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…
CHRIS Harris is hoping his victory in last week's British Final will be the springboard to a successful run for the remainder of the season.
Harris reclaimed the crown he previously won at Wolverhampton in 2007 with success at Poole in a meeting which saw many of the country's young guns also come to the fore.
Edward Kennett's performance in finishing second was enough to see him take the Wild Card for next month's British Grand Prix at Cardiff, an event which will also include Harris and Scott Nicholls.
Harris had endured a disappointing meeting at Lakeside two nights before the Final, but his confidence from taking the national title was on show at Coventry in his next meeting for the Bees as he smashed the Brandon track record and scored a paid maximum against Eastbourne.
He said: "Obviously I've not been at my best so far this season, and people have been saying that maybe I'm not good enough to be with the big boys.
"But I proved I could win that meeting. It was a tough Final and I managed to save the best for last.
"I made a good start and knew I had to clamp the others. I rode my race, didn't go too wide and I'm delighted."
Harris has further opportunities for success in Super7even events this season, as he will be hoping to defend the Elite League Pairs with Coventry at Eastbourne, whilst the Elite League Riders' Championship takes place on his home track.
The first two Super7even meetings of 2009 have provided a terrific level of entertainment, and this is expected to continue in the Premier League Pairs at Somerset on June 26.
SUPER 7EVEN SERIES 2009 BRITISH UNDER 21 FINAL: Lakeside – LEWIS BRIDGER. BRITISH FINAL: Poole - CHRIS HARRIS. PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, Friday June 26. PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington, Saturday July 25. ELITE LEAGUE PAIRS: Eastbourne, Saturday August 8. PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 27. ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, Friday October 2
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST...
BELLE VUE manager Chris Morton believes there is more to come from reserve Patrick Hougaard - who, along with recent signing Morten Risager, has given some encouraging performances for the Aces.
Morton said: "Patrick is a task master and we have been reasonably impressed with his performances. But we know he can do better and even Patrick will admit that he’s been a little disappointed with some of his scores.
"He doesn’t think he’s been doing particularly well and he knows he needs to improve. He has high expectations and a real desire so it’s only right for him to progress and consolidate a second string position."
COVENTRY returnee Scott Nicholls was pleased with first meeting back with the Bees, scoring ten points in the Brandon side's home win over Ipswich.
Nicholls said: "It's good to get back on track personally, to have a few more rides and to get three race wins was good, and hopefully that helps Coventry out as well after their injuries.
"I've got good memories with Coventry so the move helps both of us, and we'll see how the month goes and see what the options are at the end of that."
EASTBOURNE have opened talks with Peterborough about buying Lukas Dryml - after the Czech starred in the Eagles' weekend win over his parent club.
Promoter Bob Dugard said: "I’ve arranged to ring Trevor Swales in the week, and if the price is reasonable we’ll go ahead with it. Lukas has done a good job and he’s very popular.
"I’ve also told Ricky Kling his place is safe. He is showing real signs of improving."
IPSWICH manager Pete Simmons was left to reflect on a night of misfortune at Coventry with both reserves Dawid Stachyra and Kozza Smith ruled out following an horrific crash in Heat 2.
Simmons said: "It was hard to cover for the reserves, it's no fun to put only one rider out in a race, and unfortunately we weren't able to have another race winner after Kozza's win on his own.
"The guys were a lot happier with the track after the first ten heats or so, but the home riders were struggling with it too."
LAKESIDE reserve Stuart Robson says he has no regrets about his move back up to the Elite League after two years in the Premier followed by a lengthy injury absence.
Robson said: "You have to be at the top of your game with machinery and form in the Elite League, there is no room for errors or shortcuts. It's an unforgiving league.
"No disrespect to the up and coming guys, but I enjoy racing against the best riders around because it gives you something to aim for, and if you do well against them it gives you a real feel-good factor."
PETERBOROUGH have re-called club asset Ales Dryml, who had been dropped earlier in the season, to replace Karol Zabik who has returned to Poland.
Zabik will not feature again for the Panthers this year for family reasons so Dryml makes his Panthers comeback after a short spell with Poole.
Manager Trevor Swales said: "I am pleased to welcome Ales back into the team and his inclusion will undoubtedly help us. He readily agreed to return and we go forward from here."
POOLE star Joe Screen is hopeful that the major changes to the Pirates' line-up will see the league champions regain their team spirit and move up the table.
Screen said: "The pressure is always there. You always have it, but it’s just going to be a better environment within the team because it has been pretty awful the last few weeks.
"Personally, I’ve enjoyed myself because my form has been okay, but on the team side, we were all getting down losing everywhere, especially at home."
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter felt a point from a narrow defeat at Peterborough was a step forward - with Matej Zagar now in the team as a replacement for the injured Troy Batchelor.
Rossiter said: "That was a bit better and we possibly could have won it. You can see what happens when the middle order start firing - it makes one hell of a difference.
"To come to Peterborough and win would have been a tremendous result but to come away with anything is a very positive night because on their own territory, they are a very good side."
WOLVERHAMPTON manager Peter Adams is keen that his top-of-the-table side do not become overly reliant on Swedish big guns Peter Karlsson and Freddie Lindgren.
Adams said: "There’s been a pattern at home where we have a big finish and we need to stop relying on that too much. Freddie and PK have been superb and it’s great to have them in key positions within the team.
"But we need to start performing better in the middle part of a meeting rather than relying on a strong finish."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...
BERWICK opened their Premier League programme with a narrow victory over Scunthorpe in a meeting which was full of entertainment.
Bandits promoter John Anderson said: "It was a pity we couldn’t claim all three league points, but Scunthorpe came here tonight and gave us a real match to race, and it was very good to watch, especially Greg Blair in his first two races and that outside run was fantastic to see."
BIRMINGHAM reserve Richard Sweetman clocked up his biggest score for the club with paid-15 in the Brummies' dramatic weekend win over Sheffield.
Sweetman said: "It felt really good on Sunday and I reckon my season can only get better from here. We changed a few things because of the way my season had been going and it looks like it's starting to work for me now."
EDINBURGH were satisfied with taking a point from their Bank Holiday Monday meeting at Scunthorpe - with Andrew Tully holding on to an important second place in the last heat.
Tully said: "We go everywhere to win and we grabbed a point which is a good result because Scunthorpe have been riding very well so far this season. Having (David) Howe and (Magnus) Karlsson in their side is never going to make it that easy for visiting teams."
GLASGOW have been boosted by the news that James Grieves did not break his leg in the final race of the Tigers' Cup-tie against Somerset.
The Ashfield side lost out by a single point on aggregate, but the fact that x-rays gave Grieves the all-clear and was discharged from hospital with severe bruising only at least gave consolation that their long-term injury list was not added to.
KING'S LYNN will have two riders in the semi-finals of the World Under-21 Championship with recent signing Linus Eklof qualifying over the weekend to join Darcy Ward at the next stage.
Stars manager Rob Lyon said: "It's been a long time since the club had two riders doing so well on the World scene. It's a funny coincidence that both riders finished second in their rounds but I suppose it shows what great potential Linus has, as we all already know how capable Darcy is."
NEWCASTLE skipper Jason King feels the Diamonds' derby win over Redcar will provide a boost - especially given their depleted state going into the meeting.
King said: "'We went into the match two riders down due to injury and with Kenni Larsen away on international duty we had to use rider replacement to cover for him, so this win is a very good one. Everyone pulled together, including our guests."
NEWPORT skipper Craig Watson is still awaiting medical clearance to take up physio after missing almost the entire season so far.
Watson suffered a badly broken leg in the Wasps' re-launch individual meeting in mid-March but has targeted a comeback before the end of the campaign if it is physically possible.
REDCAR'S hopes of Premier Trophy progression were ended with a 51-39 defeat at local rivals Newcastle on Sunday.
Ty Proctor and Carl Stonehewer were both paid for double-figures but a much-changed Diamonds team ran out clear winners, and the Bears now prepare for a crunch Premier League clash with King's Lynn on Thursday.
RYE HOUSE manager John Sampford is backing new No.1 Robert Mear to qualify for this seasons World Under-21 Final.
Sampford said: "There's no reason why he can't go all the way. He's just got to keep his head in the semi and I definitely feel he can qualify. The whole thing will be a learning curve but he's just got to go there and treat it like any other meeting."
SCUNTHORPE No.1 David Howe returned to top form with a paid-14 haul against Edinburgh on Monday, and put his improvement down to several set-up changes.
Howe said: "I literally changed everything, refurbished the carbs and put new ignitions on and used the same engines I’ve been riding and it’s just transformed the bike. I’ve got power to play with again and that’s pleased me."
SHEFFIELD owner Neil Machin insists that the Tigers' target of overturning a 28-point deficit against Edinburgh in the Knockout Cup on Thursday is far from being mission impossible.
Machin said: "We're not out of it. We won't give up and all the boys know what they have to do, we cannot afford to have any passengers on board. But I do believe we have it within our capability to go out there and turn Edinburgh over like they did to us in the first leg."
SOMERSET general manager Dave Croucher says the recent form of his team have meant that plans for possible team changes have been put to one side.
Croucher said: "The difference clearly has been the marked improvement in the reserves, both of whom have scored well in their last two outings at home. Plans that we had to strengthen up have definitely been put on hold for the time being in view of the excellent performances by Tom (Brown) and Jay (Herne) over the last couple of weeks."
STOKE reserve Jesper Kristiansen collected an impressive paid-14 total as the Potters continued their encouraging start to the Premier League campaign with victory over Newcastle.
Kristiansen said: "I’m delighted that we have gained all three points in what had become a very difficult meeting early on as Newcastle pushed us hard. We finished strongly though and managed to pull away and get across the finish line."
WORKINGTON have made a change at reserve with local youngster Craig Cook coming in to replace Luke Priest.
Comets boss Ian Thomas said: "Luke has been finding it hard to score points, and hasn’t been helped by a series of spills. Craig is new to Premier League speedway but has shown promise on the handful of appearances he has made for us so far, and has been scoring well in the National League."
NATIONAL LEAGUE action is now well underway and all the latest club press releases are now available at the news section on our website www.speedwaygb.com
FIXTURE PICTURE...
TUESDAY MAY 26: NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 28: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Eastbourne 7.30, Swindon v Lakeside 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Ipswich v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v King's Lynn 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Weymouth 7.30
FRIDAY MAY 29: PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Redcar 7.30, Somerset v Berwick 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newport 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Newport 7.30, Weymouth v Buxton 7.15
SATURDAY MAY 30: PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Sheffield 7pm, Stoke v Somerset 7.30, Workington v Birmingham 7pm
SUNDAY MAY 31: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Workington 4pm, Newcastle v Birmingham 6.30, Newport v Berwick 2.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v King's Lynn 6pm
MONDAY JUNE 1: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7.30, Ipswich v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 3: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Scunthorpe 7.30, King's Lynn v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 4: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Ipswich 7.30, Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Glasgow 7.30 PREMER TROPHY: Sheffield v Newcastle 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 5: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm, Lakeside v Poole 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Rye House 7.30, Scunthorpe v Somerset 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Newport v Buxton 7pm, Scunthorpe v Isle of Wight (follows PL fixture)
SATURDAY JUNE 6: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Rye House 7pm, Stoke v Redcar 7.30, Workington v Somerset 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15
SUNDAY JUNE 7: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Rye House 4pm, Newcastle v Somerset 6.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Newport v Redcar 2.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Bournemouth 3pm, Mildenhall v Weymouth 4pm, Newport v Plymouth 2.30
MONDAY JUNE 8: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30, Peterborough v Coventry 7.30
TUESDAY JUNE 9: NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Newport 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 10: PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Somerset 7.30, King's Lynn v Workington 7.30
