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…
NICKI Pedersen and Leigh Adams are going head-to-head for the world title - and they can strike a big psychological blow at King's Lynn on August 30.
Eastbourne's Pedersen and Swindon ace Adams take their place in the Elite League Riders' Championship at the Norfolk Arena, the penultimate event in the popular Super 7even series of top meetings.
Adams is currently 24-points adrift of Pedersen in the race for the world crown with four rounds remaining.
And the ELRC field would grace any GP meeting - half of the field are current regulars in the series and British winner Chris Harris is included as a wildcard.
Adams said: "I cannot get bogged down in worrying about what Nicki is doing. The only thing we have in common is that we both want to win the championship and that is my only focus.
"If he has a bad one then that is obviously good for me, but I’ve got to ensure I keep having good ones.
"There are plenty of points still up for grabs and I'm just over 20 behind so to say it’s a mathematical possibility is an understatement. It is very possible and I’m optimistic to say the least."
The meeting will be raced over 20-heats with the two two scorers automatically going into the final and the next four doing battle in the last chance race-off.
A bumper crowd is expected for one of the highlights of the domestic calender at one of the finest racetracks in the country.
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 are facing up to the likely loss of Joonas Kylmakorpi for the rest of the season after the popular Finn suffered further shoulder damage at the weekend - and he may now require an operation.
Hammers boss Jon Cook said: "This is a great blow to both rider and club and at the moment we are facing the probability that we have seen the last of Joonas on track this season.
"We still have much to race for and will have to review team affairs on a match by match basis whilst we wait for the return of Andreas Jonsson and cover for Joonas' absence."
BELLE VUE are looking forward to playing a bigger part in this winter's decision-making process after arrangements for this season were put in place before the club's takeover had been completed.
Promoter David Gordon said: "We can't alter the present but we can work on the future and consolidating Belle Vue's future is our priority. There's no panic here. We are planning coolly for a better future.
"The big difference is that we will be in a position to influence what happens to us in 2008, whereas we couldn't influence anything when we took over the club. We will be able to deal our cards this time and we'll have a big say in our future."
COVENTRY star Chris Harris feels the Bees are where they need to be in their quest for a top-two finish, having eased to a 21-point win over Reading on Monday - their seventh straight Elite League success.
Harris said: "It was a good performance from the team even though Reading aren't the strongest side at the moment, and it's really good to see Billy (Janniro) back on form.
"The team are all putting the points in although we're without Olly (Allen) and we're becoming hard to beat. We're going well, and we're right up there."
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer is looking forward to the debut of Russian star Denis Gizatullin, which is pencilled in for the Eagles' home clash against arch-rivals Poole this weekend.
Geer said: "When we first tried to sign him, he said 'if only you had come in a week earlier.' He had just made a verbal commitment with a Swedish team.
"He wanted to honour that and thought it might be a bit much coming to Eastbourne as well. But he has seen our schedule and he is happy he can do it."
IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis showed there had been no ill effects from a heavy crash at Reading by carding a paid maximum in the Witches' home win over Belle Vue.
Louis said: "I was lucky to have got away with just bruises at Reading and am glad to have made it through tonight scoring some good points. I had a great race with Simon Stead in Heat 9 and really enjoyed it.
"Simon is showing that he is a real talent with performances like tonight and I was glad to get round him in that race and in the final heat. Belle Vue gave us a match early on but they fell away at the end."
PETERBOROUGH co-promoter Mick Bratley will be mindful of Belle Vue's recent impressive performance at Poole when the struggling Aces visit the Showground on Thursday.
Bratley said: "We should take nothing for granted against Belle Vue, although it is a fixture we should comfortably win on paper.
"Speedway is never won on paper though, and I'll be looking for a good performance from our team in preparation for the return fixture in Manchester. I urge all our supporters to come out in force to support the boys, we are at the stage of the season where we need our supporters to be the 'extra man' for us."
POOLE reserve Jason Doyle may require further surgery on his ankle in the close season but is desperate continue to play his part in the Pirates' title challenge.
Doyle said: "It is not worrying me when I'm riding but I will have to get it sorted at some stage so I'll probably look into it at the end of the season.
"I'd say it is only 60-70 per cent, but luckily the adrenaline kicks in when you are on the bike, so it is not too bad when I'm racing."
READING promoter Malcolm Holloway says new signing Krzysztof Buczkowski has a very good reason for wanting to score well for the club - he needs the money!
Holloway said: "Krzysztof is skint and he knows he has to fight hard to earn his money. But that's the sort of rider I like, he is very keen and long-term he could prove an excellent asset.
"We have checked through his dates and I think he will be available for the rest of our fixtures."
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter says his side have left themselves a mountain to climb to take the aggregate point against Eastbourne this week after going down by 16 points at Arlington on Saturday.
Rossiter said: "I think it's going to be very difficult for us, we've probably left ourselves with too much to do. Nicki Pedersen is on fire at the moment and will no doubt make it very tough for us.
"Having heard the news about Leigh Adams winning the Grand Prix I thought this could really be a good night for Swindon, but to get just seven points from the last five races is simply not good enough."
WOLVERHAMPTON star David Howe is relishing the prospect of facing league leaders Swindon at Monmore Green next Monday.
He said: “They're not at the top of the league because they're lucky, let's face it they're a great side and probably favourites to go out and win the title.
"I reckon it could be one of the matches of the season at Monmore Green and as a team we're determined to go out there and beat them. Hopefully we'll have a big crowd for the meeting as well because it could be a cracker."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK's roller-coaster run continued with a home defeat against Birmingham - with promoter Peter Waite far from happy with the ban handed to Polish rider Jacek Rempala for missing the Bandits' match at Berwick the previous weekend.
Waite said: "The racing was awesome, but the better team on the night won. The match was raced under protest and all I'll say is we wait with great interest for the outcome."
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury has paid tribute to new signing Henning Bager after an impressive start to his Brummies career.
“Henning had a great welcome from the fans and he’s won heat 15 in both his meetings so far,” said Drury. “I’m sure he’s going to prove to be a valuable addition to the Birmingham team.”
EDINBURGH's Italian reserve Daniel Tessari is likely to miss the rest of the season after aggravating his long-term knee injury during his comeback meeting.
Promoter John Campbell said: "The season is over for Daniele. He told me the pain he felt was exactly the same he endured when he came to grief all those weeks ago. I don't know if he came back too early but I don't think he received the best advice when he was in Italy."
GLASGOW boss Stewart Dickson feels that with home matches in hand on their rivals, the Tigers can still have a say in the battle for play-off places.
Dickson said: "The league table is shaping up to be very exciting right to the end of the season, and although we suffered a home defeat to Somerset the battle for top four places is still very much up for grabs.
THE Isle of Wight continue to be in contention for both major honours having knocked Rye House out of the Cup last weekend and holding a top-four position in the Premier League.
Manager Dave Croucher said: "We are very much on course to achieve our goal of reaching the play-offs, but we are fully aware that we still have much work to do in that direction."
KING'S LYNN's Trevor Harding is set for a rapid return from injury this week after suffering heavy bruising to his lower back last week.
Harding said: "I have travelled all the way from Australia to race speedway, and a little thing like this is not going to stop me. Luckily no bones are broken but there is still a fair bit of pain and discomfort."
MILDENHALL manager Laurence Rogers praised the team effort in the Fen Tigers' camp as his team defeated second-placed Isle of Wight at West Row.
Rogers said: "We were a much improved team this week with all riders contributing to pushing Redcar very close on Thursday evening followed up by a great victory over the Isle of Wight on Sunday. The fact that all of our riders recorded a race win was particularly pleasing."
NEWCASTLE boss George English hinted that reserve Sean Stoddart could well be in the Diamonds' plans for next year after a 16-point haul in the heavy home defeat by Redcar.
English said: "Sean was a revelation. We knew what he was capable of, the lad is full of talent and I think many people would like him to be top of our 2008 shopping list."
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone says he will not allow the Wasps’ season to fade away after seeing his side beaten at home by Rye House on Sunday.
Stone said: "We want to reach the Young Shield, and we have the Cup semi-final as well. I am mindful of recent results although I would say that Sunday was a much-improved performance to the overturned result the previous week against Berwick."
REDCAR manager Brian Havelock was delighted to record an emphatic victory at local rivals Newcastle on Sunday to revive the Bears' outside chances of a top four finish.
Havelock said: "I thought we might edge it because they were a little bit weak but to win by so many points was just great for everybody. Nobody let us down - it was an all-round team performance."
RYE HOUSE star Tai Woffinden went through the card with a sensational 21-point maximum at Newport, including a win from the 15-metre handicap as a tactical substitute.
The Rockets' win at the Hayley Stadium was some consolation for their Knockout Cup exit against the Isle of Wight the previous evening, a result which means the Rockets must concentrate fully on reaching the Premier League play-offs.
SHEFFIELD have pegged admission prices for the eagerly awaited Garry Stead Benefit meeting at Owlerton on August 23 (7.15pm).
Prices are as follows: £12 adults, £9 OAPs, £5 children aged 12-16... and all children under 12 FREE!
LINE-UP: Gary Havelock (Redcar), Freddie Lindgren (Wolverhampton), Simon Stead (Belle Vue), Andre Compton (Sheffield), George Stancl (Edinburgh), Jason Lyons (Birmingham), Ricky Ashworth (Sheffield), Tai Woffinden (Rye House), Lee Complin (Stoke), Steve Johnston (Coventry), Joel Parsons (Sheffield), Rusty Harrison (Stoke), Chris Kerr (Redcar), Emiliano Sanchez (Birmingham), Magnus Zetterstrom (Somerset), TBC.
SOMERSET ace Jordan Frampton is back on form – and keen to gain revenge over Rye House at the Oak Tree Arena this Friday.
He said: “Our home defeat to Rye at the start of the season in the Premier Trophy still rankles with us, and so to set the record straight and get a good win on Friday is certainly the order of the day, and if we can take a good lead back to their place the following night, then so much the better.”
STOKE promoter Dave Tattum gave credit to Edinburgh guest Kyle Legault who went through the card with six straight wins at Loomer Road last Saturday - depriving the Potters of an aggregate point.
Tattum said: "Kyle was just superb and made a huge difference. We were generally in control of the meeting but couldn't really get a big enough lead to think about the extra point."
WORKINGTON hero Carl Stonehewer is desperate to get back on a bike – but he’s finally admitted his season is over.
“I’ve fractured the T5 vertebrae and you can’t mess about with your back,” said Stonehewer. “If it was my wrist I’d give it a go earlier than advised, but I’m not prepared to risk my long term health with this. I’m setting a target of riding again next March.”
FIXTURE PICTURE…
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 Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Scunthorpe 7.30, Oxford v Cleveland 7.30, Plymouth v Sittingbourne 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 R. L. SMITH & SONS LTD. PLANT & SKIP HIRE BERWICK BONANZA (Celebrating 40 Fun-Filled Summers of Berwick Speedway), Berwick 7pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Boston (follows PL fixture)
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, Sittingbourne v Rye House (follows previous fixture)
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
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena Essex-Lakeside v Coventry 7.45, Poole v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY FINAL: King's Lynn v Birmingham 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Weymouth 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 23: GARRY STEAD GRAND PRIX: Sheffield 7.15
FRIDAY AUGUST 24: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Reading v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, King's Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30, Somerset v Sheffield 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Buxton 7.15 CONFERENCE TROPHY FINAL: Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.30
SATURDAY AUGUST 25: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Arena Essex-Lakeside PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Stoke v Rye House 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Cleveland v Sittingbourne 3pm, Rye House v Oxford 7pm
SUNDAY AUGUST 26: PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v King's Lynn 6pm, Glasgow v Newcastle 4pm, Mildenhall v Sheffield 4.30, Newport v Somerset 4pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm, Oxford v Plymouth 7.30
MONDAY AUGUST 27: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Arena Essex-Lakeside 7.30, Reading v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Ipswich 6pm, Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 6pm, Wolverhampton v Poole (follows previous match) PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30, Rye House v Stoke 2pm, Workington v Berwick 7pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Stoke (follows PL fixture), Scunthorpe v Buxton 3pm
