(SPEEDWAY 1)
GLASGOW hit top form with a 62-30 demolition of Peterborough in the Premier League at Ashfield on Sunday.Richie Worrall scored 12-point maximum for the Tigers on his comeback from injury, whilst Richard Lawson scored 14 and Ben Barker 10+3 in a powerful all-round performance.Lawson said: “We all clicked. Everyone says we've got a strong top four and when we all click, we're going to get big points. Not only that, you've got the other guys - everyone is chipping in. It's a real strong side we've got going at the moment.“The other teams have got to look at it and take it seriously. We are working together well as a team - I think the riding positions are good. “Me and Nike (Lunna) are riding well, Nos 3 and 4 are going good, and Aaron's (Summers) good at No 5. The balance is really good and there's a real positive vibe going about.”The Panthers could only provide two heat wins – both from captain Ulrich Ostergaard – and did not manage a single race advantage, whilst Nicklas Porsing pulled out of Heat 13 with a knee problem.Promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We were awful and we are not going to try to hide from it. This sort of performance is not acceptable from professional sportsmen and a lot of riders need to be taking a serious look at themselves.“We built this team as one we felt was capable of challenging for honours and it is still the team we want.“But there is no denying we have got to eliminate a hell of a lot of problems, and that needs to happen quickly. If our form doesn’t turn round, we will have to make changes.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
UNBEATEN Wolverhampton are gearing up for their toughest Elite League test of the season so far as they look to continue their winning run against Poole at Monmore Green on Monday.Wolves have enjoyed a dream start to the campaign with three consecutive victories including a resounding home win over Lakeside a fortnight ago.The Pirates have let leads slip in their two away matches so far, and include Bjarne Pedersen for his first appearance since rejoining the club, whilst Adam Ellis steps up into a heat-leader role after a run of high scores at reserve.Wolves star Sam Masters said: “We’ve obviously won all our meetings so far so we are high on confidence, and there is no reason why we can’t beat Poole.“It is going to be tough, they are a good side and we know that, and they’ve probably strengthened a bit by bringing Bjarne Pedersen in.“It’ll be hard, but we’ve just got to go out there and do our best, that’s all anyone can ask for. If we can ride like we have done in the first three meetings then I’m sure we’ll be able to get another good result.”Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “We are going to a track where good knowledge can be advantageous and so we will have to work as a unit and learn from each other. “I don't know if there could have been a tougher match for Adam to move up into the team and we won't put any extra pressure on him. We just need all the team to contribute. “We are up against a very good side, but I would like to think that we too are considered a good side and that should make for a decent meeting.”Meanwhile Coventry and Swindon meet at Brandon with both sides searching for consistency after up-and-down starts to the season.The Bees are unchanged, with rider replacement in operation for the injured Kacper Woryna, and Danny King is set to ride after a crash at Somerset on Friday.The Robins, meanwhile, can move above their hosts in the table if they can collect an away win.Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: “We never seem to do things the easy way at home, such as going 6-18 down last time against Poole, and Swindon do have quite a good record at our place over the last few years, so it’s going to be another tough one.“But if the boys show half of the character, fight and determination that they put in against Poole, then there’s no reason why we can’t win the match.”Swindon skipper Jason Doyle said: “Hopefully we can start moving up the ladder and get some more points because we want to be in the play-offs at the end of the year. “All the boys knew what we had to do against Belle Vue, we kicked in and showed what we are capable of, so hopefully we can put in another good performance at Coventry to come away with something.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
RYE House and Scunthorpe both stage double-headers on Monday with the Rockets launching at 2pm against Workington in the Premier League.Rye boss Peter Schroeck expects a tough battle with the Comets with his side looking to bounce back from a home defeat to Peterborough last time out.Schroeck said: “It should be a real humdinger. It was a tough one here last time against Peterborough, but as I’ve said before this is such an even league and no one is guaranteed a win. “My job is to help keep the boys fired up and feeling good about themselves. If they put in the same effort that they did against the Panthers then they can definitely get the right result.”Meanwhile Scunthorpe face Newcastle in the first leg of their KO Cup tie at 3pm.The Scorpions are due to be at full strength, although one concern is that Alex Davies hurt his coccyx in a fall in the defeat at Berwick on Saturday evening.Newcastle were due to be missing three riders, but following the early postponement of the Belle Vue v King’s Lynn meeting in the Elite League, they are now expected to track a full side with Robert Lambert making his first appearance at the venue, and Viktor Palovaara makes his debut.Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It promises to be a thrilling afternoon’s action. Newcastle have got a strong team this year, no doubt about that, so it’s a tough draw and we’re going to need everyone on the gas, if we’re to have a chance of getting through to the second round.“I can’t wait to see our lads doing battle with the likes of Robert Lambert around the Eddie Wright Raceway – it’s going to be top entertainment.”The meeting is followed by the second round of the British Youth Championships at 500cc and 150cc levels, meaning a bumper 36-race programme of racing on the day.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
THE second half of a double-header at Hoddesdon on Monday features the Travel Plus National League clash between Rye House and Stoke.The Raiders will once again call up Macauley Leek at reserve to replace the injured Kenny Bowdery, whilst the Potters bring in former Rye skipper Luke Chessell to guest for Danny Phillips who is racing for his Premier League club NewcastleRye House boss Peter Schroeck said: “We can definitely get the win on Monday. We’ve got three super guys in Rob (Branford), Ben (Morley) and Luke (Priest) to give us the right foundations for the match. We just need the young boys to chip in with the extra points we need.“The atmosphere in the team was really good against Birmingham, when we got Rob back, and once we get George Hunter back from his broken wrist we should really start to turn the corner.”Stoke manager Malcolm Vasey said: “Rye House have a very strong heat leader duo, but they have a long tail end and we will be looking to exploit this and hopefully come away with something from the meeting.”Meanwhile Kent host the Isle of Wight in the first leg of their National League KO Cup first round tie at Central Park at 3pm.Warriors co-promoter Barry Bishop takes charge of the visitors as regular boss Neil Vatcher is handling the British Youth Championship event at Scunthorpe.The Warriors will continue to be without Brendan Johnson for at least another six weeks following an update on his arm injury.Bishop said: “It is going to be a tough meeting down there in Kent but I know that our team will be ready again to give their all for the Warriors. “In our last National Trophy clash, we were never too far away from them really, and the final three heat results really did give a gross misrepresentation of the meeting.“We are looking forward to have Benji (Compton) back in the fold on Monday too which will be a boost for the team, and giving the Kings are real run for all the points in every race.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY MAY 2:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn OFF, Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Workington 2pmPREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Scunthorpe v Newcastle 3pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Stoke (follows PL fixture)NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Kent v Isle of Wight 3pmBRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2 (500cc and 150cc): Scunthorpe 4.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 4:ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Kent 7.30, King’s Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 5:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Lakeside 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Stoke 7pm
FRIDAY MAY 6:PREMIER LEAGUE: Plymouth v Peterborough 7.15PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Somerset v Workington 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Coventry v Cradley 7.30
