BRITISH SPEEDWAY ROUND-UP #16

HERE’S the latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.

PIC OF THE WEEK…

POOLE blasted back into the top four of the Cab Direct Championship with a 51-39 win at Workington on Saturday.
The Pirates had ten of the first eleven race winners as they dominated at the GT Tyres Arena, recording four 5-1s in that period to open a 20-point advantage.
17-year-old Will Cairns led the way for the Pirates with 12 points, winning his first four outings and only being denied a maximum in Heat 15, whilst each of the seven visiting riders scored at least five points.
Photo credit: DAVE PAYNE

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HOW IT STANDS
BELLE Vue’s win at King’s Lynn on Monday has moved them six points clear at the top of the table, with Leicester in second place and Ipswich third after home wins last week. The Stars’ defeat and Sheffield’s draw at Northampton have taken the Tigers back into the top four.

ACES HIGH IN JULY
BELLE Vue boss Mark Lemon says he’s delighted with the way his side have developed as the season continues, with another away win on the board at King’s Lynn on Monday.
Lemon said: “There’s a nice feel to the team. Obviously we lost Dan (Bewley) which everyone knows about, but we’ve managed to maintain our strength with Jason (Doyle) coming in, and what’s really good is the bottom end.
“Last year we were probably considered as having the weakest reserve pairing, whereas this year we could potentially be the strongest, without getting carried away.
“William (Cairns) is doing a great job, and Tate (Zischke) is improving meeting by meeting, so hopefully they can keep that up and it’s all beneficial for the team.”

STARS STUTTER AT HOME
KING’S Lynn suffered the major blow of another home defeat against Belle Vue on Monday which leaves them looking to make up points in the play-off race.
Manager Rob Lyon said: “If you look through the heats we had too many last places, but some of those boys also had some very good highlights.
“Belle Vue were just that bjt more consistent, and at reserve they outgunned us, although in saying that I can’t fault the effort of both Jody (Scott) and Jake (Mulford).
“They both tried really hard and probably deserved more points for their racing than what they ended up with. Points make prizes and unfortunately we didn’t get enough of them.”

FOXES MAKE THEIR POINT
NORTHAMPTON picked up their second draw in recent weeks, this time with a 45-45 result against Sheffield in a thrilling encounter at the International Shaleway.
The meeting was delayed for track work but there was some spectacular action after that with away skipper Josh Pickeirng forcing his way through in the decider.
Foxes boss Chris Adams said: “Once they bladed it off it was far better, and these are the little teething problems that that we are going to have with a new venue. I’m sure over the coming weeks it will bed in and become a lot better.
“A point for a draw is better than a loss, it’s another point on the board and we’ll focus on next week now.
“It’s frustrating because you just want a meeting where all the riders do a bit and then we’ll be beating teams by ten or twelve points!”

WITCHES’ PATIENCE PAYS OFF
IPSWICH manager Paul Hurry says he always expected No.1 rider Tom Brennan to come good – after he played a big part in the Witches taking match and aggregate points against Sheffield.
Hurry said: “We have seen Tom so frustrated. But his mechanics have stuck with him and just been there for him. They want the best for him.
“Tom has been in contact with me a little bit more. He said to me before the weekend, ‘I think I have found something. I am going to try it on Thursday.’ He has done it. It’s not my place to say what it is, but he has changed something on his bike, and it has brought the Tom Brennan that we all know back.
“People don’t become bad riders overnight, and you stick with them. When you drop them and they regain their form, other teams benefit from that.”

HOWARTH BACK AND IN FORM
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson praised Kyle Howarth for a successful return from injury in an impressive 51-39 win over King’s Lynn last Thursday.
The Lions are nicely placed in second in the table ahead of this Thursday’s home showdown with leaders Belle Vue.
Dickson said: “I felt Kyle was riding the bike really well, and I said that to him after the meeting. He was unlucky when his chain came off in his last race, but in his first couple especially when he beat Max (Fricke), he looked like the Kyle of old and I’m pleased for him.
“It was important that he did a job for us tonight, because you could say we looked a little vulnerable in the middle order without Nick (Morris). But I trust my riders, and I’m happy with the performance.”

DECISIONS FOR TIGERS
SHEFFIELD owner Damien Bates admits the club could be facing a tough call with No.1 Jack Holder on the sidelines and inconsistent results of late.
Skipper Josh Pickering salvaged a draw at Northampton on Monday after crashing in Heat 15 at Ipswich when the aggregate point was in sight.
Bates said: “Nobody hates losing more than me. The reality is, the team we put together at the start of the season has been rocked by losing our No.1 rider.
“Jack is making steady progress – but he’s not going to be fully fit for a while and we’re now in a critical part of our season.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
THE top two in the league table clash on Thursday as leaders Belle Vue visit Leicester… the same night sees the sides currently third and fourth also meeting as Sheffield host Ipswich… Northampton race at home to King’s Lynn on Monday whilst the first item of team silverware is on the line with Ipswich facing Leicester in the first leg of the KO Cup Final at Foxhall.

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HOW IT STANDS
GLASGOW are back on top of the table after defeating Berwick, whilst Scunthorpe were held to a draw by Poole who are back in the top four after a productive weekend on the road. Edinburgh retain third place with a busy weekend coming up for the Monarchs. Outside the top four, four of the five clubs need to address an imbalance in home defeats/away wins, whilst Berwick remain unbeaten at home but yet to win on the road.

TIGERS TOP DESPITE SETBACKS
GLASGOW overcame the early loss of Mario Hausl on a night when they were already without Kevin Juhl Pedersen, and still put points on the board against Berwick with a home win at Ashfield.
Manager Cami Brown said: “We’ve had blow after blow lately, but we are hanging in there and getting results. The boys showed some real resolve tonight to get the job done.
“Berwick threw away some points but they stayed in the meeting until the latter stages. They are a very good side this season and kept us under pressure until the last couple of heats.
“The main thing is that it’s three more points on the board. There’s a long way to go but we are in a stronger position.”

CAIRNS KEY FOR PIRATES
POOLE promoter Dan Ford has praised youngster Will Cairns for his impact on last weekend’s Northern tour in the main body of the side.
Cairns won two races in a 45-45 draw at Scunthorpe before reeling off 12 points out of 12 from his programmed rides in a big away win at Workington.
Ford said: “Will was superb at Workington on Saturday and he followed that up on Sunday by qualifying for the British Final. He is riding in a tough position at No.2 for us now but that doesn’t seem to have affected him in any way.
“He had two excellent race wins at Scunthorpe and four more at Workington, and that is not a bad record at all. But it is not about individuals. Winning titles depends on good solid contributions throughout the team and that is how we build our teams here at Poole.”

THRILLER AT THE EWR
SCUNTHORPE manager David Howe said he couldn’t be too disappointed with being held to a 45-45 draw at home to Poole in a sensational meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
Howe said: “I think the draw was a fair result. A draw is better than losing, although of course a win is better.
“Of all the home meetings, this fixture was the one I was most concerned about and we’ve come out of it with another league point and we’ve remained unbeaten around here in the league.
“Josh (Pickering) was phenomenal again, while Luke (Harrison) really stepped up at No 5 and showed he can hold down that position. Luke doesn’t need to worry about his last place in Heat 15 – someone has to win that race and someone has to finish last.
“The entertainment was great again tonight – no-one could have gone home disappointed after watching that level of racing.”

BEARS SEEK CONSISTENCY
REDCAR returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Workington headlined by a terrific comeback from captain Charles Wright.
The former British Champion made crucial overtakes in the closing stages of a 46-44 win, whilst reserve Jody Scott piled up big points at reserve.
Manager Gavin Parr said: “I always thought Workington would give us a tough battle and so it proved.
“Things are a bit of a rollercoaster for us at the moment as most of the riders are searching for more consistency but we will keep working hard and try to come up with the answers.”

FRIDAY FOCUS AT COWLEY
OXFORD will race at home on Friday nights for the next two weeks, starting with their clash with Berwick on July 24.
The Cheetahs have had to rearrange several meetings with the Bandits and then Poole heading to BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on successive weeks.
Team manager Peter Schroeck said: “We would like to restore the feelgood factor. It’s been missing for most of this season, ever since the problems that the stadium experienced at the start of the season, which were completely out of our hands of the speedway.
“These days just about everything takes place over the weekend, and we realise that there will be people who are able to come on a Friday evening who haven’t been able to make it on a Wednesday.
“The schools are now out, while most people also don’t have to think about getting into work the next day. It’s free for kids at Oxford every meeting, and now it’s the holidays, it’s an ideal time for families to come along.”

DISAPPOINTMENT FOR COMETS
WORKINGTON boss James Denham reflected on a weekend which hadn’t lived up to expectations as the Comets suffered a narrow loss at Redcar before a damaging home defeat to Poole.
Denham said: “It’s been a disappointing weekend. We were gutted to miss out Friday but we made a good account of ourselves bringing it down to the last heat with six riders, so I was fairly confident coming into Saturday.
“We knew it would be tough, Poole are always a tough side home or away, but we were just outclassed from the get go.
“Will Cairns was fantastic, he was the main threat to be wary of as the meeting progressed, but he also had some solid back-up as every one of the their riders contributed and we just had too many last places on the score sheet ultimately.”

BANDITS MISS OUT
BERWICK boss Stewart Dickson felt his side were worth more than a 52-38 defeat at his former club Glasgow on Friday.
Dickson accepted there had been points thrown away on several occasions which prevented a closer encounter.
He said: “I don’t think the scoreline is a true reflection of our efforts on the night. But there is a reason that Glasgow are top of the league and they took full advantage of any mistakes we made.”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
EDINBURGH’S home clash with Plymouth is a key battle in the race for the play-offs with the Gladiators facing a season-defining weekend for their top-four chances… The Devon side visit Armadale on Friday, Berwick on Saturday and Redcar on Sunday… Poole are chasing the double over Workington when the sides meet in Dorset on Wednesday… Second placed Scunthorpe host Redcar on Friday, whilst Oxford host Berwick at Cowley… Workington bid to improve their home form when they take on Edinburgh on Saturday.

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HOW IT STANDS
EDINBURGH and Leicester both have 100 per cent records, with the Monarchs top after racing four matches so far compared to the Lion Cubs’ three. King’s Lynn and Buxton are yet to get off the mark, but that situation is set to change for at least one of those sides this week!

ACADEMY MARCH ON
EDINBURGH Monarchs Academy made it four wins out of four this season by overcoming King’s Lynn 55-35 at Armadale.
Reserve Ben Whalley was unbeaten prior to Heat 15 where both he and visiting guest Ben Morley lost their maximums as the race was won by Jordy Loftus.
Edinburgh manager Scott Wilson said: “Tonight was another pleasing night. Once again the whole team chipped in on the scorechart and we have kept our momentum rolling.
“I expect it was an enjoyable meeting for the fans with a good home win and some entertaining action on track, as we always get in the Academy meetings.”

FIRST POINTS TARGET
KING’S Lynn host Buxton on Wednesday with both sides looking to get off the mark – and Young Stars manager Jason Pipe faces his former club.
Pipe said: “I’ve been really looking forward to this meeting, as Buxton is one of my previous clubs where I was their team manager in 2015-2017, under the promotion of Jayne and Richard Moss.
“It’s going to be the first time that I’ve been against Buxton since the day I left there in 2017, so it’s going to be a little strange trying to defeat them!”

THE WEEK AHEAD…
KING’S Lynn host Buxton on Wednesday with both sides chasing their first win of the season… The Bulls then face a tough test at home to uneaten Leicester on Sunday.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

WEDNESDAY JULY 22:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole (51) v Workington (39) 7.30
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Buxton 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 23:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Leicester (29) v Belle Vue (61) 7.30
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 24:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (47) v Plymouth (43) 7.30, Oxford (37) v Berwick (53) 7.30, Scunthorpe (48) v Redcar (42) 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 25:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick (35) v Plymouth (55) 7pm, Workington (41) v Edinburgh (49) 6pm

SUNDAY JULY 26:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar (56) v Plymouth (34) 7.30
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Buxton v Leicester 3pm

MONDAY JULY 27:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Northampton (42) v King’s Lynn (48) 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Ipswich v Leicester 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 29:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Berwick 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 30:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Sheffield (48) v Northampton (42) 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester v Ipswich 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 31:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 7.30, Oxford v Poole 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30

SATURDAY AUGUST 1:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Plymouth v Poole 7pm
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Middlesbrough v King’s Lynn 7.30

SUNDAY AUGUST 2:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington v Berwick 3pm
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Buxton v Oxford 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington (125cc) (follows Champ fixture)

MONDAY AUGUST 3:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30, King’s Lynn v Sheffield 7.30