SOMERSET promoter Debbie Hancock anticipates a thrilling battle in the SGB Championship Pairs at the Oaktree Arena on July 21.
Line-ups have been declared for the traditional pre-British Grand Prix major event, which always attracts a big crowd at the start of a massive speedway weekend.
All ten Championship clubs compete in the meeting, and several of Somerset’s regular SGB Premiership riders are involved as they represent their second-tier clubs.
Sheffield’s Josh Grajczonek is a double previous winner of the event, having triumphed with Somerset in 2013 and 2016 prior to the Rebels’ elevation to Premiership level.
Meanwhile Edinburgh’s Sam Masters and Danny King of Ipswich will be looking to repeat their victories of 2014 and 2015 respectively, although they will have different partners on this occasion.
Along with Grajczonek, other current Rebels riders in the line-up are Glasgow’s Richard Lawson, Scunthorpe duo Michael Palm Toft and Lewis Kerr, and Redcar’s Charles Wright.
Hancock said: “When Somerset went up a league and it was decided at the AGM the Pairs would continue its reign here at Somerset we could not be happier to host it, just a stone’s throw from Cardiff - for me, it does seem right.
“The big concern was if the Somerset fans would still turn out. We need not worry as the line-up will actually have several Somerset team members within various pairs as they ride for their Championship clubs.
“The line-up for me is one of the best it has ever been. All ten clubs in the league are represented. We have three of the top British Finalists within this meeting and some of the pairings are mouth-watering.”
Group A: GLASGOW: Richard Lawson & Aaron Summers PETERBOROUGH: Chris Harris & Jack Holder IPSWICH: Danny King & Rory Schlein WORKINGTON: Thomas Jorgensen & Ty Proctor SCUNTHORPE: Michael Palm Toft & Lewis Kerr Group B: EDINBURGH: Sam Masters & Erik Riss NEWCASTLE: Robert Lambert & Steve Worrall SHEFFIELD: Josh Grajczonek & Kyle Howarth REDCAR: Charles Wright & Ben Barker BERWICK: Nick Morris & David Howe
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2017 SGBP PAIRS: KING’S LYNN BRITISH FINAL: CRAIG COOK SGBC PAIRS: Somerset, July 21 SGBC FOURS: Peterborough, August 6 SGBP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue, September 16 SGBC RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow, September 24
OTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DATES BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: JAMES SHANES BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: ROBERT LAMBERT BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: ZACH WAJTKNECHT BRITISH SEMI-FINALS: RORY SCHLEIN; KYLE HOWARTH
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Swindon, Date TBC NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester, September 24
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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
