BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY ROUND-UP
24 August 2004 - British Speedway Promoters Association

ELITE LEAGUE LATESTARENA-ESSEX expect to have Greg Walasek and Dean Barker fit to return this week and are also set to give a debut to Russian star Roman Povazhny.

Walasek has been out of action due to a virus, whilst Barker''s crash at Wolverhampton left him with blurred vision and a stiff neck. BELLE VUE legend Chris Morton has admitted that he would love to be in a position to help his old club, who have been put up for sale by promoter John Perrin. Morton said: ''I''ve always been interested in getting involved with the Aces but there have been work restraints on my time. ''It is very sad to see the Aces with these problems, but I think there will be plenty of people who are prepared to talk to John about taking it over.'' STUART Robson says the Coventry team are still desperate to break their away duck this season after another home defeat against Eastbourne. ''It would be nice to get at least one away win this season after we''ve had the best away record in the League in the last five years or so. ''We need the points to get off the bottom of the table, and we aren''t going to to it by losing, especially at home.'' EASTBOURNE boss Jon Cook praised squad rider Sebastian Tresarrieu after the Eagles'' win over Swindon at the weekend. The Frenchman scored five points on his first appearance for the club in a meeting which Cook had described as a potential banana skin. Cook said: ''Seb Tresarrieu had a very pleasing debut, getting better with every ride and there are plenty more rides in store for him.'' IPSWICH promoter John Louis believes at least one more away win is required to clinch a top three finishing position for the Eagles. Louis said: ''There is no doubt that finishing in the top three is vital. But I have always been superstitious and I am not making any predictions. ''We have not written off our chances of catching Wolves, but our mid-season blip has made it hard for us to catch them.'' OXFORD boss Nigel Wagstaff is urging the sport''s top brass to issue a statement to clarify the position regarding qualification for the play-offs - if the bad weather continues and fixtures are incomplete. He said: ''I think it''s in everyone''s interests so we all know where we stand should the league table be short by the cut-off point.'' PETERBOROUGH promoter Mick Horton is already looking ahead to next season and feels the club can put together a team to challenge for the Elite League. Horton said: ''I''ve already had a conversation with manager Trevor Swales and the list of riders he is keen on for next season is very impressive. ''Should everything fall into place it would certainly be a team capable of finishing in the top three.'' POOLE promoter Matt Ford says that Antonio Lindback can go right to the top of the sport after securing an automatic place in next year''s Grand Prix series. Ford said: ''He has become a hero with the Poole fans and someone who will write himself into the global speedway record books in the future.'' SWINDON star Steve Johnston is looking forward to a busy programme of action for the Robins, including a double header against Coventry on Thursday. Johnston said: ''It suits me fine having two meetings in one night. I want as many rides as I can get, and if we all get it together, two more wins will move us closer to the play-offs.'' WOLVERHAMPTON promoter Chris Van Straaten has confirmed that he intends to hold talks with Workington and Simon Stead about a permanent move to Monmore Green. He said: ''The way Simon has come back from injury has been sensational and if he moves up I would like him to be with us, though I''m sure nine other Elite tracks feel the same way!''

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST

BERWICK promoter Peter Waite wants to see his side get back on track as they are now right on the edge of the top eight in the Premier League. Waite said: ''It was disappointing to lose so heavily to Reading, but the defeat at home to Hull was a lot harder to take.'' EDINBURGH could face a major rebuilding process next season if Frede Schott and Peter Carr retire and Rory Schlein moves up to the Elite League. Schlein said: ''To stay another year in the Premier League and perhaps dominate it would be good, but I''ve got to look ahead to what will further my career.'' EXETER star Seemond Stephens admits his future is unclear despite the Falcons'' impending move to a new stadium next season. Stephens said: ''Hopefully there will be no hitches and everything can go ahead, but whether or not I''ll be riding there I''m not sure. I don''t know my future at the moment.'' GLASGOW ace George Stancl has endured a torrid run of mechanical misfortune, blowing a total of seven engines so far this season. Tigers co-promoter Alan Dick said: ''George''s engine problems have cost him a packet and us valuable points.'' HULL remain on course for a League and Cup double after moving into the last four of the Knockout Cup by beating Reading on aggregate. Manager Eric Boocock said: ''We went to Reading to defend our 14-point lead and we did, so it was job done, but I was a bit disappointed as I thought we could have won on the night as well.'' ISLE OF WIGHT co-promoter Dave Pavitt believes his team should be inspired by their near-miss at Hull to produce more good results on the road. Pavitt said: ''We showed at Hull that we are capable of performing well anywhere on our travels now.'' KING''S LYNN have axed Tom P Madsen and replaced him with James Brundle, who has been out of action following a car crash earlier in the year. Stars boss Buster Champan said: ''It was a hard decision for me to make, but I felt it would be best for both parties if there was a change. Tom has found it very difficult this season and there is no animosity between us.'' NEWCASTLE team manager George English was pleased with the return to action of Jesper Olsen on Sunday. English said: ''It was great to see Jesper ride so well and so steadily. His enthusiasm has done nothing but grown immensely, and he can''t wait to get back to racing next week.'' TONY Atkin was relieved to get back into action for Newport on Sunday after a four-month injury lay-off. Atkin said: ''I had no expectations, I just wanted to ride. I simply wanted to get back and get an average. I didn''t want to take a year out at my age.'' READING skipper Phil Morris stormed to an impressive 21-point maximum at Smallmead on Monday - but the Racers still went out of the Knockout Cup against Hull. Reading are still without the injured Danny Bird, and Chris Mills is also on the sidelines with a shoulder problem. RYE HOUSE star Steve Masters is riding through the pain barrier with his wrist injury in order to help the Rockets into the Young Shield play-offs. Masters said: ''I am struggling a bit with the wrist but the fact of the matter is that I can''t afford to stay out any longer.'' SHEFFIELD have booked former favourite Simon Stead as a guest replacement for the injured Sean Wilson in Thursday''s home meeting with Edinburgh. And it could well be the last time the Workington man rides for his hometown club as his average is about to go above that of Wilson''s which rules him out of further guest bookings from September 1. SOMERSET promoter Pete Toogood has confirmed he intends to stand as Chairman of the British Speedway Promoters'' Association this winter. He said: ''I''ve been vice chairman for a couple of years now and I see it as a logical progression.'' STOKE star Paul Pickering was left frustrated with mechanical problems after the Potters slipped to their second successive home defeat against Hull. Pickering said: ''I don''t know which way to turn with the bikes. Everything I try feels wrong and a lot of my confidence has been sapped.'' WORKINGTON boss Ian Thomas has vowed to keep winning meetings - despite the Premier League title looking destined for his former club Hull. He said: ''It''s not over until it''s over and all we can do is keep on winning - that''s what I''m saying to my riders.''

FIXTURE PICTURE

TUESDAY AUGUST 24:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Somerset 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Oxford 7.30

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Oxford 7.30, Arena Essex v Wolverhampton 7.45, Belle Vue v Coventry 7.45

PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30, Berwick v Stoke 7.30, King’s Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30, Hull v Newcastle 7.30

CONFERENCE TROPHY: Wimbledon v Weymouth 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 26:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Coventry ELA 7pm followed by Swindon v Coventry ELB, Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30

PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45, Exeter v Reading 7.30, Isle of Wight v Newport 7.30

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