MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
BRITISH Speedway Chairman Keith Chapman says this summer’s British Final is a golden opportunity for a new champion to be crowned.Three-time winner and reigning World Champion Tai Woffinden is standing down from the meeting at Belle Vue on June 13, opening up the title race.And Chapman says it’s a great chance for a new name to be engraved on the trophy.He said: “I’m sure the likes of Craig Cook and others will see this as a great chance to win the British title as well as Scotty Nicholls and Chris Harris looking to add to their titles.“Tai made me aware of this and whilst it is a disappointment we, as an association, wish him well.“We’re pleased he is committed to the World Cup team and I wish him all the best in attempting to win a third world title. The publicity his titles have generated for the sport are a major plus for British Speedway.“It also opens up the British Final and I’m sure we will still see a very entertaining meeting.”Woffinden has emphasised he will be riding for his country in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Final in Manchester on Saturday July 30.He said: “I’m very proud of my achievement in winning my national title for three successive years and this is a situation I have been thinking long and hard about over the winter.“I will still be representing my country at the World Cup and after speaking to Keith Chapman, I am very encouraged by what I am hearing about plans for the future of Team GB.“I am proud to ride for Great Britain, the country of my birth, and I will give the World Cup my total commitment and effort.“This has been a very difficult call for me. However, I have to look after myself. I cannot afford a repeat of what happened to me in 2014 when I became burnt out mentally and physically.“I’ve worked so hard to get to this position and now I have to capitalise. It’s not in any way showing disrespect to my national championship, I will always be proud to say I have won the British title in three successive years.”
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2016BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Sheffield, April 14BRITISH FINAL: Belle Vue, June 13PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, July 8PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS WEEKEND: Peterborough, July 23/24PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, September 11ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, Date TBC
NATIONAL LEAGUE MAJOR EVENTS 2016NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry, August 14NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS: King’s Lynn, August 27NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester, September 17
BRITISH SPEEDWAY FIM EVENTS 2016:WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER: King’s Lynn, May 7WORLD UNDER-21 QUALIFIER: Belle Vue, May 21WORLD UNDER-21 FINAL Round 1: King’s Lynn, June 18
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE have two wins out of two away from home this season after their 11-point victory at Leicester last Saturday.Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “I’m sure that going forward everyone will start to analyse every meeting we have more closely because the more successful you are the more pressure you put on yourself to maintain that.“It’s early doors and every match is important. Last season we experienced a late rush of form that mirrors our current form so that indicates that a lot of the issues we had have been addressed.”COVENTRY boss Gary Havelock is keen that two early Elite League defeats for the Bees do not turn into a losing habit through the first part of the season.Havelock said: “I spoke to some of the boys last week, and they’ll all be made aware in no uncertain terms of what we need, although I’m sure they already know it.“Riders don’t like getting beaten, especially at home, and we as a club will certainly be hoping for a reaction to that.”KING’S LYNN co-promoter Dale Allitt is keen to “re-connect” with supporters having seen his role at the club expanded by his appointment.He said: “My main role will be to help Rob (Lyon) run the day-to-day speedway business which takes up far more time than most people realise.“However, we are all equally aware that we need to improve the product and experience for the fans. We are already looking at other things as the evenings warm up, especially in the summer months, so we can offer that bit more than the norm.”LAKESIDE co-promoter Jon Cook says he is delighted with the Hammers’ start to the season, with last Friday’s win over Poole being their fourth victory so far.Cook said: “It takes a proper speedway team to be able to lower Poole’s colours. I know a lot of people have said that this is a one-team league, but I’d say after tonight it’s a two-team league. “It’s early days, but we’ve done six meetings and we have to be very pleased with where we are at and the way things are going at the moment.”LEICESTER have made a team change with Australian star Aaron Summers coming into the team to replace an out-of-form Grzegorz Walasek.Lions promoter David Hemsley said: “Aaron comes into the side on a 6.82 average following his end of season spell at Swindon where he did exceptionally well, and he has been itching to continue riding in the Elite League this season.“Grzegorz is employed as a heat-leader and as such he has not replicated the form of 2015. I told him that we still believed in him and if could get his form back we would like to think that he could return to race for us again at some time in the future.”POOLE promoter Matt Ford expects his team to learn from last Friday’s defeat at Lakeside – the first time in four visits to Purfleet that the Pirates had left point-less.Ford said: “We always knew it would be difficult coming here as they were always likely to score well, but given that we were able to build a fairly decent lead and then allowed them to get back at us was a little disappointing. “There were some positives to come out of the meeting but there were some negatives too. We are going to have to ensure that as many of a team are firing as possible and tonight we ended up with just too many passengers. But I feel confident we will learn by that.”SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter expects his side to gain in strength over the course of the season as he expects improvement from several riders.Rossiter said: “In all honesty, I think for a little while this team could be up and down at various times, but I believe as the year goes on we will become stronger and stronger.“The reserves rode well against Coventry and it was good to see the performance of Stefan (Nielsen), who would have won Heat 2 but for making a small mistake. He’s learning the track, and we know he’ll make the odd error from time to time, but we’ll gain in the long-term as he develops.”WOLVERHAMPTON chief Chris Van Straaten says everyone at Monmore is desperate to get their home season started against team of the moment Lakeside on Monday.Van Straaten said: “I can’t believe we haven’t had a home meeting yet, it really has been a terrible start for us with the weather.“But we have to look forward and Lakeside are the team of the moment. Their win over Poole by 10-points last Friday has given renewed hope to the rest of the league with many predicting before then that Poole would go through the season unbeaten. Our new-look team will have to be on top form and we will need the support of every single Wolverhampton fan.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK team manager Scott Courtney described himself as being ‘jubilant’ after his side pulled off a 46-44 victory away at Edinburgh in the League Cup.Despite going down 96-84 on aggregate to Newcastle in the Tyne-Tweed Trophy at the weekend, the Bandits kicked off their official season with a hard-fought win at the home of the reigning Premier League Champions – for the first time in 18 years!Said Courtney: “This was the perfect way to start our official matches and to win there was the best feeling ever as it was so long ago since we last managed it!“This sets us up nicely to move on with the season and hopefully we can continue in this positive manner.”EDINBURGH skipper Sam Masters says his side need to improve following their 46-44 defeat at home to Berwick. It was a second successive defeat in the League Cup for the Monarchs who suffered a heavy 19-point loss at Glasgow the previous week.Despite bagging a spectacular 15-point maximum himself, Masters said his team need to learn ahead of the upcoming reverse fixtures.“It was never going to be easy with two new boys in the side, so we needed the heat leaders to win most of the races but some of our side just didn’t gate well enough.”GLASGOW star Richie Worrall says he’s already loving life with the Scottish outfit.The 24-year-old has made an excellent start to his Tigers’ career and has praised everyone at the club for helping him to settle into his new surroundings so quickly.Worrall told Speedway Star: “We’ve got some passionate fans here and when you go up to the start line and you can hear them shouting, it gives you a bit of incentive to go out there and do a good job.“I just think the team atmosphere and charisma we’ve got here is showing on track – it’s really good and it’s giving us results.” IPSWICH boss Ritchie Hawkins believes his side have much more to offer after what he described as a disappointing start to the season.The Witches are still searching for their first win of 2016 having drawn one and lost the other two of their first three meetings so far.Said Hawkins: “The guys are improving and I can see certain improvements but they are not showing as a return in points.“We will click when they get a bit more confidence and belief in themselves.” NEWCASTLE boss George English insists his side couldn’t be more ready for their first official meeting of the season when they travel to Workington in the League Cup this Saturday.The Diamonds have won three of their four opening challenge meetings – including a 56-34 home win over Berwick on Sunday to secure the Tyne-Tweed Trophy 96-84 on aggregate.Said English: “We were confident that we could get the win but I was impressed by the fact that we made up the ten-point deficit from Saturday.“The whole point of these pre-season meetings was to get everybody ready for the season and take confidence into the main season which is exactly what we have done.”PETERBOROUGH team boss Carl Johnson has stood down from his role with immediate effect.It comes as a huge blow to the Panthers who have made an impressive start to the 2016 campaign, suffering just one defeat in four meetings.Club promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We’re obviously very disappointed to lose Carl but we respect his decision and thank him for the considerable time and effort he has put into the club.“Carl is Panthers through-and-through and that is what has made him so popular with our supporters.“He has a huge passion for the club and has given his all in these past couple of years – we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”PLYMOUTH’S return to racing is scheduled for this Friday (April 15) when the Devils face Rye House in the League Cup at the St Boniface Arena.REDCAR are hoping a return to full strength will help them pick up a more positive result when they host Workington in the League Cup on Thursday.The Bears have suffered three heavy defeats on the spin but are looking to turn their form around as Lasse Bjerre and Jonas B Andersen return to their line-up.Club boss Jitendra Duffill said: “Both Lasse and Jonas are over recent illness and injury so we will be at full strength.“This really is a big test for us and I’d like everybody to demonstrate what they are capable of.”RYE HOUSE racer Cameron Heeps admits a winter switch to the Rockets has done him the world of good.The Australian youngster bagged double-figures in the side’s Premier League opening 53-39 win over Ipswich - the club where Heeps spent four years of his career.Said Heeps: “I had a chat with Chris Louis (Ipswich co-promoter) and said that I needed a break and should try something else because I felt a bit stale.“I’ve enjoyed myself a lot already this year; it’s a different atmosphere, the boys are good, we’re winning and I’ve gelled with the team 100%.”SCUNTHORPE star Ryan Douglas believes he is almost back to his best after a strong start to 2016.The 22-year-old missed the majority of the 2015 campaign due to a number of injuries but has taken a lot of confidence from his own 15-point maximum during the Scorpions’ heavy 57-36 home defeat against Peterborough last weekend.Said Douglas: “I’m really happy with how things have gone for me in the opening six meetings; it’s been a good, consistent start and I’ve been scoring points every meeting.“I feel there’s still more to come from me this year though. It’s a case of keep working away and trying to improve every time I come out.”SHEFFIELD joint team manager Marc Bates says he was ecstatic after his side went top of their League Cup group following an impressive 49-44 away win at Peterborough.The win continued the Tigers’ unbeaten start to their official fixtures in 2016 and Bates believes his side are laying down an early marker for their Premier League rivals.Said Bates: “We’ve gone to one of the league favourites and beaten them in their own back yard so I think that just proves how strong this team can be.“If we can ride like that all season, which is obviously going to be difficult, then we are more than a match for anyone, home or away!”SOMERSET team manager Garry May says he won’t allow his riders to take anything for granted when they host Scunthorpe in their Premier League opener on Friday.The Rebels’ opponents have recently suffered two hefty defeats at the hands of Peterborough but May says it’s important that his side don’t read anything into those results.“You can ignore anything Scunthorpe have done or not done already this season,” he said.“Scunthorpe have had far more competitive meetings than ourselves so far this year and they have riders who are more than capable of scoring decent points at the Oaktree Arena.”WORKINGTON boss Tony Jackson says his side can’t afford to slip-up when they host Newcastle in the League Cup on Saturday.The Comets won the opening fixture of their group against Redcar and are desperate to make it two out of two on home shale.Said Jackson: “With such small groups, every meeting is important as there is no room to recover should you slip up.“I will be stressing to the riders that every single race point could prove absolutely vital in the final reckoning!”NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE Colts have postponed their clash with Coventry Storm on Saturday due to ongoing track repairs at the National Speedway Stadium.A club statement last week said: “Whilst it is disappointing to have to cancel further events, the priority of both the Council and Belle Vue is to ensure the safety of the riders and also the quality of the racing for spectators.“They are however confident that the scheduled repair works will provide a permanent solution to the problems that have been experienced since the opening and that the track will be fully operational very soon.”BIRMINGHAM manager Graham Drury was delighted to seize control of their Knockout Cup first round tie as they thrashed Rye House 56-34 at Perry Barr last week.Said Drury: “I set the lads a 20-point lead target, they achieved that by two extra so I'm more than happy once again."22-points is a lot for any team to catch up with so it does take a lot of pressure off the second leg. But we won't be too complacent; we will go to Rye House at the end of the month, ride sensibly and do what we can to make sure we get safely through to the next round.”BUXTON took the early decision to postpone their Air Fence Challenge fixtures with Stoke last weekend due to heavy rain.A club spokesperson said: “Despite the best efforts of all parties the wet weather has beaten us and we have had to take the decision to postpone this weekend’s meetings. “We are naturally very disappointed but feel this is the best decision for all concerned. The meetings will be restaged at a later date and further news on that will be released once confirmed.”COVENTRY boss Laurence Rogers is hoping to have his side firing in all cylinders for a tough clash with champions Birmingham on Friday.Rogers said: “I have been trying to get the boys rides wherever I can to get them track time, but the weather has lost some of those bookings.“Not riding regularly is not the best preparation for racing, as they do get race-rusty, plus we’ve had Ryan (Terry-Daley) suffering with illness as well as it being a painful and expensive time for the skipper (Martin Knuckey).”CRADLEY have cast an eye to the future by striking a deal to include Anders Rowe in their 2017 team plans.The talented 13-year-old has recently stepped up to a 500cc machine and will turn 15 in May of next season.Co-promoter Gary Patchett said: “I’ve seen Anders ride ever since his dad, Del, came to work with Matej Zagar at Swindon in 2009.“He’s a huge talent and I’ve been counting down the years until we are able to include him in a Heathens team!”EASTBOURNE have pulled off the sensational signing of Adam Ellis as part of their team re-shuffle.The Eagles have also added youngster Luke Harris to accommodate the signing of star No.1 Ellis, who led Birmingham to the National League title last year.Ellis commented: “I'm really excited to be joining Eastbourne. They do the business on and off the track and I'm looking forward to joining them.”ISLE OF WIGHT ushered in a new era for the club as they hosted the Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy last Thursday.James Cockle roared to victory in the first meeting at Smallbrook in three years – and he was delighted with his victory.Cockle told the Island Echo: “I’m well pleased to have capped what has been a brilliant opening night for our reborn club and couldn’t have wished for anything more. Let’s hope it’s a sign of what lies ahead in the coming months for both the club and myself.”KENT continued their magnificent start to the season with a 48-42 away win at Mildenhall on Sunday.Team manager Chris Hunt said: “We knew it was going to be a tough match and that they were likely to prepare a track with plenty of dirt on it. “As it happened the conditions, not helped obviously by the outside factors of the Monster Trucks being on there the night before, were actually to cost the home side more than us. They were certainly challenging conditions and we’re happy to win and to move on.”KING’S LYNN new-boy Nathan Greaves is happy to head into the season as underdogs in the National League title race.Greaves commented: “We’re one name that a lot of people haven’t mentioned before the season – that makes us underdogs and we’re more than happy to ride without that pressure.“I personally believe we can win the league. I think we’re going to have a very strong record around King’s Lynn so as long as we get things right on the road then I’m confident we can reach the play-offs where anything can happen.” MILDENHALL promoter Kevin Jolly was keen to look at the positives after their 48-42 home defeat at the hands of in-form Kent on Sunday.Jolly said: “It was always going to be difficult against a good Kent side, but down to five riders we really could not have done much more. “I was impressed by Dan (Halsey) and Jon (Armstrong) both on and off the track today, they really worked hard for the team cause.“Connor (Coles) and Alfie (Bowtell) both looked good as the meeting progressed and I have no doubt if we had not lost Connor (Mountain) we would have won.”RYE HOUSE boss Peter Schroeck was far from too disheartened after his side were heavily beaten at Birmingham in the Knockout Cup last week.Schroeck said: “We found it quite tough, to be honest. It was wet at first (after a heavy downpour ahead of start time), but the track held up pretty well and was grippy towards the end. The boys got caught out on a few occasions by not moving out into the dirt, whereas their boys, who ride it every week, know their way around it.“But Luke (Priest) did really well. He was leading from the front, and his form so far is the best and most consistent that I’ve seen from him for a while. Ben (Morley) struggled badly with set-ups at first, but he got it right, while Ben Hopwood was good and is a nice lad.“I felt the young, inexperienced lads at the bottom end did well. Harvie (Banks) got stuck in, and Connor (Locke) too, and neither disgraced themselves.” STOKE skipper Tony Atkin feels his side will quickly learn the lessons from their Good Friday defeat at Birmingham in the National Trophy.Atkin told Speedway Star: “That was our opening fixture and we had to get on with it. It’s behind us now and we have to learn from our mistakes and put them right.“I’m not telling people what to do and it’s obviously very early in the season. But we do want to make Loomer Road somewhere that other clubs will fear to come.”
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY APRIL 12: TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Rye House 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 13:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Coventry 7.30, Leicester v Swindon 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Stoke (follows EL fixture)NATIONAL TROPHY: Birmingham v Buxton 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 14:BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Sheffield 7.30ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30FOUR TEAM TOURNAMENT: Isle of Wight v Exeter v Weymouth v Southampton 7pm
FRIDAY APRIL 15:PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Plymouth v Rye House 7.15TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Birmingham 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 16:PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Peterborough 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry OFF, Eastbourne v Kent 7.30
SUNDAY APRIL 17:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3.30CHRISTIAN HENRY TESTIMONIAL: Newcastle 3pm
MONDAY APRIL 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 21:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Peterborough 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Kent 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 22:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Poole 7.30, Lakeside v Swindon 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 23:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pmNATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Eastbourne v Mildenhall 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Stoke v Birmingham 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 24:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 3pm, Peterborough v Somerset 5pm, Scunthorpe v Plymouth 6.30LEAGUE CUP: Newcastle v Workington 6.30NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Mildenhall v Eastbourne 3.30, Rye House v Birmingham 6pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2: Belle Vue
MONDAY APRIL 25:TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v King’s Lynn 7.30INVICTA PAIRS: Kent 6.30
