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...

BRITISH Champion Chris Harris will be part of Coventry's defence of the Elite League Pairs at Eastbourne on Saturday, August 8.

Harris secured the trophy for the Bees for the first time in the modern era when he partnered mid-season signing Hans Andersen to victory at Swindon last year.

With Andersen having now moved on to Poole, Harris will this season team up with Edward Kennett - who transferred from the Eagles over the winter and will therefore hope to make the most of local knowledge.

All nine Elite League clubs will be represented in a meeting which brings the top riders together under the 4-3-2-0 scoring system which rewards team-riding.

And BSPA vice-chairman Chris Van Straaten is pleased that the event is able to go ahead with its initially-scheduled date and venue after it had appeared a switch was on the cards due to Eastbourne's fixture problems.

He said: "It's the height of the holiday season and hopefully the meeting will attract people from different parts of the country.

"We understood Eastbourne's problem with fixtures but the fact that their meeting with Coventry has now been slotted into the Sky schedule makes it a lot easier. It seems to be the logical conclusion.

"Hopefully the weather will be with us, there is nowhere better to watch top class speedway on a warm sunny night than Eastbourne and as an association we are delighted to be keeping the meeting at that venue."

The meeting is the fifth in British Speedway’s Super 7even series. Further details are available at the Super 7even section of the website www.speedwaygb.com

SUPER 7EVEN SERIES 2009
BRITISH UNDER 21 FINAL: Lakeside – LEWIS BRIDGER.
BRITISH FINAL: Poole – CHRIS HARRIS.
PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset – BIRMINGHAM.
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 boss Chris Morton has explained why the Aces missed out on the possible signing of Piotr Swiderski, who has now joined Lakeside.

The Kirkmanshulme Lane club have a 28-day facility to replace absent reserve Billy Forsberg with guests, but are in the market for a new rider.

Morton said: "Swiderski told us he had a number of considerations to make about coming to Belle Vue. One was that he had a busy schedule in Europe but another was that he wasn't keen on joining us because we are a Monday night track."

COVENTRY skipper Chris Harris achieved the notable feat of wins in both Heats 13 and 15 at Wolverhampton - but it wasn't enough for the Bees to break their local rivals' home domination this season.

Harris said: "Without Rory (Schlein) it was going to be a tough night, and we did struggle without him. But there was some good, hard fair racing out there.

"Wolves are very good around here, and that's why they are in the top two. But I was pleased to beat Freddie (Lindgren) because he has been so good this season. I felt better in my last two rides and we have to take the positives from the night."

EASTBOURNE went down by just eight points at Belle Vue on Monday despite riding without a No.1 after Lewis Bridger raced in Poland, having stated he was unable to return to the UK.

Bridger said: "I left my passport in a jacket in a restaurant on Sunday night. The restaurant didn't open until nine in the morning, and in the end they had to get the passport to me at Bydgoszcz by taxi.

"I phoned the English federation to tell them about the passport. I never even thought I'd get start permission in Poland."

IPSWICH manager Pete Simmons has not ruled out further changes to the Witches team after the moves made before the World Cup break had a positive effect.

Simmons said: "I feel the changes we have made have worked well, and we will continue to look at other options to strengthen the team.

"Whilst there is still a mathematical chance of us reaching the play-offs, we must push forward."

LAKESIDE boss Jon Cook has explained the reasons behind the club's rapid move for Piotr Swiderski after captain Adam Shields suffered a broken collarbone.

Cook said: "We have learnt the lessons of the early season injury to Joonas Kylmakorpi when we waited and waited for him to return to fitness to the detriment of the team.

"Piotr is a quality rider and we think our Raceway will prove to be a great stamping ground for him, with most of our remaining fixtures being at home, whilst Adam has time to recover his fitness over the next month or so."

PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales says this week's trip to Poole is a vital one as the Panthers need positive away results to enhance their chances of finishing in the top four.

Swales said: "This will definitely be a close meeting but it is a track which is one of our happier hunting grounds. We are looking to come away with something and Poole are beatable.

"It’s a hell of an opportunity for us to get some much needed points on the road. I will be looking for some strong performances from our heat leaders, as they haven’t always delivered recently."

POOLE boss Neil Middleditch took great encouragement from the Pirates' 45-45 draw at Lakeside on Monday - a result achieved without injured No.1 Hans Andersen.

Middleditch said: "I thought it was a very good all round team performance. Everyone managed to get among the points and if Lady Luck had smiled on us we might have sneaked the win.

“Chris Holder lost his best engine when it blew up while being warned up before the start of the meeting, while Daniel Davidsson suffered from the mechanical gremlins throughout the match. Having said that we aren’t complaining, and are quite happy with the draw.”

SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams says he has spelt out to Jurica Pavlic the importance of the next three months to the Robins, who continue to lead the Elite League table with Pavlic set to return after a ban for withholding his services.

Adams said: "We got together and I explained to him what it would mean to all at Swindon Speedway to win the Elite League title. I told him we had come so far and it was important to keep this solid team together.

"After all, we know that it is the best team in the final weeks of the season that wins the title."

WOLVERHAMPTON maintained the only perfect home record in the Elite League with a 54-39 win over Coventry - with British youngster Tai Woffinden notching his highest score of the season.

Woffinden said: "It's pretty hard to get a Heat 15 here, because PK (Peter Karlsson) and Freddie (Lindgren) are the experienced boys, they've been around much longer than me and I'm still learning.

"But hopefully the more times I ride the better I'll get, and then I'll be able to go in it more often. The track was perfect and we had some really good racing."

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST

BERWICK defeated Somerset in an entertaining Shielfield Park clash on Sunday - but were left feeling they had missed out on a League point, with the 48-42 outcome ensuring the Rebels took one away with them.

Bandits boss Dave Peet said: "The win was good but we really should have got the full three points and to miss out on the full reward was definitely disappointing. I have to say well ridden to Somerset, who certainly deserved a point as they worked hard for it."

BIRMINGHAM have handed Lee Smart the opportunity to re-establish his Brummies career, with the 21-year-old returning from a loan spell at Stoke in Wednesday's match against Glasgow.

Promoter Graham Drury said: "Lee is very much a confidence rider, and it's clear from a number of his recent results that his confidence is high. We should benefit from that."

EDINBURGH boss John Campbell says a new European rider will be joining the reigning Premier League champions soon - with William Lawson's move to Glasgow ending speculation that he was destined for an Armadale return.

Campbell said: "I was annoyed to see my European hunt described as a smokescreen because I have spent ages on this task. And we have almost completed our plans for the rest of the season, and they will be revealed soon."

GLASGOW have high hopes for mid-season signing William Lawson, who top-scored with eleven points on his debut against Somerset on Sunday.

Tigers co-promoter Stewart Dickson said: "Initially we have agreed a deal for the rest of this season but there was a lot of positivity from both parties when 2010 was talked about to. Being honest, that is a long way away so we will do our best to make William happy in the hope that he can score the points that we know he is most capable of.

KING'S Lynn remain on top of the table despite not having a match in the League last week, and boss Rob Lyon is anxious to ensure the Stars do not let their guard slip in the title chase.

Lyon said: "It is great to be at the top but now the pressure is on us to stay there. We cannot take it for granted that we are simply unbeatable because as Birmingham proved last year, you can get caught off-guard and one loss at home could mean the end of any league winning hopes."

NEWCASTLE secured one of the most eye-catching results of the week when they racked up an emphatic 64-26 scoreline against local rivals Redcar.

Diamonds boss George English said: "The riders knew conditions were going to be unavoidably tricky after the horrendous weather everyone who lives in the area fully knows we’ve suffered in the last few days, but they showed a supreme attitude. Their heads went up and they rode in a way that all the fans of the Diamonds and indeed all of us in the boardroom can be completely proud of."

NEWPORT are hoping for good news on the fitness of Jordan Frampton, who damaged his wrist in a crash whilst riding in the Elite League for Coventry on Monday.

Wasps manager Laurence Rogers said: "He says his wrist is swollen and in a bit of pain, and he is off to the doctors on Tuesday. He hopes it is just sprained, and so do I!"

REDCAR are planning to stage a Farewell meeting for Daniel Giffard later in the season, after their former rider was forced to retire from the sport due to serious shoulder and collarbone injuries.

Giffard said: "Obviously I’m gutted but I’ve been aware for months that it’s been a very real possibility. I’d be stupid to ride again because you don’t know if it’s going to do any more damage. Sometimes I feel brand new, but as soon as I go and lift something or do something, I’m back on the sofa in pain again."

RYE HOUSE reserve Tommy Allen has called for an improvement in the Rockets' away form as they seek to keep pace with the Premier League leaders.

Allen said: "There are certain places where we should come back with all the points, and that's what teams like King's Lynn do. We come away with one point, and if we want to win the league we're going to have to turn that around."

SCUNTHORPE boss Rob Godfrey is optimistic that his new recruit Ritchie Hawkins can add some much-needed scoring power to the Scorpions' middle-order.

Godfrey said: "Ritchie has been a seven point rider before his big smash in 2008 and whilst he might not get to that level this year he is a strong second-string rider and I’m sure he will score better than Byron (Bekker), Nick (Simmons) and Adam (Allott) did. Sadly it hasn’t worked out for those three with the Scorpions this year and as the lowest scoring riders they have had to make way."

SHEFFIELD'S riders have been warned to be on their guard as new-look Newcastle arrive at Owlerton on Thursday.

Tigers promoter Neil Machin said: "They haven't been the best of travelling sides, but they are a much different proposition now. We know how dangerous they can be, and it shows that the Premier League has become strong right down the ranks."

SOMERSET general manager David Croucher believes the Rebels will travel to the Premier League Fours at Workington on Saturday with a real chance of securing top honours.

Croucher said: "Having suffered the disappointment of the Best Pairs where we finished runners up, the riders are very keen to put something in the trophy cabinet this year, and we never go anywhere intending to come second."

STOKE promoter Dave Tattum has thanked Lee Smart for his efforts with the Potters as he reverts to parent club Birmingham, with a new signing due to be named at Loomer Road.

Tattum said: "We're disappointed to be losing Lee, but Birmingham have recalled him as is their right. I'd like to thank Lee and wish him well for the rest of the season."

WORKINGTON recorded a backs-to-the-wall win over Sheffield at Derwent Park, coming through 47-43 despite losing heat-leader Adrian Rymel in his third ride - and former Tigers star Andre Compton scored a maximum against his old club.

Comets boss Ian Thomas said: "From where we were, we were looking defeat in the face and I think it was absolutely magnificent to win. The fixture was there to lose without question, because we didn’t have and we had a reserve that wasn’t going well. It's an absolutely cracking result even though we didn't get the full three points."

NATIONAL LEAGUE action continues and all the latest club press releases are now available at the news section on our website www.speedwaygb.com

FIXTURE PICTURE...

TUESDAY JULY 21:
SMALLBROOK SPECTACULAR: Isle of Wight 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 22:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Glasgow 7.30, King's Lynn v Stoke 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 23:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Eastbourne 7.30, Peterborough v Wolverhampton 7.30, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.45
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Newport 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 24:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Poole 8pm, Lakeside v Swindon 8pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Stoke 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP: Scunthorpe v King's Lynn 7.30
BRONZE HELMET: Weymouth 7.15

SATURDAY JULY 25:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington 7pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Isle of Wight 7pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI FINAL: Plymouth v Bournemouth 7.30
BRITISH UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Buxton 3pm

SUNDAY JULY 26:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Scunthorpe 4pm, Newcastle v Workington 2pm, Newport v Sheffield 5pm

MONDAY JULY 27:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Lakeside 7.30, Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30
ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30

TUESDAY JULY 28:
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Buxton 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 29:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.30, King's Lynn v Somerset 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 30:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Poole 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Somerset 7.30, Sheffield v Rye House 7.45
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Scunthorpe 7.30
FOUR TEAM TOURNAMENT: Swindon v Reading v Oxford v Cradley Heath (at Swindon) 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 31:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Belle Vue 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Birmingham 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP: Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Newport v Rye House 7pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP: King's Lynn v Scunthorpe 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Mildenhall 7.15
SCOTTISH OPEN: Edinburgh 7.30

SATURDAY AUGUST 1:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Redcar 7pm, Rye House v Birmingham 7pm, Stoke v Sheffield 7.30, Workington v Newcastle 7pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 2:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Stoke 4pm, Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30, Newport v King's Lynn 5pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v King's Lynn 3pm, Mildenhall v Plymouth 4pm

MONDAY AUGUST 3:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Coventry 7.30
MIDLAND OPEN - GARY PETERSON MEMORIAL TROPHY: Wolverhampton 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 4:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Bournemouth 7.30

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Newport 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 6:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Stoke 7.45
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Rye House 7.30, Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7.30