WELCOME to the latest edition of the weekly Speedway GB bulletins keeping you in touch with news, views and fixtures from the tracks up and down the country.
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE star Steve Worrall insists he remains confident in his ability after a stunning start to the season at reserve took him into the main body of the Aces’ team.
Worrall said: “At home I feel I’ve settled in, even though I’ve only had the one meeting at No.3. I feel I can beat anyone and that’s the kind of mentality I think is important go into the meeting with.
“Away it’s a little bit tougher. Being a heat leader is a tough position. My scores at Wolves and Leicester weren’t what I was looking for, especially as they’re tracks I tend to enjoy riding.
“I’ve just got to fight my way into those first turns a bit more because that’s where most of the damage is done when the heats kick off, particularly when it’s the top boys you’re up against.”
COVENTRY boss Gary Havelock admitted his frustration to be limited to just one Elite League point from Monday’s trip to Leicester after pulling off a big away win at King’s Lynn last week.
Havelock said: “It’s very disappointing, because it’s a meeting we really should have won.
“We missed Josh Bates tonight, and it sums our season up really – we’ve talked about the consistency before, we go to somewhere like King’s Lynn and win, and you look at the teams on paper with no disrespect to Leicester and this is one we should have won.”
KING’S LYNN boss Rob Lyon had no complaints after the Stars slipped to a damaging home defeat against Coventry at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Lyon said: “It certainly wasn’t the result we were looking for, and it was totally unexpected to be brutally honest.
“Fair play to Coventry, they came here and were the better side and deserved their four points in the end. There were too many passengers for us, and unfortunately you can’t win meetings with only a few riders firing.”
LAKESIDE reserve Lewis Kerr is aiming to hit top form over the second half of the season – starting against Poole at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday.
Kerr said: “I’ve had some up and down meetings, as was probably expected after my injury, but I’m hoping to finish a lot stronger.
“I really want to smash the rest of the season and end the year on a high. That’s the plan, so we’ll see how things go.
“Lakeside is a really good club for me, I seem to have the track dialled in now as well so I’m enjoying that.”
LEICESTER enjoyed only a second home win of the season with a 46-44 local derby triumph over Coventry thanks to a sterling late effort from Nicolai Klindt and recent signing Ludvig Lindgren.
Lions boss Norrie Allan said: “We have been threatening to secure a win in so many matches this season. Most have been last heat deciders of late and yet each time the visitors have triumphed to leave us empty handed.
“For once it went our way and what a finale that featured Ludvig and Nicolai, who set up the decider with a terrific piece of riding in Heat 14 to edge us ahead for only the second time in the meeting and then the same pairing did the business again. Hopefully this result is a turning point for us now and we can move on.”
POOLE promoter Matt Ford insists his side will strike top form after an up-and-down first half of the season for the Elite League title favourites.
Ford said: “I am absolutely certain this team will be in the top four and I cannot imagine too many teams will want to take us on knowing how we can up our game.
“We still remain in touch with the leading pack which, despite our lack of activity in recent weeks does surprise me a little. Once we get back into the groove then we should be able to push on from here.”
SWINDON manager Alun Rossiter was pleased with the all-round display in last week’s home win over Lakeside after some tough nights at the Abbey Stadium of late.
Rossiter said: “Charles (Wright) looked back to his best, he’s had a few engine problems but it was good to see that performance because when he’s going well the rest of the team goes well. We’ve got to keep him going, he’s the one who seems to make everyone click!
“I was pleased with Josh (Grajczonek), I had a quiet word with him beforehand because I do believe he needs to go up that next little notch, which is something he has the ability to do, and there’s more to come from him.”
WOLVERHAMPTON ace Jacob Thorssell insists they cannot take their foot off the gas despite their early-season success.
Thorssell said: “So far it’s been a great season for us, and we are all really enjoying ourselves at the moment. Our results have been really good, and when we have a full team we’ve shown we are difficult to beat on any track.
“To be at the top of the league at this stage is brilliant, and now we just have to step it up and push ourselves to keep getting better.
“After struggling the last few years it’s nice to finally be winning with Wolves and to be in a team that’s doing well.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK continued their recent run of form with a convincing 59-31 home win against Workington.
It means the Bandits have lost just one of their last seven meetings.
Team manager Scott Courtney said: "No one believed we were going to take a win over Workington, of all teams, of that size.
"It just shows what a solid team unit we are, who when we pull together, we can beat the best."
EDINBURGH will be hoping for better luck with the weather when they attempt to host Berwick on Friday.
The Monarchs have already seen five of their home meetings washed out in 2016.
Club Chairman Alex Harkess said: "To lose two consecutive fixtures to the weather in the height of summer is incredibly disappointing and to stage only one home team match in the month of June is unbelievable.
"The financial cost to the club has been hefty and I hope that our supporters will get right behind us as we try to build some momentum in the weeks ahead."
GLASGOW captain Aaron Summers believes reserves Danny Ayres and Coty Garcia could be the difference in Wednesday's televised Scottish derby against Edinburgh.
Said Summers: "It's going to be a tough meeting for sure, but I think we have more strength at the lower end compared with everyone else.
"Being on TV definitely adds a little bit more pressure and you've got to try and not think about it, and just do what you would do in a normal meeting."
IPSWICH have signed Joe Jacobs as a replacement for Paco Castagna, subject to BSPA approval.
It's a third change of the season already for the Witches as they look to turn their campaign around.
Team manager Ritchie Hawkins said: "Joe has been desperate for the meetings and the opportunity and he has been doing well of late for Belle Vue; it’s nice to give a young local lad a chance.
"It’s very sad to let Paco go - he’s a top lad and has been a pleasure to manage but we have not seen the best of him.”
NEWCASTLE star Robert Lambert says there's still more to come from him - despite piling up the points at No.1!
Lambert told Speedway Star: "Riding in the Premier League is helping me and I'm enjoying my first season with Newcastle; I think it was a great move for me.
"I've still been making a few mistakes, so there are things I need to improve on and I need to keep working hard."
PETERBOROUGH promoter Ged Rathbone insists all the pressure is on Somerset ahead of their Knockout Cup clash tonight (Tuesday).
Said Rathbone: "Somerset's record against us in recent times makes them huge favourites, but that also means that they are under all of the pressure.
"It is a tie where we have very little to lose, but a hell of a lot to gain against a side who have become our bogey team."
PLYMOUTH are desperate to stop rivals Somerset progressing further in the League Cup when they host the Rebels on Thursday.
Devils team manager Lee Trigger said: "Although we can’t progress ourselves, we will be doing all in our power to stop Somerset, although we know that will not be easy as they are a powerful unit.
"After losing at home to Ipswich last week, our priority will be to get back to winning ways."
REDCAR boss Jitendra Duffill admits he was frustrated to only draw with high-flying Sheffield last Friday - as the result means the Bears are now without a win in 12 meetings.
Said Duffill: "It was another last heat decider last week and again we fell just short of victory.
"I'm sure that it must be very exciting to see so many meetings go to the wire as a spectator but as Team Manager I'd much rather we were able to sew the meeting up before heat 15.
“Our top five did a superb job and Tobias Busch looks to have plenty of potential. I am certain that he will only get better as the year goes on but things will not be easy for him as he will be at No.1 next week.”
RYE HOUSE racer Peter Karger has thanked the club for sticking by him after enduring a tough start to his British racing career.
Karger told Speedway Star: "I always wanted to come over to England and now I have finally had the chance with Rye House.
"They have been so supportive of me here as I think they know I can do better than I have been doing."
SCUNTHORPE's Alex Davies is confident he can make progress in the second half of the season for the Scorpions.
Davies told Speedway Star: "It's always hard to ride in a struggling team but everyone has bad patches and I've had mine.
"I'm due some good luck and hopefully it all comes together."
SHEFFIELD reserve Nathan Greaves believes more time on the bike will help him improve for the Tigers.
Greaves told the Sheffield Star: "I’ve been more consistent in recent weeks for Sheffield and while I’m relatively happy with my scores, I’m not where I want to be. "I’ve got a much busier schedule coming up and I think that will benefit me and see me scoring a few more points."
SOMERSET boss Garry May wants his side to build up a healthy lead from tonight's (Tuesday) Knockout Cup home tie against Peterborough ahead of Sunday's second leg.
Said May: "Although we turned Peterborough over on home shale earlier in the season, that counts for nothing.
"I don’t set any targets in situations such as this as that can become a bit of a millstone as well as a distraction from the task in hand - we just want a lead to take to Peterborough."
WORKINGTON team manager Tony Jackson is anticipating one of the tougher meetings of the season when his side host Glasgow on Saturday.
Said Jackson: "Glasgow were everyone’s pick as title winners at the start of the season and so far they have lived up to those expectations.
"But with the addition of former Comet Rene Bach to their line-up last month, they will be even more of a handful around Derwent Park."
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE completed a quick-fire double over Stoke with two wins over the Potters in the space of two days.
Team manager Graham Goodwin said: “We’re up to third in the league right now and of course we want to keep the pressure on.
“We do have a bit of a gap in fixtures now, which is a bit frustrating but we’re hoping we don’t have to go the entire of July without a meeting at home because we do have matches to be rearranged.”
BIRMINGHAM are the 2016 National Trophy Champions after an impressive 47-43 win at Kent on Monday.
Boss Graham Drury said: “I had people telling me how dominant Kent were at home and that a four point advantage wouldn't be enough, but tonight the lads proved those people wrong!
“Every single one of our boys came here and gave it 100 per cent and they showed a true battling spirit.
“We've seen two impressive speedway meetings and both sets of riders deserve plenty of credit for providing another excellent advert for the National League.”
BUXTON have been dealt a blow with the news Steve Jones is set to be sidelined for longer than originally expected.
Manager Jason Pipe revealed: “I've recently had to look into what is the best way to cover for Steve, as it looks like he may not return until at least August now and it may not even be that early.
“He injured his knee in mid-April, over two months ago, and it’s still getting no better. He’s currently waiting to see a specialist and a top physio. We wish him all the best and hope he will be back on a bike this season.”
COVENTRY Storm had no answer for National League leaders Birmingham, who romped to a 61-29 win at Brandon on Sunday afternoon.
Boss Laurence Rogers said: “Birmingham were very good. They were gating, we weren’t, and we had every bit of bad luck going with Dan (Greenwood) having a meeting to forget.
“There were a couple of on-the-line decisions which I thought should have gone in our favour, but the big plus point was Mitchell Davey. He got better with every race and I think he’s going to be a great asset to us.
“The other rider I want to praise today, although he didn’t score many, was Callum Walker. He put 120 per cent effort in and was a bit downhearted that he didn’t get the points, but I’ve said to him he’s improving all the time, and one of these meetings it will click for him.”
CRADLEY boss Will Pottinger was full of praise for his side after their 50-38 win over Eastbourne at Monmore Green on Monday.
“We’re really satisfied with that result, because we’ve certainly had to work hard,” said Pottinger.
“We had a little bit of luck with Jake Knight and Charley Powell getting injured, but we’ve had our fair share of bad luck this season and we still have to make the most of it.
“To win by 12 points is an excellent result for us, and it denies Eastbourne any points as well which is good.”
EASTBOURNE will hand teenage prospect Tom Brennan his National League debut against Birmingham at Arlington on Saturday (7.30).
Brennan will be celebrating his 15th birthday, making him eligible for third tier racing, and team manager Connor Dugard believes he has what it takes to succeed.
“Tom has been waiting for this day for a very long time,” Dugard said. “We have told him to go out there and enjoy it. There is no pressure whatsoever.
“I just don’t want to put any pressure on him as he’s only 14 at the moment. As long as no-one puts too much weight on his shoulders and he listens to the right people about what to do, he will be absolutely fine.”
ISLE OF WIGHT made an early decision to postpone Tuesday’s National League encounter with King’s Lynn at Smallbrook.
Heavy rain has left the track waterlogged, and they have reluctantly been forced to call off their second successive home meeting.
KENT fell just short in their bid for National Trophy success as they suffered a 94-86 aggregate defeat against Birmingham.
Co-promoter Len Silver stated: “It was obviously a big disappointment to lose. Little did we appreciate what a catastrophic event it was when our skipper looped it in heat 15 at Birmingham to, firstly, give the Brummies a four point lead they did not deserve, but ultimately to cost us the Trophy itself.
“Such things occur in our unpredictable sport and all we can do is to take it on the chin and congratulate Birmingham for a fine performance.
“We put this near miss behind us and get on with the job of moving up the league table and into the last stages of the K.O Cup.”
KING’S LYNN Young Stars endured an afternoon to forget as they suffered a 61-28 defeat at Eastbourne in the first leg of their Knockout Cup tie.
Reserve Shane Hazelden said: “On a team note, I think it was clear the lack of riding this month was a huge issue. We had a few weeks off, then after a home meeting we had a few more weeks off before coming up against a very strong Eastbourne team.
“I’m sure there are people who are disappointed, but one meeting doesn’t make you a bad rider and I know that all too well.
“They showed us the way around and to keep up with their pace and gating was a difficult task. On the plus side, top scoring with paid 10 was a good result for me and if I stayed on the bike in two of my rides I could have scored 15 points which would have been even better.”
MILDENHALL advisor James Easter offered his support to promoter Kevin Jolly following the extraordinary postponement of their clash with Cradley last weekend.
Easter told Speedway Star: “There is nobody in the sport more passionate about speedway than Kevin. He loves it and he loves Mildenhall.
“It is because he feels this way that he lost his patience and called off Sunday’s meeting. Almost immediately he attempted to get it back on, but that didn’t work out.
“He’s worked so hard for Mildenhall, and I know he’s been personally affected by injuries to some of the youngsters.”
RYE HOUSE Raiders have moved to bring Matt Saul into their side.
The former Isle of Wight rider comes in as a replacement for Harvie Banks – and team manager Peter Schroeck is delighted to have him on board.
Said Schroeck: “We’re delighted to bring Matt on board. He’s was recommended to us by Eddie (Kennett).
“It is very difficult at this level to find the right calibre of new rider. We already know that our top three will give us what we need, but we also need guys who can chip in with three, four or five points, and we believe that Matt will plug that gap nicely.”
STOKE slipped to a narrow 46-44 defeat in a tight encounter with Belle Vue at Loomer Road on Saturday.
Skipper Tony Atkin said: “No one was at fault for the loss. Everyone tried their best and it was one of those meetings that could have gone either way.
“It was a great meeting for the fans to watch and it just didn’t go our way. The last time Belle Vue came here they annihilated us so it was a much better show from us.
“We are not disheartened by tonight we can step up from this and it was good to see Ben (Wilson) win heat fifteen. He’s come back from quite a bad injury and it takes time to get your confidence back, but that win will give him a lot of confidence.”
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY JUNE 28: PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Somerset v Peterborough 7.30 TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v King’s Lynn OFF
WEDNESDAY JUNE 29: ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 7.30 TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 30: ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Rye House 7.30 LEAGUE CUP: Plymouth v Somerset 7.15 CHALLENGE: Sheffield Select v Cradley 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 1: ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 7.30, Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Lakeside v Poole 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30
SATURDAY JULY 2: ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pm TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30, Stoke v King’s Lynn 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 3: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 3pm, Newcastle v Plymouth 6.30, Scunthorpe v Ipswich 6.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Peterborough v Somerset 5pm TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Rye House v Cradley 6pm
MONDAY JULY 4: ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Leicester 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30 TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Buxton 6.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 6: ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30 TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Kent 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30
THURSDAY JULY 7: ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30, Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 8: PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset 7pm
SATURDAY JULY 9: BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 5pm
SUNDAY JULY 10: PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Glasgow 4pm TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Coventry 6pm
MONDAY JULY 11: ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v King’s Lynn 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 7.30 TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Mildenhall 7.30, Kent v Rye House 6.30
TUESDAY JULY 12: PREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Scunthorpe 7.30
Picture: STEVE DIXON
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UPCOMING FIXTURES...
24/06/18 1830 Newcastle v Sheffield (Championship)
24/06/18 1500 British Youth Championship, Glasgow
25/06/18 1930 Belle Vue v Poole (Premiership)
25/06/18 1930 Somerset v King's Lynn (Premiership)
25/06/18 1930 Wolverhampton v Leicester (Premiership)
25/06/18 1830 Kent v Coventry (TPNL)
27/06/18 1930 Rye House v Swindon (Premiership)
27/06/18 1930 Poole v Somerset (P-KOC)
28/06/18 1930 Sheffield v Scunthorpe (C-KOC)
28/06/18 1900 Isle of Wight v Birmingham (TPNL) 29/06/18 1930 Peterborough v Lakeside (Championship)
29/06/18 1930 Edinburgh v Berwick (C-KOC)
29/06/18 1930 Scunthorpe v Sheffield (C-KOC)
29/06/18 1915 Plymouth v Kent (TPNL)
30/06/18 1900 Berwick v Edinburgh (C-KOC)
30/06/18 1930 Eastbourne v Birmingham (TPNL)
01/07/18 1400 Championship Fours, Redcar
01/07/18 1500 Coventry v Belle Vue (TPNL) 01/07/18 1500 Mildenhall v Kent (TPNL) 01/07/18 1700 Mildenhall v Isle of Wight (TPNL)
02/07/18 1930 Leicester v Wolverhampton (Premiership) 02/07/18 1830 Kent v Stoke (TPNL)
02/07/18 1930 Cradley v Birmingham (NT)
04/07/18 1930 King's Lynn v Leicester (Premiership)
04/07/18 1930 Poole v Belle Vue (Premiership)
04/07/18 1930 Somerset v Rye House (Premiership) 05/07/18 1930 Redcar v Scunthorpe (Championship) 05/07/18 1930 Sheffield v Ipswich (Championship) 05/07/18 1900 Isle of Wight v Kent (TPNL)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE Stoke 32 – Max Clegg 8 Isle of Wight 27 – Alfie Bowtell 9 Abandoned after Heat 10 (track conditions) – Result stands National League points: Stoke 3 Isle of Wight 1
NATIONAL TROPHY Eastbourne 68 – Georgie Wood 15 Kent 21 – Jack Thomas 9 National Trophy points: Eastbourne 3 Kent 0
