SPEEDWAY WEEKLY ROUND-UP
06 September 2005 - British Speedway Promoters Association

ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell says that his team''s current League position makes home form the key factor in attracting crowds.

ELITE LEAGUE LATEST.

Russell said: ''I wasn''t too disappointed to lose at Peterborough and Eastbourne as our home results are more important and have an effect on our crowd levels. ''We''re not in the hunt for the play-offs so our away results are academic although we don''t want to go away and not give 100 per cent.'' BELLE VUE boss Ian Thomas is concerned that Kenneth Bjerre''s injury will significantly increase the difficulty for the table-topping Aces to win the Elite League play-offs. Bjerre is out for the season with a double leg fracture, and Thomas said: ''It leaves us up the creek without a paddle because rules don''t allow us to sign a replacement or bring in a guest rider. All we can do is to use the rider replacement facility. ''It is a big downer for us and Kenneth because I know how desperate he was to win the World Under-21 title. The injury will make it very difficult for us to win the play-offs.'' COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes says that the Bees collected more points than he had been expecting during a run of five matches in five days, four of them away from home. Oakes said: ''We''re all disappointed we didn''t win at Swindon, but to pick up nine points out of eleven in four tough away matches shows our character, and we''re in a much better position than when we started the week. ''Everyone was mentally and physically drained, with the obvious exception of Scott Nicholls, who has been awesome.'' EASTBOURNE promoter Jon Cook was unhappy with an incident at Peterborough which saw young squad rider Troy Batchelor sustain a broken arm. Cook said: ''It leaves a massive hole in King''s Lynn''s Cup challenge, for which I can only apologise to the Chapmans who have been very helpful. It also leaves us with a reduced squad. ''The greatest loss is to the rider himself who is going to be a massive star of the future, and it was all so needless.'' RECENT Ipswich signing Mariusz Puszakowski was given a special award by the Witches management after a fine display against Wolverhampton. The Pole won three races in just his second home meeting for the club, and his wins in Heats 12 and 14 proved vital in securing an eight-point victory. OXFORD promoter Nigel Wagstaff has hit back at criticism he received for the postponement of the Silver Machine''s clash with Wolves due to an electrical fault. Wagstaff said: ''I know some people have been having a go in a sceptical type of way, I''m aware of all that, but the problem has been a major one and there was no way we could have run a meeting. ''The dogs meetings have also had problems and the go-karts have also had to be cancelled because of the problem but I was told everything would be sorted for Monday.'' PETERBOROUGH owner Colin Horton has issued a vote of thanks to the club''s supporters, who have been turning out in much increased number recently. Horton said: ''We have made a few changes to the image of the club and I think the number of people coming in reflects the fact they like what is happening here. ''When I took over I think the crowds were barely getting above 400 people, so to now have in excess of 1,500 through the gates for the meeting against Poole on Friday was fantastic.'' POOLE have made a double change in a last-ditch bid to rescue their Elite League chances, signing Greg Walasek and Robert Kosciecha to replace Ryan Sullivan and Tomas Suchanek. Promoter Matt Ford said: ''Some people might see this move as coming too late in the season to make any difference to our chances, but I think that it could be wrong to write us off just yet. ''Greg was really unlucky not to be included in our team plans from the start of the season, and I''m also convinced that Robert will help our points scoring ability no end.'' SWINDON promoter Alun Rossiter wants the Robins to take confidence from their recent win over Coventry as they face fierce rivals Poole this week. Rossiter said: ''All the lads chipped in and did a good job in the win against Coventry; indeed, I was well chuffed with the overall performance. ''I am hoping for a repeat showing against the Pirates. Matches between the two sides are always hard-fought and the fans can expect another treat.'' WOLVERHAMPTON star Freddie Lindgren was delighted to log his first full maximum in the Elite League when he scored 15 at Coventry. Lindgren said: ''I''m very happy to get my first clean 15-point maximum, and Coventry is a tough place to come to. My gating was really good, and that was the main thing. ''I don''t usually have any problems with grippy tracks and I quite like it when it''s like that. My form has been going well in the last four or five matches and I am delighted with it.''

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST

BERWICK promoter Peter Waite insists that the Bandits can still qualify for the Knockout Cup Final despite being held to a one-point win in their home leg against King''s Lynn. Waite said: ''It''s knife-edge stuff, but the score at home is the score they beat us by down there in the League meeting so the tie is far from over. We can still make the Final.'' EDINBURGH promoter John Campbell says the Monarchs have plenty to race for and is confident of a strong finish to the season. Campbell said: ''We are keen to reach the play-offs to extend our season as long as possible, and if we get all our riders going to their best ability I''m sure we''ll do very well.'' EXETER have sacked French star Sebastian Tresarrieu after he failed to turn up for the Falcons'' Premier League match at home to Rye House. Spokesman Mike Spearpoint said: ''We have been trying to contact Seb for three days without success. We sent someone to pick him up from Stanstead airport but he didn''t arrive. Seb is just not reliable.'' GLASGOW''S mid-season signing Stefan Ekberg bagged his first 15-point maximum for the Tigers in their weekend win over Stoke. Ekberg was not the only home rider to be unbeaten as skipper Shane Parker collected 12 from four rides. HULL manager Dave Peet admits that the Vikings'' chances of reaching the top eight and making the Young Shield are out of their own hands. Peet said: ''We''ll need favours from other teams if we''re to reach the play-offs. Two of our last three meetings are against teams below us so we can''t make up ground on sides above us.'' THE Isle of Wight have moved into the top eight of the Premier League after an impressive recent run which has included big home wins over Newcastle and Newport. Islanders team boss Dave Croucher believes the Smallbrook men are capable of winning the Young Shield should they hold on to their top eight position by the cut-off date. KING''S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman says that victory in the Premier League Knockout Cup would be a fitting reward for the club in a historic season for the Stars. Chapman said: ''We want it badly, more than anything else this year. It would be a great way to celebrate our 40th anniversary.'' NEWCASTLE promoter George English was delighted with the efforts of the competitors in the club''s big Open meeting last Sunday. English said: ''it was an absolutely thrilling meeting, with the racing superb in both events and all the riders gave 110 per cent. It was some of the best racing we''ve seen in 2005.'' NEWPORT reserve Lee Dicken will ride for the Wasps at home to Rye House on Sunday - just 24 hours after getting married! Dicken said: ''I''ll definitely be at Newport on Sunday. It is a good club, the fans have been good to me and I was pleased that Tim Stone came in to sign me.'' READING boss Tim Sugar admits the loss of skipper Danny Bird is a massive blow to the Racers'' chances of finishing the season on a high. Sugar said: ''Danny had made a successful return afte his broken leg and we were starting to look a decent team again - but we''ll still give it a good go.'' RYE HOUSE reserve Steve Boxall is waiting for an X-ray on his swollen left leg after a crash at Workington in which he was the innocent victim. Boxall said: ''I don''t know if it''s a break or ligament damage at the moment. In some ways, I would prefer a break because it will heal quicker, but it''s so frustrating.'' SHEFFIELD star Andre Compton has admitted relief at being awarded the Wild Card position and the chance to defend the PLRC title at Owlerton later this month. Compton said: ''I realise I could have missed out this year but I would have been very, very disappointed if that had been the case. It would be fantastic to defend my title.'' SOMERSET are sweating on the fitness of Ritchie Hawkins ahead of Friday''s Oak Tree Arena clash with Hull. Boss Mick Bell said: ''Ritchie has been suffering from a very stiff neck and hopefully the couple of weeks rest will have done the trick. It would be nice to beat the Vikings.'' STOKE are confident that David Meldrum will do a solid job for the remainder of the season after the former Berwick man came in to replace the injured Adam Allott. Promoter Dave Tattum said: ''We considered a lot of options and we felt that David would do the best job for us. He slots in at No.2, which he is used to.'' WORKINGTON''S Scott Robson has stood down from the Comets line-up after suffering a dramatic loss of confidence. Boss Graham Drury said: ''Scott handed his racejacket in and told me he cannot continue. I would like to wish him well for what he decides to do in the future.''

FIXTURE PICTURE

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Exeter 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Arena Essex v Eastbourne 7.45, Poole v Ipswich 7.30

PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINAL: King''s Lynn v Berwick 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Rye House 7.30, Wimbledon v Boston 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Arena Essex 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30, Coventry v Eastbourne 7.30

PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Berwick 7.45

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Oxford v Wimbledon 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Reading 7.30, King''s Lynn v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Hull 7.30

CONFERENCE TROPHY SEMI-FINAL: Weymouth v Stoke 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Reading 7pm, Rye House v Somerset 7pm, Workington v Exeter 7pm, Stoke v Isle of Wight 7.30, Hull v King''s Lynn 6pm

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Armadale v Mildenhall 2pm

CONFERENCE CHALLENGE: Hull v Scunthorpe (follows PL meeting)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 3pm, Newcastle v Reading 5.30, Newport v Rye House 2.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Newport v Rye House (follows PL meeting), Boston v Scunthorpe 6.30

CONFERENCE CHALLENGE: Buxton v Belle Vue Colts 3pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: Belle Vue v Poole OR Eastbourne 7.30, Coventry v Peterborough 7.30 OR Peterborough v Coventry 7.30

CRAVEN SHIELD: Wolverhampton v TBC 7.30

PREMIER LEAGUE: Exeter v Rye House 7.30, Reading v Stoke 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Oxford v Mildenhall 7pm

CONFERENCE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Oxford v Mildenhall (follows CL fixture)

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Glasgow 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Hull v Glasgow 7.30, King''s Lynn v Exeter 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Wimbledon v Scunthorpe 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15:

CRAVEN SHIELD: Oxford v TBC 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v King''s Lynn 7.45

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Exeter 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Rye House 7.30

SOMERSET: Junior Individual Championship 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Exeter 7.30, Rye House v Newport 7pm, Stoke v Reading 7.30, Workington v Sheffield 7pm

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Sittingbourne v Stoke 1pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18:

PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS'' CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 6pm

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Stoke 1pm, Boston v Newport 6.30, Mildenhall v Buxton 5pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Reading v Isle of Wight 7.30
EXETER: Colin Hill Westernapolis 7.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Reading 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21:

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Weymouth 7.30, Wimbledon v Oxford 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23:

CONFERENCE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINAL: Weymouth v Stoke 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24:

YOUNG SHIELD PLAY-OFF: Rye House v TBC 7pm

CONFERENCE TROPHY SEMI-FINAL: Stoke v Weymouth 7.30

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26:

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Oxford v Armadale 7pm, Oxford v Boston (follows previous meeting)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Oxford v Swindon 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 1:

PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINAL: Rye House v Reading 7pm

PRIDE OF THE POTTERIES INDIVIDUAL: Stoke 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8:

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7.30

MONDAY OCTOBER 10:

INDIVIDUAL: Olympique, Wolverhampton 7.30

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