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.
BRIDGER AIMS FOR BRITISH DOUBLE
LEWIS Bridger is hoping to continue his stunning start to the season when he takes his place in the British Final at Poole on Wednesday, May 20.
Bridger won the British Under-21 title at Lakeside ahead of Tai Woffinden and is now keen to add the senior title to his roll of honour.
He’s also made a great start to the season for Eastbourne in the Sky Sports Elite League.
Bridger, 19, said: “It’s great to achieve such a big thing so early in the season. It’s nice to be able to add that to my portfolio.
“It’s great especially as all the limelight was on Tai. He was rated over me but I have started the season so well. To go undefeated in the under-21s is a great feeling to have and shows I am on the right track. I concentrated 110% and I made it happen.” “I wasn’t aware of having tears in my eyes after winning it but Tai said the same and it obviously meant a lot to me.
“It’s a great feeling knowing that I can go to every meeting now and be announced as the British under-21 champion.
“It is also great for the club and it is nice to add my silverware to what we won last season.
“I would like to thank the club because without Eastbourne speedway I wouldn’t be where I am now because they gave me the break in the first place.
“I also have to thank Neville Tatum, my engine tuner, who has done some awesome equipment for me this season.”
BRITISH FINAL LINE-UP: David Howe (Scunthorpe), Lee Complin (Stoke & Peterborough), William Lawson (Berwick), Ben Barker (Coventry), Edward Kennett (Coventry), Oliver Allen (Coventry), Lee Richardson (Lakeside), James Wright (Belle Vue), Scott Nicholls (Unattached), Tai Woffinden (Wolverhampton), Chris Harris (Coventry), Simon Stead (Swindon), Joe Screen (Poole), Lewis Bridger (Eastbourne), Joe Haines (Rye House & Wolverhampton), Danny King (Ipswich). Reserves: Ricky Ashworth (Sheffield), Jason King (Newcastle).
SUPER 7EVEN SERIES 2009 BRITISH UNDER 21 FINAL: Lakeside – LEWIS BRIDGER. 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 believe their signing of Morten Risager will provide a lower-order boost to their team - especially in away fixtures.
Aces manager Chris Morton said: "We have been disappointed with our away results and when the option came along for us to sign Risager we moved in.
"It's tough on Steve Boxall that he's the one who has to go. I rate him as a very talented rider of the future. But the situation isn't right for us to give him time at the moment as we have perform better away from home."
COVENTRY manager Peter Oakes says the Bees' results in late-meeting races are a concern as they also try to work out a way around an injury crisis.
Oakes said: "We've got to find a way of getting heat advantages or at least splitting the points in Heats 13 and 15.
"We've had a number of meetings where we've conceded 5-1s in the last race which has cost us points, so it's a concern. We've got to keep backing people to fight our way through it, and trust that it will turn in our favour."
EASTBOURNE promoter Bob Dugard has confirmed that the club still intend to bring in Russian Champion Denis Gizatullin - and the rider could be available within three or four weeks.
Dugard said: "We have now applied for a second entry visa, and everything at his end has been done. I think we will bring him in.
"He will add an extra dimension to the bottom end of the team, and if you are going to win this league the time to really come on strong is July and August."
IPSWICH have brought skipper Leigh Lanham back into the side after injury - but manager Pete Simmons has thanked stand-in Morten Risager for his efforts over the last month.
Simmons said: "With the Swedish First Division season now kicking off, Morten had sixteen fixture clashes as they also run on Thursdays, so a long-term contract was never going to be viable, but we have to thank him for the effort and commitment he has given us this month.
"That said, I will be happy when our original team is back fit and on track, and with confidence now beginning to come back I am pleased with how things are going."
LAKESIDE owner Stuart Douglas paid tribute not only to his own side but also to rivals Wolverhampton after a fine night of entertainment at Purfleet last Friday.
Douglas said: "I'm very pleased with the victory and the two League points, but I am absolutely full of admiration for both teams who showed total commitment in their desire to win.
"Two very good sides slugged it out, and there were some fantastic displays of riding right up and down each team. It's not good for my nerves, but this is the kind of speedway I want to see every week."
PETERBOROUGH manager Trevor Swales was left seething after his side threw away an early 12-point lead to go down to defeat at Ipswich.
Swales said: "Certain riders need to have a long, hard look at themselves to see whether they have the right commitment there.
"It was a quality I felt was badly lacking and I'm not alone. It was a view shared by the rest of the management team. I don't think the riders in question were passionate enough to want the win."
POOLE star Chris Holder led the Pirates to a last-heat win over Belle Vue on Bank Holiday Monday - and then insisted that the club can still make a challenge for defending their title after a troubled start to the season.
Holder said: "I want all Pirates fans to keep getting behind us so we all can all work together to get us out of the position we’re in. The simple message is ‘just keep the faith’ so we can start trying to climb up the league.
"It’s obvious to everyone we’re not at full strength, but we’re trying to do the best we can. It will take a little bit of time, but by the end of the year we will be there."
SWINDON star Simon Stead roared to his first maximum of the season with paid-15 in the Robins' convincing win over his former club Belle Vue.
Stead said: "It’s been a long time coming this season, I seemed to start not quite as I’d have liked. But with a new team, a different track, it’s hard to get settled in straight away.
"I think the effort that we’re putting in is coming through now. We’ve been trying hard, it’s not happened overnight but we’re pretty much getting there now.”
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams was pleased with the way his side handled the threat of Coventry at Monmore Green, and moved back to the top of the table with a 50-40 win.
Adams said: "Coventry have had their injury problems and they came here and put on a good show but it didn't surprise me. They made us work hard but we just had too much for them and it was a nice feeling to go back to the top of the league.
"It would have been a shame if we failed to claim the extra point but PK (Peter Karlsson) and Freddie (Lindgren) saw to that in the last race. They are proving to be a superb combination at important times during the meeting."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...
BERWICK are hoping a special admission offer will attract a big attendance to this Wednesday's home clash with Stoke in the Knockout Cup.
Club owner John Anderson said: "It is my first attempt at presenting mid-week racing here, and I’m making a special ‘buy one, get one free’ offer - every spectator who pays their way in on Wednesday can bring a friend to hold on to for free!"
BIRMINGHAM skipper Jason Lyons says he understands the supporters' frustration after a below-par Premier Trophy campaign for the Perry Barr club.
Lyons said: "I know I've had a couple of poor meetings and should do better and I apologise for that - but it's not been for the want of trying, believe me. We'll continue to work on it and try and put it right."
EDINBURGH star Ryan Fisher says the arrival of Polish rider Michal Rajkowski this season has made a positive impact on the Monarchs' away performances.
Fisher said: "Michal is great around big tracks and that has been helping us so much away from home. That's what we have been needing all along because we can win round Armadale."
GLASGOW are hopeful that the injury problems being suffered by Ross Brady should soon be at an end.
Co-promoter Stewart Dickson said: "A small procedure will be required to sort out any problems with his metalwork in his wrist, but that should be a routine job and the recovery period should only be a few days, so hopefully that should be another matter sorted."
KING'S LYNN could be without Christian Henry for up to three months due to a broken arm - but Kozza Smith is on the comeback trail having recovered from arm and lung injuries.
Smith said: "I am a little sore but I’m aiming to practice after the meeting on Wednesday, and if all is well I will have some more practice over the following seven days and hopefully be ready to make a comeback for the Ashley Jones memorial meeting on May 13."
NEWCASTLE have added Polish superstar Krzysztof Kasprzak to an impressive field for their 80th Anniversary meeting on May 17.
The former Grand Prix rider joins fellow Elite League stars, Bjarne Pedersen, Kenneth Bjerre and Daniel King in the Newcastle meeting alonside top Premier League performers Jason Lyons, Kevin Doolan and William Lawson.
NEWPORT owner Steve Mallett says a genuine challenge for Premier League honours is still the club's target for the season despite some early ups and downs.
He said: "We are desperate to get a few wins under our belts. We have slipped up three times at home already, twice in the Premier Trophy, but we have put our heart and soul into the club and want to draw the crowds back in. To do that, we need to win matches."
REDCAR boss Brian Havelock was pleased with the performance of reserves Arlo Bugeja and Benji Compton at Edinburgh last week.
He said: "They got a 5-1 in Heat 2 and covered our problems well with their points return. Now they have to keep it up, but I also expect every rider to be on his toes on Thursday evening (against Stoke) especially when Klaus Jakobsen goes to the tapes."
RYE HOUSE youngster Robert Mear is set to move into the No.1 race-jacket this weekend after an impressive run of scores this season so far.
He said: "I’m certainly looking forward to a nice clean track in front of me in Heat 1! But seriously, I don’t think it will feel any different - it’s the same riders really, just a different order."
SCUNTHORPE still have a chance of reaching the Premier Trophy semi-finals after the result of their trip to Stoke was amended - as the Potters were not eligible for a facility for the absent Glen Phillips.
Promoter Rob Godfrey said: "This is the point that we craved so badly when we went to Stoke last Saturday. I feel sorry for Stoke but I’m delighted for ourselves because our hopes of making the semi-finals are still alive and it gives us a massive boost of confidence going into our big Sky Sports meeting with Sheffield on Tuesday."
DAVID Hoggart has sung the praises of winter signing Ritchie Hawkins after a run of good scores for Sheffield.
The Owlerton co-promoter said: "It's been good to see Ritchie doing so well for us, particularly in the last few meetings he has looked sharper and sharper.
"And despite our disappointing results there are still some positives because several of our riders have actually increased their average. We just need to find that consistency level."
SOMERSET general manager David Croucher was delighted with the response to the Rebels' television appearance last Tuesday - with a dramatic win over King's Lynn being the icing on the cake.
Croucher said: "I want to go on record in offering my sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the meeting such a huge success. Praise is also due to everyone who put in a lot of time and effort in presenting the Oak Tree Arena at its very best, and for helping put on such a great show for the fans and the viewing public alike."
STOKE pulled off a dramatic home win over Workington in their Premier League opener - despite the withdrawal of Phil Morris (ribs) to add to the absence of Klaus Jakobsen and Glen Phillips.
Potters boss John Woolridge said: "A couple of times when we got our noses in front in a couple of heats they were unfortunately stopped, and in the re-runs things went against, and you then wonder if it’s going to be one of those nights. Thankfully it was our night though, and the boys pulled off a magnificent win."
WORKINGTON promoter Ian Thomas was frustrated to have to postpone the Comets' Bank Holiday Monday clash with fellow regular-Saturday track Stoke.
Thomas said: "We could have handled the afternoon rain, if it was forecast to stop before start time but it was the amount of rain which had fallen during the night which caused the problem. The decision to postpone wasn’t taken easily because a new date will be a problem."
FIXTURE PICTURE...
TUESDAY MAY 5: PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Sheffield 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 6: PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Berwick v Stoke 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: King's Lynn v Birmingham 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 7: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 8pm, Peterborough v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Stoke 7.30
FRIDAY MAY 8: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Eastbourne 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Glasgow 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Weymouth v Rye House 7.15 NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP: Plymouth v Isle of Wight 7.30
SATURDAY MAY 9: PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Rye House v Birmingham 7pm, Stoke v Berwick 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Workington v Sheffield 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Weymouth 7.30
SUNDAY MAY 10: PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Glasgow v Somerset 4pm, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Rye House 6pm FOUR TEAM TOURNAMENT: Bulldogs v Kangaroos v Stars & Stripes v World Select - Newport, 2.30
MONDAY MAY 11: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30
TUESDAY MAY 12 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v King's Lynn 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 13: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Lakeside 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Birmingham v Stoke 7.30 ASHLEY JONES MEMORIAL: King's Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 14: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Coventry 7.30, Peterborough v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP:Redcar v Newport 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Sheffield v Berwick 7.45
FRIDAY MAY 15: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Berwick 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v King's Lynn 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Plymouth v Rye House 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP: Weymouth v Bournemouth 7.15
SATURDAY MAY 16: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Wolverhampton 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Scunthorpe 7pm PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Sheffield 7pm, Stoke v Newport 7.30
SUNDAY MAY 17: WORLD UNDER-21 QUALIFIER: Rye House 2pm 80TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING: Newcastle 6.30 PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Newport v Redcar 2.30 PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v King's Lynn 3pm, Newport v Weymouth (follows PLKOC fixture)
MONDAY MAY 18: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30, Lakeside v Coventry 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP: Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 20: BRITISH FINAL: Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Redcar
