WELCOME to the latest edition of the weekly BSPA bulletins keeping you in touch with news, views and fixtures from the tracks up and down the country.
DATE: TUE September 18, 2007
BIG EVENT LATEST
TEENAGE sensation Tai Woffinden is looking to become the first rider in the sport's history to win both the Conference League Riders' Championship and the Premier League equaivalent in the same season!
Woffinden romped to a 15-point maximum at Rye House last week to take the CLRC crown at his home track - but he was representing Scunthorpe at Conference level.
Now he will be in Rye House colours at the Abbey Stadium in Swindon on Sunday September 30 to try and win the PLRC title.
But he's not fancied as one of the favourites as rider with far more experience are expected to be in contention.
British Speedway chairman Peter Toogood said: "What young Tai has done this season is tremendous and nothing gives us greater pleasure than to see youngsters coming through the system.
"It's a tall order to suggest he can win at Swindon, but you never know. I guess people will look at the likes of Magnus Zettertstrom, the holder, former champion Andre Compton, Tomas Topinka from King's Lynn and, of course, the sensational Isle of Wight rider Chris Holder. It should be a cracking meeting."
The action starts at the Wiltshire track at 6pm and a bumper crowd is expected.
LINE-UP: Jacek Rempala (Berwick), Tai Woffinden (Rye House), Chris Holder (Isle of Wight), James Wright (Workington), Tomas Topinka (King's Lynn), Jason Lyons (Birmingham), Daniel Nermark (King's Lynn), Andre Compton (Sheffield), Michal Rajkowski (Newport), Kaj Laukkanen (Edinburgh), Gary Havelock (Redcar), Magnus Zetterstrom (Somerset), Shane Parker (Glasgow), Kyle Legault (Mildenhall), Christian Henry (Newcastle), Rusty Harrison (Stoke).
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
ARENA ESSEX-LAKESIDE boss Jon Cook was in buoyant mood after the Hammers overcame his former club Eastbourne home and away to secure a place in the last four of the Knockout Cup.
Cook said: "I would have preferred not to face Eastbourne in the Cup, but it made good box office to race against them so it's good for business.
"The first leg was a great meeting with some tremendous racing, and we then carried it through and completed the job at Arlington."
BELLE VUE have made Polish rider Lukasz Jankowski an asset of the club - although they cannot yet confirm whether he will be part of their line-up next season.
Promoter Chris Morton said: "We can't make definite plans until we know next year's league set-up, but David Gordon and myself were impressed when we saw him race during a visit to Poland earlier this year.
"Lukasz is looking for a place with a British club next season and signing him will help with our options when we start team-building. Whatever happens next season, we have signed the kind of talented young rider we need to improve our asset base for the future."
COVENTRY reserve Steve Johnston top-scored with 11 (paid 13) as the Bees moved into the play-off Grand Final with a 55-38 win over Poole - who they can also knock out of the Cup this week.
Johnston said: "Things just seemed to work well for me and I'm really happy with what's happened, but I'm not getting too excited yet because we all want to do it in the Final.
"We've got there now, which is what we've been racing for, and it's time to do the business there. We won't jump up and down until that job is done."
EASTBOURNE promoter Bob Brimson thanked the Eagles fans for backing their team despite a frustrating Knockout Cup defeat against fierce rivals Arena-Essex.
Brimson said: "After a wretched week in a wretched season, all but going out on Friday, the turnout just shows how strong the club is, and I wanted to thank those that came down. It didn't go unnoticed in the pits.
"Lakeside were remarkably consistent but it was a creditable performance from the boys. Anybody staying at home missed what for me was one of the most truly impressive rides of the season from young (Morten) Risager to hold off (Andreas) Jonsson for four laps with superb skill and confidence."
IPSWICH rider/manager Chris Louis believes that the Elite League play-off final between Coventry and Swindon will be a tight contest - with both sides having recently taken away wins at Foxhall.
Louis said: "It will be a close-run thing, and it will depend on how well Coventry go at Swindon.
"Coventry were always going to give us a tougher test (at home) than Swindon in our previous home meeting, because they travel better. Swindon gain such big home wins that they collect a higher percentage of aggregate points."
PETERBOROUGH manager Trevor Swales was frustrated by the under-performance of Niels-Kristian Iversen and Lukas Dryml at Swindon on Monday as Panthers lost their grip on the Elite League title.
The Panthers duo had both qualified for the 2008 Grand Prix series at the weekend but were unable to repeat that form in the semi-final at Blunsdon.
Swales said: "You can't have two of your top four riders scoring five points between them otherwise you're not going to win, and that's exactly what happened again. Hans (Andersen) can't do it by himself."
POOLE skipper Bjarne Pedersen had no complaints after the Pirates' title hopes were ended at Coventry on Monday - despite the Dane's stunning 18-point maximum.
Pedersen said: "Every time I go out on the track I want to win for the club and fans and I feel I proved that tonight. I was going for the wins but as a team we just couldn't keep up with Coventry.
"We tried to pull off a surprise away win, but it was just not working out there for us. It's hard for the youngsters because they haven't got the experience, but we all tried our best. We couldn't do any more."
READING complete their home Elite League programme against Belle Vue on Wednesday, with the added attraction of Racers legend Per Jonsson attending the match to mark the 20-year anniversary of his Smallmead track record.
Promoter Malcolm Holloway said: "We had a good match here against the Aces recently, and I will be looking for a good victory to close our home league schedule.
"It should be a nostalgic evening with Per Jonsson here once again. I'm really looking forward to seeing him, and I know that the supporters are too. I can't believe it is twenty years since Per zipped to that track record against Coventry, and I was in the same race as well!"
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter was relieved to overcome Peterborough in the play-off semi-final despite several injury scares in the week leading up to the meeting.
Rossiter said: "Damian Balinski was excellent, he found he was spinning in his first ride but he got better as the meeting went on, and in the last two months Charlie Gjedde has been fantastic.
"It was looking really tight at one stage, but the boys certainly came to the party. It's still going to be a long journey in the Final, but we're halfway there."
WOLVERHAMPTON promoter Chris Van Straaten has revealed how Danish wonderkid Nicolai Klindt will ride for the club in their West Midland Shield meetings with Birmingham next month.
He said: “Our fans are looking forward to seeing him in action at the Marston’s Olympique on October 15 and he will also ride for us in both legs against Birmingham.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK promoter Peter Waite is determined to sign off with a win after a wretched season when the Bandits race their final home Premier League match of the season against Mildenhall on Saturday.
Waite said: "The last couple of weeks have been a living nightmare and I think we’re all desperate for the end of this season - but we have a mountain of revenge to reek on opponents by hitting big scores past them. I’m determined to make sure our lads really know this is the time to do it, and it’s their last chance to finally give the loyal supporters exactly what they deserve."
BIRMINGHAM have included former Great Britain world cup star Paul Hurry in their side for the Midland Shield clash with Stoke – with a view to signing him for the rest of the season.
Henning Bager is out with a broken wrist and Hurry will also ride in the Second City Trophy on September 26 before a decision is made.
Boss Graham Drury said: “We’re taking a look at Paul and we’ll see how he goes, but he could be the answer for the closing weeks of the season.”
EDINBURGH star George Stancl blasted back to top form with a paid maximum for the Monarchs in their impressive weekend win over play-off chasing Rye House.
Stancl said: "Everybody was saying we would lose this match before it started. It was good to prove them wrong. It was a fabulous team effort. I was really happy to score a paid maximum as it helped the whole team. I felt sharper and my bike was working well."
GLASGOW promoter Alan Dick had hinted that Gary Beaton may have put himself into the Tigers' management’s thoughts for the future after impressing as No.8 recently.
Dick said: "I feel he has certainly raised his level a bit. Now we have to sit down and see whether he thinks he is ready for a shot in the Premier League and whether we think he is ready for the chance - but he can still help himself with some good performances between now and the end of the season."
ISLE OF WIGHT promoter Dave Pavitt believes his side may need nothing less than two away wins to confirm their spot in the end-of-season championship play-offs.
Pavitt said: "We have to go to Newport and win for sure, and we may have to do likewise at King's Lynn, too. That thought is a daunting one given their home record, but if that's the way things pan out, rest assured we'll go for it."
KING'S LYNN have made a shock late-season change with Adam Allott returning to the sport after breaking his back a year ago, and coming into the Stars team to replace James Brundle.
Team boss Rob Lyon said: "There's no denying James has done well this season, but to benefit the whole team we needed to make this change. We feel that at reserve Adam could be a real trump card."
MILDENHALL star Kyle Legault faces a further period on the sidelines, with a broken wrisr ruling him out of the Fen Tigers' upcoming matches - starting against Glasgow on Tuesday.
Manager Laurence Rogers said: "I am changing the pairings around again to try something different and Shaun Tacey will be moving to No. 5, Tomas Suchanek to 4 and Jason King to 2. We need to secure as many points as possible if we are to qualify for the Young Shield."
NEWCASTLE manager George English accepts that the race for Young Shield qualifying places is becoming tighter after the Diamonds conceded all three points at Newport on Sunday.
English said: "Newport have recently managed to find a good deal of form, just at the wrong time for us of course, which has made our quest for a play off position a little more tricky than it could have been, but it's still very much within our capability and ability to achieve."
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone praised recent signing Sebastian Truminski's performance after the Pole won three races in the Wasps' weekend win over Newcastle. Stone said: "Sebastian had an excellent meeting. Obviously he didn't have the hectic schedule that had affected him the previous Sunday, and he also benefited from a practice session at the stadium on Thursday. It was a good effort from the whole team."
REDCAR's French star Mathieu Tresarrieu will miss the rest of the season after suffering a complex fracture of his left knee and facial injuries in a grasstrack crash last weekend.
Bears co-promoter Gareth Rogers said: "He will return to France to receive specialist advice, and the club's management wish one of the sport's most spectacular racers a speedy recovery."
RYE HOUSE skipper Chris Neath pulled no punches after his side were beaten at Edinburgh last Friday - a performance they need to improve upon should they confirm a play-off place.
Neath said: "My bike broke down on parade, and that set the ball rolling. Only Tai (Woffinden) and Adam (Roynon) to a lesser degree did themselves justice, the rest of us were absolutely shocking."
SHEFFIELD chief Neil Machin is taking a cautious approach to the club’s chances of success in the play-offs.
“If we get there anything can happen,” said Machin. “We will do everything we can to win the title, but there are a lot of powerful teams challenging for the top four right now.”
SOMERSET star Emil Kramer is refusing to write off his team’s chances of winning at Rye House in a vital Premier League clash on Saturday.
He said: “Glasgow had not been beaten for best part of a year when we went there earlier this year, and we came away with a well deserved victory from that match, so who knows what we can do when we go to Rye House on Saturday?”
STOKE hold a 49-41 first leg lead from their Sunday Sport Trophy clash with Sheffield at the weekend.
WORKINGTON have no meeting at Derwent Park on Saturday – but there is still speedway in the town!
The club are promoting the British Under-15 round at the Northside Arena which has been suggested as a future home for the club.
Plans for a new ‘super stadium’ in the town do not include speedway, despite the sport currently enjoying more support than football or rugby league!
Fans are urged to lobby the local press and councilors with their views on the matter.
FIXTURE PICTURE
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18: PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Glasgow 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Isle of Wight v King's Lynn 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Reading v Belle Vue 7.30
ELITE LEAGUE KOC: Poole v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Workington 7.30, Somerset v Edinburgh 7pm, Somerset v Newcastle (follows previous fixture) MIDLAND SHIELD: Birmingham v Stoke 7.45 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Oxford 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Eastbourne 7.30, Peterborough v Reading 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Newport 7.45 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Cleveland v Oxford 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21: PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Somerset 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Plymouth v Oxford 7.30 JUNIOR MEETING: Arena Essex-Lakeside 8pm
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22: PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Mildenhall 7pm, Rye House v Somerset 7pm MIDLAND SHIELD: Stoke v Birmingham 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Cleveland (follows PL fixture)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 4pm, Mildenhall v Berwick 4.30, Newcastle v Birmingham 6.30, Newport v Isle of Wight 3pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Oxford v Plymouth 7.30 DAVID NIX MEMORIAL: Scunthorpe 3pm BRITISH UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Northside 3pm
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Swindon v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Stoke 5.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Oxford 7.30
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25: PETE REDFERN MEMORIAL: Isle of Wight 7.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26: PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30, Stoke v Berwick 7.30 SECOND CITY TROPHY: Birmingham 7.45
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27: CRAVEN SHIELD: Ipswich v Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30, Peterborough v Reading v Poole 7.30 SUNDAY SPORT TROPHY: Sheffield v Stoke 7.45 TYNE/TEES TROPHY: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28: CRAVEN SHIELD: Coventry v Ipswich v Wolverhampton 8pm, Arena Essex-Lakeside v Peterborough v Poole 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Somerset v Newport 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Boston v Scunthorpe 7.30, Plymouth v Weymouth 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Poole 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Buxton 7.30 ROBBO'S CHAMPIONS CHASE: Rye House 7pm NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30: PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon 6pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Scunthorpe v Boston 3pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 1: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Coventry v Swindon 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3: CHALLENGE: King's Lynn v Leicester 7.30
