(SPEEDWAY 1)
LAKESIDE completed a quick-fire double over Leicester with a crushing 56-33 away win at Beaumont Park.Just 24 hours after defeating the Lions at the Arena-Essex Raceway, the Hammers stormed to another convincing victory to claim all four Elite League points.Andreas Jonsson and Richard Lawson collected faultless paid maximums for the visitors - with Grand Prix ace Jonsson making it 13 successive Elite League races without being defeated by an opposing rider, with home boss Norrie Allan sending out his top-scoring reserves Josh Auty and Paul Starke for Heat 15.Lakeside coach Kelvin Tatum said: “I was a little concerned that Leicester might come out all guns blazing after their defeat against us last night, but full credit to the team. “They showed great determination and it was a tremendous team effort to come away with an emphatic win.“It’s been a very encouraging start to the season for us. There is plenty of spirit being shown in the team, I think that is epitomised by Piotr Swiderski who has bounced back from a couple of nasty crashes to keep winning races.”Leicester team manager Norris Allan said: "We are hurting from this result and we will be working doubly hard to ensure that we get ourselves into a winning frame of mind. I would like to apologise to our fans for the poor performance tonight which is not acceptable."Meanwhile Berwick wrapped up victory over Redcar in the Tweed/Tees Trophy with a 54-36 win over the Bears at Shielfield Park.That result gave the Bandits a 14-point aggregate success following their narrow first leg defeat, with skipper Kevin Doolan leading the scoring on 12+1. Jonas B Andersen matched that total for the visitors.Berwick team manager Scott Courtney said: "All the guys got stuck right in to the racing and for a seasons' opening meeting we saw some great racing and fine passing from a team eager for success and I don't want to single anyone out as it was a team performance of the best type. Tonight was completely satisfying."
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SCOTTISH rivals Glasgow and Edinburgh clash for the first time this season with a League Cup contest at Ashfield on Sunday.The Monarchs prevailed last season when the sides met in the Final of the same competition, and then went on to defeat the Tigers in the Premier League Grand Final.New Glasgow signing Fernando Garica guested for the Monarchs in the first of those Finals, and he is relishing the derby atmosphere.Garcia said: “When I came for the second leg to Glasgow I realised how much competition there is between both teams. It's really exciting for the riders and we want to see more clubs like that, battling each other with songs and everything - it was really amazing.“Now, I definitely want to beat Edinburgh. I think that both teams are strong, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens and see what I can do on the day.”Rye House meet Somerset with their re-arranged League Cup clash being the first half of a double-header at Hoddesdon.Rockets boss Peter Schroeck is aware that it could be a key meeting in the context of the group, although signs are now positive for a Plymouth return.Schroeck said: “All we can do is to keep our heads down and try to win all our matches in order to go through. “We lost by nine points at Somerset, so the objective on Sunday is to win by ten or more in case it does come down to those two matches. All the boys are certainly fired up for that target.”The second meeting at Hoddesdon sees the Rye House Raiders face Kent in the opening Travel Plus National League fixture for both teams.The Raiders bring in Zach Wajtknecht to guest for the unavailable Robert Branford, whilst the Kings have Mark Baseby replacing Danny Ayres.The match also features former Rye House stalwart Luke Bowen lining up for the visitors, whilst former Kings captain Ben Morley is now back in Raiders colours.Schroeck said: “The pressure is more on them (the Kings) than us because they are a stand-alone team and their results directly impact them financially, whereas the Raiders are part of a wider umbrella and we can look more to use them to develop new riders. “No-one gave the Raiders a chance last year, but they really turned it around – and that’s the objective again with the new boys that have come in for 2016.”Newcastle and Redcar meet at Brough Park in what has become the first leg of the Tyne/Tees Trophy.The Diamonds led by twelve points on Thursday before rain forced an early halt at the Media Prime Arena.Workington are also in action at home for the first time, as they take on Berwick in the first leg of the Border Trophy.Comets club owner Laura Morgan said: “It’s been a long close-season and having had our season-opener rained off last weekend all the boys are keen to get a home meeting under their belt before the official fixtures get underway next week.“Berwick always provide us with an entertaining meeting and they have a few riders in their side that can go well around our place so it should be a good test for our new look line-up.”Mildenhall’s first home action of the season features an impressive line-up for the Fen Fours, with Scunthorpe’s Alex Davies now added to the field as Simon Lambert is unavailable. Joe Jacobs, Josh Bates and Stefan Nielsen all return to West Row after previous title success with the club.Fen Tigers promoter Kevin Jolly said: “I am very pleased to welcome Alex into Sunday’s meeting, he is a quality rider who I am sure our supporters will enjoy seeing. I would like to go on record thanking Alex for coming in at such short notice and also Rob Godfrey for his help in this matter.“I feel the field assembled will ensure an excellent meeting and one worthy of the excellent sponsorship we have received. I hope that with plenty of local rider interest that a big crowd will descend on West Row to witness some very exciting racing with plenty of track specialists on show.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY APRIL 3:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pm, Rye House v Somerset 3pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Kent (follows LC fixture)TYNE/TEES TROPHY 1st leg: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30BORDER TROPHY 1st leg: Workington v Berwick 7.30FENLAND FOURS: Mildenhall 3.30
MONDAY APRIL 4:BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Kent 6.30ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 6:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Eastbourne 7.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Birmingham v Rye House 7.30
ENDS
