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…
TOP Premier League performer Ulrich Ostergaard is desperate to go one better than last year when he rides for Reading in the league’s Pairs Championship at Somerset on June 27.
The Dane has been a revelation since his winter move to the Smallmead side following their decision to move into the Premier League.
He rides alongside classy Aussie Mark Lemon in the Oak Tree Arena meeting, which takes place the night before the British Grand Prix at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Last year Ostergaard enjoyed a good meeting with Birmingham – but failed to reach the latter stages.
He said: “I love the Somerset track, last year I did well with Birmingham in the meeting but we didn’t make the progress we wanted.
“Hopefully I can go one better with ‘Lemo’ and do well for Reading. Somerset is a very fair track so all the guys will enjoy the meeting, it should be good entertainment for the fans.”
The Premier League Pairs is the latest in the hugely popular Super 7even series of major events throughout the UK – with plenty more to come at both Elite and Premier League level. Full details are available from www.super7even.com or www.speedwaygb.com
GROUP 1 - READING: Ulrich Ostergaard, Mark Lemon; RYE HOUSE: Chris Neath, Stefan Ekberg; SHEFFIELD: Andre Compton, Ricky Ashworth; BIRMINGHAM: Jason Lyons, Craig Watson; EDINBURGH: William Lawson, Matthew Wethers.
GROUP 2 – WORKINGTON: Daniel Nermark, Kauko Nieminen; NEWCASTLE: Josef Franc, Christian Henry; SOMERSET: Jason Doyle, Emil Kramer; REDCAR: Gary Havelock, James Grieves; ISLE OF WIGHT: Glen Phillips, Jason Bunyan.
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE manager Chris Morton says the Aces face an uphill battle in the Knockout Cup after being held to a five-point home win in the first leg against Coventry.
Morton said: "It's always difficult to say what is a good lead in the Cup but we would have definitely hoped for more than five.
"We are now in a position where we will be chasing points rather than try to hold a lead. We conceded maximum points in the next-to-last race and that was a real blow which gave Coventry a big boost."
COVENTRY boss Peter Oakes praised reserve duo Stan Burza and Ben Barker for keeping the Bees in contention at Belle Vue on Monday, both being paid for double figures in a 49-44 first-leg KO Cup defeat.
Oakes said: "I don't know how Stan does it because he's hardly ridden recently, and Ben was terrific as well. The two reserves and Chris Harris totally held us together.
"We looked disjointed, but five points isn't insurmountable so we're still very much in the Knockout Cup - but we won't hide behind the performance."
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer called for a big effort from his top five riders ahead of their big Elite League clash with Lakeside - and was not disappointed as the Eagles collected an impressive 53-39 win.
Geer said: "The starts and first turns were just what we needed. We rode good hard first turns and that was down to determination.
"We were disappointed to lose at Belle Vue and to get slaughtered at Swindon last week and I think that was part of it. We were fired up, and it's a significant win for us because Lakeside are always tough."
IPSWICH skipper Steve Johnston feels the Witches will quickly pick up from the disappointment of losing at home last week when they get a run of fixtures once again.
Johnston, who celebrates his Testimonial at former club Coventry on Sunday, said: "We had six meetings in eight days and then none for three weeks. It's no excuse for our defeat, but some of us were rusty at the start of the meeting.
"However, there is no panic. Those away wins we picked up have helped us, and we are still right in there."
LAKESIDE manager Jon Cook had no complaints after the Hammers' defeat at Eastbourne on Monday but insists his side are still in good shape as the season reaches its half-way stage.
Cook said: "We're disappointed but Eastbourne are a solid team and were better than us on the night, so we have to re-group and hopefully come and win when we're back here in August.
"Both teams have more than enough about them to be in the play-offs - this match has gone past us, but we have matches in hand at home over everyone else, and if we win those we'll be in the top two."
PETERBOROUGH co-promoter Mick Bratley had praised the attitude of Danish star Kenneth Bjerre, who enjoyed a terrific Danish Grand Prix despite recently suffering from a broken leg.
Bjerre is expected back for the Panthers this week, and Bratley said: "I am very, very pleased for Kenneth because I know how much it means to him to be riding in the Danish GP.
"And I'm really chuffed we stuck by him as a club as well. Had we replaced him for 28 days, Kenneth wouldn't have been able to ride for us until next week but I know for a fact he will repay our loyalty by the bucket-load in years to come."
POOLE skipper Bjarne Pedersen played the team game in the Pirates' narrow win at Wolverhampton Monday, slowing Wolves' David Howe in a last-heat decider to allow team-mate Chris Holder to pass both riders for a match-clinching 5-1.
Pedersen said: "On the last lap I was turning into the first corner tight and was just concentrating so much. David came up the inside and then that left a big hole for Chris.
"Going down the back straight I knew David was inside me all the time and I was just concentrating on him, I didn't know where Chris was. I was just hoping Chris would see what I was doing and fortunately he did."
SWINDON newcomer Manuel Hauzinger made a spectacular debut at Blunsdon with eight points against Eastbourne, including a race win over British Champion Scott Nicholls.
Austrian rider Hauzinger said: "There were a few clubs who asked did I want to sign for them, but everyone I spoke to in Europe said I had made the best choice with Swindon.
"I always thought I was ready for the Elite League, but before it was not possible because speedway is a small sport in my country and I don't have much money. But now I am really happy."
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams has confirmed the club are talking to several riders with a view to strengthening the team next month.
He said: “As always in situations like this you won’t catch us talking about potential targets until such a time as a deal is in place, but it remains the case that some riders in our team are racing for their place.
“That said, the home defeat by Poole was a magnificent speedway meeting and we gave it our best in difficult circumstances without Freddie Lindgren.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK promoter Peter Waite felt his dream team had hit top gear in their 61-32 demolition of Reading on Saturday, which featured yet another paid maximum for Czech star Adrian Rymel.
Waite said: "The Dream Team can do something big for Berwick and tonight is when most people realised things are a reality with a view to great success in 2008. They showed their all-over success and Adrian has gone up yet another gear in this greatest season yet for him."
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury has praised the club’s loyal band of travelling fans after their northern tour.
The Brummies went down 51-41 to Workington on Saturday before winning 53-40 at Glasgow.
And Drury said: “It was great to see so many Birmingham fans and we want it to be known how much we all appreciate their support. It makes a big difference.”
EDINBURGH'S talented young Swede Thomas H Jonasson was the only Monarch to be disappointed in the team's impressive 56-34 Premier Trophy semi-final first leg win over Reading - after falling in his first two races.
Jonasson said: "I don't really know what happened out there. When you begin the meeting with a crash then you know it's not going to be a good night. I don't know what to do (at home) - my head is like a big empty balloon!"
GLASGOW skipper Shane Parker was admitted to hospital for tests over the weekend after feeling unwell.
Parker is currently out of racing with a broken wrist sustained at Berwick in early May, but his illness is unrelated to that injury and could be related to the chest condition he suffered whilst back home in Australia over the winter.
THE Isle of Wight were set to return to full strength in Tuesday's vital Knockout Cup clash with Workington, with veteran Paul Fry being back in the line-up after a month on the sidelines.
Co-promoter Dave Pavitt said: "Fifteen points is fair number of points to pull back, but I'm pretty confident we can do it although it won't be easy. I know they'll be without Daniel Nermark, but with Carl Stonehewer back to his best he and the rest of the Workington side won't make it easy for us."
KING'S LYNN showcase some of the best young riders in the sport when they stage the Ashley Jones Memorial meeting between Young Lions and Young Roos teams this Wednesday.
Co-promoter Jonathan Chapman said: "Ashley would have loved to have been part of a meeting like this. He came over to England with hardly any money and had to work his way up. It gives these young guys a chance to shine against riders of their own calibre."
MILDENHALL promoter Simon Barton admitted that the club is going through a low period after a 35-58 home defeat by Redcar which saw several members of the team questioned by supporters.
Barton said: "We chose the team on the basis of gaining new assets for the club and hoped that this would be in the best interest for the longer term stability. However, this approach has not given us what we need now which is a league victory or at the very least a close, competitive meeting."
NEWCASTLE manager George English backed a last-race refereeing decision which saw Reading's Mark Lemon excluded for impeding Josef Franc - the resulting 3-2 seeing the Diamonds home by a single point.
English said: "I have to say I think the referee was completely correct in his Heat 15 decision as Lemon had already impeded Pepe on the second bend, but accidentally went a few degrees further when he caught our rider’s elbow severely impeding him again. It was a pure racing accident but the referee had to make a decision and I think he was correct."
READING manager Tim Sugar was left somewhat bemused by the events of Heat 15 at Newcastle and questioned why the race was allowed to continue despite the exclusion of his rider Mark Lemon.
Sugar said: "I can't really comment on Lemo's exclusion until I have seen the video, but irrespective of that, we couldn't understand why the referee never stopped the race and allowed Franc to go back in a re-run. It wouldn’t have affected the end result as the exclusion put paid to that - however, there could have been an even bigger talking point if Jason King, who was in second place, had ground to a halt and allowed Ulrich (Ostergaard) to have finished unopposed."
REDCAR clocked up their biggest-ever away victory at Mildenhall on Sunday - despite tracking a team containing three guests due to injuries and International meetings.
Manager Brian Havelock said: "When I looked at the team on paper, I was worried we might not do anything. But it just shows what you can do when you’ve got a team of riders who want to win things. We were missing three riders who belong to us and brought in three complete strangers, but they all wanted to win races."
RYE HOUSE have confirmed that Chris Neath and Stefan Ekberg will be their representatives at the Premier League Pairs on Friday June 27.
British Under-21 Champion Tai Woffinden is unable to compete as he will be involved in practice sessions at the British Grand Prix earlier in the day, where he has qualified as a track reserve after his stunning display at the British Final.
SCUNTHORPE newcomer Emiliano Sanchez is hoping to kickstart his season with the Scorpions after a tough first half of the campaign with Stoke, who he has now left in a swap deal with Andrew Moore.
Sanchez said: "Things have not been good for me at Stoke. I had problems with my bike and different things. Instead of things getting better I have been going backwards. The opportunity to join the Scorpions came, and I took it. It was a massive opportunity and I said yes straight away."
SHEFFIELD star Ricky Ashworth finished third in a strong open meeting line-up in France at the weekend.
He said: “I thought the meeting would be weaker than it was but there was a load of Elite League boys there like Joe Screen, Adam Skornicki and Adam Shields. For me to finish third overall was pleasing and I actually finished second in the final, I was delighted. Hopefully I can carry that form forward for Sheffield.”
SOMERSET take a break from Premier League racing this week when they stage the inaugural Exmoor Chase, featuring the majority of the home team's line-up and several of the sport's rising stars.
Meeting sponsor Eric Davey said: "It was thought that a meeting that would give a chance for some of the younger, up and coming riders a chance in the limelight and earn themselves a bit of money would be appreciated by the fans at the Oak Tree Arena. We hope that Friday’s first running of the Exmoor Chase will just be the start of something that will get bigger and even better with the passing seasons."
STOKE promoter Dave Tattum felt there were encouraging signs from the Potters team in their 49-43 win over Glasgow at Loomer Road.
Tattum said: "I thought it was a very entertaining fixture for both sets of supporters, and obviously it was pleasing to get the win under our belts. Andrew Moore had a good debut, and I'm sure he can improve once he is fully settled. The team effort pleased me."
WORKINGTON promoter Ian Thomas says he is pleased with the initial form of recent recruit Tomi Reima, whose scoring has been particularly useful at home so far.
Thomas said: "I'm happy with Tomi because he's come in and done a solid job for us. His scores at Workington have been good, but it isn't easy sometimes coming in and scoring right away on different types of away tracks."
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY JUNE 17: PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Isle of Wight v Workington 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18: ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Poole v Swindon 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.45 ASHLEY JONES MEMORIAL: Young Lions v Young Roos, King's Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 19: ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Reading 7.30, Sheffield v Isle of Wight 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 20: ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm, Lakeside v Peterborough 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30, Scunthorpe v Mildenhall 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Plymouth v Weymouth 7.30 EXMOOR CHASE: Somerset 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 21: ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Eastbourne v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Redcar 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm, Stoke v Isle of Wight 7.30, Workington v Glasgow 7pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE KOC: Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15
SUNDAY JUNE 22: STEVE JOHNSTON TESTIMONIAL: Coventry 1pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Stoke 4pm, Mildenhall v Scunthorpe 4.30, Newcastle v King's Lynn 5.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Rye House 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 23: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30, Peterborough v Swindon 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY SEMI FINAL: Reading v Edinburgh 7.30
TUESDAY JUNE 24: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Sheffield 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 25: CRAIG BOYCE FAREWELL: Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Berwick 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Birmingham v Rye House 7.45
THURSDAY JUNE 26: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Newcastle 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 27: PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 28: BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 29: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 3.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Glasgow 4.30, Rye House v Sheffield 2pm, Stoke v Berwick 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Reading v Somerset 3pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Sittingbourne 7pm, Rye House v Scunthorpe (follows PL fixture)
MONDAY JUNE 30: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Lakeside v Coventry 7.30 80-YEAR CELEBRATION: Wolverhampton 7.30
TUESDAY JULY 1: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30
WEDNESDAY JULY 2: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v King's Lynn 7.45
