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...

PETERBOROUGH star Kenneth Bjerre is having the biggest season of his career – and he’s confident of booking a place in next year’s Grand Prix series.

Bjerre is sure to have plenty of support from fans of the East of England Showground club when he rides in the Grand Prix Challenge at Coventry on Friday, September 18.

He’s doing the meeting as a safety next to secure a place in the 2010 SGP – but he may yet qualify by finishing in the top eight of this year’s series.

“I’ve raced in a lot of big meetings this season and they don’t come any bigger than the GP Challenge,” he said. “I know what it’s all about because I qualified from the meeting in Poland last year and I think I’ve done reasonably well.

“But I always wanted to enter the qualifiers this year to be safe and I feel confident of a top three place at Coventry. It’s a track I know well and I don’t see any reason why I can’t go there and do well.”

Bjerre has enjoyed some fine GP displays this season and was also a big scorer for Denmark in the World Cup back in July.

“It’s been good but I always feel I can do better and there have been times in the leagues when I should have scored more,” said Bjerre.

“But I think I’m starting to prove what I can do at the top level. It’s all about the top eight in this year’s series but I’ll be looking to do well at Coventry.”

The action starts at 8pm and admission details are as follows: Adults £25, OAP/Concessions £15, Under-15s £5, Under-5s FREE. No pre-sales - all tickets available on the day. Programme £5.

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ELITE LEAGUE LATEST...

BELLE VUE skipper Charlie Gjedde has had a successful operation to pin tendons in his shoulder and now faces a lengthy rehabilitation programme in order to be fit for 2010.

Aces chief David Gordon said: "It is good news that he will be ready for the start of next season because we knew it was going to be a long job.

"It would have made such a difference to have had him fully fit and scoring the points we expected from him this season. He tried to ride with the injury but it didn't work."

COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes admits the Bees need to improve in the closing weeks of the season after being held to a draw by Eastbourne in their final Elite League home fixture.

Oakes said: "There were some very poor performances, and in some ways we were perhaps fortunate to grab the point that we did.

"The only really good news was that Peterborough lost at Wolverhampton and didn't score any points, so we have a six point cushion over them."

EASTBOURNE moved clear of immediate danger in the lower-reaches of the Elite League by taking two points from a drawn meeting at Coventry on Monday.

The Eagles had been plunged into the relegation issue after a home defeat against Poole but impressive shows from Lewis Bridger, Simon Gustafsson and Lukas Dryml at Brandon have given them some breathing space.

IPSWICH manager Pete Simmons was frustrated that the Witches missed out against title-chasing Swindon at Foxhall, the home side falling away in the closing stages to go down by six points.

Simmons said: "Swindon were beatable. If you had told me Leigh Adams was going to score eight points before the meeting, I'd have said we will win.

"Our reserves didn't pick up enough points and conceding a 5-1 in Heat 2 at home isn't good enough."

LAKESIDE have re-arranged their home fixture with Ipswich for Friday, September 11 after last week's attempt to run the meeting was postponed after one race due to rain, despite extensive track work.

Hammers boss Jon Cook said: "We have to respect the decisions taken but that doesn't mean we are happy with them and I can only again place on record my thanks to the fans for their patience in waiting and to our quite brilliant team of track staff for their efforts.

"Both were deserving, at the very least, seeing a couple of heats run but just before the track inspection the match referee told me that’s what would happen. I wasn't privy to his conversation with the team captains but obviously their argument was convincing."

PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales is refusing to accept defeat in the club's bid to reach the play-offs, with positive results now required from their trips to Poole and Belle Vue if they are to have a chance of overhauling Coventry or Lakeside.

Swales said: "We have two meetings remaining. They are both winnable meetings and that is exactly what we need to do.

"The lads know what is required and we are all staying positive and believing we can get ourselves into the play-offs. It is not over until the fat lady sings and I can't hear her just yet."

POOLE boss Neil Middleditch believes the Pirates' final two home fixtures are must-win encounters if they are to avoid finishing bottom of the table - and he admitted to being disappointed by the display at Swindon on Monday.

Middleditch said: "I thought we could do better, but Swindon are top. They are there for a reason and they showed that reason tonight. They hit us hard.

"We did our prospects of avoiding the drop a great deal of good beating Eastbourne, but we’re not out of the danger zone. We have to get the two wins against Belle Vue and Peterborough."

SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams smashed the Blunsdon track record as the Robins' home win over Poole moved them to within one meeting of clinching top spot in the table - that meeting being against nearest rivals Wolverhampton on Thursday!

Robins boss Alun Rossiter said: "It’s always nice to beat Poole, being my former club, it’s always good to get one over them.

"It's in our hands - we’ve just got to be professional about it and get the job done. All we’ve got to do is win our last match and, apart from Lakeside when we were without Matej (Zagar), we’ve been very good at home all season."

WOLVERHAMPTON star Tai Woffinden insists the club will go into their top-of-the-table shootout with Swindon on Thursday in positive mood - knowing that an away win will see them complete the regular season in first place.

Woffinden said: "The trip to Swindon is massive, but I say bring it on. We are going to be the underdogs but we'll give it everything and we know the pressure will be on Swindon because they are expected to make home advantage count.

"We have riders throughout the team who can win races at Swindon and that's what we'll be aiming to do in a big way."

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...

BERWICK co-owner John Anderson wants to see a positive reaction from his team after seeing Workington inflict a second successive home defeat on the Bandits.

Anderson said: "We need to remember what winning and glory is all about. No, we’re not going to win the League, but we still have a League placing to improve upon and we won’t do that with results like this. As a team we need to look back in time and get back to winning ways much sooner than later."

BIRMINGHAM skipper Jason Lyons says the Brummies have nothing to lose as they travel to King's Lynn on Wednesday looking to put more pressure on the title favourites - after beating them convincingly at Perry Barr on Sunday.

Lyons said: "It's always a tough place to go, but we've won there before so there is no way we're going there with a defeatist attitude, why should we? The result on Sunday really gives us a terrific chance of finishing in the top two and after our Premier Trophy programme we'd have settled for that."

EDINBURGH newcomer Kevin Wolbert continued his impressive start to life in Monarchs' colours with 12-points in the derby win over Glasgow.

Wolbert said: "I didn't think I'd score as well as I did because I've had so little time on the Armadale track but I've done well so far and I'm happy. I think I can score the same again or even more next week. I like Armadale and I seem to have the technique to get round it."

GLASGOW co-promoter Stewart Dickson admits to being frustrated that the Tigers have rarely hit form together, with the result that a Young Shield qualification place is now a tough ask for the Ashfield side.

Dickson said: "We are still awaiting that magical day when all the lads click together, and we can then have something special on our hands. At present it just seems as if we have some of the team firing on each night, but not all."

KING'S LYNN manager Rob Lyon admits he views Wednesday's top-two home clash with Birmingham with some caution after seeing his side go down to two heavy away defeats over the Bank Holiday.

Lyon said: "Our home record really is something else but Birmingham came here last season and gave us a real hiding. It was a shock at the time as it was against all the form books, but this time round it wouldn’t be such a shock as they are at the top of their game and we seem to have started to stall a little bit. I expect it to be tough."

NEWCASTLE completed a weekend double over Glasgow to maintain their charge towards the top four - the win at Ashfield being their first on the road this season.

Diamonds boss George English said: "We all had a good feeling about the meeting with our ever-increasing form and team spirit and once we got on track we realised that the win was very achievable. Although the loss of one league point was a disappointment it was still a fantastic display."

NEWPORT will run a rare Saturday afternoon fixture on September 19, although promoter Nick Mallett says the move is out of necessity with the cut-off date approaching.

Mallett said: "The meeting with Sheffield is not an experiment at all. It's simply that both clubs got together and it transpired that this particular date suited everyone involved."

REDCAR star Ben Wilson could make a remarkable recovery from a broken heel in time to face parent club Sheffield in home and away clashes this week.

Wilson said: "The heel is damaged just on the edge but thankfully I haven't had to have any surgery and I'm going to have a skid before deciding whether to ride this week or not."

RYE HOUSE skipper Chris Neath is refusing to write off chances of the Rockets reaching the top four, despite several injury problems at present.

Neath said: "We'll keep going to the end and if results go our way and we do the business, we are still in with a chance. It's difficult because we have been so near, yet so far on a number of occasions."

SCUNTHORPE'S 57-35 win over King's Lynn has given the Scorpions hope that they can overcome the Stars over two legs when they meet in the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup later in the season.

Home star Ritchie Hawkins said: "Beating King's Lynn has given us a boost for the Knockout Cup. If we can keep it close there in the first leg we'll obviously give ourselves a good chance when they come here to go through to the final. It's a pity tonight wasn't the first leg but it's been very good for our league position."

SHEFFIELD know this week's matches against Redcar are of crucial importance in their bid for a top four finish after the Tigers dropped home points in a 46-46 draw with Workington.

Owner Neil Machin said: "The boys are in a confident mood and we know how important these two meetings are to us. There are a couple of riders within the team who know they should be doing better and they'll be looking to put it right on Thursday."

SOMERSET have been pleased with the initial efforts of recent signing Jari Makinen, who is in to cover for the injured Tom Brown.

Rebels boss Steve Bishop said: "I am sure that once his own equipment finally arrives and he has settled into riding here, then he will get even better. Jari has shown great commitment already in joining Somerset by purchasing new frames and coming over early to get set up for his debut meeting."

STOKE produced a fighting comeback to edge out Rye House at Loomer Road with three late 5-1s - but were unable to build on that result in Monday's 65-30 hammering in the return fixture at Hoddesdon.

Potters boss John Woolridge said: "We were a two man team and I dread to think what would have happened had we not had Jason (Bunyan) and Lee (Complin). There is no excuse for the performance, certain riders were just not at the races."

WORKINGTON have hit an impressive run of form with two good away results - a win at Berwick just after a draw at Sheffield, where the Comets came back from an early ten-point deficit.

Manager Ian Thomas said: "Under the circumstances it was a remarkable effort. We are the first team to take a point at Sheffield this season, which in itself was terrific. Everyone did a bit, and I was absolutely delighted."

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 SEPTEMBER 1:
BRITISH SIDECAR SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIP: Isle of Wight 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Ipswich 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Birmingham 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Belle Vue 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Redcar 7.45
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Rye House 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Weymouth 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Eastbourne 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30, Scunthorpe v Berwick 7.30, Somerset v Newport 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.30
MIDLAND LEAGUE: Coventry v Peterborough 8pm

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v King's Lynn 7pm, Edinburgh v Somerset 6.30, Stoke v Glasgow 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Rye House v Buxton 7pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Plymouth 7.15
CUMBERLAND CLASSIC, Workington 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Birmingham 4pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30, Newport v Stoke 2.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Buxton 4pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8:
NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9:
PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Newport 7.30
BRITISH SIDECAR SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Rye House 7.30, Sheffield v Somerset 7.45
MIDLAND LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Lakeside v Ipswich 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Edinburgh v Rye House 7pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Stoke (follows KOC fixture), Somerset v Scunthorpe 7.30, Workington v Berwick 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI-FINAL: King's Lynn v Buxton 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Weymouth 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Stoke 7pm, Rye House v Newport 7pm, Workington v Redcar 7pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Weymouth v Isle of Wight 7.15

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 4pm, Newport v Newcastle 2.30, Stoke v Edinburgh 7.30
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Newport 3.30pm
NATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Mildenhall 3pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30
MIDLAND LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Newport 6.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
PREMIER LEAGUE: King's Lynn v Workington 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.30