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.
YOUNGSTERS HEAD FOR BRITISH FINAL
HOT-SHOTS Tai Woffinden, Adam Roynon and Ben Barker are through to the prestigious British Final at Swindon on Thursday, May 29.
The Premier League trio were the top three in last week's British Under-21 Final at Lakeside and automatically qualify for the next Super 7even event.
Great Britain boss Jim Lynch, who insists he has an open mind about squad selection for the World Cup campaign this summer, believes it will be a massive night for the youngsters.
He said: "With all the proud history that meeting has and combined with the top riders they’ll be up against, it presents them with a fantastic opportunity to gain some valuable experience at the top level."
Woffinden, who is currently on loan to Rye House from his parent club Wolverhampton, holds the distinction of holding the British Under-21 and Under-18 title at the same time!
He said: "I'd like to thank people for messages of congratulation, I am very proud to be British under 18 and under 21 Champion.
"I have been putting in a lot of practice in Poland and Sweden which has obviously paid off, I am still learning so much every week, my team partners in Poland are Nicki Pedersen and Greg Hancock who have been a great help to me."
SUPER 7EVEN DATES AND VENUES: BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Arena-Essex, Friday April 25 - Tai Woffinden 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 BEST PAIRS: Swindon, Sunday August 17 – 6pm ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham, Wednesday August 20 - 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 21 - 3.30 www.super7even.com or www.speedwaygb.com
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE youngster Billy Forsberg says his confidence is returning.
He said: "The problems have been with a new type of clutch and with me. I knew what had to be done to make it work as I wanted but the problem was how to achieve it. I have spoken to other people who had the same problem and they didn't know the answer either.
"Our captain Joe Screen has spent time with me trying to sort it out and I have kept working on it. When you have a problem with your clutch it affects your confidence at the start of races. It's not much fun struggling for points, but now I'm getting my confidence back."
COVENTRY star Rory Schlein was grateful for the Bees' recent week out of action after damaging his previous finger injury in the last ride of his comeback meeting against Poole.
Schlein said: "My middle finger popped out again because the knuckles were still a bit weak, so that makes it a bit easier for them to pop out of joint.
"I popped it back in when I got home - the hand is still a bit sore and swollen, but hopefully it will get better and better each time I ride as the bruising comes out of the bone. I've had a rest over the last week, so things should be okay."
EASTBOURNE manager Trevor Geer has pointed the finger at mechanical issues which require sorting as the Eagles were heavily beaten in their top-of-the-table clash with Swindon at Blunsdon.
Geer said: "It's not a good result at all. They have got to sort their equipment out. They all had a bad first race and they were all swapping bikes and engines.
"Simon Gustafsson seized his good engine before the meeting started and it was all a bit of a nightmare really. We've got a few days off now and they have got to get their equipment sorted out and get back focused."
IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis has undergone an operation to patch up the broken socket and ball of his shoulder following his crash at Foxhall last Thursday.
Louis was due to commence physio at the weekend, but will remain in hospital until later this week as a precaution against infection.
Father John, the Witches promoter, said: "It is too early to comment on what his future holds, but I know that he was enjoying his racing this year."
LAKESIDE are expecting to maintain their gathering momentum into the month of May when experienced Finnish rider Joonas Kylmakorpi, who has recently found his form, drops to reserve alongside Ricky Kling.
Promoter Jon Cook said: "I don't think there are many people who would argue with that being the strongest reserve pair in the League.
"Lubos (Tomicek) will move into the main body of the team and I'm confident he will do well. Even when he only scores a few points, they're important ones. He's the first reserve in the Grand Prix so he'll be fine in the team."
PETERBOROUGH are considering their options after a poor run of results on the road, highlighted by a 59-33 defeat at Wolverhampton on Monday.
Manager Trevor Swales said: "The time has come for the management to decide whether we continue going down the same avenue or try a different route. We have to consider making the odd alteration because I don't feel we have shown enough improvement.
"Being beaten at home is not an option, and the challenge for us is to try and put a couple of wins together on the road and that is an area in which we have been nowhere near good enough so far."
POOLE promoter Matt Ford has vowed not to rush into making a new signing to replace broken femur victim Zibi Suchecki.
Ford said: "I've got some thoughts and there are a couple of options available to me but I think, for the next couple of weeks, I'm just going to let the dust settle.
"I just want to make sure that I don't make one move now when, potentially, we might need to make more moves in the future. The riders are performing well enough and we can bring Jordan Frampton in to cover for Zibi as and when he's available."
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter is keeping his feet on the ground after his Robins team marched into a six-point lead at the top of the Elite League table with their emphatic televised home win over Eastbourne.
Rossiter said: "These boys are full of confidence and they should be after tonight, because they have performed brilliantly. But there will be no talk of winning the league.
"It's early days yet and we just have to keep plugging away and stay injury free. If we go down to Eastbourne and win on Saturday, then maybe people will really start to think about us as contenders."
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams insists the outlook is bright for his team. The Monmore men got back to winning ways with an entertaining 59-33 win over Peterborough.
Said Adams: “I’ve said all along this young team will improve as the season progresses and I stand by that comment.
“People like Nicolai Klindt have shown enough promise early on – and Ales Dryml is turning out to be a revelation for us.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK promoter Peter Waite has moved to sign 31-year-old Finnish rider Benny Johansson to fill the gap left by the departure of Henning Bager, whose short-term contract has expired.
Waite said: "Benny come to us with good recommendations behind him with many testimonies saying he's just the sort of rider who'll fit in well with our set up and be capable of putting a good few wins behind him."
BIRMINGHAM have snapped up Henning Bager after the Dane saw his 28-day loan spell at Berwick end.
Bager steps in for the injured Kyle Legault and Brummies chief Graham Drury sees him as the perfect replacement.
Said Drury: “We know from the short time he had with us last season that Henning is a quality performer and I’m sure he can add some firepower to the team.
“We’ve got some big matches coming up and Henning is keen to play his part in a successful season for the club.”
EDINBURGH star Thomas H Jonasson summed up the mood in the Monarchs' camp at present after two away wins in two days at rivals Berwick and Glasgow saw the Armadale side make progress in two competitions.
Jonasson said: "We all feel we are part of a family. This team is amazing, everybody helps each other out and I'm so pleased I signed for Edinburgh. My bike was good and I think I'm in good shape too."
GLASGOW experienced mixed fortunes last week with a morale-boosting win at Birmingham, albeit not by enough to see them make Cup progress, being followed by a massive 24-point home defeat by fierce rivals Edinburgh.
The Tigers will be desperate to put their season back on track when they face back-to-back Premier League clashes with Newcastle over the Bank Holiday weekend.
THE Isle of Wight will have to wait to see if they can pull back a 14-point first leg deficit against Sheffield in the Knockout Cup after the return at the Smallbrook Stadium on Tuesday was washed out.
Co-promoter Dave Pavitt said: "Obviously I'd much prefer it if we had scored more points and kept the scoreline closer, but I'm still confident that, with the second leg on our own circuit, we can make it through to the next round. The lads still believe they are in with a good chance."
KING'S LYNN skipper Tomas Topinka gave credit to Mildenhall after seeing the Stars' reign as Premier Trophy holders come to an end with defeat in a thriller at West Row.
Topinka said: "It was a great match, and we thought we were going to do it after fighting back so well, but Mildenhall were the best team on the night."
MILDENHALL boss Laurence Rogers was delighted to see things finally come right for the Fen Tigers with a dramatic last-heat victory over close rivals King's Lynn.
Rogers said: "It almost felt like we had won the league - great celebrations! Putting one over our rivals two years on the trot is a big bonus, and it gave (owner) Simon Barton a great birthday present."
NEWCASTLE are continuing to suffer badly from George Stancl's injury absence, the Diamonds going out of the Knockout Cup with a heavy defeat at Somerset and then being held to a draw in their home leg.
Manager George English said: "We knew after the awful first leg that this wasn't going to be easy, but again we failed to cover George's absence at all, in fact it's down to three points now, having been four and five in previous weeks. Now we have to get back and start scoring League points again."
NEWPORT'S riders, officials and supporters have been left devastated by the tragic death of owner and promoter Tim Stone, who suffered a heart attack on Saturday evening.
Wasps captain Tony Atkin said: "I was very close friends with Tim, and since he brought me to the club in 2003 they have been the happiest five or six years of my career. I will have such happy memories of my time riding for him.
"Half of me is really hoping we can carry on running this season, but the other half is wondering if it's really going to be possible to do that - we just don't know, and what happens now isn't really for me to say."
READING boss Malcolm Holloway has warned his side that King's Lynn will still pose a threat at the Norfolk Arena this Wednesday - despite the Racers holding a 25-point lead from the first leg of their Cup-tie.
Holloway said: "The tie is by no means over yet, though, as King’s Lynn are the kind of side who can overwhelm some sides at their raceway. We will be impressing on our boys just what they have to do there on Wednesday."
REDCAR have moved into the quarter-finals of the Knockout Cup after overcoming Mildenhall with wins both home and away over the Fen Tigers.
Manager Brian Havelock said: "I'm over the moon. We looked good from the word go and we were strong all the way through. This lot beat King's Lynn the previous night so it's no mean feat going there and winning by ten points."
RYE HOUSE are facing an injury crisis over the coming weeks with Luke Bowen, Tommy Allen and Danny Betson all struggling after an assortment of knocks.
Manager John Sampford said: "We could be without all three of them for a while. We just have to grin and bear it. We will use rider replacement for Tommy and we'll have to employ a guest or promote a rider from the Cobras to cover the other spot."
SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey has highlighted the unpredictable nature of the Premier League this season, with several surprise scorelines being recorded.
Godfrey said: "The teams are looking so evenly matched this season, but there are not enough good riders around with a seven-point average. That has meant many teams in the Premier League have gone out and brought unknown riders from the Continent to start on a seven point average which they are struggling to reach at the moment."
SHEFFIELD owner Neil Machin has sung the praises of rookie reserve Sam Martin who continues to make good progress with the club.
Said Machin: "He has had to learn how to master Owlerton because it isn't easy when you haven't seen the place before. But people are noticing the progress he is making and that's good."
SOMERSET believe that new signing Matthias Kroger can make a significant impact on British Speedway after many years of experience on the continent.
Manager Steve Bishop said: "Matthias is a very experienced rider at both grass and long track and he should bring stability and mechanical knowledge to the team as he is an engine tuner of some repute."
STOKE face an uphill battle if they are to progress in the Knockout Cup after being beaten 50-42 at home by Workington in the first leg.
Co-promoter John Woolridge said: "Nothing went right for us and it's an uphill battle now. When your top two have problems, it's always going to be a struggle. The irony is that we scored more consistently but didn't have the big hitters they had."
WORKINGTON enjoyed an increased attendance for their recent home fixture which included an appearance from soap bad boy David Platt.
Manager Ian Thomas said: "People say we should have had a speedway personality but I look for something that will attract non-speedway people to the meeting. The secret then is to retain some of those for future matches - getting them into Derwent Park and then hoping they enjoy the speedway to want to come back."
FIXTURE PICTURE…
(NB Newport fixtures are subject to confirmation)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 30: CRAVEN SHIELD SEMI FINAL: Poole v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Somerset 7.45 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: King's Lynn v Reading 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 1: PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Berwick 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Sheffield v Newcastle 7.45
FRIDAY MAY 2: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Ipswich 8pm CRAVEN SHIELD SEMI FINAL: Coventry v Poole 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v King's Lynn 7.30, Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30
SATURDAY MAY 3: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v King's Lynn 7pm, Stoke v Birmingham 7.30, Workington v Rye House 7pm PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Scunthorpe 6pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Redcar v Plymouth (follows PT fixture) CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Rye House v Sittingbourne 7pm CHALLENGE: Weymouth v Somerset Giants 7.15
SUNDAY MAY 4: PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Stoke 6pm, Glasgow v Newcastle 4pm, *Newport v Berwick 3pm PREMIER TROPHY: Mildenhall v Rye House 4.30 CHALLENGE: Buxton v Belle Vue Colts 3pm
MONDAY MAY 5: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Peterborough 3.30, Poole v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Glasgow 7pm, Reading v Isle of Wight 4pm, Rye House v Workington 2pm, Scunthorpe v Somerset 3pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Weymouth (follows PL fixture)
TUESDAY MAY 6: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Reading 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 7: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Newcastle 7.30, King's Lynn v Redcar 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 8: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Wolverhampton 7.30, Peterborough v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Somerset 7.30, *Sheffield v Newport 7.45
FRIDAY MAY 9: PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Reading 7.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Plymouth v Boston 7.30
SATURDAY MAY 10: PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Isle of Wight 7pm, Rye House v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Reading 7pm PREMIER TROPHY: Stoke v Newcastle 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Sittingbourne 7.15
SUNDAY MAY 11: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Isle of Wight 4pm, Mildenhall v Edinburgh 4.30, *Newport v Newcastle 3pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Sittingbourne v Rye House 12pm CONFERENCE TROPHY: Boston v Buxton 7.30
MONDAY MAY 12: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Coventry v Lakeside 8pm, Eastbourne v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Reading v Sheffield 7.30
TUESDAY MAY 13: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 14: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Glasgow 7.45, King's Lynn v Rye House 7.30
