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.
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST...
BELLE VUE manager Chris Morton says it is important that his riders keep themselves race-fit as they await news of their opponents in the promotion/relegation race-off later this month.
Morton said: "We would prefer not to have to go into the play-off with a three-week break. Riders prefer to be in action to keep them sharp.
"We'll be having a look at their commitments and may get together for a practice session if we feel it is necessary."
COVENTRY co-manager Peter Oakes is hoping the Bees can make good use of their previous trophy-winning experience when they take on Lakeside in the Knockout Cup Final.
The Bees are going for their third Cup win in four seasons, and Oakes said: "We have been there before, and we know the riders can cope with the pressures a big Final brings.
"I know our riders won't buckle under that pressure, and if Lakeside's don't then it is going to be a tremendous two-legged final that probably won't be decided until towards the end of the second leg."
EASTBOURNE'S Swedish youngster Simon Gustafsson has been named the club's Rider of the Year after an impressive second season in the Elite League.
Gustafsson held off a challenge from Lukas Dryml, a popular addition to the Eagles' ranks this year, to win the award.
IPSWICH boss Pete Simmons says the Witches' good form towards the end of the season means the current riders are all in the frame for 2010 places if available.
Simmons said: "All the current team will be considered for next season, most definitely. Our current average is a shade over 42 points and we will wait and see what the final outcome is.
"Of course we have riders not contracted to Ipswich and their parent clubs will have first say, but I think it is fair to say we would like to see Scott Nicholls, Troy Batchelor and Danny King all back with us next year."
LAKESIDE star Stuart Robson is hoping to round off his first season back in the top flight with Knockout Cup success over his old club Coventry.
Robson said: "I have enjoyed every bit of my time with the Hammers this season and the fans have been great.
"It’s going to be the last chance for the present Hammers team to show how much we want to bring trophies to the Club and we are determined not to fail."
PETERBOROUGH reserve Henning Bager has finished the season on the injury list after suffering a badly broken leg during the Panthers' Midland League fixture against Wolverhampton.
The Danish rider has undergone an operation to have the leg pinned and was then transferred to Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough.
POOLE will round off their home season at top-flight level with a double-header Challenge clash against Eastbourne and Ipswich on Wednesday (7pm).
The club's National League operation, the Buccaneers, still have two major meetings to come at Wimborne Road as they are involved in both the play-off Grand Final and the Knockout Cup Final.
SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams admitted the Robins' 16-point defeat at Wolverhampton in the first leg of the Grand Final had left them with too much to do in the return fixture - as the club's wait for a top-flight title after 42 years goes on.
Adams said: "We lost it at Wolverhampton, we just had too many points to chase. Wolverhampton are a solid team and very good at home, and that’s where we came unstuck.
"We tried to get onto them at the start tonight and it didn’t work. Mid-way through there we started to put in a bit of a fight but came up short."
WOLVERHAMPTON manager Peter Adams paid tribute to his team and back-up staff after clinching the Elite League title at Swindon on Monday, and underlined the belief that existed in the camp since day one.
Adams said: "We thoroughly deserve it because for the last two or three months we've been the best team in the league by a long shot, and thankfully we're home and dry now.
"I'm delighted for everyone at the club, the sponsors and the fans who have been terrific from start to finish. It's a great achievement and even better when you consider that these are the same riders we started the season with - it was good enough then, and it was good enough at the finish."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...
BERWICK skipper Paul Clews says the Bandits are determined to overcome rivals Redcar to win the Tweed-Tees Trophy on Saturday in their final team action of the season.
Clews said: "Lynda Waite and John Anderson, backed by their respective families, took over running this club just short of a year ago - they’ve done a fantastic, really unbelievable job of revitalising the operation, and this Trophy is the last of the season which we can win for them."
BIRMINGHAM have announced plans to stage one more meeting this season at Perry Barr, with local rivals Stoke set to visit in the M6 Trophy on October 28.
Promoter Graham Drury said: "It gives our supporters one last opportunity to see the boys in action and I think we're all agreed we achieved quite a lot this season."
EDINBURGH are on the look-out for a new reserve for their crucial final fixtures of the season after Byron Bekker announced he is quitting the club.
Monarchs spokesman Mike Hunter said: "Byron actually asked to be left out of the side after the away leg of the play-off semi-final, stating that he didn’t want to let the team down any longer. However, we talked him into doing another week for us in view of the difficulty of finding a suitable replacement. He has been a good team man and we wish him well for the future."
GLASGOW finished the campaign with a heavy Scottish Cup defeat at the hands of rivals Edinburgh and are now turning their attention towards climbing the Premier League in 2010.
Co-promoter Alan Dick said:" We will have to try to get the top end sorted out before looking at the rest of the side, but I do feel a bit more optimistic that we have better choices available for 2010 and our fans can expect a much better season."
KING'S LYNN will be without skipper Tomas Topinka for the rest of the season as they look forward to the Knockout Cup Final against Edinburgh and the second leg of their promotion semi-final against Birmingham on Wednesday.
Promoter Buster Chapman said: "Tomas has been such a big part of all the trophies we have won here over the past five seasons and to have him out injured has somewhat dampened the spirits of the team. I know he wants us to carry on as normal but that is a hard thing to do, I really hope we see him back here in the pits soon."
NEWCASTLE went out of the promotion play-offs in cruel circumstances as they became the first team to lose out in 'Golden Heats' after an aggregate tie with Edinburgh.
Manager George English said: "Everyone in our camp is hugely disappointed after the tremendous effort they put in. The riders have given everything and our rise up the table and into the play-offs has been a delight to watch. I am extremely proud of all of them."
NEWPORT co-promoter Nick Mallett has given his full backing to New Zealand rider Grant Tregoning, who is a confirmed starter for the Wasps next season.
Mallett said: "He is a young lad who put in some brilliant rides for the Hornets in 2009. His machinery will be much improved in 2010, and I am positive he will have improved as a rider when he lands back here in 2010."
FORMER Redcar star Matt Tresarrieu has accepted an invitation for the South Tees Silver Helmet later this month - and boss Brian Havelock says the Frenchman could be in the frame for a team place in 2010.
Havelock said: "This is a case of him having a look to see how the land lies and us having a look at him. Next season is a possibility - but I’ll need a commitment from him that he can ride 54 meetings for us."
RYE HOUSE skipper Chris Neath says the Rockets are determined to build on their win over Sheffield as their Young Shield campaign continues against Scunthorpe this weekend.
Neath said: "We had great racing over the two legs, and when there's a trophy to be won, everyone wants to be a winner."
SCUNTHORPE have confirmed that the Kenny Smith Memorial on October 23 will be their final meeting of the season regardless of whether they reach the Young Shield Final - with October 19 fixed for the home leg should they overcome Rye House this weekend.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: "So much effort has gone into Kenny's meeting that I'm not chucking it away. If we changed that date we could have problems re-arranging it and I know a lot of people have booked hotels."
SHEFFIELD'S final meeting of the season takes place this Thursday as the Tigers welcome a team representing Leicester - who are on the verge of a full-time return to the sport with planning permission granted to build a new track.
Tigers chief Neil Machin said: "This is Sheffield's way of showing goodwill towards the Leicester project and we understand a big number of their supporters will be travelling. Hopefully it will help the project gather momentum and gain more awareness within the city."
SOMERSET will complete their season on Friday with a challenge match between the Rebels and a team formulated by Australian boss Craig Boyce - which is set to include the Daniel King, Mark Lemon and Richard Sweetman.
Promoter Debbie Hancock said: "We will be tracking the 2009 Rebels as a full septet to bring down the curtain on the season, and everyone who has ridden for the team this year will be at the Oak Tree Arena on the night."
STOKE'S official season was ended by defeat at Workington on Sunday, although the main damage to the Potters' Young Shield hopes had been done with a home draw against the Comets the previous evening.
Team boss John Woolridge said: "I’m disappointed, but if I’m honest we lost this tie at home on Saturday night and we can have no excuses. We needed to bring a lead into the second leg and we might have stood a chance."
WORKINGTON owner Keith Denham has raised questions over his future with the club following criticism after a recent home defeat by Berwick - which did not prevent the Comets from progressing in the Young Shield.
Denham said: "My family has witnessed a considerable amount of negative comments on the internet forum in the last few days which has caused great upset and stress to all concerned. I think the criticism is really unjustified when all we have done is put all our time and efforts in trying to keep speedway alive at Workington for the loyal supporters."
FIXTURE PICTURE...
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14: ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Lakeside v Coventry 8pm PROMOTION PLAY-OFF 2nd leg: King's Lynn v Birmingham 7.30 CHALLENGE: Poole v Eastbourne 7pm, Poole v Ipswich (follows previous fixture)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15: UNDER-25 TEST: Great Britain v Australia, Ipswich 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Bournemouth v Buxton 7.30 CHALLENGE: Sheffield v Leicester 7.45, Swindon v USA Dream Team 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 16: PROMOTION FINAL 1st leg: Edinburgh v King's Lynn OR Birmingham 7.30 YOUNG SHIELD SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Scunthorpe v Rye House 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Buxton 7.30 CHALLENGE: Somerset v Boycie's Boys 7.30, Weymouth v USA Dream Team 7.15
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17: YOUNG SHIELD SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm TWEED/TEES TROPHY 2nd leg: Berwick v Redcar 7pm CHALLENGE: Stoke v USA Dream Team 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 18: HEATHERSFIELD GOLDEN HELMET: Glasgow 4pm WELSH JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Newport 2.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Isle of Wight 3pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 19: BANKS'S OLYMPIQUE: Wolverhampton 7.30 YOUNG SHIELD FINAL: Scunthorpe v Workington 7.30 (PROVISIONAL)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 22: 16-LAP CLASSIC: Ipswich 7.30 DANIEL GIFFARD FAREWELL: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23: ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Coventry v Lakeside 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL: Edinburgh v King's Lynn 7.30 KENNY SMITH MEMORIAL: Scunthorpe 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Plymouth v Bournemouth 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24: YOUNG SHIELD FINAL: Workington v Scunthorpe 7pm (PROVISIONAL) BORDERNAPOLIS: Berwick 7pm PRIDE OF THE POTTERIES: Stoke 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15
SUNDAY OCTOBER 25: YOUNG SHIELD FINAL: Workington v Rye House 3pm (PROVISIONAL) NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 26: PROMOTION/RELEGATION RACE-OFF: Belle Vue v TBC 7.30 MIDLAND LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Peterborough 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28: M6 TROPHY 2nd leg: Birmingham v Stoke 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Bournemouth v Plymouth 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 29: TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
