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.
BIG EVENT LATEST…
BRITISH Speedway bosses have announced a change to the date of the Elite League Pairs Championship.
The event, which was originally washed out at King's Lynn earlier this month, will now take place at Swindon on Sunday, August 17 at 6pm.
Initial plans were for the meeting to go ahead the day after the British Grand Prix at Cardiff, but Eastbourne objected to this as they had already sacrificed one of their racenights for the first staging and they have a meeting with Belle Vue that day.
The new restaging date should mean the availability of all the top stars as the only other meetings taking place that day are the Polish Under-21 Pairs Final and Danish Under-21 Final.
Chris Van Straaten, vice chairman of the BSPA, said: "We can understand Eastbourne's objection to the first restaging date we announced and we have therefore made alternative arrangements.
"The new date is the day after the Swedish Grand Prix and the field should be up to strength as the meetings in Poland and Denmark don't have any bearing on the line-up."
Fans are also reminded that rain-off tickets can be used at any Super 7even event throughout the season.
ADAM Roynon is determined to make the miles matter when he takes his place in the British Under-21 Final at Lakeside on Friday, April 25 (7.30pm).
Roynon will travel to the Purfleet venue from his Cumbrian home looking to progress into the qualifying rounds of the World Under-21 championship.
The Birmingham man will ride against his Brummies colleagues Lee Smart and Jack Roberts - but he believes Tai Woffinden will be the favourite.
"It's a long way for me to travel but I'm used to that because of where I live," said Roynon. "Let's face it, I have a long journey for Birmingham home meetings, that's just the way it is.
"I'm determined to do well, I'm going there with a positive attitude. That said, I think Tai Woffinded, who I know has plenty of practice at Lakeside, will be the favourite. He's a great rider, I saw that for myself when I raced alongside him at Rye House."
SEEDS: Steve Boxall, Lewis Bridger, Ben Barker, Tai Woffinden, Adam Roynon, William Lawson, Josh Auty. QUALIFIERS: Lee Smart, Daniel Halsey, Lee Strudwick, Harland Cook, Danny Betson, Jack Roberts, Joe Haines, Sean Stoddart, Charles Wright.
SUPER 7EVEN DATES AND VENUES:
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Arena-Essex, Friday April 25 - 7.30 BRITISH FINAL: Swindon, Thursday May 29 - 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, Friday June 27 - 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington, Saturday July 26 - 7pm ELITE LEAGUE BEST PAIRS: Swindon, Sunday August 17 – 6pm ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham, Wednesday August 20 - 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 21 - 3.30 www.super7even.com or www.speedwaygb.com
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE boss Chris Morton has emphasised that his team deserved their draw at Coventry on Friday, Charlie Gjedde snatching a point with his last-race overtake of Chris Harris.
Morton said: "Coventry were matched by a team who had the strength and determination to come back from what looked a difficult position. Both sides had some bad luck in the meeting but I think it was shared quite evenly between us.
"I was pleased to come away with a point because we showed great spirit and deserved it. We could have won the match as well."
COVENTRY manager Peter Oakes was pleased with his side's response to another dropped home point as they secured qualification for the Craven Shield semi-finals with a battling display at Belle Vue.
Oakes said: "It was a night in which we didn't have any mechanical problems, and that was probably even more pleasing. The track conditions were difficult, but all credit to the riders from both sides for sticking at it and making it an entertaining meeting.
"Billy Janniro showed what he is capable of, but the other encouraging thing was seeing Andreas Messing winning two races and battling for every point, and that's probably his best performance all season."
EASTBOURNE star Cameron Woodward says his confidence is at an all-time high after the best run of form of his career at the start of the season.
The Australian said: "It's all down to confidence. I'm going to the start with faith in my equipment, and I know it won't do anything silly.
"It makes such a difference. When I watched the TV coverage of our match at Coventry I had to pinch myself and tell myself that was really me out there."
IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis says his team have to find an answer to their lack of consistency throughout meetings, which cost them the points at home to Swindon despite holding a ten-point lead.
Louis said: "Things have got to be put right. Monday night was very disappointing, and we have thrown away meetings with second half collapses far too often this year.
"I did not expect a team like Swindon to come to Foxhall and win. We have to do something."
LAKESIDE'S management have held talks with Joonas Kylmakorpi after the Finnish star has struggled to find his form so far this season.
Kylmakorpi will drop to reserve for the month of May, with the Hammers having qualified for the Final of the Craven Shield by virtue of being the best of the three group winners.
Manager Jon Cook said: "We all know how fast Joonas can be, and everyone at the club will help him get back to the level of performance we expect and know that he is capable of delivering."
PETERBOROUGH manager Trevor Swales is hoping his team can enjoy a rare comfortable victory when they face Belle Vue at home on Thursday.
The Panthers have been run close in their recent outings at the Showground, with Lakeside taking a draw - and Ipswich and Eastbourne just missing out.
Swales said: "I am hoping for a big win, the team seem to be on the pace now and seem to have got their bikes sorted, I am looking for a bit of a confidence boost to be honest. I think most people would agree that Belle Vue are not one of the fancied teams, so it should be a good little run out for us."
POOLE promoter Matt Ford has stressed that the club are putting no pressure on Polish youngster Karol Zabik who has damaged his wrist twice this season as a result of unforced errors.
Ford said: "It is a concern that Karol keeps falling off by himself. The injuries he has sustained are just lack of concentration, but Karol is a lovely lad who really does feel the pressure.
"So at this time, I don't want anyone putting even more pressure on him because he is already putting too much pressure on himself. We need to nurse Karol through this."
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter savoured the spirit in his new-look team who recovered from ten points down at Ipswich to snatch a famous 50-43 away win.
Rossiter said: "At ten points down last year's team would have crumbled, no question. But you only have to see the young spirit in the camp this year.
"After four heats, I was worried. I didn't expect to be so far down, but James Wright's win in Heat 8 was a turning point. It was a brilliant ride, and so important for us."
WOLVERHAMPTON promoter Chris Van Straaten has paid tribute to both sets of riders who battled against the elements in Wolverhampton's win over Eastbourne on Monday.
A heavy downpour before the meeting left the track soaking wet and as riders looked closely at prospects for racing the long-serving Monmore chief admitted he was worried the fixture may be lost.
He said: "The Elite League boys have taken some negative press recently after the unfortunate postponement of the Elite League Pairs, but in this case it was totally the opposite.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK'S Finnish rider Tero Aarnio dropped to reserve for Saturday's home win over Newport and promptly responded with his best display for the Bandits so far - scoring 12 (paid 14) from six rides.
Promoter Peter Waite said: "We have such a solid side at the moment it doesn’t really matter whose at reserve as they can all make the most of being there as Tero showed. He really got to grips with things and rode so very well, as did young Adam (McKinna) who really put the thumb screws on (Sebastian) Truminski."
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury is keeping scouring the continent for a potential new signing.
The Perry Barr boss has lost Kyle Legault, Phil Morris and James Birkinshaw through injury and need reinforcements.
He said: “It’s never ideal relying on guests all the time, thankfully we’ve been OK so far, but it’s hard. I will keep looking.”
EDINBURGH'S Australian youngster Aaron Summers is satisfied with his start to the season, which has seen both himself and the Monarchs team make encouraging progress.
Summers said: "I'm doing all right so far. I'm still settling in to a degree and hopefully things will get even better for me as the season goes on. I'm on top of my bike set-up now and this should help me score even more points."
GLASGOW have given their backing to winter signing Ross Brady, who missed the start of his second spell with the club due to injury and is therefore looking to make up for lost time.
Co-promoter Alan Dick said: "Once he gets a little break, he will settle quickly. This season is all about getting his career back on track, and the signs at this point are very encouraging that he will be able to do just that."
ISLE OF WIGHT star Krzysztof Stojanowski is hoping that his injury absence will not be a lengthy one, especially with the Islanders having to cover for him with the rider replacement facility.
Co-promoter Dave Pavitt said: "We were worried that he might have broken his scaphoid, but thankfully the injury is not as serious. It's a blow though having him sidelined for any length of time. We'll just have to soldier on until he is fit to return."
KING'S LYNN manager Rob Lyon says the Stars will hit back in their next home match after seeing their run towards 100 consecutive wins at the Norfolk Arena ended at the 99th time of asking by Birmingham
Lyon said: "It’s helped us re-focus. These things happen once in a while and I’m sure the boys will be determined to hit back. We can do it."
MILDENHALL have signed 17-year old Jari Makinen, the reigning Finnish Under-21 Champion, who is set to become a club asset after he has completed 12 matches.
Makinen said: "I have heard that it is a good club with a great set of fans, and I will do my very best for them. I know of Kaj Laukkanen in the team, and also that I will be partnered with Jan Graversen. I have seen a few English league meetings and I know that West Row is a small track."
NEWCASTLE manager George English felt his side had under-performed as they dropped points at home to Workington in their first home Premier League fixture.
English said: "It was a match we should have, and indeed could have won with points to spare but that was not to be, and both Josef (Franc) and Christian (Henry) are kicking themselves over their pointless races which proved so very costly for our attempt to win."
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone has confirmed that winter signing Paul Clews will retain the Wasps' captaincy until Tony Atkin is fit to return from his broken ankle.
Stone said: "Paul has started to find his form, and he is proving to be an excellent team man for us. He's very quick to pass on any advice and information to his team-mates, and he has fitted in very well."
READING boss Malcolm Holloway was delighted with the Racers' away win at Somerset, which puts them on course for a place in the Premier Trophy semi-finals.
Holloway said: "The victory at Somerset was just the tonic we needed to get back on course. We were delighted with the showing at the Oak Tree Arena; the lads dug deep after losing Tom P. Madsen through concussion early on. They showed real character and it was a great performance."
REDCAR youngster Josh Auty believes he will return to high-scoring form if he can improve his gating, although he accepts he is in a tougher team position this season.
Auty said: "I've not hit the peak of what I want to be doing this season. I need to get my head down and start working out what I'm doing wrong off the startline, but I'm up against some good guys now in every race whereas before I had a reserve race. I know on my day I can do it."
RYE HOUSE manager John Sampford will warn his side that they cannot expect big home wins every week after they opened their title defence with a crushing 66-24 victory over the Isle of Wight.
Sampford said: "There will be tougher opponents on tougher nights but you can only beat what's in front of you. We also did it without Stefan (Ekberg). We got good points from his rides, everyone was up for it and they all did well."
SCUNTHORPE chief Rob Godfrey is targeting a change of fortunes this week after seeing his side crash out of the Knockout Cup with home and away defeats against Sheffield.
Godfrey said: "I thought we had stepped it up enough and we would defeat Sheffield but over the two legs we have had diabolical decisions go against us. We’ve now got to put it behind us and look forward to next week."
SHEFFIELD’S in-form Australian Joel Parsons is backing his colleagues to be a top team this season.
The Owlerton side are through to the next round of the Knockout Cup and are in a good position to progress from the Premier Trophy.
He said: "Once we all click together as a team we will prove very hard to beat - and I don't just mean at Sheffield, we can be a force up and down the country."
SOMERSET No.1 Jason Doyle has issued an apology following the incident with Reading's Tom P Madsen which saw him excluded from the remained of the meeting against the Racers.
Doyle said: "I wish to apologise to everyone concerned, including Tom, for my actions. I have let the club, Mike Golding, my team mates, the fans as well as myself and the sport down, and for that I am sincerely sorry.
"Whatever the provocation leading up to the incident that is no excuse for what followed on my part and I deeply regret whole situation."
STOKE promoter Dave Tattum is counting the cost of a third rain-off in five weeks this season, which means the Potters are some way behind their rivals in terms of number of meetings raced.
Tattum said: "We are not riding as a team and that means the pairings are not getting track time together to work things out. I accept we are not the only ones in this position, but it is so frustrating to have lost so many meetings to the weather when the season is barely a month old."
WORKINGTON boss Ian Thomas said the Comets' impressive win at Newcastle was good consolation for a 45-45 home draw with King's Lynn the previous evening.
Thomas said: "We were delighted to get our first away win because it made up for the disappointment of dropping a point at home. I think what made the victory even more impressive was the fact that Newcastle had won their previous home match 63-27 against Sheffield so to go there and turn them over was quite an achievement."
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY APRIL 15: PREMIER TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Reading 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 16: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Somerset 7.45, King's Lynn v Edinburgh 7.30
THURSAY APRIL 17: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Ipswich 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Berwick 7.45* Provisional PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 18: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Poole 8pm, Lakeside v Peterborough 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Birmingham 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Scunthorpe v Stoke 7.30 DEVON/DORSET TROPHY: Plymouth v Weymouth 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 19: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm PREMIER TROPHY: Rye House v King's Lynn 7pm, Stoke v Scunthorpe 7.30, Workington v Glasgow 7pm DEVON/DORSET TROPHY: Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15
SUNDAY APRIL 20: PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 4.30, Newport v Redcar 3pm PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Glasgow v Birmingham 4pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Rye House 7.30
MONDAY APRIL 21: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30, Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Reading v Workington 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 7pm
TUESDAY APRIL 22: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Workington 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 23: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Newcastle 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Birmingham v Glasgow 7.45
THURSDAY APRIL 24: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Eastbourne 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Redcar v Mildenhall 7.30 Sheffield v Isle of Wight 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 25: BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Somerset v Newcastle 7.30 CHALLENGE: Weymouth v Newport Mavericks 7.15
SATURDAY APRIL 26: PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Rye House v Newport 7pm, Workington v Stoke 7pm PREMIER TROPHY: Mildenhall v King's Lynn 7.30
SUNDAY APRIL 27: PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Mildenhall v Redcar 4.30, Newcastle v Somerset 5.30, Newport v Rye House 3pm, Stoke v Workington 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm, Birmingham v King's Lynn 6pm CHALLENGE: Buxton v Belle Vue Colts 3pm
MONDAY APRIL 28: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30, Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30, Wolverhampton v Peterborough 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Reading v King's Lynn 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 29: PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Isle of Wight v Sheffield 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 30: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Swindon 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: King's Lynn v Reading 7.30
