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…
OVER half of the Grand Prix field will do battle in British Speedway’s next two major events from the Super 7even series.
Swindon host the Elite League Pairs Championship on Sunday, August 17 – followed by the Elite League Riders’ Championship at Birmingham on August 20.
It promises to be a feast of action for fans throughout the country with representatives from all nine top flight clubs doing battle.
British Speedway chief Peter Toogood said: “You only have to look down the line-ups for both meetings and you can see why there’s so much interest in these events.
“Both Swindon and Birmingham are terrific venues for the meetings and we fully expect to see big crowds at both with a great atmosphere.
“To see the likes of Jason Crump and Leigh Adams doing battle will be terrific, but I also feel the non-GP riders will have a part to play.”
ELITE LEAGUE PAIRS LINE-UP (Swindon, August 17, 6pm): BELLE VUE: Jason Crump, Charlie Gjedde; COVENTRY: Rory Schlein, Chris Harris, EASTBOURNE: Scott Nicholls, Lee Richardson; IPSWICH: Jarek Hampel, Piotr Swiderski; LAKESIDE: Adam Shields, Jonas Davidsson; PETERBOROUGH: Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre; POOLE: Bjarne Pedersen, Chris Holder; SWINDON: Leigh Adams, Mads Korneliussen; WOLVERHAMPTON: Freddie Lindgren, Niels Kristian Iversen.
ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP LINE-UP (Birmingham, August 20, 7.30pm): Chris Holder (Poole), Jason Crump (Belle Vue), Freddie Lindgren (Wolverhampton), Leigh Adams (Swindon), Jarek Hampel (Ipswich), Lee Richardson (Eastbourne), Piotr Swiderski (Ipswich), Chris Harris (Coventry), Charlie Gjedde (Belle Vue), Scott Nicholls (Eastbourne), Adam Shields (Lakeside), Bjarne Pedersen (Poole), Mads Korneliussen (Swindon), Andreas Jonsson (Lakeside), Hans Andersen (Peterborough), Niels Kristian Iversen (Wolverhampton).
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 - WORKINGTON PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington, Saturday July 26 - WORKINGTON 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 manager Chris Morton has highlighted the impact made by youngsters Billy Forsberg and Patrick Hougaard, who were both to the fore as the Aces notched a home win over Ipswich.
Morton said: "I am very pleased with the way both of them are progressing. Ipswich were very determined on Monday and took the lead twice but Patrick and Billy played their parts in making sure we won.
"We had some bad luck but the boys stayed calm and never panicked. I always felt we had enough in hand to win the match and we did so."
COVENTRY are hoping to have Hans Andersen in their team for Thursday's trip to his former club Peterborough, having awaited clearance to declare him after being released by the Panthers.
Andersen said: "I'm really looking forward to my first meeting after having such a time out of British racing. It will be good to get back on a bike and race for Coventry.
"It's not the way I wanted things to end with Peterborough, as I've had a couple of really good years there. We became champions in 2006 but unfortunately everything has gone pear-shaped there and I want to get back on track."
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer admits that his team's hopes of a high play-off finish are receding after a heavy defeat at Lakeside on Monday leaves them short of opportunities to win again on the road.
Geer said; "There was some good racing but we had two or three riders really struggling. Edward Kennett swapped bikes towards the end and got going, and maybe some of the others should have done that.
"We needed to win to stand a chance of the top two, but it didn't happen and now we have to try to win our other two away matches."
IPSWICH star Tobias Kroner says he is ready to score well in the main body of the Witches' team after struggling there earlier in the season.
Kroner said: "I don't know why but it affected my ability to win races. But having analysed the situation I am certain I have overcome those demons.
"Whatever number in the team I race from now on I am sure I can score well. I am happy to ride anywhere and sit at the starting tapes confident of scoring points."
LAKESIDE promoter Jon Cook admitted he was somewhat fearful of Eastbourne ahead of Monday's Elite League fixture at Purfleet - but his team did him proud with a 56-37 win.
Cook said: "This was the one I didn't think we'd take. I think we could afford to lose one at home, but hopefully we won't and our confidence is very high.
"The match against Swindon on Friday is a really big one for us, and if we can win that I think top two looks really good for us. We'll be happy to be in the play-offs, but I think there are other teams who could come with a strong run."
PETERBOROUGH have agreed deals with three of their former riders - Ryan Sullivan, Lukas Dryml and Karol Zabik - as part of a major mid-season re-vamp at the Showground.
Morten Risager is the latest rider to make way as Dryml returns to the club, with the Panthers also set to lose former skipper Hans Andersen.
Manager Trevor Swales said: "Lukas was very, very positive about coming back to the club. In fact, the deal was sorted in a matter of minutes. This is a team-building exercise and one we have to get right."
POOLE are waiting on the availability of Davey Watt for this week's matches against Lakeside and Swindon as his partner is due to go into labour with their second child.
Pirates promoter Matt Ford said: "I'm just hoping Fiona delivers just before or just after our meeting against Lakeside, and if she can do it after our match at Blunsdon on Thursday so much the better!
"In all seriousness, the main thing is that everything goes okay with the birth, so if Davey has to miss the Lakeside or Swindon meetings we will use rider replacement to cover for him."
SWINDON newcomer Jurica Pavlic made an outstanding Elite League debut with paid twelve in the Robins' narrow defeat at Wolverhampton.
Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: "Jurica was fantastic. I just said to him ‘there’s no pressure, just go out and ride.' To come over and ride like that at Wolverhampton is incredible.
"Give him one season in England and he’ll be ten-times a better rider because all the top boys race in this country. I’m over the moon for him. He always looked well in control and was always smooth."
WOLVERHAMPTON returnee Jesper B Monberg rode through the pain barrier on his comeback for the club after crashing in Poland on Sunday and hurting his back.
Monberg said: "My back was bruised, it was uncomfortable to sit down and I was in all sorts of discomfort but there was no way I was going to pull out of my first meeting back with Wolves.
“Things got better for me as the meeting progressed and I was pleased to help the team to a win because I know it’s been hard for the boys this season."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...
BERWICK were not too disappointed to be held to a draw at home to Edinburgh over the weekend having taken an impressive win at Birmingham four days earlier.
Promoter Peter Waite said: "That was the fairest result of all as we both deserved to win with the efforts put in. The fans must have found the match highly entertaining."
BIRMINGHAM promoter Graham Drury says he had to consider the big picture after making three team changes over the weekend - including the departure of the popular James Birkinshaw.
Drury said: "It wasn’t easy coming to this conclusion because in an ideal world we would have kept Birko, but the numbers didn’t stack up. I can understand the supporters being surprised, but we will never stand still at Birmingham Speedway."
EDINBURGH manager John Campbell sees Somerset as the Monarchs' closest challengers for the Premier League title - and hopes his team will have the edge.
Campbell said: "I think Somerset have a chance of winning three of their remaining away fixtures. I think we have got a chance of winning at least four of ours. And we are already ahead of Somerset on away points secured."
GLASGOW continued their recent improvement after two narrow defeats on their Southern tour by taking a home win over title contenders Somerset on Sunday.
Co-promoter Alan Dick said: "We have looked a very good side in recent weeks, and not just against the poorer sides in the league. We have got quite a bit of confidence and want to go through the rest of the season undefeated if at all possible."
THE ISLE OF WIGHT have completed a tie-up with local radio station Wave 105 which sees their stadium re-named The Wave 105 Smallbrook Stadium.
Club chairman Mike Bellman said: "We are absolutely overjoyed to have finalised this tie up with Wave 105fm and look forward to a long and successful time with them which I feel sure will be of mutual benefit as has our long and healthy relationship with Wightlink."
KING'S LYNN are targeting their home match with Sheffield on Wednesday as a chance for some revenge for their defeat in the semi-finals of last year's play-offs.
Manager Rob Lyon said: "That hurt, and this will be a great opportunity to get our revenge and make sure we keep them down in the bottom half of the table while we earn ourselves another two points and move into second place."
MILDENHALL have reacted to Lee Smart's departure from Birmingham by immediately snapping up their former rider in time for this weekend's Northern tour.
Manager Laurence Rogers said: "I have known him since he started riding and when I used him as a guest he never let me down. With Mark (Baseby) out and with guests so difficult to cover for him this is the right move for us."
NEWCASTLE manager George English said only Jason King could emerge from the Diamonds' home defeat against local rivals Redcar with any great credit.
English said: "This was devastatingly disappointing. We wanted this win more than any and we didn’t get it as there were still riders letting us down, and again with Jason hitting the big scores reminds us we cannot win matches with only one rider dominant over the opposition."
READING star Ulrich Ostergaard scored a paid maximum as the Racers put in one of their best performances in recent weeks to hit the 60-point mark against Newcastle.
Ostergaard said: "It’s always nice to score a maximum and I want to keep it going as the aim is to have as high an average at the end of the season as possible. It was a good team performance and we’re all pretty happy with how it went tonight."
REDCAR are waiting for fitness news on James Grieves, who missed their weekend win at Newcastle after being concussed in his first ride in the Scottish Open at Edinburgh.
The Bears face the Isle of Wight on Thursday and will operate the rider-replacement facility if Grieves is ruled out.
RYE HOUSE skipper Chris Neath has confirmed the booking of GP star Niels-Kristian Iversen for his Testimonial at Hoddesdon on September 20.
Neath said: "I am really glad to have Puk on board, he first really made his name at Newport, as I did. I've known him for quite a long time now, and he's a great guy and a great racer. He's doing well in the GP this year, and he's got a gold medal from the World Cup, so he's a great name to have in the line-up."
SCUNTHORPE have rewarded Gary Irving for impressive Conference League displays with a place in their team for Friday's Premier League clash with the Isle of Wight.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: "It’s always exciting on a Friday because we know there is a match to be won and lost. Our second-biggest win this season is 51-39 against Somerset and that says it all."
SHEFFIELD have signed James Birkinshaw on a short-term contract following his release from Birmingham, and he comes into the side to replace the injured Lee Smethills.
Birkinshaw said: "Sheffield came in for me on Sunday and that softened the blow for me. If I was going to go anywhere then Sheffield was the one I wanted. I've still got a great appetite for racing."
SOMERSET hope to be back to full strength for their home clash with Redcar on Friday but still have a doubt over skipper Simon Walker.
Walker suffered a back injury in a crash at Reading at the end of June and is set to visit hospital again this week, keen to be given the go-ahead return for another busy spell of three matches in three days.
STOKE secured one of their best results of the season with a 58-34 win over close rivals Sheffield at Loomer Road.
Potters boss John Adams said: "That was a must-win meeting and I thought we performed solidly throughout. We didn't give Sheffield a sniff and it was encouraging to see all the riders clicking at the same time."
WORKINGTON manager Ian Thomas has given his backing to skipper Kauko Nieminen being named in the squad of Elite League team Lakeside.
Thomas said: "He’s had a great season so why not finish-off with some Elite League meetings. I don’t think he will be needed very often but it will be more good experience for him. He’s a smashing lad and everyone is delighted he’s done so well this season."
FIXTURE PICTURE
TUESDAY AUGUST 5: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Newcastle 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Stoke 7.45, King's Lynn v Sheffield 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 7: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Belle Vue 7.30, Peterborough v Coventry 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Isle of Wight 7.30, Sheffield v Berwick 7.45
FRIDAY AUGUST 8: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Eastbourne 8pm, Lakeside v Swindon 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Mildenhall 7.30, Scunthorpe v Isle of Wight 7.30, Somerset v Redcar 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Plymouth v Redcar 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 9: ELITE LEAGUE KOC: Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Mildenhall 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pm, Stoke v Newcastle 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Rye House v Somerset 7pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Redcar 7.15
SUNDAY AUGUST 10: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 4pm, Newcastle v Mildenhall 5.30, Reading v Somerset 6pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm, Sittingbourne v Redcar 12pm
MONDAY AUGUST 11: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KOC: Coventry v Poole 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30 CHALLEGE: Oxford v Wimbledon (at Reading) 7.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 12: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v King's Lynn 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13: ELITE LEAGUE KOC: Lakeside v Eastbourne 7.45, Poole v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Stoke 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY FINAL: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.45
THURSDAY AUGUST 14: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Reading 7.45, Redcar v Newcastle 7.30 SIDECARS: Isle of Wight 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 15: PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Isle of Wight 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY FINAL: Edinburgh v Birmingham 7.30 SILVERLINE PAIRS: Plymouth 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 16: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Ipswich 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Rye House v Reading 7pm, Stoke v Isle of Wight 7.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7pm CARNIVAL TROPHY: Weymouth 7.15 BRITISH UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2: Northside 3pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 17: ELITE LEAGUE PAIRS: Swindon 6pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm, Mildenhall v Rye House 4.30, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 5.30
MONDAY AUGUST 18: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Peterborough 7.30, Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 19: JASON BUNYAN TESTIMONIAL: Isle of Wight 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20: ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Glasgow 7.30
