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SPEEDWAY WEEKLY ROUND-UP
02 May 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST.
ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell says that it is a pleasure to work with his current team, who are responding to increased support on the Purfleet terraces.
Russell said: ''I hope the fans are enjoying watching this team. I know I am enjoying it, we have a great team spirit and are doing very well at home.
''I thought we were magnificent against Reading and it gives us a chance to get the bonus point when we go to Smallmead next month.'' BELLE VUE promoter Ian Thomas is angry that website correspondents have suggested that top riders will miss this week''s Elite Shield clash between the Aces and Coventry due to the Polish League programme.
Thomas said: ''I was so angry about these stories that I even telephoned Coventry promoter Colin Pratt late at night to confirm that Scott Nicholls was riding. He wasn''t happy because he''d given me his team with Nicholls in it a week before.
''I''m sick of these people making uninformed guesses about what is happening. They are not in a position to know, and Jason Crump and Scott Nicholls will both be at Belle Vue on Wednesday.'' COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes says that the Bees have to sort out their gating in the early stages of meetings if they are to make a strong push to retain the Elite League title.
Oakes said: ''It''s something that seems to have been happening in the last few meetings, and we have to look at it.
''To go so many points down in the early stages at Poole was always going to make it very difficult for us, although we did do a good deal better in thesecond half of the meeting and the morale is still good.'' EASTBOURNE boss Jon Cook refused to use the Eagles'' injury list as an excuse for Saturday''s heavy home defeat by Swindon, a meeting which saw the Arlington men provide just one heat winner on their own track.
Cook said: ''That is not acceptable for a professional speedway team, and we all have to scratch our heads and work out what has gone wrong, and make sure it doesn''t happen again.
''Swindon were a far, far better team than us and we have to bounce back quickly. I am not going to write this meeting off as easily as to say it is because of our injuries, it may be a little bit more than that.'' IPSWICH reserve Jan Jaros was pleased to make a winning comeback from injury as he took the chequered flag in Heat 2 of the Witches'' Bank Holiday win over Belle Vue.
Jaros said: ''I felt good winning the reserves'' race and then added two more points, so a total of five was good for me. My injury feels okay but will take some time to fully get back to normal.
''I am learning about Foxhall every time I am here. I feel happy with my season so far and really enjoy riding for Ipswich.'' OXFORD owner Aaron Lanney has blasted suggestions that he was ready to pull his team out of the Elite League - if they didn''t get permission to sign Freddie Eriksson.
He said: ''''At no stage did I threaten to pull Oxford out of the League! I did express my concerns over a side being thumped both home and away and felt that some assistance was required to safeguard my business.'' PETERBOROUGH skipper Hans Andersen says that the atmosphere within the club at the table-topping Panthers is the best he has known during his time in the sport.
Andersen said: ''I''m thrilled to bits with my successive maximums, but this business is about the team and the bond between the lads is better than I''ve known at any speedway team in any country.
''I''m not silly enough to make predictions that we are going to win the League, but I am certain that we will stay challenging for one of the top spots. It''s only a few weeks since some people were writing us off.''
POOLE star Greg Walasek paid tribute to team-mate Craig Boyce who had re-tuned the Pole''s engine, Walsek proving its'' worth with a paid maximum against Coventry. Walasek said: ''I have to say a big thank you to Boycey for helping me get my first Poole maximum. In fact, I''m going to buy him a few beers for fixing up my engine so well.
''I''m very happy because it was important for me to start scoring some points again. It seems we''ve found a good set up for me now and it is working really great. It was quicker out of the gate and faster on the straights and corners than last week.'' READING team manager Jim Lynch says the Bulldogs must ensure there is no repeat of their heavy defeat at Arena-Essex when they went down by a 25-point margin.
Lynch said: ''If we''re going to take ourselves seriously and have aspirations to do something this season, we must bounce back and put things right straight away.
''We mustn''t have a repeat of Friday night''s performance, but the riders were hurt by that result so it will be interesting to see how they respond.'' SWINDON promoter Alun Rossiter could not contain his joy at going to Eastbourne and coming away with a first Elite League win on the road this season.
Rossiter said: ''I always say that I like to go and win at Oxford but if there is another place that I like to come and win, it is Eastbourne.
''I knew the potential of the team and that is what I have been saying all along. We are just starting to see the signs of what Renat Gafurov and Adrian Miedzinski can do.'' WOLVES hero Billy Hamill has described the full horror of his crash with Reading''s Matej Zagar in the narrow win at Monmore Green on Monday.
He said: ''He just took me out, end of story, I could do nothing about it. I was taken off the bike but I got hurt in, shalll we say, a painful area between my legs!
''I know it could have been a lot worse and I had to see the doc after the meeting because I had burns and I was in pain.
''There is no doubt in my mind that it could have turned out a lot worse than it did. I was trying to get off the bike but as I did that I got stuck with his bike and I had no idea what was going to happen, it was real strange.'' PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST.. BERWICK promoter Peter Waite says the team spirit is back after the Bandits worked hard together to beat Edinburgh at Shielfield Park.
Waite said: ''This is the entertainment we''ve been waiting for. The lads really pulled together with the Bandits team spirit of old. Everyone''s upped their game in time for the League. EDINBURGH star Henrik Moller hopes a new engine can help him to a big score in this week''s local derby clash with big rivals Glasgow.
Moller said: ''I''m getting my new engine on Wednesday and hopefully this will make a big difference to me. I''m trying my best although it''s been difficult because the tracks have been new to me.'' GLASGOW skipper Shane Parker is excited by the prospect of facing 1992 World Champion Gary Havelock when Redcar make their first-ever visit to Ashfield this weekend. Parker said: ''There is no doubt that he is still a class act and he will relish the pressure that is being heaped upon him with the expectation. We are still fighting for a place in the Premier Trophy semi-finals and we simply have to win.''
ISLE OF WIGHT chairman Martin Newnham says that the Islanders will not hesitate to make further team changes if required, as long as they strengthen the side and are financially viable. The Smallbrook Stadium club have been hit by a number of injuries so far this season and are currently without a win in the Southern section of the Premier Trophy.
KING''S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman is hoping that the weather is kind for the British Under-21 Final at the Norfolk Arena this week after a postponement a fortnight ago.
Chapman said: ''It''s so hard to pick a winner and it should be a fun day. We''ll be geared up for a big crowd and we have up-and-coming and also established riders in the meeting.'' MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton is promising major changes to the West Row track after describing the surface for Sunday''s local derby win over King''s Lynn as ''unacceptable.''
Horton said: ''We will be ordering shale similar to that used at Peterborough as the old stock car material is not good enough and not something we will tolerate further. Changes will be made to our track preparation, both in material and personnel.''
NEWCASTLE co-promoter George English has backed the decision of referee Tony Steele to throw skipper James Grieves out of Sunday''s match at Newport after he struck out at Neil Collins.
English said: ''Both myself and our Financial Director Andrew Dalby have spoken with James and left him in no doubt it mustn''t happen again for the sake of both the club and himself.
''We totally support the referee''s decisions about James - there is no place for such an incident within our sport.'' NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone said he was saddened that the James Grieves/Neil Collins altercation had marred a thrilling contest between the Wasps and Newcastle.
Stone said: ''We have always had good meetings at both venues so it was a real shame that the attack on Neil put a dampener on procedings. It''s a shame for everyone because it was a great match.''
REDCAR skipper Gary Havelock says the Bears'' showing in their comfortable home win over Berwick was their best so far this season.
Havelock said: ''That was the team performance we have been waiting for. Everyone battled and it wasn''t just the result that pleased me, it was the way in which everyone fought to get it.'' RYE HOUSE skipper Chris Neath says the Rockets will have a big say in the Premier League title race as they bid to retain the Championship.
Neath said: ''If we can all improve, we can still be there or thereabouts because with the play-offs this year it''s not essential to win the league.''
SHEFFIELD co-promoter Neil Machin is excited by the prospect of staging a qualifying round for the World Under-21 Championship at Owlerton on May 14.
Rising Polish stars Karol Zabik and Adrian Miedzinski along with Australians Troy Batchelor and Chris Holder, and Tigers'' own Kyle Legault, are already confirmed starters.
Machin said: ''We don''t know the full line-up yet but I''m delighted with the names that we already have pencilled in.'' SOMERSET boss Mick bell has sing the praises of his side after seeing them open their Premier League programme with a win over Workington.
''I was delighted with the way everyone pulled their weight in the Workington meeting and I thought it was a terrific result for us when you look at the strength of the Comets,'' said Bell.
''I really do feel they''ll be in with a chance of winning the league at the end of the season and for us to beat them like we did was terrific.''
STOKE star Robbie Kessler has announced a string of names for his testimonial on May 27. They include Adam Skornicki, Simon Stead, Shane Parker, Joe Screen, Steve Johnston, Alan Mogridge and Mark Lemon. Kessler is not the only Potters rider to stage a benefit meeting this season, as his team-mate Paul Clews has also been granted a testimonial later in the year.
WORKINGTON boss Graham Drury is relishing the prospect of facing reigning champions Rye House at Derwent Park on Saturday.
He said: ''Rye House won the Premier Trophy by beating us last season so they know their way around Derwent Park.
''Naturally it''s a tough test for us to start against them but that suits me down to the ground. We were disappointed to lose our first league match of the season down at Somerset on Friday. I was bitterly disappointed with some of the refereeing decisions, so we have to make up for that on Saturday.'' FIXTURE PICTURE. TUESDAY MAY 2:
PREMIER TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7.30 WEDNESDAY MAY 3:
ELITE SHIELD: Belle Vue v Coventry 7.45
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: King''s Lynn 7.30 THURSDAY MAY 4:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30, Swindon v Oxford 7.45
PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30, Sheffield v Workington 7.45 FRIDAY MAY 5:
PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Sheffield 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Newport 7.30, Plymouth v Buxton 7.30 SATURDAY MAY 6:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Stoke v Newport 7.30, Workington v Rye House 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm SUNDAY MAY 7:
PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Redcar 4pm, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Workington 3.30, Newport v Stoke 2.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Newport v Stoke (Follows PL match), Scunthorpe v Buxton 3pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Mildenhall v Rye House (Follows PL match) MONDAY MAY 8:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Oxford 7.45, Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30, Reading v Arena-Essex 7.30, Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30 TUESDAY MAY 9:
PREMIER TROPHY: Isle of Wight v King''s Lynn 7.30 WEDNESDAY MAY 10:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena Essex v Wolverhampton 7.45, Oxford v belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: King''s Lynn v Redcar 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Boston 7.30 THURSDAY MAY 11:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Wolverhampton 7.30, Peterborough v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.45
PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Glasgow 7.30
CHALLENGE: Sheffield v king''s Lynn 7.45 FRIDAY MAY 12:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 8pm
PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Stoke 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Redcar 7.30
CONFERENCE CHALLENGE: Plymouth v Carmarthen 7.30 SATURDAY MAY 13:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Ipswich 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Berwick v Stoke 7pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Mildenhall 7pm, Workington v Newport 7pm SUNDAY MAY 14:
FIM WORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING ROUND: Sheffield 6pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Isle of Wight 6.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Newport v King''s Lynn 2.30, Stoke v Berwick 7pm
CHALLENGE: Glasgow v Edinburgh 4pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Boston 3.30, Buxton v Plymouth 3pm MONDAY MAY 15:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Swindon 7.45, Coventry v Peterborough 7.30, Reading v Eastbourne 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
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