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…
A HOST of top Grand Prix stars will do battle in the Elite League Pairs Championship at King's Lynn next month.
Over half of the 2008 Grand Prix contingent will represent their British clubs on Saturday, April 5 at 7pm. Jason Crump, Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls, Andreas Jonsson, Hans Andersen, Bjarne Pedersen, Leigh Adams, Freddie Lindgren and Niels Kristian Iversen are all included in a glittering field.
And Peterborough co-promoter Mick Bratley insists he's happy that British Speedway chief Peter Toogood didn't mention his side in a recent prediction.
"I'd like to thank Peter for that, hopefully it will do us a favour!" said Bratley, who sees Danish duo Hans Andersen and Kenneth Bjerre represent the Panthers.
"We're not fancied to win the league title or the Pairs, but that's fine by us and we'll just go about our business and see what we can achieve."
A bumper crowd is expected for the event, with Poole the reigning champions - but one half of their winning duo, Jason Crump, will now form a powerful partnership with Charlie Gjedde at Belle Vue.
Racing starts at 7pm but gates will open at 4pm with a rider autograph session close to the entrance to the stadium at 5.30. The parade starts at 6.45.
BELLE VUE: Jason Crump, Charlie Gjedde. COVENTRY: Chris Harris, Rory Schlein. EASTBOURNE: Scott Nicholls, Lee Richardson. IPSWICH: Chris Louis, Robert Miskowiak. LAKESIDE: Andreas Jonsson, Adam Shields. PETERBOROUGH: Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre. POOLE: Bjarne Pedersen, Davey Watt. SWINDON: Leigh Adams, Troy Batchelor. WOLVERHAMPTON: Freddie Lindgren, Niels Kristian Iversen.
SUPER 7EVEN DATES AND VENUES: ELITE LEAGUE BEST PAIRS: King's Lynn, Saturday April 5 - 7pm BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Arena-Essex, Friday April 25 - 7.30 BRITISH FINAL: Swindon, Thursday May 29 - 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, Friday June 27 - 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington, Saturday July 26 - 7pm ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham, Wednesday August 20 - 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 21 - 3.30
BELLE VUE manager Chris Morton says the value of Jason Crump was immediately shown when the Aces were run close in their opening home fixture against Wolverhampton.
Morton said: "Having Jason back made all the difference. We were under pressure at times but we had what we were lacking last year, and that was a man who could win the big races.
"What we wanted first and foremost was to start with a win and we got it. We had a bit of luck and a bit of bad luck as well so it balanced out but there's definitely room for improvement in some areas."
COVENTRY star Simon Stead said his Heat 13 win over Swindon skipper Leigh Adams at Brandon on Monday was a good tonic after he had struggled at Blunsdon the previous evening.
Stead said: "My home form has been good and it was pleasing to beat Leigh around here as he's a World class rider and someone who I rate really highly, so to get the better of him was nice.
"We've seen the things that we can improve on, the potential is there and hopefully we've finished with our gremlins and can get the confidence back."
EASTBOURNE star Edward Kennett has escaped injury after a spectacular crash in the Eagles' Good Friday clash with local rivals Poole.
Kennett required medical attention and withdrew from the meeting with a knock to his head and arm after the accident in his third ride.
He said: "It was a bad one and I've got a bit of a headache, but I'm feeling fine. I could ride tomorrow if I wanted to."
IPSWICH star Piotr Swiderski made a sensational return to the Showground as he dropped just one point from five rides in the Witches' narrow Craven Shield defeat at Peterborough.
Swiderski said: "It was very nice to come back to Peterborough and see the beautiful fans again – and it was also very good to get some points.
"Easter has been really good for me as I got 14+2 at Lakeside on Friday and then another 14 back here at a track I really like. I know the fast lines from riding here."
LAKESIDE promoter Stuart Douglas says track conditions at both venues played a big part in Ipswich's shock win at Purfleet on Good Friday - just as the Hammers had stunned the Witches on their home shale earlier in the day.
Douglas said: "It was clear Ipswich struggled on their home track which had not been watered in anticipation of the forecast rain.
"We in turn struggled tremendously on our sodden track after the hailstone storm of Biblical proportions destroyed the top surface. The net result of this is if you didn’t get out of the gate there was no racing line on which to pass an opponent. I'm just glad it's out of the way early in the season and it gives us a chance to learn some lessons."
PETERBOROUGH skipper Hans Andersen says the Panthers will get stronger with more racing under their belts after they just edged out Ipswich in a tense local derby on Easter Monday.
Andersen said: "We always knew it was going to be tough because Ipswich have strengthened up massively compared to the past couple of years, so the fact we won the meeting makes me happy.
"Ipswich came into the meeting having ridden far more than we had and time on the bike counts for a hell of a lot so early in the year."
POOLE are hoping for good news on the fitness of Karol Zabik as they prepare for important Craven Shield matches against Swindon.
Zabik suffered a wrist injury when he crashed at Wimborne Road on Good Friday but he is expected to return against the Robins after practising in Poland.
Promoter Matt Ford said: "We had our best attendance of last season for the visit of Swindon, and the recent prediction that they will finish bottom of the league will serve as an incentive to them. I have no doubts it will be a tough ask to win by 10 points over the two meetings."
SWINDON collected the Elite Shield against Coventry over Easter and now need to outscore Poole by 13 points in home and away matches this week to progress in the Craven Shield.
Promoter Alun Rossiter said: "The confidence levels are improving all the time and we want to top our group in the Craven Shield. The lads are getting it together and there is a great spirit developing within the camp.
"We know what we have to do against Poole and everyone is up for it, make no mistake about that."
WOLVERHAMPTON owner Chris Van Straaten says there are promising signs from his team in the early stages of the season.
He said: “The new signings have done very well for us and although it was a disappointment to lose both Good Friday away meetings we have identified the problems.
“I believe it will be a very different story when we go to Belle Vue and Coventry in the Elite League.”
The Monmore men launch their Elite League campaign with a home meeting against a powerful Poole side next Monday, March 31.
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK promoter Peter Waite hailed the performance of reserve Norbert Magosi, who piled up a highly impressive 15 (paid 16) score on his first trip to Workington on Monday.
Waite said: "We rode really very well at the new-look Derwent Park, and I was reasonably happy with things as we were still two full-time Bandits short. What a guy Norbert is, he's our fans' big new hero and top scored yet again."
BIRMINGHAM star Adam Roynon has been seeded directly through to the British Under-21 Final at Lakeside on April 25.
He said: “I’ve got a lot of ambition and the Under-21 Championship is something I really want to aim for this season.
“My move to Birmingham will hopefully help me in what I’m trying to achieve.”
EDINBURGH won at Glasgow in the Spring Trophy with Ryan Fisher scoring a paid maximum - and the Monarchs are confident of more success at the home of their big rivals next month!
Monarchs director Mike Hunter said: "Unless things radically change in the Tigers team I think we'll beat them in the Premier Trophy. Our team still has more to offer."
GLASGOW will have taken some consolation from their weekend defeat against Edinburgh as Australian youngster Josh Grajczonek showed he is rapidly getting to grips with Ashfield with paid 13 at reserve.
Grajczonek and Mitchell Davey are both being given their debut British seasons this year, but the Tigers are still being hampered by the injury absence of Ross Brady with collarbone problems.
ISLE OF WIGHT manager Martin Newnham felt that superior race sharpness had contributed to his side being held to just a one-point winning margin against Reading in their opening home meeting.
Newnham said: "Reading are a good side and the fact that they had already raced three matches this year was a telling factor towards the end of the match as we tired. A win is a win though and as our riders gain match fitness they'll get better week by week."
KING'S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman says this week's home clash with Rye House gives the Stars a chance to set the record straight after his team topped the Premier League table last season but missed out on the title through the play-offs.
Chapman said: "Winning the KO Cup and Premier Trophy helped soften the blow, the main thing is that the fans know who are the real champions. I even asked Len Silver for the trophy at the end of the season, after he laughed at my request I now hope we can collect it back off him the fair way."
MILDENHALL's talented young Dane Jan Graversen recovered from a first-race exclusion to notch a 12-point haul on his first-ever visit to Rye House on Easter Monday.
Promoter Simon Barton said: "I think this demonstrates why we wanted Jan to sign for us, he is a real talent and will only get better. His fellow countryman Casper Wortmann is also showing why we are delighted to have him as a Fen Tiger."
NEWCASTLE manager George English feels his side are gradually clicking into gear as their home performances steadily improve over the early weeks of the season.
English said: "It’s always good to beat Redcar and I'm happy in the way we went about it with almost all the lads putting in some good races. The whole team are making good steady progress so far, and I know there's even more strength to come out of this side."
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone is confident there is far more to come from his team despite their opening-day defeat at the hands of local rivals Somerset.
Stone said: "We're disappointed because we did want to start with a win, but the fact that we lost wasn't down to effort or ability. Somerset had had a couple of matches and they were sharper."
READING secured aggregate victory over the Isle of Wight in the Chalfont Coaches Trophy - and promoter Malcolm Holloway was highly encouraged by the early signs from his team.
Holloway said: "That's the first piece of silverware secured for the season and hopefully it won’t be the last. These challenge matches have given us a good workout to start our season off and we're happy enough with things so far, but the serious stuff starts next week when we begin our Premier Trophy campaign."
REDCAR are confident that inspirational skipper Gary Havelock will suffer no long-term ill effects from a heavy crash at Stoke last weekend.
Co-promoter Gareth Rogers said: "Gary sustained a suspected broken nose plus neck and shoulder problems. He was suffering from a severe headache at Newcastle but is sure that a few days rest will see him back on top of the points tally on Thursday."
RYE HOUSE made a storming start to their Premier Trophy fixtures by opening up a maximum 30-6 lead over Mildenhall after six races, their win finally being by a 59-33 margin.
High spots of a solid Rockets showing saw new reserves Danny Betson and Robert Mear both win races and be paid for nine points apiece.
SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey says the Scorpions know where to improve after being beaten by local rivals Sheffield in their first-ever Premier Trophy fixture at Normandy Road.
Godfrey said: "We faced arguably the best team in the league and they had already ridden a couple of meetings. We didn't disgrace ourselves but we only provided four heat winners and that isn’t good enough. We had a meeting afterwards to talk about things and next week I'm sure we are going to record our first win and set the ball rolling."
SHEFFIELD team manager Eric Boocock is keeping his feet firmly on the floor – after seeing his side win back-to-back Premier Trophy clashes with Scunthorpe.
He said: “It’s a good start for us but it means nothing at the moment. I notice the Speedway Star predictions put us top of the table as well, but we’ll just take the season step by step.”
SOMERSET will be chasing a quickfire double over Newport when the sides meet at the Oak Tree Arena on Friday, following an impressive Rebels display in Wales last weekend.
Heat-leaders Emil Kramer and Jason Doyle contributed 26 points between them, and Stephan Katt added double figures at reserve to help the Rebels to a 50-43 win.
STOKE captain Lee Complin top-scored for the Potters with 15 (paid 16) as the Loomer Road side opened up their Premier Trophy campaign with a win over Redcar despite a sluggish start which saw them go six points behind early on.
Complin said: "We needed to settle, but there were a lot of good signs."
WORKINGTON skipper Kauko Nieminen has made a flying start to the season with big scores in the back-to-back wins over Berwick.
He said: “It’s a good start for us and there is a great feeling about the club. The new track is superb and the work done on it during the winter has certainly made a difference.”
FIXTURE PICTURE…
WEDNESDAY MARCH 26: CRAVEN SHIELD: Poole v Swindon 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Birmingham v Mildenhall 7.45, King's Lynn v Rye House 7.30
THURSDAY MARCH 27: CRAVEN SHIELD: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Stoke 7.45
FRIDAY MARCH 28: CRAVEN SHIELD: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm, Lakeside v Peterborough 8pm PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30, Somerset v Newport 7.30
SATURDAY MARCH 29: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Peterborough 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Rye House v King's Lynn 7pm, Stoke v Scunthorpe 7.30, Workington v Edinburgh 7pm
SUNDAY MARCH 30: PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Workington 4pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 5.30, Newport v Reading 3pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Berwick 4.30
MONDAY MARCH 31: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30, Coventry v Eastbourne 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Reading v Somerset 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 1: PREMIER TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Newport 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 2: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Birmingham v Rye House 7.45 BRITISH UNDER-21 QUALIFIER: King's Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 3: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Ipswich v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Sheffield v Redcar 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 4: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Ipswich 8pm, Lakeside v Swindon 8pm PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30 Somerset v Isle of Wight 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 5: ELITE LEAGUE PAIRS: King's Lynn 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Rye House v Birmingham 7pm, Stoke v Sheffield 7.30, Workington v Glasgow 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 6: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 3pm PREMIER TROPHY: Mildenhall v Birmingham 4.30, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 5.30, Newport v Isle of Wight 3pm
MONDAY APRIL 7: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Reading v Newport 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 8: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Somerset 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 9: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Scunthorpe 7.45 CONFERENCE CHALLENGE: Boston v Redcar 7.30
