SPEEDWAY NEWS AND FIXTURES
18 March 2005 - British Speedway Promoters Association

IPSWICH beat Belle Vue 48-41 in the opening Elite League fixture of the season.

Hans Andersen was the star of the show with a faultless 15-point maximum to inspire the Witches. World champion Jason Crump was the top Belle Vue rider with 11+1. Andersen said: ''A lot of people didn''t fancy our chances and Belle Vue are a strong side but we dug deep and worked hard for a terrific result.''

FORMER world champions Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill wasted no time in renewing their matchwinning partnership with new club Oxford. The Californians combined for maximum 5-1 wins in Heats 13 and 15 of the 47-41 win over Wolverhampton at Cowley - after trailing for most of the match. Boss Nigel Wagstaff said: ''It was like they had never been apart, they were magnificent and it''s encouraging for the season ahead.''

SEAN Wilson dropped just a point on his competitive return to Sheffield after almost a year out with a broken neck. The Tigers skipper scored 14-points as Tigers won the Yorkshire Cup with a 55-36 win over Hull in front of a bumper crowd. Wilson said: ''It''s great to be back at Sheffield, this is a proper racetrack and I really feeling like I''m back in a big way. Life is good.''

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY MARCH 18:
AIRTEK CHALLENGE: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm
SPRING TROPHY: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
CHALLENGE: Somerset v Newport 7.30
CONFERENCE CHALLENGE: Boston v Mildenhall (at King''s Lynn) 7.30

SATURDAY MARCH 19:
AIRTEK CHALLENGE: Eastbourne v Arena Essex 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Stoke v Hull 7.30, Rye House v Newport 7pm, Workington v Edinburgh 7pm

SUNDAY MARCH 20:
AIRTEK CHALLENGE: Poole v Swindon 3pm
PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Berwick 4pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 5.30, Newport v Reading 2.30

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