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.
BRITISH Grand Prix winner and national champion Chris Harris has been handed the Wild Card berth for the Elite League Riders' Championship.
The best riders in the top flight go head-to-head for the prestigious title at King's Lynn's Norfolk Arena on Thursday August 30.
Each of the ten Elite League clubs are represented by their No.1, with the five top second-placed riders in their team's listings also included.
But by a quirk of the averages, Harris actually finds himself third in Coventry's August Green Sheets, despite the fact that he is in the overall top sixteen by some distance.
Part of the reason is that Harris has scored more bonus points than any other rider in the field, and these are taken out of the official averages - and the other factor is that his strong season has been virtually mirrored by Aussie youngster Rory Schlein, who hopes to qualify for next year's Grand Prix.
And both of the two rising stars are behind Coventry captain Scott Nicholls, which shows exactly why the Brandon club are amongst the clubs pushing for the Elite League title!
Title favourites Swindon are represented by Leigh Adams and Lee Richardson, whilst Nicki Pedersen - the man now hot favourite to become World Champion - will surely be a major challenger on one of his old home circuits.
Poole duo Jason Crump and Bjarne Pedersen will both be looking to complete a unique Super7even double as they compete as individuals having already won the Elite League Pairs at the same circuit on Easter Saturday.
Add in the likes of Peterborough skipper Hans Andersen and Wolverhampton's classy Peter Karlsson! , and the ELRC has all the makings of being one of the events of the 2007 season.
LINE-UP (in riding order): Peter Karlsson (Wolves), Jason Crump (Poole), Chris Harris (Coventry), Davey Watt (Eastbourne), Joe Screen (Belle Vue), Niels-Kristian Iversen (Peterborough), Rory Schlein (Coventry), Leigh Adams (Swindon), Krzysztof Kasprzak (Arena Essex-Lakeside), Bjarne Pedersen (Poole), Nicki Pedersen (Eastbourne), Chris Louis (Ipswich), Hans Andersen (Peterborough), Scott Nicholls (Coventry), Lee Richardson (Swindon), Matej Zagar (Reading).
*KEEP in touch with all aspects of the exciting Super7even series at www.speedwaygb.com and www.super7even.com , with the build-up to the Premier League Riders' Championship at Swindon to commence shortly.
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST.
ARENA ESSEX-LAKESIDE will take on old rivals Rye House in a special challenge match at Purfleet on Friday, with eight-man teams and an 18-heat match formula.
Hammers boss Jon Cook! said: "I am delighted that Len (Silver) has taken up our offer of bringing his Rockets to the Arena-Essex Raceway. It's great to see this local derby resurrected for a one off.
"Len has put together a very good young side and with Edward Kennett and Shane Parker also included I believe we are in for a superb night's entertainment."
BELLE VUE boss Eric Boocock was pulling no punches after the Aces dropped to their heaviest home defeat of the season, a 22-point reverse against Coventry.
Boocock said: "That performance was verging on pathetic. I can accept that we were going to get beaten tonight but I was also expecting them to put up some kind of fight. There just doesn't seem to be any spirit there.
"We had a great crowd here and I just hope that all the fans come back again but I also understand that they want to see a winning team. "
COVENTRY manager Peter Oakes said the Bees could show no mercy to struggling Belle Vue as they extended their winning! run to seven matches in all competitions with a 56-34 result at Kirkmanshulme Lane.
Oakes said: "We won't be gloating about the magnitude of our victory, but it's a sport where you have to be cruel. Once the riders get out on track they have to go for every point, but it's obviously a difficult season for Belle Vue.
"Our riders wanted to win every race, and that's the attitude that will help us at the end of the season. We've got to keep going and make sure we don't slip up at meetings like this."
EASTBOURNE manager Trevor Geer is awaiting clarification of the fitness of Dean Barker before making his decision on the Eagles' line-up for the remainder of the season.
Geer said: "We really need Deano to come back, otherwise we need to replace him for the rest of the season. "I don't want to operate rider-replacement, as having six riders leaves us so weak if anything happens during the meeting. We won a meeting last week with five riders, and we can't go on like that."
IPSWICH manager John Louis hit out at Reading's Matej Zagar after a crash involving Witches skipper Chris Louis on the last bend of Heat 15 when the sides met at Smallmead on Monday.
John Louis said: "It was a totally unnecessary thing to do. There was no need for that kind of pass at that time in the meeting. Chris has wrecked his bike and he has sore hips and arms but he was straight up after the crash and seems to be OK.
"The last thing we would want is to lose Chris at this stage as he has been doing so well for us so far this season."
PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales regarded Monday's defeat at Swindon as an opportunity lost after the Panthers were denied the aggregate point in a race-off.
Swales said: "On a scale of one to ten, the disappointment of this defeat is an eleven.
"I felt Swindon were there for the taking but again we lacked consistency and too many people had too poor a meeting."
POOLE manager Neil Middleditch had to! win a race against the clock to transport Pirates rider Troy Batchelor to Monmore Green ahead of Monday's match against Wolves.
Middleditch said: "I had to pick Troy up from the airport and was still at Heathrow at 5.40pm. The boy got on the wrong fight or missed the one he was hoping to catch - it was all very complicated.
"And it was a real rush getting him there on time! But given that Troy was really stressed out and had been travelling to the meeting since 7am, he did really well to get five points."
READING have reverted to a full one-to-seven by signing 21-year-old Polish prospect Krzysztof Buczkowski as a replacement for former skipper Greg Hancock.
Promoter Malcolm Holloway said: "One of our biggest problems has been not having seven riders of our own.
It has certainly not been easy to find guest replacements for Greg Hancock, mainly due to the sheer volume of meetings caused by all the rain-offs in recent weeks.
"I realise this will mean a change! to the riding order, with Matej Zagar and Janusz Kolodziej taking over as the club's two heat leaders, but at least we now have a full team and Krzysztof is definitely one for the future, which is what we are ultimately looking to."
SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams secured another vital aggregate point for the League leaders by defeating Peterborough's Hans Andersen in a dramatic run-off at Blunsdon.
Adams said: "It's a huge point to pick up. Everyone struggles when they go to Peterborough and we've just managed to keep our head above water and get there.
"I just had my head down. Hans had a lot of speed tonight and I had to ride a pretty tactical race. It was a great meeting for the supporters and nice to have some momentum back."
WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Peter Karlsson is aware that his side need to come up with some big away performances if they are to break into the Elite League's top four.
Karlsson said: "Losing to Peterborough at home gave us a dent, and we need to pull something out of the hat away, but we haven't got many away matches left to shoot at.
"We have got some really hard matches coming up at home as well, so it will be tough to reach the play-offs now, but it's not impossible."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST.
BERWICK had two unbeaten riders in their shock win at Newport on Sunday - Stanislaw Burza with a six-ride paid maximum, and guest Lee Complin with five straight wins.
Promoter Peter Waite said: "Stan was nothing short of brilliant and he showed exactly what he is capable and the guest was the best in the business. This was our best moment of the season."
BIRMINGHAM promoter Graham Drury says he released Ulrich Ostergaard because was unhappy with the Dane's commitment to British Speedway.
Drury, who has now signed Henning Bager, said: "It's been a far from easy decision and I realise how popular Ulrich is, but I hope the fans will understand the reasons why I have made this move."
EDINBURGH reserve Daniele Tessari is gradually regaining fitness after snapping a cruciate ligament in May, and he could return this Friday against Newcastle.
Tessari took two rides in last week's Scottish Open, and said: "I can walk okay but I still have a small problem with my racing."
GLASGOW can move themselves into contention for a play-off place with victory over Stoke this weekend. The Tigers have home matches in hand on several of the teams above them, and having won the reverse fixture at Loomer Road any win over the Potters would give them all three points.
THE Isle of Wight raced through the pain barrier to two crucial home wins last week, backed up by a win at Workington to move themselves into second place in the table.
Chairman Dave Pavitt said: "It mattered not both Chris Holder and Cory Gathercole were clearly not at their best riding in pain because the rest of the team more than compensated for that."
KING'S LYNN co-promoter ! Jonathan Chapman says the Stars are very keen to finish in first place in the regular stages of the Premier League ahead of the play-offs.
Chapman said: "Our plan is to finish top as we then get to choose who our opponents are from the next three teams, so it's very tactical. I believe the Isle of Wight are the dark horses, and they have just moved into second place where I believe they will stay."
MILDENHALL co-promoter Mick Horton now holds a stake of less than 15 per cent of the club's shares, having sold 35 per cent to local businessman Roger Sharman and his daughter Loretta.
Horton said: "I felt I was having less and less time to concentrate on Mildenhall Speedway. I decided the time was right to sell on. Roger and Loretta are passionate Mildenhall supporters, and with the club already going in the right direction, I believe this is great news for everyone involved."
NEWCASTLE were taken right to the wire by Edinburgh at home on Sunday, but Josef Franc and Ch! ristian Henry came up with the goods with a 5-1 in Heat 15 for a two-point win.
Team boss George English said: "The crowd loved it and that's equally important, but close finishes with matches like that are no fun to team manage! It was an amazing end to a great night."
NEWPORT will be boosted this week by the news that Australian youngster Tom Hedley should return on Friday after picking up a shoulder injury on Rye House.
Promoter Tim Stone said: "Tom actually did the injury in his first race but the adrenalin took over and he managed to get through the rest of the meeting. Then it stiffened up and he hadn't got any movement."
REDCAR co-promoter Gareth Rogers feels the return of Jack Hargreaves to the Bears' team is a move which benefits both parties.
Rogers said: "Jack stood down from the Stoke line-up to solve some personal problems, and with a previous happy working relationship with the Redcar promotion there was a meeting of minds."
STUART Robson has revealed details of his benefit meeting, to be staged at Rye House on Saturday September 29 - an event which will features 32 riders in a knockout format.
World Champion Jason Crump has confirmed his attendance along with top British GP duo Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris, and former Rockets Edward Kennett and Daniel King.
SHEFFIELD are desperate to turn the tables on Edinburgh this week despite a number of injury concerns, after the Monarchs knocked the Tigers out of the Cup in controversial circumstances earlier in the season.
Co-promoter David Hoggart said: "We are now on a revenge mission, and despite all the odds being stacked against us after our recent problems, we will be going all out for this one."
SOMERSET can move back into the top four with a win over local rivals Newport at the Oak Tree Arena on Friday.
The Rebels enjoyed their biggest home win since joining the Premier League in 2002 when the teams last met, although they are expecting! a tougher test on this occasion.
STOKE skipper Rusty Harrison felt his side had received reward for their efforts by taking all three points from Sheffield at Loomer Road.
Harrison said: "I think we were all up for it tonight and that showed on the track and in the pits. We got a bit of a lead going mid meeting and then just hung on and hit them hard whenever we could."
WORKINGTON have moved quickly to fill the gap left by Carl Stonehewer's injury by signing up Ulrich Ostergaard, who was released by Birmingham at the weekend.
General manager Ian Thomas said: "We knew that it would be no good going with rider replacement for the rest of the season without Stoney, but there wasn't much available. Ulrich's sacking fell right into our lap because the averages were almost identical."
FIXTURE PICTURE
TUESDAY AUGUST 7: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Rye House 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Redcar 7.45, King's Lynn v Edinburgh 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Boston 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 9: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Belle Vue 7.30, Peterborough v Arena Essex-Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Mildenhall 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45 SMALLBROOK SPECTACULAR: Isle of Wight 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 10: PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Newport 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Oxford 7.30, Weymouth v Sittingbourne 7.15 CHALLENGE: Arena Essex-Lakeside v Rye House 8pm
SATURDAY AUGUST 11: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Birmingham 7pm, Stoke v Edinburgh 7.30, Workington v Somerset 7pm PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Rye House v Isle of Wight 7pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Cleveland v Buxton 6pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 12: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Stoke 4pm, Mildenha! ll v Isle of Wight 4.30, Newcastle v Redcar 6.30, Newport v Rye House 4pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Boston 3pm, Oxford v Sittingbourne 7.30 Scunthorpe v Rye House 3pm
MONDAY AUGUST 13: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Reading 8pm, Peterborough v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 14: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Workington 7.30
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Reading 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Berwick 7.45, King's Lynn v Workington 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 16: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KOC: Ipswich v Reading 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Isle of Wight 7.30, Sheffield v King's Lynn 7.45
FRIDAY AUGUST 17: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena Essex-Lakeside v Swindon 8pm, Coventry v Ipswich 8pm, Reading v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Glas! gow 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Scunthorpe 7.30, Oxford v Cleveland 7.30 CARNIVAL TROPHY: Weymouth 7.15
SATURDAY AUGUST 18: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Newport 7pm, Rye House v Somerset 7pm, Stoke v Birmingham 7pm NORTHERN FOURS: Workington v Newcastle v Redcar v Sheffield 7pm BONANZA REVISITED: Berwick 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 19: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm, Newport v Birmingham 4pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm, Scunthorpe v Oxford 3pm, Sittingbourne v Boston 12pm
MONDAY AUGUST 20: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Ipswich v Poole 7.30, Reading v Coventry 7.30, Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 21: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30
