BRITISH SPEEDWAY ROUND-UP

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

THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN

PIC OF THE WEEK…

The 2022 National Development League table was finally completed on Friday night when Leicester won 53-36 at Armadale. It was also potentially the last-ever meeting at the Scottish venue.
Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO

PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BELLE VUE
“At this point in the season motivation can be a challenge but all the lads put in a shift and gave it everything they had, and the overall result wasn’t too bad from our perspective. Both Brady and Matej did a fantastic job, we can’t fault Simon Lambert’s efforts and Norick, Jack and Tom gave it their all, but sadly it just wasn’t to be.”
Mark Lemon gave his reaction after a depleted Aces side were defeated at King’s Lynn in their final regular Premiership match of the season on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Premiership Pairs Round 6, Thur Oct 27

IPSWICH
“Doyley was class again, Danny put himself back touching the tapes in his first race but in his last three rides found the setup and looked good and it was quick as he has been for a while. I felt Erik was there or thereabouts but didn’t quite have that next step to score more points.”
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins reviewed the action from Owlerton on Monday with the Witches going down to a 54-36 in their last league fixture of 2022.

KING’S LYNN
Jason Edwards was my star performer, to get paid-10 from the Rising Star position is something he has been threatening for a long time and I am just so chuffed for him, it will do his confidence the world of good. To then announce Freddie and get such a great reaction from the crowd, it made for a fantastic night across the board.”
A good night for the Stars and boss Alex Brady with a big win over champions Belle Vue and confirmation that impressive reserve Frederik Jakobsen will be back with the club next season.
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield (LC Final), TBC

SHEFFIELD
“I just want to say a big thanks to all those fans who came out tonight and then stayed behind to hear from the lads and hear the news as well; I hate the phrase ‘nothing fixture’ because you always want to win and it was a nice way to sign off our regular league campaign.”
Tigers boss Simon Stead saw his side confirm top spot in the league table by beating Ipswich on Monday, after which it was announced that Jack Holder will return as No.1 next season.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn (LC Final), TBC

CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

LEICESTER
“We need to score as many points as we can at Poole, and I’m trying to maximise points in the races where we can do that. It’s a team game and I’ve explained to the riders the reasons why, but the bottom line is that we need to perform – if we don’t, then the juggling around won’t make any difference.”
Lions boss Stewart Dickson has re-jigged his riding order for the first leg of the Championship Grand Final at Poole, as he looks for his team to leave the tie in a winnable position for the return at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Poole, Championship Grand Final, Sat Oct 29
NEXT AWAY: Poole, Championship Grand Final, Wed Oct 26

POOLE
“Of course we will try and get our track prepared in a way that our riders like it, we didn’t quite have that in the Cup Final when Redcar were here, and whilst we did enough to finish the job and rode within ourselves it will be important for us to put on a better performance this week. We recognise that the weather had a bearing on conditions, but we will let Terry, our track curator, know how we would like it.”
Pirates boss Neil Middleditch is hopeful that despite the weather, track conditions will be to his side’s liking when they face Leicester in the re-arranged first leg of the Grand Final on Wednesday.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Championship Grand Final, Wed Oct 26
NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Championship Grand Final, Sat Oct 29

REDCAR
The Bears will wrap up the 2022 season with the staging of the Teesside Silver Helmet at the Ecco Arena on Friday, with the meeting having initially been postponed due to the weather last week.
NEXT HOME: Teesside Silver Helmet, Fri Oct 28

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…

ARMADALE
“I’m extremely disappointed because the boys were very confident they could have done something. Our heat leaders had little backing from the second strings, and most importantly the Leicester boys were much quicker from the tapes.”
Alan Budzynski’s Devils were condemned to the NDL wooden spoon when they were beaten at home by league leaders Leicester on Friday in their final fixture of the season.

KENT
NEXT HOME: Kent Pairs/British Youth Championship, Sun Oct 30

LEICESTER
“We’ll be looking to put in a strong performance and come away with the best result possible, by keeping things as close as possible. We showed a liking for the Mildenhall track when we went there in the league and won, but obviously they have strengthened up now.”
Lion Cubs boss Dave Howard knows the importance of Thursday’s Grand Final 1st leg at Mildenhall as they look to set things up for the decider at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall (NDL Grand Final), Sat Oct 29
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall (NDL Grand Final/KO Cup Final), Thur Oct 27

MILDENHALL
“We really need your support to cheer the lads on to victory so hopefully as many of you as you can, will turn up on Thursday. Speedway under lights is always a spectacle. Let’s see the Mildenhall Fen Tigers, proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery, roar to one final victory and set up another big season end.”
Co-promoter Greg Palmer urges Fen Tigers fans to turn out in force for Thursday’s big double-header at West Row with the NDL title decider taking place against Leicester, followed by the second leg of the KO Cup Final.
NEXT HOME: Leicester (NDL Grand Final + KO Cup Final), Thur Oct 27
NEXT AWAY: Leicester (NDL Grand FInal), Sat Oct 29

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY OCTOBER 25:
PREMIERSHIP PAIRS Round 5: Leicester 7.30

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 26:
CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Leicester 7.30

THURSDAY OCTOBER 27:
PREMIERSHIP PAIRS Round 6: Belle Vue 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Mildenhall v Leicester 7.45
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Mildenhall (29) v Leicester (55) (follows previous fixture)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 28:
TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 29:
CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester v Poole 6pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester v Mildenhall (follows previous fixture)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 30:
KENT PAIRS CHALLENGE: Kent 12pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 7: Kent (follows previous fixture)