BRITISH SPEEDWAY ROUND-UP #6

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

PIC OF THE WEEK…

Redcar look on-course to join Scunthorpe in the BSN Series semi-finals as the best runner-up from their Northern Group of the competition. The Bears have one meeting remaining at home to Birmingham before the latter stages and if they prove victorious in that fixture will make the final four alongside Glasgow and Poole.
Photo Credit: COLIN POOLE

PREMIERSHIP NEWSROUND…

MISSION IS POSSIBLE
BELLE Vue skipper Brady Kurtz says current form means the Aces can’t be written off from making KO Cup progress.
They went down 46-20 at Wolverhampton in the first leg on Easter Monday but have since hit a rich vein of form going into next Monday’s return fixture.
Kurtz said: “We’ve got a bit of a break before we go again next Monday against Wolverhampton in the Knockout Cup. That’ll be another tough meeting, but I think we can definitely run them close.
“We’re down 26 points on aggregate so we’ve got our work cut out. It’s not impossible, just very difficult but we’ll give it our all and that’s all we can do.”

WHERE IT WENT WRONG
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson handed Max Fricke a tactical substitute ride in Heat 9 at Belle Vue on Monday – only to see his other rider Nick Morris disqualified!
Morris didn’t make the start in time after mechanical trouble in the pits, and Fricke was then on the receiving end of a 5-1 at the hands of Tom Brennan and Charles Wright.
Dickson said: “It’s frustrating, especially with what happened in the tactical substitute race because although Nick wasn’t having a great day, we were hoping he would make it from gate two, which would have allowed Max to come from four, but Nick got excluded.
“Really it’s a reflection of what we’ve seen so far, collectively we’re not quite where we should be at this stage, and nothing is going to be given to us easily in this league

DERBY DELIGHT
IPSWICH took the honours in their Bank Holiday Monday local derby against King’s Lynn – and boss Ritchie Hawkins is now desperate for the double.
The victory completed a memorable weekend for the Suffolk town, with Ipswich Town FC celebrating promotion to the EFL Championship on Saturday.
Hawkins said: “It was a brilliant crowd, and we were well supported again. After the weekend the town has had we certainly couldn’t let them down today!
“We looked the determined team and that is what I want to see. I am very happy with the win, but for me it is not even quite half the job done as we need to win on Thursday.”

STARS START TOO LATE
KING’S Lynn boss Alex Brady admitted the early stages were better best forgotten in Monday’s loss at Ipswich.
But the Stars manager will urge his set to get off to a sharper opening when the sides meet again on Thursday, having dropped 18-6 down after four Foxhall races.
He said: “In a local derby, the fans want to see a win first and foremost, but the bare minimum is passion and desire, and I felt that the majority showed that from Heat 5 onwards.
“It’s not over by any stretch, and Thursday night has to be a ‘W’ next to Stars.”

RORY RESPECT FOR PANTHERS
WOLVERHAMPTON star Rory Schlein hit double figures with three race wins in Monday’s 50-40 victory over Peterborough.
And Schlein says the result shouldn’t be under-estimated despite the Panthers having endured a tough start to the season.
He said: “When you think about Peterborough and the line-up they brought as well, a lot of those guys can ride our place very well and they showed that as well.
“So it’s great to get the win and a ten point lead ahead of the return leg – we do ride their place quite well so we’ve given ourselves a real chance when we go there too.”

BOMBER BLOW FOR PANTHERS
PETERBOROUGH’S problems at No.1 continued on Monday when guest Chris Harris was involved in a Heat 1 crash.
Harris tangled with home star Sam Masters and picked up just 2+2 in his remaining rides, as the club continue to operate without a full-time rider in that position after the departure of Nicki Pedersen.
Team boss Rob Lyon said: “Bomber wrecked his ‘Wolverhampton’ bike so it was nothing to do with what he did earlier in the day, in terms of two meetings in a day – he just couldn’t get his second bike working properly, which is frustrating because he’s normally good for double figures around here.”

TIGERS’ TRIPLE WORRY
SHEFFIELD have been inactive as a team since April 24 – but the Tigers currently have concerns over injuries to three riders.
Polish star Tobiasz Musielak has missed their last two matches with a broken collarbone, whilst Lewis Kerr suffered concussion in an horrific crash at Oxford last week.
And Adam Ellis crashed out of his Speedway Euro Championship qualifier at Daugavpils last weekend, and is awaiting news on the full extent of a hand injury.

THE WEEK AHEAD… IPSWICH go for a local derby double when they visit King’s Lynn on Thursday following their home victory over the Stars on Bank Holiday Monday, whilst Leicester host Wolverhampton in a Midlands derby at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park…. Next Bank Holiday Monday (May 8) features KO Cup action with Belle Vue facing a comeback bid against Wolverhampton, as they go into the meeting 26 points adrift, whilst Peterborough host Ipswich for the second time this season after losing out to the Witches in the league on opening night.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP NEWSROUND…

BANDITS GO LIVE
BERWICK have tied up a partnership with online radio station Radio Northumberland with a one-hour ‘Total Access’ show launching on Wednesday May 3 at 6pm and featuring Bandits No.1 Thomas Jorgensen.
Host Scott Frame said: “I am delighted that we have been able to agree this partnership with one of the area’s growing radio stations.
“From our initial talks it soon became clear that there was a lot of benefit for both parties. From the club’s point of view it’s about expanding our reach in the area and putting Berwick Speedway’s name on everyone’s lips.”

BRUMMIES’ PROCTOR CONCERN
BIRMNGHAM boss Laurence Rogers felt the absence of an unwell Ty Proctor was a significant contributory factor to their BSN Series defeat to Redcar.
Rogers said: “For me, we missed Ty tonight down in that reserve berth; he’d got a new engine ready for here and if he’d have ridden it could’ve been a different story I feel.
“He’s really not well though; he went to his doctors this morning, they sent him to A&E for blood tests so we send him our best wishes.”

MONARCHS OUT TO OXFORD
EDINBURGH’S interest in the KO Cup is over with the main damage done at Oxford last Wednesday – before the Monarchs fought back from a poor start to the second leg to at least draw that meeting 45-45.
Team boss Alex Harkess said: “We were never in the tie with a chance to be honest, but at least the team showed some fight after a dreadful start to the night. Heat 13 between Scott Nicholls and Richie Worrall was a wonderful race.”

BROWN PRAISE FOR BRENNAN
GLASGOW boss Cami Brown hailed his skipper Tom Brennan who went through the card with his first senior 15-point maximum in last Friday’s BSN Series win over Berwick as the Tigers marched into the semi-finals.
Brown told glasgowtigers.co.uk: “It was a great night for Tom… it was a really polished performance and with one breath-taking win from the back in Heat 13.
“Overall it’s job done, we are through to the semis having beaten a very good side in Berwick.”

GREAT SCOTT
OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck has praised his “unbelievable” skipper Scott Nicholls who has been in sensational form this season.
Nicholls stormed to a 12-point maximum in the KO Cup at Edinburgh last week, including a superb race win over Richie Worrall from the back.
Schroeck said: “Scott Nicholls was again unbelievable tonight. Any young rider who watched his ride in Heat 13 tonight has got to be in awe.
“He’s totally safe, but never gives up and just keeps going and going until he wins the race. Scott leads this team from the front and it’s awesome.”

PIRATES’ CUP QUEST
POOLE star Kyle Newman says the reigning KO Cup holders will be firmly focused on their defence which gets underway against Plymouth this week.
Newman said: “It’s another competition, on our way to battling for another trophy and we just love trophies here at Poole.
“It’s the Knockout Cup and every race counts, so we need to go out there and hit them hard from the start.”

TARGET 41 HIT!
SCUNTHORPE travelled to Redcar on Friday needing 41 race points to be sure of a place in the BSN Series semi-finals – and achieved exactly that mark to wrap up victory in the group!
Team boss Dave Peet said: “Even when we took the lead, I knew there was every possibility that they would come back at us. During the meeting, our focus changed from winning the meeting to making sure we got to 41 points.
“We set out from Day 1 to win our mini-league and reach the semi-finals of the BSN Series and that’s what we’ve achieved. It shows that we can fight it out with the best of them this season and come out on top.”

ELSEWHERE:
REDCAR continue to have interest in both Cup competitions, with a 49-41 win over Scunthorpe on Friday meaning they can take the ‘best runner-up’ position in the BSN Series by avoiding defeat at home to Birmingham this Saturday – and they are also through to a KO Cup quarter-final against Glasgow following their emphatic aggregate success over Berwick.
PLYMOUTH go into the Cab Direct Championship campaign off the back of a home win over Poole in the BSN Series last week, holding on for a 46-44 victory following a late Pirates comeback.

THE WEEK AHEAD… The Cab Direct Championship gets into full swing this week with Scunthorpe facing away trips to Plymouth on Tuesday and Berwick on Saturday… A busy week for the Scorpions also sees them race home and away to Birmingham in the KO Cup… Oxford are also involved in two league matches as they host Redcar on Wednesday before travelling to Glasgow on Friday… Poole host Plymouth in the first leg of their KO Cup tie on Wednesday… Redcar will secure qualification for the BSN Series semi-finals as ‘best runners-up’ if they avoid defeat at home to Birmingham on Saturday.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NEWSROUND…

FEEL GOOD FEN TIGERS
MILDENHALL co-owner Phil Kirk praised both teams, the track preparation and the overall West Row atmosphere after an entertaining 49-41 home win over Berwick.
Kirk said: “The meeting was a slick affair with few falls and plenty of passing and hard racing. Alfie (Bowtell) and Lee (Complin) are proving to be everything we hoped and more at the top of the team, but the highlight for me was Arran’s (Butcher) ride in Heat 12, he told me that he was putting everything into his speedway this year and the results are there to be seen as he is in the form of his career.
“A big thank you as well to the crowd who came out again in good numbers and cheered the lads on to victory. There is a real increase in the noise at the meetings this season to date and the riders love the involvement from the crowd.”

GLAD TO HEAD HOME
BERWICK coach Kevin Little has taken the positives of the Bullets’ away schedule so far – and is relishing this Saturday’s home fixture against Kent after a good effort at Mildenhall on Sunday.
Little said: “Connor (Coles), Danny (Phillips) and Greg (Blair) form a pretty good spearhead and with Jamie (Halder) again among the points the Bullets were able to end a disappointing weekend for the club on a positive note.
“After three fixtures on the road the lads are now looking forward to finally getting a chance in front of home fans when Kent Royals visit on Saturday.”

THE WEEK AHEAD: Kent are on Northern tour this weekend as they visit Edinburgh on Friday, before moving on to Berwick on Saturday in a meeting which follows the Bandits v Scunthorpe match in the Cab Direct Championship… Scunthorpe host the opening round of the 500cc and 250cc British Youth Championship following their Championship KO Cup match against Birmingham.

ELSEWHERE:
EDINBURGH have stressed they are willing to welcome attendees to the Monarchs Speedway Academy after their first session of the year recently.
Co-promoter John Campbell said: “It was, as usual, a very productive session with one newcomer to our ranks. We would be happy to welcome more to come along and have a go at speedway.
“We can now supply all the equipment, protective clothing and bike for anyone wishing to have a try. Send us an email to [email protected] if you’d like more details.”

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY MAY 2:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 3:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Redcar 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Poole v Plymouth 7.30, 1st leg: Birmingham v Scunthorpe 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 4:
PREMIERSHIP R1: King’s Lynn (38) v Ipswich (52) 7.30, Leicester v Wolverhampton 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 5:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Oxford 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Birmingham 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Kent 7.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 (500cc/250cc): Scunthorpe (follows KOC fixture)

SATURDAY MAY 6:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Scunthorpe 6.30
BSN SERIES: Redcar (52) v Birmingham (38) 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Berwick v Kent (follows previous fixture)

MONDAY MAY 8:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Belle Vue (20) v Wolverhampton (46) 12pm
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30

TUESDAY MAY 9:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Plymouth v Poole 7pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 10:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Oxford v Leicester 7.30
CHALLENGE: Poole v Swindon Select 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 11:
PREMIERSHIP R1: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30; 1st leg: Sheffield v Belle Vue/Wolverhampton 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 12:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Oxford 7.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 (125cc): Belle Vue TBC

SATURDAY MAY 13:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Workington v Edinburgh 3pm

SUNDAY MAY 14:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Berwick 12pm, Mildenhall v Oxford 4pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2: Glasgow 2pm

MONDAY MAY 15:
PREMIERSHIP PAIRS Round 1: Wolverhampton 7.30

TUESDAY MAY 16:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Birmingham 7pm