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 will have Ulrich Ostergaard back in their team for the forthcoming relegation race-off against either King's Lynn or Edinburgh.
The Dane has been out for two months with a broken kneecap but has had no adverse reaction to his return in his home country.
Ostergaard said: "My race fitness was good and I was making good starts. I will be having some more meetings between now and when I come over. But I am ready and looking forward to returning to action for Belle Vue."
COVENTRY will keep a positive outlook ahead of the second leg of the Knockout Cup Final against Lakeside on Friday - despite a heavy 23-point defeat at Purfleet in the first leg.
Co-boss Peter Oakes said: "We've got to get it into the riders' heads that we can pull back 23 points, win by 24 and that's what we need to do. If they can beat us by 23, we are capable of doing it to them."
IPSWICH stage their traditional season-ending 16-Lap classic at Foxhall this Thursday with the longest speedway race on the UK calendar completing the meeting.
Rory Schlein and Adam Shields are amongst the competitors along with all of the current Witches, with Scott Nicholls one of the big favourites for victory.
LAKESIDE skipper Adam Shields secured his first home maximum of the season in the Hammers' 59-36 Knockout Cup Final first leg win over Coventry - which makes the Purfleet side hot favourites for the silverware.
Shields said: "It's good to at least get one maximum around here this year because sometimes my home form hasn't been what it should be, so it was good to get it in such an important meeting.
"We finished up with a much bigger lead than we'd been expecting, so now we have to do a professional job in the second leg."
WOLVERHAMPTON will stage their official Elite League title homecoming at next Monday's final meeting of the season against Peterborough.
Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: "It's a nice way for us to end the season, and it would be great for us to win the Midland League and add it to the Elite League title.
"It has been an amazing week since we lifted the Elite League trophy and we are looking forward to doing it again in front of our own supporters."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...
BERWICK have vowed to field the strongest-possible line-up for Saturday's Bordernapolis despite uncertainty over whether some contenders will be required for duty by their own clubs.
Promoter John Anderson said: "When setting up a big event such as this one, we are always aware other clubs may be forced by seasonal constraints to rearrange fixtures and withdraw contracted riders from our field. But any rider who is pulled out by his club will be replaced by the best alternative we can find."
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury paid tribute to his side's efforts this season after they were eliminated from the promotion play-offs by King's Lynn, with skipper Jason Lyons crashing out of the second leg.
Drury said: "I honestly felt the shock result was on before the crash. We were on a good run of momentum, but once we lost Jason it was all over and the bubble burst for us. Once again, though, I won't criticise the efforts of the boys because they gave it everything."
EDINBURGH skipper Matthew Wethers is hoping to take revenge over King's Lynn for the Stars' Premier Trophy win as the sides also meet in the Knockout Cup Final - and stage the second leg of the promotion play-off on Tuesday.
Wethers said: "We need everyone to be going well and cannot afford to have anybody not riding to their potential, although I think we are also capable of getting good scores down there."
KING'S LYNN are hopeful that No.1 rider Darcy Ward will be fit to return to the side for the first leg of the Knockout Cup Final later this week.
Promoter Buster Chapman said: "He has now returned to the UK and will continue the treatment here with a specialist in London. We are all hoping that after a full weeks rest he will be fit enough to return to the team for our trip to Edinburgh on Friday." REDCAR will include Elite League stars Edward Kennett, Ben Barker and Simon Stead in Daniel Giffard's Farewell meeting on Thursday when top-flight champions Wolverhampton provide the opposition.
Giffard said: "I always said that when I had this meeting, whether it be a farewell or a testimonial, that I wanted to make it the best line-up possible. I wanted to say thank you to the supporters at Redcar who have cheered me and supported me."
RYE HOUSE star Linus Sundstrom is optimistic that the Rockets can complete the season with Young Shield victory over Workington in this weekend's Final - after a dramatic semi-final win against Scunthorpe.
Sundstrom said: "The team spirit in the pits was really good throughout, and we’re going to carry that into the Final. We have a good chance to win it, but we really have to do a good one here on Saturday so that we can hit back on Sunday as well."
SCUNTHORPE have made a late change to the format for Friday's Kenny Smith Memorial, which now becomes a team event with the Scorpions bolstered by several star names as guests.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: "This meeting is by far the highest quality field we’ve had and I know a lot of fans prefer team meetings to individuals. We are sorry to have so many late changes but we had little control and I’m sure all the fans that are travelling to see our race track for the very first time will see a great race meeting."
STOKE promoter Dave Tattum is delighted to be able to include popular former Potter Ben Barker in the line-up for the Pride of the Potteries, the event having now been switched to Sunday afternoon.
Tattum said: "There will be plenty of entertainment on show. Ben has always been a delight to work with and I know the supporters will be looking forward to his return to Loomer Road."
WORKINGTON have confirmed Mark Lemon as their guest for injured skipper Kevin Doolan when they face Rye House over two legs in this weekend's Young Shield Final.
Manager Ian Thomas said: "I have confirmed with Mark and he is available for both dates. He has been a brilliant guest for us and I can’t look past him."
FIXTURE PICTURE...
TUESDAY OCTOBER 20: PROMOTION FINAL 2nd leg: King's Lynn v Edinburgh 7.30
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 1st leg: 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 1st leg: Rye House v Workington 7pm PROMOTION/RELEGATION RACE-OFF 1st leg: Edinburgh OR King's Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30 BORDERNAPOLIS: Berwick 7pm NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15
SUNDAY OCTOBER 25: YOUNG SHIELD FINAL 2nd leg: Workington v Rye House 3pm PRIDE OF THE POTTERIES: Stoke 3pm NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 26: PROMOTION/RELEGATION RACE-OFF: Belle Vue v Edinburgh OR King's Lynn 7.30 MIDLAND LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Peterborough 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28: M6 TROPHY 2nd leg: Birmingham v Stoke 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: King's Lynn v Edinburgh 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Bournemouth v Plymouth 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 29: TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
