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…
NEW Great Britain boss Rob Lyon will announce his initial squad for the summer’s World Cup campaign on the afternoon of Friday, April 24.
Lyon will meet the media at Lakeside ahead of the British Under-21 Final – and he insists he started the job with a long term plan.
He’s also revealed how he’ll be keeping a close watch on the youngsters doing battle at the meeting, the first in the Super 7even series of meetings.
The only confirmed news to come out of the British camp so far is that Scott Nicholls, who is sitting out British racing to cut back on his schedule, will captain the side in the week-long event in July.
Said Lyon: “I want to take a look at the younger riders because I believe the future is fairly bright for us as a nation.
“I’ll be at Lakeside and all the young lads know they have the chance to impress. But I want us to develop something good over the next three years or so.
“When you look at what we have coming through then we’re well set and it would be nice to see the youngsters involved with the senior squad.
“We also need to look at the more senior riders and they all know they are capable of so much more than they did last season.
“I’ll be having a chat with all the guys before we make the final choice for the opening meeting at Peterborough in July.”
SUPER 7EVEN SERIES 2009 BRITISH UNDER 21 FINAL: Lakeside, Friday April 24. BRITISH FINAL: Poole, Wednesday May 20. PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, Friday June 26. PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington, Saturday July 25. ELITE LEAGUE PAIRS: Eastbourne, Saturday August 8. PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 27. ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, Friday October 2.
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE youngster James Wright marked his return to Kirkmanshulme Lane with a paid maximum in the Aces' emphatic challenge match win over Premier League Glasgow.
Wright achieved his full house despite having to come from a 15-metre handicap in Heat 8 after being penalised for moving at the start.
He said: "A lot of people have said I didn’t do too well at Swindon last year but I learned a hell of a lot and I feel that it working for me by the way I have started the season. If I keep on like this I’m sure I’ll achieve my targets."
COVENTRY manager Peter Oakes wants to see the Bees hit their stride in the early stages of meetings… having put themselves under pressure before impressively overcoming Peterborough in the Knockout Cup.
Oakes said: "We maybe had a few harsh words at one stage with everyone together, and we had another interval chat just to re-enforce that we had to earn to right to go through what was a tricky tie.
"It's slightly concerning that we've made such slow starts in both of our two home meetings, but there have been lots of good things over the two legs and our reserves have looked capable of scoring points."
EASTBOURNE boss Trevor Geer said the form of Lukas Dryml was a major cause for encouragement as the holders were eliminated from the Knockout Cup against Lakeside.
Geer said: "Lukas got better and better and he is improving with every meeting.
"He is starting to master Eastbourne and he will be good on big tracks, which is what we want. We’re still going well. We just had a bad one at Lakeside."
IPSWICH have signed Morten Risager on a short-term contract to replace the injured Leigh Lanham - and the Dane will make his debut against Coventry, one of his former clubs, on Thursday.
Risager said: "I am just looking forward to racing, being left out of the Elite League this year has just made me more determined to show the British public what I can do.
"I will be aiming to perform well enough to secure a team place for the rest of the season in the Elite League."
LAKESIDE ended Eastbourne's reign as Knockout Cup holders with a strong performance at home which bosses Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook rated higher than anything seen in their previous two years at Purfleet.
Douglas said: "That was a great performance from the lads over the two legs, and goes some way in avenging our defeat in the semi-finals of this competition last season by the Eagles.
"We now need to start this League campaign strongly, and the week ahead of us will be an important time for the team."
PETERBOROUGH skipper Niels-Kristian Iversen is hoping for a change of fortune this week after the Panthers were eliminated from the Knockout Cup by Coventry.
Iversen said: "We have had two really bad nights and had terrible luck in both of them, what with crashes, exclusions and bike troubles. We lost Mads (Korneliussen) when he got hurt and we are missing Karol (Zabik), but things like this happen in Speedway.
"You just have to take it now and clear your minds for next week. On a personal note, I need to sort out my gates a bit better and I haven’t really hit the form I had last year, but I am sure it will come."
POOLE launched their title defence with victory over Swindon despite their long-term injury concerns over Jason Doyle and Kyle Legault.
Pirates boss Neil Middleditch said: "I am very proud of the way the team rode tonight. A lot of people had written us off as losers before the match, but we stuck to our game plan and came away with a good result.
"Young Daniel Davidsson rode extremely well, as did Screen, Holder and Bjarne Pedersen, but overall it was a truly great team performance which gave us the victory. Yes, I am really happy with the result."
SWINDON manager Alun Rossiter took the positive aspect out of his side's opening-night defeat at Poole, as the Robins came away with a point for remaining within six points - despite providing only two heat winners.
Rossiter said: "Straight afterwards, I was a little disappointed but at least we came away with a point. Everyone was saying we were going to go down there and get the win, but I think that was being a bit disrespectful to Poole.
"They were quicker than us on the night and while I’d rather have won the meeting, I’m happy we got something. It shows we have good depth in the team.”
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams was in a jubilant mood after seeing his side beat Lakeside 52-41 at Monmore.
They went into the last six races two-points down but Freddie Lindgren scored a 15-point maximum to inspire a fine recovery.
Said Adams: “For us to win the meeting and take maximum points after being behind for so long was a terrific achievement. It was a terrific meeting.”
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST…
BERWICK showed their strength in depth by overcoming Redcar by a 13-point margin despite No.1 William Lawson suffering a disastrous evening and scoring just one.
Bandits boss Dave Peet said: "It showed tonight that with Gino (Franchetti) back in the side we really are a well balanced team. With Willie’s night to forget they all pulled hard together to cover his points, and we still got a good impressive win over a good team."
BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury insists his side will grow in confidence in the next few weeks.
He said: “Our home win over Rye House was important last week, it was very pleasing.
“Our new signings came good and I’m sure they will get even better with more confidence as the meetings progress.”
EDINBURGH promoter John Campbell has promised that the car parking problems which affected the club's opening night of the season will be resolved as soon as possible.
Campbell said: "We misjudged how quickly rain could turn what we believed to be a fairly solid grassland into a muddy mess, and it is our intention to run in tons and tons of hard core material as quickly as we can source it."
GLASGOW star James Grieves made a spectacular return to Ashfield, leading the way with 14 points as the Tigers overcame fierce rivals Edinburgh in the Spring Trophy.
Grieves said: "If Monarchs had won that would have made it ten straight wins against us for them, and we simply couldn't let that happen. We were determined to win and to put one over the Monarchs. There is no sweeter feeling, it's a derby after all."
KING'S LYNN promoter Keith Chapman is setting his side a target of maximum points for their derby clashes with Rye House this week.
Chapman said: "After a very respectable display away at Stoke which gained us our first Premier Trophy point, I hope we can go on to claim a maximum amount of points against the Rockets on Wednesday and Saturday. I know Rye House promoter Len Silver doesn’t believe that can happen, but I certainly do!"
NEWCASTLE manager Richard Juul was taken to hospital at Workington on Saturday after a freak accident when his right hand became jammed in the chain of Trent Leverington's damaged bike.
Juul said: "The accident was a very painful and unpleasant experience, but if anyone had to go to hospital with an injury, I am glad it was me and not one of the riders."
NEWPORT'S stand-in skipper Mark Lemon insists the Wasps can still enjoy a successful re-launch season despite the early loss of talisman Craig Watson with a broken leg.
Lemon said: "There is no danger of us throwing in the towel. He would have been instrumental, but there are other guys that are just as important and they are determined to play their part. It’s an exciting time for Newport and I am proud to be part of it."
REDCAR skipper Gary Havelock says the Bears' early signs are good, having defeated local rivals Newcastle in home-and-away challenge matches.
Havelock said: "I think there's a lot more in the tank. When you look through the team you can see that points cam come from anywhere. Everyone's done well so far but if you had to pick anyone out it's Ben (Wilson) and Carl (Stonehewer)."
RYE HOUSE reserve Andrew Silver expects to keep on improving as his unexpected comeback to the sport after a 15-year absence continues.
Silver said: "I know as soon as the novelty wears off and I can get into a groove, my form will come back. At the moment I'm not too sure about bike set-ups and whether it's me that needs to progress a bit, or whether it's the bike."
SCUNTHORPE continued their impressive start to the season with another comfortable home win, defeating Stoke by 20-points.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: "We are a good team with a solid one-to-seven, and we are still going to get better. We have got to be confident against anyone who comes here, and we've got to pick some scores up away."
SHEFFIELD skipper Ricky Ashworth insists the season starts now – after two big open meetings at Owlerton.
He said: “We’ve had the world’s best at our place, but it’s now time to get down to business in the Premier Trophy and I’m sure we can have a great season with this team.”
SOMERSET gained their second 46-44 win over Newport in the space of a week to take the Severn Bridge Trophy by four points on aggregate.
New Rebels No.1 Steve Johnston was unbeaten until his final outing and was involved in a spectacular battle with Mark Lemon and team-mate Emil Kramer in Heat 13 as all three riders traded the lead throughout the race.
STOKE recovered well from a disappointing defeat at Scunthorpe to overcome King's Lynn by six points in a close battle at Loomer Road.
Manager John Woolridge said: "They had come back at us well in the middle of the meeting but our lads dug in and got their noses back in front, and it was pleasing to see."
WORKINGTON manager Ian Thomas was delighted with the Comets debut of Adrian Rymel, whose Heat 15 win over Newcastle helped ensure the team took maximum points from the meeting.
Thomas said: "Rymel was the best rider of the night. It was the best meeting he’s had at Workington, where he hasn’t always done well. We’ve got every faith in him and he’s taken a paid maximum."
NEW NATIONAL LEAGUE COMING SOON!
SPEEDWAY’S newest league, the National League, will be launched shortly.
It promises to provide a feast of racing as the third tier of British racing.
Here’s a few details and full club news is available via the website www.speedwaygb.com
NATIONAL LEAGUE LINE-UP: Bournemouth, Buxton, Isle of Wight, King’s Lynn, Mildenhall, Newport, Plymouth, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Weymouth. Teams to meet one home, one away. Top four teams qualify for play-offs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE TROPHY: Buxton, Isle of Wight, Mildenhall, Plymouth, Weymouth. 1 Home, 1 Away.
NATIONAL LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: ROUND ONE: Bournemouth v Newport, King’s Lynn v Mildenhall. ROUND TWO: Buxton v Rye House, Plymouth v Isle of Wight, Bournemouth or Newport v Weymouth, King’s Lynn or Mildenhall v Scunthorpe.
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Rye House, Saturday September 26.
NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP: Isle of Wight, Tuesday August 18.
NATIONAL LEAGUE BRONZE HELMET: Weymouth, Friday July 24.
GREAT BRITAIN v AUSTRALASIA UNDER-21: Weymouth, Friday July 10. King’s Lynn Saturday July 11. Isle of Wight Tuesday July 14. Plymouth Friday July 17. Buxton Sunday July 19.
FIXTURE PICTURE…
WEDNESDAY APRIL 1 PREMIER TROPHY: Birmingham v Newport 7.30, King's Lynn v Rye House 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 2 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Coventry 7.30, Peterborough v Lakeside 7.30, Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 3 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm, Lakeside v Peterborough 8pm PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30, Scunthorpe v Birmingham 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 4 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Rye House v King's Lynn 7pm, Stoke v Somerset 7.30, Workington v Glasgow 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 5 PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Redcar 4pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30, Newport v Scunthorpe 3.30
MONDAY APRIL 6 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Lakeside 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 7 CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v Bournemouth 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 8 PREMIER TROPHY: King's Lynn v Scunthorpe 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 9 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Sheffield v Redcar 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 10 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 12pm, Coventry v Swindon 8pm, Eastbourne v Poole 7.30, Ipswich v Lakeside 2.15, Lakeside v Ipswich 8pm, Poole v Eastbourne 1pm PREMIER TROPHY: Birmingham v Stoke 7.30, Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP: King's Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30 CHALLENGE: Weymouth v Isle of Wight 7.30 BRITISH U21 SEMI-FINAL: Plymouth 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 11 PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Stoke v Rye House 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Mildenhall 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 12 PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Newcastle 4pm, Newport v King's Lynn 3.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE KOC: Mildenhall v King's Lynn
MONDAY APRIL 13 PREMIER TROPHY: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30, Rye House v Stoke 2pm, Scunthorpe v Somerset 3pm, Workington v Berwick 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE: Newport v Mildenhall 3.30, Scunthorpe v Weymouth (follows PT fixture)
TUESDAY APRIL 14 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30 BRITISH U21 SEMI-FINAL: Isle of Wight 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 15 SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Birmingham v Scunthorpe 7.30, King's Lynn v Somerset 7.30
