this year.League priority will be observed so Josh Grajczonek will ride for the Robins with Charles Wright and Paul Starke lining up for home side.Somerset co-promoter Debbie Hancock said: “The match will see the return to the Oaktree Arena of Jason Doyle, one of the all-time Somerset greats.“Although Swindon will have five of their Elite League side in their team, the Somerset boys, bolstered on the night by ex-Robin Peter Kildemand, are determined to give our illustrious opponents a good run for their money.”Grajczonek said: “It’s going to be a bit strange riding against Somerset, but I’m looking forward to it and hoping to get off to a good start.“I didn’t have a good Aussie season results wise, but it was still good to be riding fairly regularly and I did plenty of practising before I flew over.”Meanwhile at the Adrian Flux Arena a King’s Lynn Select side face opposition from Polish club Wroclaw in a challenge fixture.The Stars have added Scott Nicholls to their ranks with a format of eight-man teams, whilst the visitors include World Champion Tai Woffinden and fellow GP star Maciej Janowski.King’s Lynn chief Keith Chapman said: “I can’t wait for it. We had an excellent Ben Fund meeting at the Adrian Flux Arena to open the 2016 season last week and I am expecting more of the same this Friday. Both teams are evenly matched and that will produce close, exciting racing for the supporters.“It will be the first time that our team will come together this year. The riders will get together before the meeting and I am sure Rob (Lyon) will get them fired up. We want to get off to a good start and hit the ground running.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
ISLE of Wight captain Brendan Johnson has suffered a broken upper arm in a practice crash on Thursday.Johnson slid off in what appeared an innocuous fall, but hospital x-rays revealed a break to the top of the left arm which will require surgery.He said: “So a tiny slide off today in practice has ended up with my humerus bone being broken in two places and me being stuck in hospital until tomorrow (Saturday) when I will have an operation to pin and plate the breaks.“They say the small ones (falls) are the worst and they are correct and I can only say sorry to the club's fans, the management and all their and my sponsors, but my season is possibly over before it has even started.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
RYE House have completed several stadium improvements ahead of their 2016 season launch against Plymouth on Saturday.The track and fence have been revamped, a new covered first-bend stand will be operational for the first meeting as well as new covered pits and dressing rooms, and extensive tarmacking is scheduled for the former greyhound circuit’s sandy surface.Rockets manager Peter Schroeck said: “It is exciting for the riders and myself to see the scale of investment that is going into both the track and stadium. We are also really excited about the opportunity to be part of a professional brand in BMR. And a brand is what it is.“Our focus within both teams will be to work hard, but also to have fun. I always found when I was racing myself that when I was enjoying my riding I was also scoring more, and that is what we want to achieve here. It’s all about team spirit and working with all seven riders as a unit, so that they contribute and win as a team.”(FIXTURES)
FRIDAY MARCH 18:ELITE SHIELD 2nd leg: Coventry v Poole 7.30CHALLENGE: King’s Lynn Select v Wroclaw 7.30, Somerset Select v Swindon Select 7.30SPRING TROPHY INDIVIDUAL: Lakeside 8pmSPRING CLASSIC: Plymouth 7.15
SATURDAY MARCH 19:LEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Plymouth 7pmINTER-LEAGUE CHALLENGE 1st leg: Leicester v Sheffield 1pmPETER CRAVEN MEMORIAL TROPHY: Belle Vue 6pm
SUNDAY MARCH 20:LEAGUE CUP: Scunthorpe v Ipswich 3pmCHRIS HARRIS TESTIMONIAL: Coventry 2pm
