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ARGENTINE ace Coty Garcia hailed Glasgow's team spirit after they produced a stunning finish to steal all the League Cup points from Berwick.The Tigers raced to three 5-1s in the last three heats to win 49-41 at Ashfield after being eight points down early in the meeting.Richie Worrall crashed out in his second ride suffering soreness around his ribs and lower back, whilst the visitors’ Matthew Wethers was also withdrawn after the accident.Garcia said: “We came strong after Richie's crash and every single rider was going hard. We wanted to change the situation. It was really good to work with the guys.“I'm definitely pleased with my score (9+3). This shows why I'm here and what I can do - which is just trying hard and getting better every time. Thanks go to Aaron (Summers) today, he helped me a lot, whether it was his race or not. It was really good.”Berwick boss Scott Courtney said: “There have been mixed feelings and emotions from all the weekend’s action. First of all, we win as a team and we lose as a team too.“I’m 100 per cent proud of the boys’ efforts on Saturday and today at Glasgow, and to say I’m heartbroken to take no points from either match is an understatement! I guarantee one thing – we will be there and back in the fight on Saturday night.”Birmingham have one foot in the National Trophy Final after a 52-37 win at Buxton which leaves them with three wins from their three Northern section matches so far.Zach Wajtknecht and Jack Parkinson-Blackburn both scored 12 points at the Hi-Edge Raceway, whilst Ryan Blacklock collected 13+1 for the home side.Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “It was another good performance and after winning all our home meetings comfortably it was great to get a victory in our first away meeting as well. “A lot of hype was put out regarding the Birmingham team before the start of the season, and at this stage it seems although that was justified. “As I’m sure every manager would say, it’s a long old season and we haven’t started our league campaign yet so we can’t get too carried away.”Buxton boss Jason Pipe said: “Every one of them came out with some credit, even Ryan Burton who had never seen this track until he set foot on it today - we are planning to get him back here one afternoon to have a practice before our next meeting.“We have something to build on and when Jade (Mudgway) is allowed to ride and we get used to our own track we will give teams a much harder meeting here.”In the Southern section, Mildenhall raced to a comfortable 57-33 win over the Isle of Wight, with their opening pairing of Danny Halsey and Alfie Bowtell both scoring paid-14.Six of the Fen Tigers won at least one race apiece, whilst Mark Baseby led the challenge for the Warriors with 11.Mildenhall co-promoter Kevin Jolly said: “I was extremely impressed by what I saw today both on and off the track from the lads. “To see our top six all scoring good points was refreshing after last season, they were hungry for the victory today, you could see it from the start, and they rode with skill and good sense today.“If anything I was even more impressed by them off track as they worked as a unit all afternoon - the experienced guys leading from the front and offering guidance and support to the less experienced riders in the team.”Meanwhile Christian Henry’s Testimonial at Newcastle finished with a 46-44 win for the Diamonds/Glasgow Select against an Edinburgh/King’s Lynn Select.The meeting ended with Henry himself being awarded victory in Heat 15 after he had suffered a chain breakage on the last bend.He said: “It was a superb day and I am delighted with how it went. Newcastle was the only place I was ever going to hold my testimonial and I am pleased it has been successful thanks to the support of all the riders who took part and of course the fans who came to watch. “It’s a little sad to be finishing my career but I have been lucky to have been able to ride into my latter years.”
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WOLVERHAMPTON will look to make it three Elite League wins out of three as they welcome top of the table Lakeside to Monmore Green on Monday.Wolves have already secured away victories at Coventry and Swindon and now race their first home match of the season against the Hammers, who were victorious at Leicester earlier this month.The visitors bring in squad member Edward Kennett for his first appearance of the season, replacing Richard Lawson.Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten: “Lakeside have a lot of very good riders who perform well at Monmore Green so it will definitely be tough.“They are riding well, but we are up for the challenge and looking forward to what should be a cracking meeting. “We are pleased with the points we have on the board already, but we want to try and add three more with a win on Monday.”Lakeside coach Kelvin Tatum said: “They’ve got a new look team this year and they’re yet to race a meeting at home. Hopefully that can play into our hands somewhat and hopefully we can try and catch them out as they may take some time to get dialled in.“This is probably going to be one of the sternest tests of our season so far but we’re feeling good as a team right now and we’d love to continue our own great start too.”
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GREAT Britain Youth boss Neil Vatcher is planning ahead for the World Under-21 semi-finals at both individual and team levels.Four British riders compete in the individual semis over the weekend of May 20/21, whilst in early June the squad visit Holsted in Denmark for the World Under-21 Team Cup semi where they face the host nation, Australia and Norway.Vatcher said: “This is a very exciting time to be involved in British Youth Speedway, and we are not too far away from having success on the big stage.“We have a great opportunity of getting more than one representative in this year’s FIM World Under-21 finals, where we have Josh Bates, Robert Lambert, Adam Ellis and Max Clegg competing in the semi-finals in May.“Then on June 4 we travel to Denmark to compete in the semi-final of the Under-21 World Team Cup, and if all our boys are on their game there is no reason why we can’t qualify for our first Final since 2007.“If any companies would like to be associated with the Young Lions then we are looking for tyre sponsorship for the four British riders for their individual semi-finals, and also we need companies to come forward to hep the Great Britain team to get team suits for the World Team Cup Semi Final.“We have some great sponsors on board for the British Youth Championship, and we also have great support for from the BSPA, but now we need some support for the Under-21 riders, and anybody that can help would be very much appreciated.”Any companies or supporters who are interested in buying a tyre or helping towards a cost of a GB race-suit are asked to contact Neil Vatcher by email at younglionsspeedway@hotmail.co.uk .(FIXTURES)
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 7pm
