BRITISH SPEEDWAY ROUND-UP #4
HERE’S our latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
PIC OF THE WEEK…
Krzysztof Kasprzak recovered from his slow start to the season in style with a faultless 15-point maximum in King’s Lynn’s 49-41 win against Wolverhampton on Thursday at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Photo credit: DEREK LEADER
PREMIERSHIP NEWSROUND…
ACE WEEK FOR BELLE VUE
BELLE Vue turned their fortunes around in spectacular style with big away wins at Ipswich and Peterborough in the space of five days.
The Aces ended the Witches’ early-season winning run at Foxhall before banging in 55 points at the East of England Arena with points flowing throughout the side for the reigning champions.
Aces star Tom Brennan said: “We’re much more cohesive as a unit than we were a few weeks ago. The level of communication has picked up significantly, the team is working as a team and we have the results to show for it.
“We did have confidence coming to Peterborough. We never underestimate any team but without the support of Nicki Pedersen it has put the rest of their riders under more pressure to perform.
“I personally don’t think that Monday’s result would’ve been any different if the Panthers had been at full strength, purely because I think we were the stronger team throughout.”
RECORD BREAKING EMIL
EMIL Sayfutdinov smashed the Leicester track record in Ipswich’s KO Cup win on Monday – on the first occasion he had ever seen the circuit!
Sayfutdinov took half a second off the previous mark held by Lions racer Nick Morris, and scored a 12-point maximum as the Witches set up a semi-final clash with Peterborough.
Boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Emil has never been here, and to be fair we felt it would take him a couple of rides to get his head around the place.
“Emil, being Emil, showed his class again and broke the track record in his first ride and was on it. It was a terrific maximum, and he was superb.
“We talk about the top end but every rider in the team has got a win or a paid win, we were quite solid tonight with a very strong top end. Danny (King) winning three heats certainly helps but I think it was a great all-round team performance really.”
PROBLEMS FOR PANTHERS
PETERBOROUGH are seeking solutions after losing at home to Belle Vue on Monday – with the lack of a No.1 a major handicap for the Showground side.
Club bosses are scouring the speedway world for a replacement for Nicki Pedersen, and a nightmare start against the Aces didn’t help matters.
Skipper Hans Andersen said: “I don’t know what the problem was early on, because obviously if I knew we would have sorted it quicker, but it’s still only our second time on track this season and some of us haven’t ridden a lot.
“We’re still trying various things to get the right set-up, and people will say ‘yeah, but you’ve ridden this track before,’ but again it’s different.”
LIONS – NO COMPLAINTS
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson admitted his side had been outperformed by Ipswich as they went out of the KO Cup.
The Lions had a superb home record in their three seasons in the second tier, but were beaten 47-43 by the Witches on Monday.
Dickson said: “We threw away a couple of points but I think the better team went through to the next round.
“From our point of view, we’re disappointed to lose at home – something we’ve not been used to since I came here. But you could see the class of Jason Doyle and Emil Sayfutdinov, and Danny King had a good night as well.”
STARS SKIPPER SATISFIED
KING’S Lynn captain Josh Pickering hailed the return to form of Polish star Krzysztof Kasprzak who scored a 15-point maximum in last week’s win over Wolverhampton.
Kasprzak had scored just two points in the Stars’ opening two matches of the season but reeled off five straight wins on his home debut at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Pickering said: “In Heat 3 when KK was out doing his thing, I knew there and then that he was in for a big one. I spoke to Alex (Brady) about it at the start of the day, I said I’d got a feeling he could get a 15 tonight, that’s the type of rider he is.
“The proof is in the pudding, we’re all meant to be here, and I just really want to continue winning for this club.”
*ELSEWHERE:
SHEFFIELD star Tobiasz Musielak has lost his race against time to be fit to face Ipswich on Thursday after a broken collarbone.
The early-season league leaders will track former Witches star Scott Nicholls as a guest at Foxhall.
Thursday’s racing also features a clash between Leicester and Belle Vue at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park.
On Monday, WOLVERHAMPTON bid to put the shattering news over the reported end of their tenancy at Monmore Green this October to one side as they host Leicester in an West-East Midlands derby.
Elsewhere, Belle Vue will be confident of an aggregate point at home to Peterborough, whilst Sheffield take a 26-point lead to King’s Lynn in the second leg of their KO Cup tie.
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP NEWSROUND…
TIGERS TOP THE GROUP
GLASGOW look set to secure qualification for the BSN Series semi-finals after a thumping 51-38 win at Berwick on Saturday.
Benjamin Basso scored an 18-point maximum for the Tigers, who had been on course for a home win over the Bandits before rain interrupted proceedings 24 hours earlier.
Team boss Cami Brown told glasgowtigers.co.uk: “That was a really impressive display from the boys. We were weakened without Tom (Brennan) and having to use rider replacement.
“But they responded brilliantly. They all played their part with vital wins and points from start to finish. It was a show of strength.”
BIG WEEKEND FOR BANDITS
BERWICK boss Gary Flint is seeking a reaction from his side when they take on Edinburgh in home and away BSN Series clashes this weekend.
The Bandits were shocked to go down by 13-points at home to Glasgow on Saturday and Flint wants to see an improvement against the Monarchs.
He said: “Glasgow worked very hard and were rewarded for attacking the track and scrapping for every point.
“I’ll certainly be looking for a reaction from our riders and much better performances when we meet Edinburgh twice next weekend.”
MONARCHS EXPECT A TEST
EDINBURGH boss Alex Harkess is wary of the threat provided by a wounded Berwick side when the teams meet in the BSN Series this weekend.
The Monarchs won their home opener against Glasgow, but lost out on the aggregate point at Ashfield meaning they need a major return when they take on the Bandits.
Harkess said: “You’d like to think this weekend would be easier, but it often doesn’t work out that way! Berwick will be looking to prove a point after their home defeat last Saturday, but we are looking to take as much as we can out of this weekend.
“The target is the maximum five points. We have to win the home leg. All season home legs are very important and we have to be winning them.”
PIRATES RESPECT FOR GLADIATORS
POOLE skipper Steve Worrall feels his side should be stronger than rivals Plymouth – but they need to prove it on track!
The sides are set for several meetings in the early part of the season as they are in the same BSN Series group and have also been drawn together in the KO Cup.
Worrall said: “We know how good Kyle (Howarth) is around here. He was good here last year, and I think he nearly ‘maxed’ out.
“Then there is Richie (Worrall). He used to ride for the Pirates and knows his way round here, he’s very good and then they’ve got Ben Barker, and if his bikes are working well, then he could come here and score a hatful as well.
“There are some good riders there, but I do feel we have the edge on it. If you line them up they have their faults, just like we do to be fair, but I feel that we have the upper hand.”
SCORPIONS WAIT ON ZAINE
SCUNTHORPE have started the season without key reserve Zaine Kennedy, who was injured in Australia on the eve of the campaign.
But promoter Rob Godfrey is still hopeful that Kennedy could still be seen in Scorpions colours this season.
He said: “It’s a massive, massive blow to lose Zaine, there’s no denying that, and trying to come up with an adequate replacement at this stage has been almost impossible.
“He has said that he has some surgery to come but if things go well with that, fingers crossed he can get himself over here and rejoin the team. At this stage, we are far from writing him off and the team place is still there for him if he’s fit.”
*ELSEWHERE:
BIRMINGHAM finally get their season up and running when they host Scunthorpe in the BSN Series at Perry Bar on Wednesday, with the return fixture set for the Eddie Wright Raceway 48 hours later.
The third team in the Northern group, REDCAR, are inactive until April 26 as their home match against the Brummies was postponed last weekend.
Meanwhile OXFORD make a second attempt to host a Swindon Select on Wednesday having been frustrated by the weather last month, before they face Edinburgh in the KO Cup next week.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NEWSROUND…
CUP FINAL FOR FEN TIGERS
MILDENHALL are through to the KO Cup Final for the second season running after an emphatic aggregate win over Kent.
Alfie Bowtell, Lee Complin and Ben Trigger were all unbeaten by an opponent in the 60-29 victory at West Row on Sunday.
Team boss Jason Gardner said: “Kent obviously had a bit of bad luck and we know how they feel, we used to have a lot of that last year!
“But all our team got stuck in, they attacked the track and did their job, and I’m very pleased with the whole team performance.”
Kent, meanwhile, have postponed the scheduled league clash between the clubs this weekend due to site access issues, and it will now take place on August 20.
BULLETS EXPECT TWO BACK
Berwick should have two of their injured riders back for their next NDL fixture – but winter signing Archie Freeman faces a longer recovery period.
Freeman suffered a broken leg just 18 seconds into his Bullets debut at Belle Vue on Good Friday, when he was unavoidably collected by team-mate Connor Coles after losing power off the fourth bend.
Team boss Gary Flint said: “Obviously Archie faces a long recovery period while Mason (Watson) and Josh (Embleton) should be back on board by the time the Bullets visit Mildenhall at the end of the month.”
WINNING START FOR ACADEMY
EDINBURGH made a strong start to their home NDL campaign with a 50-40 win over Belle Vue with their heat-leaders in fine form.
Adam Roynon scored a 12-point maximum whilst Kyle Bickley dropped just one point and Jacob Hook was also in double figures against the Colts.
Manager Scott Wilson said: “Adam showed what a capture he is on a six-point average, and both Kyle and Jacob were very good and should start building confidence for their Championship outings for Monarchs, which is what we are hoping for.”
Colts co-boss Graham Goodwin praised the Armadale track staff and the collective spirit of the riders to ensure the meeting went ahead after heavy rain.
He said: “Given the amount of rain that had come down, we weren’t sure if the meeting would go ahead, but the track staff worked very hard to get it on.
“Full credit also must be given to all 14 riders. They were more than aware of the tricky conditions, and their collective attitude was, ‘we’re all here so we might as well give it a go.’”
*ELSEWHERE: WORKINGTON youngster Luke Harrison faces a lay-off after crashing in an Amateur meeting on Sunday.
Harrison, who was set to make his full-time NDL debut this season with the Comets, is receiving treatment for two broken vertebrae, a broken shoulder and bruising to the lung.
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY APRIL 18:
BSN SERIES: Plymouth v Oxford 7pm
WEDNESDAY APRIL 19:
BSN SERIES: Birmingham v Scunthorpe 7.30, Poole v Plymouth 7.30
CHALLENGE: Oxford v Swindon Select 7.30
THJURSDAY APRIL 20:
PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30, Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 21:
BSN SERIES: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Scunthorpe v Birmingham 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 22:
BSN SERIES: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm
MONDAY APRIL 24:
PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue (55) v Peterborough (35) 7.30, Wolverhampton v Leicester 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: King’s Lynn (32) v Sheffield (58) 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 25:
BSN SERIES: Plymouth v Poole 7pm
WEDNESDAY APRIL 26:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Oxford v Edinburgh 7.30
BSN SERIES: Birmingham v Redcar 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 27:
PREMIERSHIP R1: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30, Sheffield v Peterborough 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 28:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Oxford 7.30
BSN SERIES: Glasgow (51) v Berwick (38) 7.30, Redcar (50) v Scunthorpe (40) 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 29:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Berwick (37) v Redcar (53) 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 30:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Berwick 4pm
MONDAY MAY 1:
PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue v Leicester 12pm, Ipswich v King’s Lynn 2.30, Wolverhampton v Peterborough 8pm
TUESDAY MAY 2:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7pm
