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…

GREAT Britain boss Jim Lynch has thrown his weight behind the youngsters after naming his preliminary World Cup squad.

Lynch has included the likes of Tai Woffinden and James Wright after their performances in the hugely successful British Final, won by Scott Nicholls.

Lynch said: "I was delighted with a number of the performances at the British Final, and I offer my sincere congratulations to Scott on regaining the title.

"It was also good to see the crowd's reaction to the meeting, and I think they understand what we're trying to do with bringing through young riders.

"The World Cup squad reflects that policy, and it's clear that the results have forced my hand in a way because it means I simply have to look at riders like Tai Woffinden and James Wright as genuine alternatives to those who you would normally expect to be selected.

"I also want to mention Leigh Lanham who scored well in the British Final, and I encouraged him to take part in that meeting, and he'll be aware that the policy now is to keep the squad as young as possible. But that doesn't take away from his performance at Swindon."

SQUAD: Scott Nicholls (Eastbourne, captain), Chris Harris, Lee Richardson, Edward Kennett, David Howe, Simon Stead, Olly Allen, Daniel King, James Wright, Lewis Bridger, Tai Woffinden, William Lawson.

SUPER 7EVEN DATES AND VENUES:
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Arena-Essex, Friday April 25 - TAI WOFFINDEN
BRITISH FINAL: Swindon, Thursday May 29 - SCOTT NICHOLLS
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 stalwart Joe Screen has stepped down as club captain as he concentrates on finding the solution to mechanical problems which have seriously affected his recent scores.

Screen said: "I had a chat with team manager Chris Morton and promoter David Gordon about the situation and told them I wanted to stand down as captain.

"I said I needed time to sort myself out and that I didn't feel I could do the captaincy job the way I wanted because I was too busy with my own stuff. The decision was down to me and it seems the best thing for the club and myself."

COVENTRY manager Peter Oakes says the Bees are braced for a hectic spell later in the campaign after a sequence of postponements has left them with multiple matches in hand.

Oakes said: "We've still only ridden eight league matches, and some of the other teams have done 15 or 16. I suppose what it means is that we're going to have a super-busy run in the summer and at the tail-end of the season.

"In a strange way it could end up helping us because we could get on that roll that we've done over the last few years. Sometimes that co-incides with having a lot of matches because riders get into racing trim when they do meeting after meeting."

EASTBOURNE promoter Bob Dugard is calling for Eagles fans to support his play-off chasing team after hailing the entertainment on show in their narrow win over Peterborough on Saturday.

Dugard said: "There is plenty to support. The likes of Cameron Woodward with his paid 11, for instance. I thought it was an excellent meeting with good race times so the entertainment is there.

"People should come out and support it. I think I have got to say whatever happens we have got to try to keep GP riders in there."

IPSWICH will have a new-look riding order for their home clash with Poole next Monday - but are yet to confirm whether they will be making a new signing in place of injured captain Chris Louis.

Manager Pete Simmons said: "Our guests came up trumps in our three away wins on the trot, but this facility has gone now and we have a decision to make.

"We are looking for a replacement, but it depends on two things - whether we can attract a suitable rider to agree to come, and also convince ourselves that he would score more than four or five points. That level of scoring would not be good enough."

LAKESIDE have moved into second place in the Elite League table with their third away win of the season at Belle Vue on Monday.

The Hammers have now won eight of their last nine matches with Finnish star Joonas Kylmakorpi producing a series of impressive scores at reserve, including 12 (paid 14) at Kirkmanshulme Lane and Andreas Jonsson suffering no ill-effects from his Swedish GP crash by breaking the Purfleet track record last week.

PETERBOROUGH'S Kenneth Bjerre has ruled himself out of his forthcoming meetings after riding in a World Championship qualifier with a broken leg over the weekend.

Panthers boss Trevor Swales said: "The big question we have to answer is whether there is anyone out there who could score more points than the rider replacement facility is currently gaining.

"If we can find someone that will do a better job we will look to take that route and make a change providing we can secure the necessary authorisation, but I am not revealing who any targets might be."

POOLE promoter Matt Ford is considering a change of race-night next season after admitting football's recent Champions League fixtures have hit crowd figures at Wimborne Road on Wednesdays.

Ford said: "With football being the country's number one sport and with the emergence of the big four English clubs in the Champions' League, something has to be done about our Wednesday race day. We have come up against it on seven or eight occasions already this season.

"I've spoken to Poole Stadium manager Shaun Spencer-Perkins and touted the idea that perhaps we would have to consider Thursday speedway at the stadium to give ourselves every opportunity of attracting a suitable crowd."

SWINDON are back on top of the Elite League after a third away win of the season at Wolverhampton on Monday - with skipper Leigh Adams breaking the Monmore Green track record.

Promoter Alun Rossiter said: "We said last week (at home to Poole) was a bit of a blip, and it's good to come back with this win. The team did well, and James Wright's performance at reserve was a bonus for us.

"I think Leigh Adams was pretty upset after the first race, but we then saw a mean Leigh Adams and there were no prisoners taken after that."

WOLVERHAMPTON have confirmed the appearance of legendary Dane Finn Thomsen at their 80th anniversary celebration meeting on June 30.

The meeting will also include demonstration races featuring Sam Ermolenko, Ronnie Correy and Jan Staechmann. Championship winner Graham Jones is also showing an interest in joining them.

Said Wolves owner Chrs Van Straaten: "We're delighted to confirm the news that Finn and his wife will travel from their Spanish base after I sent out an appeal for information in tracking him down!

"There's a lot of work going into this and it will be an emotional night for sure. We're looking forward to it and all the former riders attending are relishing the prospect of linking up with old friends.”

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…

BERWICK promoter Peter Waite praised his skipper Adrian Rymel, who scored a paid maximum in the Bandits' narrow home victory over the Isle of Wight.

Waite said: "Adrian is having a superb season this year and all his points are so very well deserved. This was a superb win for us as many people had put us well and truly as the under-dogs - but our lads, including our guests, fought hard and did just enough to win this thriller."

BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury reckons this season’s injury crisis at Perry Barr is the worst he has known during his long time in the sport.

Adam Roynon (broken leg) and Phil Morris (dislocated shoulder) both crashed out of the Knockout Cup defeat at Rye House.

Said Drury: “It really knocks your enthusiasm. This is the worst run of injuries I have ever known during my involvement, as a rider or manager. But the show must go on!”

EDINBURGH promoter John Campbell singled out American ace Ryan Fisher after the Monarchs secured an emphatic away win at Redcar to help set up a semi-final clash with Workington.

Campbell said: "Ryan was outstanding. A lot of it is confidence, Ryan hasn't been confident about what he was doing before. Now he is. He wasn't as exciting to watch as normal but only because he didn't need to take as many chances as he has done in some matches."

GLASGOW have confirmed that Ross Brady remains a major part of their plans despite their recent signing of Anders Andersen to enable Brady to fully recover from his knee injury.

Co-promoter Alan Dick said: "This certainly does not mean the end of Ross Brady's Glasgow career, in fact it is the complete opposite as once he is fit again, which we hope will be for the month of July then it is almost certain that he will be reintroduced to the side. Ross was riding exceptionally well over the past month with some very high scores and it looks as though he is heading in a very positive direction."

ISLE OF WIGHT reserve James Holder will continue to ride on with a broken hand - the result of a crash in the Islanders' dramatic cup-tie against Sheffield last month.

Holder said: "I'm told I will probably need an operation, but that will have to wait until the end of the season as I've come over to Britain to ride. The injury apart, things are going pretty good."

KING'S LYNN overcame weather problems at the Norfolk Arena to record a big win over Newcastle - with manager Rob Lyon feeling it was further proof that his team is now coming good.

Lyon said: "I'm relieved the meeting went ahead, it was touch-and-go at one point. Luckily it was the right decision to go ahead and we got a good result. We're starting to get back to making the Norfolk Arena a fortress."

MILDENHALL have revealed that Finnish star Kaj Laukkanen has been riding through the pain barrier for most of the season after suffering from a shoulder injury in a match against Edinburgh.

Manager Laurence Rogers said: "The injury has been painful but he has manfully just got on with his job. It has been energy sapping as well, and this has been showing in his final rides. He had scans back in Finland last week that have revealed ligament, muscle and tendon damage and some bone damage. This may need surgery at some stage but he is hoping that this will not be the case."

NEWCASTLE manager George English was able to take few positives from a heavy away defeat for the Diamonds in difficult conditions at King's Lynn.

English said: "Once the referee gave the go-ahead, it was down to the riders to make the best of the conditions and, I’m afraid, not all of ours did. I believe both Christian Henry and Josef Franc should question their own performances and react positively in our next match."

READING star Ulrich Ostergaard went through the card in the Racers' home win against Stoke after being denied by mechanical problems in his previous two matches at Smallmead.

Ostergaard said: "It was great to get the full maximum, especially after missing out last week against Rye House with a broken chain. That really annoyed me and I was eager to make amends this week."

REDCAR expect skipper Gary Havelock to be fit for Thursday's home match against Mildenhall - but Daniel Giffard could be out with a broken wrist after both riders crashed at Edinburgh last week.

Manager Brian Havelock said: "Gary's scuffed his arm and bent his bike but he should be all-right, while Dan's wrist was swelling and he had that look on his face that you get when the shock begins to bite."

RYE HOUSE manager John Sampford had some sympathy for rivals Birmingham after the Midlands club suffered injuries to both Adam Roynon and Phil Morris in the first race of last weekend's Cup-tie at Hoddesdon.

Sampford said: "Credit to Birmingham for keeping focused but the spectacle unfortunately wasn't the same. Obviously we are pleased to have a big advantage for the second leg but not in the manner it occurred. Nobody likes to see riders injured whoever they ride for."

SCUNTHORPE have signed Ben Powell to replace Benji Compton after the Australian completed his 28-day suspension for his departure from Newcastle.

Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: "I don’t think British Speedway has seen the best of Ben and we’re backing him all the way. His signing should make us much more competitive on the road and we are really targeting away wins at both Stoke and Mildenhall this month."

SHEFFIELD owner Neil Machin reckons his side were robbed of victory at Workington after they settled for a thrilling 45-45 draw.

He said: "Both sides had some bad luck and we were ultimately robbed of a vital away win when Joe Haines was given a third-place point ahead of Joel Parsons by the ref, which Joe was heard to admit afterwards was wrong. But that's the way it goes."

SOMERSET promoter Mike Golding says his team must take full advantage of their home fixture this Friday as they look to maintain top position in the Premier League table.

Golding said: "A win on Friday against Newcastle is vital in order that we can put further pressure on those clubs vying with ourselves at the top of the table, especially given that we have so few matches this month."

STOKE manager John Adams had mixed feelings after the Potters put in an improved away performance before going down by 13-points at Reading on Monday.

Adams said: "That wasn't a bad result considering that Reading are a top side and are generally strong right throughout their line-up. But what is frustrating is that we are still carrying a couple of passengers and I wonder how close we might get to winning were the riders scoring to their potential."

WORKINGTON are hoping they are not without club legend Carl Stonehewer for a significant spell after dropping another home point against Sheffield at the weekend.

The Comets, who had been in a rich vein of form, struggled with the rider replacement facility for Stonehewer, who has severe bruising to his ribs after a recent crash at Stoke and had to pull out of his attempted comeback.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY JUNE 3:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Stoke 7.30

WEDNESDAY JUNE 4:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Workington 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY SEMI FINAL: Birmingham v Sheffield 7.45

THURSDAY JUNE 5:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Mildenhall 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY SEMI FINAL: Sheffield v Birmingham 7.45

FRIDAY JUNE 6:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Isle of Wight 7.30, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30, Somerset v Newcastle 7.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY FINAL: Plymouth v Boston 7.30

SATURDAY JUNE 7:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Mildenhall v Newcastle 7.30, Stoke v Scunthorpe 7.30, Workington v Isle of Wight 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Plymouth 7pm
CHALLENGE: Weymouth v Bristol Bulldogs 7.15

SUNDAY JUNE 8:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Workington 4pm, Newcastle v Stoke 5.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm, Boston v Redcar 7pm

MONDAY JUNE 9:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7.30, Ipswich v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Reading v Birmingham 7.30

TUESDAY JUNE 10:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Birmingham 7.30

WEDNESDAY JUNE 11:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Workington 7.45, King's Lynn v Redcar 7.30

THURSDAY JUNE 12:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v King's Lynn 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45

FRIDAY JUNE 13:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Stoke 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY SEMI FINAL: Edinburgh v Reading 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Plymouth v Rye House 7.30

SATURDAY JUNE 14:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Reading 7pm, Stoke v Glasgow 7.30, Workington v Birmingham 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Rye House 7.15
CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Redcar v Boston 3pm

SUNDAY JUNE 15:
WORLD UNDER-21 SEMI FINAL: Rye House 2pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Birmingham 4pm, Mildenhall v Redcar 4.30, Newcastle v Reading 5.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Sittingbourne v Buxton 12pm

MONDAY JUNE 16:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Reading v Mildenhall 7.30

TUESDAY JUNE 17:
PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Isle of Wight v Workington 7.30

WEDNESDAY JUNE 18:
ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Poole v Swindon 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.45
ASHLEY JONES MEMORIAL: Young Lions v Young Roos, King's Lynn 7.30