(SPEEDWAY 1)
EASTBOURNE made a flying start to their Travel Plus National League campaign with a 49-41 win at Coventry on Monday.Despite their injury problems earlier in the weekend, the Eagles’ top four were in fine form at Brandon with Jake Knight scoring a 12-point maximum and Georgie Wood racking up 13+2.Wood got the better of the home side’s top men Liam Carr (12) and Dan Greenwood (11+1) to secure all four league points in Heat 15, whilst the Storm lost both Ryan Terry-Daley (illness) and Martin Knuckey (facial injuries) during the meeting.Eastbourne chairman Martin Dugard said: “From the heartache of losing home and away to Kent on Good Friday, and now we win and get four league points at Coventry. “It is something we could not have dreamed of. Perhaps we have caught Coventry at the right time. We have done so well today.”Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “In the end Eastbourne were worthy winners, we both had some bad luck, but it’s very early days.“They were much sharper, but our boys have only been on track once so far, and it did affect us. One plus for us was our two reserves, they improved with every race and they were chasing the big boys.”Meanwhile Cradley’s top three were all in top form as they opened the season with a 51-39 win over Belle Vue at Monmore Green.Max Clegg and Ashley Morris were both unbeaten from five rides whilst Luke Chessell added 11 as the Heathens dominated the race wins. Youngster Dan Bewley impressed for the Colts on his NL debut with 11+1.Cradley boss Will Pottinger said: “A winning start was always the aim for us and it certainly settles the nerves. We won't get carried away with the result and we won't read too much into it because there's obviously a long, long way to go.“It was a mixed night score-wise for the lads individually but it's important to remember this is only the first meeting and I felt there were plenty of encouraging signs that bode well for the rest of the season.”Belle Vue manager Graham Goodwin said: “It’s a respectable score for us in our first meeting against a team like Cradley. We knew it was going to be a challenge especially with their top two.“We’re in no way disappointed with tonight though. We were never more than eight points down all evening until that 5-1 at the end, and even then we feel it was gifted after both Matt (Williamson) and Rob (Shuttleworth) fell.“Dan Bewley was a revelation for us. We had no idea what he was going to score, given that this was his first ever league match, so when he won his first outing we were absolutely thrilled for him!”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams expects a tough encounter as the Monmore club open their Elite League campaign at home to Belle Vue on Tuesday.After two hugely disappointing seasons, Adams’ side will aim to get back to winning ways with a flying start to 2016, but the Aces showed their liking for the circuit with an emphatic win last September to book their play-off place.Adams said: “When you have a lot of new riders in your team they do sometimes need a bit of time to settle into their new environment and new home track. “I could think of easier opposition for our opening meeting than Belle Vue and I expect they’ll be a tough nut to crack.“We’ve got to look for the win though which is what we’ll be doing, and I think we’ve got every chance of making that happen.”Belle Vue co-promoter Chris Morton said: “Our last meeting at Wolverhampton was something a little bit special. Generally our team quite enjoy the track and can efficiently negotiate it so we’re really looking forward to this meeting.“It’s typical of this time of year that some riders have had meetings and some haven’t, but the fact that Wolves, like us, haven't had any league matches just yet should give some comfort to the lads.“Having said that, they’re professionals who’ve made good use of their practice sessions. It’ll be an interesting night, but we’re going into this with a level off confidence relative to the early season.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BIRMINGHAM reserve Jack Smith has been called up to next Monday’s British Under-21 semi-final at Kent.Smith takes the place of Rye House’s George Hunter, who fractured his wrist in a crash last weekend.British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “Jack was gutted that he was not in the original 16, and as soon as George confirmed he was unavailable, Jack was delighted to be able to be included.“Jack has a great attitude, and I like to see riders super-keen to ride in these events, even though he was really upset not to be included initially. I like to see that type of attitude, because the kid wants to compete at the highest level.”Meeting reserves for the Central Park event will be Kent’s Jack Thomas and locally-based Rye House rider Connor Locke.(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY MARCH 29:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
THURSDAY MARCH 31:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Sheffield v Peterborough 7.30TYNE/TEES TROPHY 1st leg: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 1:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 7.30, Lakeside v Leicester 8pmLEAGUE CUP: Peterborough v Scunthorpe 7.30TRICENNIAL TROPHY: Edinburgh v Belle Vue 7.30CHALLENGE: Somerset Select v Plymouth Select 7.30
