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SPEEDWAY: WEEKLY ROUND-UP AND FIXTURES
09 May 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST
ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell is excited to be welcoming Swedish star Mikael Max back into the Elite League this week as he makes his Hammers debut against Wolverhampton.
Russell said: ''I am delighted Mikael will be here on Wednesday to make his debut. We have waited a long time for this day and I for one can''t wait for him to race.
''I know he will become a very important member of my team and I would like to say a big thank-you to Andreas Jonsson for stepping in whilst Mikael was recovering.''
BELLE VUE promoter Ian Thomas admitted he had words with reserve Tom P Madsen prior to the Aces'' Elite Shield clash with Coventry in a bid to improve the Dane''s confidence.
Thomas said: ''I had a chat with him before the meeting because he has been getting a bit despondent. He has been spending a lot of money on his engines and he doesn''t know what has been going wrong.
''I feel he needs a couple of good meetings, or even a couple of good races, to set his season off, and hopefully his win in Heat 14 could be a turning point for him.''
COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes was frustrated that the Bees let a winning position slip at Eastbourne in Monday''s televised fixture, losing 47-41 after holding a six-point lead at the half-way stage.
Oakes said: ''We had one or two problems and after making a good start this time, we faded away in the closing stages.
''We struggled a little when the track went slick and also suffered a few falls, including two for Morten Risager.''
NEW Eastbourne signing Cameron Woodward hopes to make his mark in the top flight and not return to the Premier League.
Woodward said: ''I''m really interested to see how I go in the Elite League. If I go around all right I want to stick there. You learn so much more there, there''s so much more opposition.
''I''ve got to do my best to prove I''m worth a team spot although I know Brent Werner is due back soon, and I''m just glad to be here.''
IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis explained that his no-points return at Peterborough last week was due to his unhappiness with track conditions.
Louis said: ''I feel bad for my team-mates and our fans who paid good money. It''s easy to say that it was same for everyone, but I have had too many injuries and am past that.
Father John added: ''After an hour or so, it dried out and we saw some good racing, but up until then it was a non-event. It was inconsistent to ride.''
OXFORD promoter Aaron Lanney says that speculation over team changes should stop and supporters should concentrate their efforts on backing the current Cheetahs riders.
Lanney said: ''I''m aware of all the speculation doing the rounds but that''s not what I want to be reading about right now. We''ve started to turn things around and I want to stay positive.
''I get the feeling we''ve turned something of a corner and I''m very happy with the way the team is shaping up now. Todd Wiltshire has made a big difference for us and we''re pleased with the form he''s been showing.''
PETERBOROUGH manager Trevor Swales says the club must get their track preparation right after having a tough night against Ipswich.
Swales said: ''We always struggle with the track after Truckfest, but we shouldn''t do. I''m not going to say we''ve learnt our lesson because I''ve said that before and we don''t seem to, and it does need to be more consistent.
''It''s nice reading Teletext and seeing us at the top of the League but it''s going to be harder staying there than it was getting there and we mustn''t lose sight of that.''
POOLE boss Neil Middleditch believes that Jonas and Daniel Davidsson have a key part to play in the Pirates'' push for honours, particuarly this week against Daniel''s former club Peterborough.
Middleditch said: ''A lot will depend on what the Davidsson brothers can score from the reserve berth. We really need them to be fully focussed and at the top of their game.
''The rest of the team look to be in good form although Bjarne Pedersen slightly injured his wrist after crashing during last weekend''s Grand Prix in Wroclaw. But it would appear that he escaped with nothing more than a few minor bumps and bruises.''
READING boss Jim Lynch gave credit to Arena-Essex after the Bulldogs were held to a four-point win on their home circuit and therefore missed out on the bonus point.
Lynch said: ''We''re pleased to get the win, and although we did try for the bonus point, Arena put up a good fight. Although we only ended up winning by four points, we were always in control and never looked like losing it.
''Greg Hancock played a good captain''s role, but I was really pleased with the performance of Sam Simota.''
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter says that riders facing their old clubs could play a key part in the Robins'' clashes with Coventry this week.
Rossiter said: ''Doubtless Seba Ulamek will be relishing the opportunity of facing his former side. Meanwhile, Olly Allen will be returning to the scene of many a famous race victory on his way up the speedway ladder and I''m sure he will be out to impress for the Bees.
''Every meeting at this level of the sport is tough and our meeting against the Bees will certainly be no exception. We will have to be right on the gas to continue our winning run.''
WOLVERHAMPTON have a major fitness concern over star American Billy Hamill ahead of away matches at Arena-Essex and Ipswich this week.
Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: ''Billy is still struggling and he had already made a decision not to race in Sweden on Tuesday night.
''He doesn''t want to miss meetings unless he really has to, but the burns he suffered in the crash last week are still causing him problems and I very much doubt whether we''ll see him at Arena and Ipswich.'' PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST BERWICK boss Peter Waite was pleased to see the Bandits launching their Premier League campaign with a win over Glasgow.
Waite said: ''The atmosphere gets better and better in our pits with every win. The team spirit is approaching the heights of last season just at the right time.''
EDINBURGH reserve Sean Stoddart says that his improved recent form is down to him finding the correct mechanical set-up - and the threat of being dropped from the Monarchs'' side.
Stoddard said: ''I feel I have the ability to do it so I think it was going to come anyway. There''s never been anything wrong with my confidence, and I try not to let not scoring get me down.''
GLASGOW are hoping that Kauko Nieminen makes a swift recovery from the dislocated shoulder he picked up at Edinburgh last weekend as he has been having a tremendous debut season with the club.
Co-promoter Alan Dick said: ''He is turning into a sensational signing. His spectacular style makes him great to watch and he is extremely popular with the fans.''
RECENT Isle of Wight signing Jason Bunyan says the Islanders need to pick up from where they left off when clinching their first win of the season against Mildenhall.
Bunyan said: ''We finally got our act together as a team and I feel sure we will use this result as the springboard to really start putting together a good run.''
KING''S LYNN promoter Buster Chapman is looking forward to 1992 World Champion Gary Havelock''s visit to the Norfolk Arena with Redcar this week.
Chapman said: ''It''s great to see Gary riding in the Premier League, it shows just how strong the product is. He will provide great entertainment and competition wherever he goes and I think all our top boys will have trouble catching him!''
MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton says that the Fen Tigers have plenty to build on after just missing out on a place in the Premier Trophy semi-finals.
Horton said: ''We have shown during our Trophy campaign that we are not an easy touch but we need to be more consistent and up our game away from home if we''re to make the play-offs and prove the doubters wrong.''
NEWCASTLE team boss George English hailed George Stancl''s 15-point maximum against Berwick as proof that the Czech is ready to dominate at Brough Park.
English said: ''George is really back on the scene and keen to make up lost ground with some stunning and determined speedway. He was exceptional and it''s good to see the team gelling so well.''
NEWPORT are assessing their options after seeing top man Craig Watson ruled out with a broken arm at the same time as fellow heat-leader Neil Collins is sidelined with a broken collarbone.
Promoter Tim Stone said: ''Craig will hopefully be home on Saturday after his operation, and after that we should be able to ascertain how long he is likely to be out for. In the meantime we will continue to book the best available guest riders.''
REDCAR reserve Daniel Giffard says that the spirit is growing with every win for the Premier League''s newest club.
Giffard said: ''The team spirit is amazing here and the team walk we do out on the track after a victory is so useful - it''s a great bonding session and gives us a chance to talk about the meeting.''
RYE HOUSE reserve Steve Boxall has made a rapid recovery from a badly sprained wrist, and will return to the Rockets team this weekend.
Promoter Len Silver said: ''It is typical of Stevie to overcome a nasty injury in double-quick time. He rode for several weeks last year with a broken wrist so it''s no surprise that he''s decided to get back on his bike again.''
SHEFFIELD co-promoter Neil Machin says that the combination of Ben Wilson''s British Under-21 success, a home win over Workington and an away win at Somerset made for one of the best weeks in recent years for the Tigers.
Machin said: ''It was a massive week for the club and our fans are, quite rightly, buzzing about it. Owlerton is the place to be at the moment, and these are exciting times.''
SOMERSET star Pavel Ondrasik is nearing a comeback from his broken wrist - which could give the Rebels promotion a tricky selection decision.
Ondrasik said: ''It''s starting to feel a lot better and maybe next week I will get back on a bike to see how it goes. I cannot say at this stage when I will be ready for regular racing but things are looking a lot better for me.''
STOKE manager John Adams praised the Potters after they kept up their good recent record over Newport with a double victory at the weekend.
Adams said: ''We looked strong and in control throughout, and that''s the third season in a row we have done the double over Newport.''
WORKINGTON are considering the list of available ''C'' grade reserves after it was confirmed that Lee Derbyshire is likely to miss the rest of the season following his crash at Sheffield last week.
Co-promoter Denise Drury said: ''Lee has undergone surgery on his legs but obviously this is terrible news for him. He''d made such a determined bid to do well in the sport after his previous setbacks.'' FIXTURE PICTURE... 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 7.30
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 LEAGUE: Boston v Mildenhall 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
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe (Follows PL match) SUNDAY MAY 14:
FIM WORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING ROUND: Sheffield 5pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Isle of Wight 6.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Redcar 4pm, Newport v King''s Lynn 2.30, Stoke v Berwick 7.30pm
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 TUESDAY MAY 16:
PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Isle of Wight v Rye House 7.30 WEDNESDAY MAY 17:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena Essex v Peterborough 7.45, Oxford v Wolverhampton 7.30, Poole v Ipswich 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: King''s Lynn v Berwick 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7.30 THURSDAY MAY 18:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Coventry 7.30, Peterborough v Arena-Essex 7.30, Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.45
PREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Workington 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Newport 7.45 FRIDAY MAY 19:
PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Edinburgh v Newport 7.30, Somerset v Stoke 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Rye House 7.30, Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.30 SATURDAY MAY 20:
PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Berwick v King''s Lynn 7pm, Rye House v Isle of Wight 7pm, Stoke v Somerset 7.30, Workington v Newcastle 7pm SUNDAY MAY 21:
PREMIER TROPHY: Glasgow v Berwick 4pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Somerset 3.30
PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Newcastle v Workington 6.30, Newport v Edinburgh 2.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Buxton 3.30 MONDAY MAY 22:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Oxford v Arena-Essex 7.30, Reading v Coventry 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Newport 7.30
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