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SPEEDWAY - WEEKLY ROUND-UP
11 April 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST ARENA-ESSEX reserve Paul Hurry is facing a race against time to be fit for
the Hammers'' Good Friday clashes with Ipswich after damaging knee ligaments
at Peterborough. Hammers boss Ronnie Russell said: ''X-rays revealed no bones had been broken
but his knee took the full brunt of the impact with the Peterborough wooden
fence. ''The hospital put the knee in a Velcro splint to take some of the pressure
off the knee which is at present very swollen.'' SIMON Stead roared to a paid maximum in Belle Vue''s win over Coventry to
confirm that he has mastered his home track at Kirkmanshulme Lane.
Stead said: ''I had always gone better on the bigger tracks until I came to
Belle Vue but I have proved that I can adapt and ride the smaller ones.
''It was great to go through the meeting unbeaten by a visiting rider,
especially against such a powerful team as Coventry.'' COVENTRY reserve Olly Allen hopes that his early-season problems are behind
him after encouraging scores of eight against Ipswich and paid six at Belle
Vue. Allen said: ''I really needed a good meeting, I''ve worked harder than ever
towards riding for Coventry and I couldn''t work out what was going wrong.
''I felt fitter and better-prepared than ever so it was doing my head in that
I wasn''t scoring, and it was a big relief when I pulled the engine out and
found something wrong - it was something small but it made a big
difference.'' EASTBOURNE have signed Andrew Appleton on a short-term contract amidst fears
that Brent Werner''s collarbone break is a serious one. Werner crashed during the Eagles'' narrow win over Wolverhampon on Saturday
with the Arlington club relieved that the American''s reserve colleague Lewis
Bridger scored several important points. Eagles promoter Jon Cook said: ''You could see ride by ride the improvement
we were getting from Lewis, and he also had some helpful advice from Martin
Dugard and Nicki Pedersen.'' IPSWICH have switched their riding order for their Easter fixtures against
Arena-Essex, with Piotr Protasiewicz and Robert Miskowiak exchanging places.
Team boss Mike Smillie said: ''We had a discussion after the Reading meeting
with all the riders and we think that by switching Pepe and Robert around we
will benefit, certainly in the latter stages of meetings. ''We said at the start of the season that the line-up was not set in stone
and we feel now, having ridden nine matches, that this is a good time try
this line-up.'' OXFORD chief Aaron Lanney is expecting a bumper Godd Friday corwd for the visit of Reading - and Tony Rickardsson''s last home meeting for the club (12.30pm).
Lanney said: ''Tony will be keen to put on a good show for the fans and he has agreed to give up some of his time after the morning meeting at Oxford to sign autographs.
''It promises to be a meeting to remember, the last chance for Oxford fans to see him in action at home and the fact that high-flying Reading are in town makes it even more of a mouthwatering prospect.'' PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales says the club are planning talks with Polish
signing Tomasz Bajerski in an attempt to kick-start his season. Swales said: ''We felt he was arriving on a bargain average but that hasn''t
proved the case, and it really is make or break time for him because not
scoring is letting himself and the rest of the team down. ''He has suffered two nasty crashes as well, and we do plan to sit down and
see if there is any further way in which we can help him because something
is clearly amiss at the moment.'' POOLE reserve Jonas Davidsson says that he needs to make the breakthrough
this season if he is to have a chance of succeeding in the Elite League.
The Swede said: ''I must get it right for Poole this year because if I have
the same disappointing season in Britain as I did last year and in 2004 then
there is no point me being here. ''Last year in Britain the people didn''t even see me get started. I really
want to be here and to make sure that happens I have to step up a bit.''
READING boss Jim Lynch says the Bulldogs can defend a narrow four-point
advantage when they travel to Swindon in the second leg of their Knockout
Cup tie. The Robins did an excellent containing job on Monday at Smallmead, but
Reading have won all three of their away matches so far this season.
Lynch said: ''We would have liked to have taken more than a four-point lead
to Swindon, but with the way we are riding away from home at the moment it''s
not over yet.'' SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams says the Robins are heading in the right
direction and look like correcting their major failing of recent years.
Adams said: ''It is a big time improvement as this time last year we were
just trying to keep our heads above water at home while struggling badly
away. ''Everyone is doing their job, and the big difference this year is that we
are picking up the bonus points.'' WOLVES skipper Peter Karlsson paid tribute to the Monmore Green track after a hard fought 48-42 win over Peterborough. He said: ''If the track is going to be like that every Monday then I''ll be looking forward to racing there with excitement for the rest of the season. ''It was superb and it was a good win for us as well because Peterborough are the strongest team in the league on paper.''
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST..
BERWICK promoter Peter Waite has dropped a strong hint that his patience
could be wearing thin with certain members of his team, following their
third home defeat of the season. Waite said: ''Newcastle deserved their win as they wanted it more than some
of our lads. They were the better team on the night but on Berwick all I''ll
say now is watch this space.'' HENRIK Moller has praised the team spirit in the Edinburgh camp, believing
it helped him to some crucial points in the Monarchs'' win at Newcastle
following a crash. Moller said: ''Theo Pijper came out quickly to see how I was and all the team
were with me in the pits helping me to fix my bike.'' GLASGOW are looking forward to a mouth-watering clash at Ashfield on Easter
Sunday when Tigers legends George Stancl and James Grieves return with
Newcastle. Promoter Alan Dick said: ''I am usually very laid-back and take the meetings
as they come but there is no way anyone could not be intrigued as to how
this battle will go. It should be highly-charged.'' ISLE OF WIGHT promoter Dave Pavitt says the club''s fortunes should now start
to improve as they commence their home campaign after some difficult trips
on the road. Pavitt said: ''I guarantee you that no-one at this club intends to see us
being also-rans this year and we''re out to shock a few people.'' KING''S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman is praying for the weather gods to smile
on the Norfolk Arena this Wednesday as the club re-stages the Ashley Jones
Memorial meeting. Chapman said: ''The meeting has attracted a lot of interest from around the
world and it was unfortunate that the weather played its part last time we
tried to run it. ''It promises to be a cracker of a meeting. Ashley was so down-to-earth and
he would be astonished to see just how many people''s hearts he''d touched and
how popular he was.'' MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton says he is unconcerned by not being amongst
the pundits'' favours for honours despite the Fen Tigers'' encouraging start
to life at Premier League level. Horton said: ''People keep labelling us as underdogs and that suits us fine.
We will keep putting in the performances.'' NEWCASTLE manager George English had a feeling of disbelief when his
Diamonds squandered a ten-point lead to lose at home to Newcastle, just one
day after a fine away win at Berwick. English said: ''We should have won without any trouble on our home track. The
performance over the last six heats was nothing short of diabolical and all
of team have been made fully aware of that fact.'' NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone was thrilled by his team''s fightback against Rye
House which saw the Wasps defeat the reigning Premier League Champions by a
single point. Stone said: ''It was top-drawer speedway, nail-biting and full of twists and
turns. You just didn''t know which way it was going to go until the end.''
RICHARD Juul has joined Redcar as a replacement for the injured Matt
Tresarrieu as the Teeside club prepare for their launch meeting this
Thursday. Co-promoter Gareth Rogers said: ''To get a rider of his calibre and
experience at such short notice is fantastic. Richard is a rider who I
admire enormously and we''re very grateful to him for helping us out.''
RYE HOUSE have signed Ross Brady as cover for the injured Stuart Robson, who
is now expected to be out for around three months with a broken wrist.
Brady will make his debut at Mildenhall on Easter Sunday with his first
appearance at Hoddesdon coming against the Fen Tigers the following day. SHEFFIELD are keen to remind fans that Friday night is speedway night at Owlerton Stadium this week. That''s because Reg Wilson''s men will make history on Thursday when they travel to Redcar for the first ever meeting at the South Tees Motorsport Park with the return at Owlerton the following night. Pirtek Tigers co-promoter Neil Machin said: ''With Gary Havelock in town and the newest team in the country it promises to be a bumper night of racing. ''We''ve had to spend a lot of time banging the drum that we''re riding on a Friday and not the usual Thursday and we''re naturally delighted to be the first club to race at the new Redcar track.'' SOMERSET newboys Glen Philips and Stephan Katt have won praise from team manager Mick Bell for their early performances. Bell said: ''It was a solid team effort against the Isle of Wight last weekt, but I would like to praise the new signings because it''s never easy just slotting into a club and expecting everything to happen. ''Glen and Stephan were superb and I was very impressed with both of them. It makes a difference with riders when you can see how desperate they are to race and both these lads want to do well for the club.'' STOKE manager Nigel Crabtree says that the Potters have had a useful start
to the season although he accepts there is more to come from his team. After a win over Sheffield, Crabtree said: ''I felt the victory was stronger
than last week''s, which suggests we are heading in the right direction. I''m
sure we will be stronger with more meetings under our belts.'' WORKINGTON boss Graham Drury insists former skipper Carl Stonehewer is going nowhere - until he is declared fit. Drury said: ''I''ve had a chat with Stoney and he informs me that he has just submitted another medical certificate which rules him out until the middle of May at the earliest.
''I don''t know where these rumours come from. I was told by one supporter on Saturday night that he would be signing for another Premier League club soon, then I read with interest in the Oxford Mail that Aaron Lanney is supposed to have talked to him.
''If that is the case, I can say it''s news to Workington Speedway. We like to do things properly here and we have not had an enquiry from Oxford about Stoney.'' FIXTURE PICTURE. TUESDAY APRIL 11:
TEST MATCH: Team GB v Sweden (at Swindon) 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Newport 7.30
BRITISH U-21 QUALIFIER: Scunthorpe 7.30 WEDNESDAY APRIL 12:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Oxford v Eastbourne 7.30
ASHLEY JONES MEMORIAL: King''s Lynn 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Scunthorpe 7.30 THURSDAY APRIL 13:
ELITE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Swindon v Reading 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Sheffield 7.30
BRITISH UNDER-21 QUALIFIER: Rye House 7pm FRIDAY APRIL 14:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena Essex v Ipswich 8pm, Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 11am, Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm, Eastbourne v Poole 7.30, Ipswich v Arena Essex 2.15, Oxford v Reading 12.30, Peterborough v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Eastbourne 11am, Reading v Oxford 7.45
PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, King''s Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30, Somerset v Newport 7.30, Sheffield v Redcar 7pm SATURDAY APRIL 15:
PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Stoke v Redcar 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Mildenhall 7pm SUNDAY APRIL 16:
ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS'' CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole 5pm
PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Newcastle 4pm, Mildenhall v Rye House 3.30, Newport v Somerset 2.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE CHALLENGE: Mildenhall v Boston (Follows PT match), Buxton v USA Dream Team 3pm MONDAY APRIL 17:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30, Rye House v Mildenhall 2pm, Workington v Berwick 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Stoke (Follows PT meeting)
CHALLENGE: Scunthorpe v Boston 3pm TUESDAY APRIL 18:
PREMIER TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Somerset 7.30 WEDNESDAY APRIL 19:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.45, Reading v Peterborough 7.30
BRITISH UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: King''s Lynn 7.30 THURSDAY APRIL 20:
PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30, Sheffield v Glasgow 7.45 FRIDAY APRIL 21:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Oxford 8pm
PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, Workington v Newcastle 7.45
CHALLENGE: Somerset v Rye House 7.30 SATURDAY APRIL 22:
PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Redcar 7pm, Stoke v Edinburgh 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP OF GB QUALIFIER: Rye House 7pm SUNDAY APRIL 23:
PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Stoke 4pm, Newcastle v Redcar 6.30, Newport v Edinburgh 2.30, Mildenhall v Somerset 3.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Newport v Buxton (Follows PT match)
CHALLENGE: Scunthorpe v USA Dream Team 3pm MONDAY APRIL 24:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Arena Essex 7.45, Ipswich v Poole 7.30, Reading v Swindon 7.30, Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 7.30
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