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LINE-UPS have been declared for the British Semi-Finals to take place later this month at Scunthorpe and Glasgow.Seven qualifying places are available from each meeting, with two Wild Cards to then be selected to complete the line-up for the Final at Belle Vue on June 13.Scunthorpe promoter and BSPA vice-chairman Rob Godfrey said: “I'm sure we will see two very competitive meetings at Glasgow and Scunthorpe and I can speak for both tracks when I say it's a massive honour to be hosting these semi-finals.”SCUNTHORPE – Friday May 13: Chris Harris (Coventry), Josh Auty (Leicester/Scunthorpe), Carl Wilkinson (King’s Lynn/Scunthorpe), Simon Stead (Sheffield), Kyle Howarth (Wolverhampton/Sheffield), Josh Bates (Coventry/Sheffield), Jason Garrity (Coventry/Sheffield), Leigh Lanham (Rye House), Robert Lambert (King’s Lynn/Newcastle), Simon Lambert (Peterborough), Lewis Kerr (Lakeside/Ipswich), Robert Mear (Lakeside), Richard Hall (Sheffield), Stuart Robson (Rye House), Edward Kennett (Lakeside/Rye House), Ashley Morris (Scunthorpe/Cradley).GLASGOW – Sunday May 15: Scott Nicholls (Belle Vue), Ben Barker (Coventry/Glasgow), Richard Lawson (Lakeside/Glasgow), Richie Worrall (Belle Vue/Glasgow), Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Newcastle), James Sarjeant (Coventry/Ipswich), Charles Wright (Swindon/Somerset), Kyle Newman (Poole/Plymouth), Paul Starke (Leicester/Somerset), Craig Cook (Belle Vue), Adam Roynon (Workington), Max Clegg (Wolverhampton/Edinburgh/Cradley), Lewis Rose (King’s Lynn/Newcastle), Danny King (Coventry/Ipswich), Lewis Bridger (Lakeside), Stefan Nielsen (Swindon/Plymouth).Reserves: Joe Jacobs (Belle Vue), Ben Morley (Rye House), Liam Carr (Berwick/Coventry).
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WOLVERHAMPTON moved to the top of the Elite League with a spectacular 55-35 victory over Poole at Monmore Green.The home side maintained their 100 per cent record as they put in a powerhouse performance to comprehensively see off the reigning champions, who suffered a troubled night.Reserve Kyle Howarth piled up 11+3 for Wolves with Freddie Lindgren on 11, whilst Hans Andersen dominated the Poole scorechart on 13 – but they have problems ahead of Wednesday’s return, with Kyle Newman in hospital with illness and Adam Adam Ellis suffering a crash at Monmore.Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “I'm quite surprised really because I expected Poole to mount much more of a challenge than that.“But in all honesty, you have to give our team great credit and Poole just didn't have an answer to us - we had too much strength for them in every department.“We've got a solid side this year, they're all enjoying being here at Wolverhampton and we're on a great run right now.”Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “We were well and truly beaten tonight by a very good Wolves side. We were not firing on all cylinders and they took full advantage.“We are likely to be three riders down on Wednesday with Bjarne (Pedersen) out due to a clash of dates with the Danish league, Kyle still side-lined with his ongoing illness and now we have major concerns over Adam Ellis who damaged his wrist tonight.”Meanwhile Swindon picked up their first away win of the season with a convincing 50-42 success at Coventry.Reserve Rohan Tungate won four races on his way to 13 points for the Robins, who provided ten of the first twelve winners and led by 14 with three heats to go, before doing enough in the closing stages to make sure of four league points.Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It was a very good performance. We’ve been showing signs all season but we’ve just been starting meetings slowly. Now we’re starting from the beginning, things are looking quite good.“We got caught out a bit towards the end when the track slickened off, but we still hung in there and got all four points from the meeting which pushes us up nicely.”Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “We just didn’t perform. I think the reserves did their jobs, but as for the rest of the team I don’t know what the answer is, but it’s not good enough.“The crowd turn-out again was great, and they deserve more. Riders of the calibre we need are not available, they’ve got commitments in other leagues and the Grand Prix, so we’ve got to decide whether we need to have a fresh outlook on this.”
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RYE House battled back from eight and six-point deficits to pull off a draw with Workington in a dramatic clash at Hoddesdon.The Comets led 39-33 with three heats remaining and the home side still required a 5-1 from Heat 15 to tie the scores – a feat they achieved when Edward Kennett completed a 15-point maximum and Stuart Robson fended off Ricky Wells for second place.Wells collected 10+1 for the visitors, who picked up two Premier League points for the draw.Robson said: “Workington have been really good all day. They caught us unaware at the start of the meeting and got a good lead before we pulled it back. “The teams in the Premier League are consistently strong, and you’ve got to be on your best game every time.“Eddie is the anchor man of this team, and we’re all chasing his back wheel, really. He has been fantastic all season, and if he can maintain that consistency then we’ve got a tremendous foundation.”Meanwhile Scunthorpe built up a ten-point lead to take to Newcastle after the first leg of their Knockout Cup tie at the Eddie Wright Raceway.The meeting went ahead after a delay for track work following heavy rain, with the full event completed including the 500cc and 150cc British Youth events.Every Scorpion was paid for at least six points, with Douglas and fellow Australian Alex Davies finishing as top scorers on ten points apiece as they won 50-40 with an 18-point lead being trimmed back by two late Newcastle 5-1s.Robert Lambert scored 12+1 for the visitors, backed up by Steve Worrall on ten to set the tie up for the second leg on June 5.Scunthorpe youngster Josh Bailey said: “I feel the whole team is gelling together nicely – I think we’re getting used to how each other rides. I think everyone had a good day. If all seven riders are scoring points, then you win matches, and that’s what happened in this match.“I love it at Scunthorpe. The track is fantastic and the team spirit is good. I’m having a good time. The Premier League is a tough league, I don’t think I realised how tough it was until I started riding in it, but I’m happy with how it’s going so far.”The class winners in the British Youth Championship events were Tom Brennan at 500cc level and Nathan Ablitt in the 150cc support.
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BEN Morley raced to a 15-point maximum as Rye House picked up their first National League win of the season over Stoke.The Raiders picked up a 48-41 victory against the Potters, with Robert Branford also unbeaten from five rides and skipper Luke Priest adding eleven in a powerful display from the home team’s top order.The visitors led by a point at the halfway stage, but ended up taking nothing from the meeting with Ben Wilson top-scoring on nine.Morley said: “To get our first win on the board is awesome. Everybody in the team put points on the board today, and that’s what we needed. If everyone can contribute then we know we can win meetings.“We’re looking forward to getting George (Hunter) back from injury. We’ve been struggling with the rider-replacement rides, and George has come on so much in the last year. To get him back will just boost the whole thing up and help us get even more points on the board.”Stoke boss Malcolm Vasey said: “We threw away at least four points in the early stages of the meeting and it has cost us dearly in the end. “I’m not too disheartened as there were positives to take from the meeting with all the lads performing today and getting amongst the points and in the end we have fallen short.”Meanwhile Kent raced to a sixth straight win in all competitions by establishing a 57-33 advantage over the Isle of Wight in the first leg of their Knockout Cup tie.Danny Ayres top-scored for the Kings with 13+1 whilst Luke Bowen was unbeaten after a first-ride fall, whilst James Cockle led the Warriors’ scoring on eight.
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SWINDON have announced the introduction of a consortium of local businessmen to the club and, in turn, the formation of a Board of Directors to assist with the running and promotion of the Robins.Mike Bowden will be appointed as the Club’s CEO, Per-Axel Warensjo will become Financial Director with current owner Terry Russell becoming the Club’s Chairman whilst remaining the major shareholder in Swindon Speedway.Russell said: “It is something that I have wanted to see happen for some time now. Local business people at the head of the club to help promote in and around Swindon is fantastic news and can only move the club forward.“It allows Alun Rossiter and Colin Pratt to focus on team matters and BSPA matters whilst the business side of the club is being well looked after.“I’m looking forward to working with Mike and the consortium and I’m excited by the setup that can push the club forward as we move into a new era.”
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FIVE young British riders are travelling to Polish venue Torun later this week to compete in major international youth events.Twins Dan and Joe Thompson along with Jordan Palin represent Great Britain in the 125cc Gold Trophy on Friday May 6.Meanwhile on Saturday Kyle Bickley and Henry Atkins will be racing in the 250cc Long Track World Cup.British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “Both of these competitions will have the best riders from all different parts of Europe, and they are equivalent to a World Final, so both events will be very hard for all the competitors.“This is great experience for the British lads to venture out to Poland and ride at such a great venue, and again this can only help educate each of these boys for their further education of their chosen careers. “The Young Lions Management wishes the five competing lads all the best for the coming weekend.”(SPEEDWAY 7)
WOLVERHAMPTON look to maintain top spot in the Elite League table when they visit Poole on Wednesday.The Monmore side defeated the Pirates 55-35 at home on Bank Holiday Monday, and the Pirates have problems going into the reverse fixture.Bjarne Pedersen is out due to a Danish commitment with rider-replacement in operation, whilst both Adam Ellis and Kyle Newman are unfit to ride and are replaced by Josh Auty and Charles Wright respectively.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “They rode very well (on Monday) and all too often we were not at the races, so we have a point or two to prove on our home patch. “That, however, is going to be no easy task and I can only hope that both Charles and Josh can come in and do their very best. “We will also need Chris (Holder) to find his 'A' game again as he was well below par on Monday and that will have hurt him big time. Maybe for the first time in quite a while we are heading into a home match as the underdogs.”Wolves star Kyle Howarth said: “There’s no question that Wednesday is going to be much tougher but we’re on a great run of form right now and we’ve got to be taken seriously by everyone in the league.“All the boys are scoring well, we’re all doing our job and more and the atmosphere in the team is amazing.“A lot of people will expect Poole to get a bit of revenge but we’ve won twice away from home already and we’d love to go there and come away with some more points on Wednesday.”If Wolves miss out at Wimborne Road, Lakeside can take over at the top with a win over Belle Vue at Purfleet.The Hammers will be back on home shale for the first time since defeating Poole in a thrilling encounter almost a month ago.Co-promoter Jon Cook said: “Our last away meeting against the impressive Wolves was a lost opportunity for at least a point.“On Wednesday we can afford no passengers against a well-balanced team who are the league favourites in many people’s eyes.“The Belle Vue team is almost the same as the one that came close to winning the league last year, but we intend to put one over on them and come away with three points.”Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “We’ve addressed a lot of our problems on the road and I’ve no doubt Lakeside will give deliver a stern challenge for us on Wednesday but that’s true of any meeting away from home.“I personally don’t see any problems with our ability to deliver against the Hammers. The hunger is definitely there and the boys are both mentally and physically fresh ahead of the meeting.”
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BIRMINGHAM will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they host Kent in the Travel Plus National League on Wednesday.The Brummies are be aiming to make it eight out of eight - but they will face a stern test against a Kings side who have also won all of their meetings in 2016.Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “Kent have surprised a lot of people in the early stages of the season and we’ll be very wary of their potential on Wednesday.“They’ve got a solid side throughout with a very powerful heat-leader trio and they’re a team in form just like ourselves.“This is going to be our toughest test so far but our confidence is sky high, the place is bubbling and we’d love to keep our tremendous start going.”Meanwhile King’s Lynn take on Mildenhall in a hastily-arranged local derby at the Adrian Flux Arena.The Young Stars have one win and one defeat so far, whilst for the Fen Tigers it is their league opener.King’s Lynn boss Dale Allitt said: “I don’t really feel you can read anything into the away result last week. A couple of riders in our side had never been to Cradley before, and I think Josh Bailey had only been there once in 2014. “We have riders who are going well at King’s Lynn, and if they can keep on doing that we should be okay to take the points here. But I’m sure Mildenhall will be coming with the same attitude, and it should be a good, lively local derby.”(FIXTURES)
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: Belle Vue v Mildenhall 7.30, Coventry v Cradley 7.30
ENDS
