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

ELITE LEAGUE LATEST...ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell has confirmed that he asked former skipper Kelvin Tatum to make a one-off return due to the Hammers'' crippling injury list.

However Tatum, who retired earlier this month due to a hip injury, was still in pain from a longtrack crash and had to decline the offer. Russell said: ''He would have tolerated the pain if it hadn''t been for his crash.It shows the level we have reached with the situation, it''s been a nightmare week.'' RONNIE Correy says he is keeping an open mind about the possibility of extending his comeback into next season after his recent return for Belle Vue after four years out. Correy said: ''I believe that once you''ve got the ability it doesn''t go away. I may have slowed down in certain ways but I''m sure I''m capable of going out and doing what I used to do. ''I''ll finish the season off at Belle Vue and see what happens after that. I''m still not sure that I''ve got time to do this but I hope I''ll get sorted out better once I settle into racing again.'' COVENTRY''S Billy Janniro says that the arrival of Russian Sergey Darkin has made the Bees a better all-round outfit. Janniro said: ''Sergey is going great, he had a bit of bad luck with his chains last week, but he is getting it going and things are looking better for us. ''The goal is to get an away win, and I think we will have a good shot at maybe Belle Vue or Wolverhampton. We''re certainly trying for it.'' EASTBOURNE co-promoter Jon Cook has praised Edward Kennett for his recent form despite the youngster''s dislocated shoulder. The Eagles'' current run of form has seen them move strongly into contention for a top three finishing position in the Elite League. Cook said: ''We expected Edward to be out of action for much longer following his injury, but he rode through the pain barrier and was back in action just a week after being taken off the track in an ambulance.'' IPSWICH youngster Daniel King has no regrets about stepping up into the Elite League this season without the benefit of doubling-up in the Premier. King said: ''John Louis constantly gives me great advice about riding the various tracks as well as technical help, and hopefully I have not disappointed those that have shown such faith in me. ''Chris Louis and Scott Nicholls have helped me enormously, as have all the riders at Ipswich this year and I don''t think my form would have been this good if I had just ridden in the Premier League this season.'' OXFORD promoter Nigel Wagstaff is ready to quit the club - after two years at Cowley. The Silver Machine are likely to lose their Friday racenight next season and there are also problems in negotiations over the purchase of the club from licence owner Steve Purchase. Wagstaff said: ''Unless anything dramatic changes the home meeting with Ipswich on September 10 will be my last in charge at Cowley.'' PETERBOROUGH promoter Mick Horton admitted that he held a crisis team meeting at the interval of the Panthers'' match at Ipswich - and it worked! Horton said: ''I told them in no uncertain terms that the display up to that point was simply not good enough. The boys were left under no illusions that they had to improve immediately or there would be serious repercussions. ''I have nothing but praise for the way they responded with some great riding in the second half of the meeting and pinching the bonus point makes it quite a successful night.'' POOLE skipper Magnus Zetterstrom apologised to the club''s supporters following their shock 65-29 anhilation at Oxford. Zetterstrom said: ''I feel sorry for our fans, especially the ones who travelled here tonight. It is awful for them to see a bad meeting like this. ''I can only say that we did our best but it was just one of those nights when everything went wrong for us.'' SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams says that injury problems are putting a dent in the Robins'' play-off aspirations. Adams said: ''We haven''t been going that well recently and in our last three meetings at home we''ve been pushed to last-heat deciders. ''We''re missing Peter Ljung really, and a few of the other boys are struggling because they''re not fully fit.'' WOLVERHAMPTON''S David Howe believes the club have what it takes to repeat their Elite League title success of two years ago. He said: ''We can do what we did then. We can finish second in the league and win the play-offs, but we know what a tough task it is to achieve that.''

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...

BERWICK boss Peter Waite wants to see Lee Smethills continue his recent form after the reserve lowered the colours of Simon Stead at the weekend. Waite said: ''Lee is a real star when he gets out in front, and I just hope we see more of this superb riding.'' EDINBURGH youngster Cameron Woodward is pleased with his strong finish to the season and wants to build on it next year. Woodward said: ''I have to lift myself to this standard from the very start of next season, but if I can get more good points and some money I will build some good bikes for 2005.'' EXETER star Mark Lemon says the Falcons cannot afford to slip up in their coming matches if they are to be assured of a top-eight finish. Lemon said: ''We were a bit disappointed with our performance on the Isle of Wight last week, so we need to pick ourselves up and start performing as a unit again. ''We all seem to have dropped a bit of form, but I think we''re capable of making it to the play-offs.'' GLASGOW manager Stewart Dickson is looking to collect an away win from the Tigers'' remaining fixtures to ensure a play-off place. Dickson said: ''Winning our remaining home matches might be enough to see us finish in the top eight and qualify for the play-offs, but it would be great to pick up an away win to make sure.'' HULL boss Eric Boocock says the Vikings'' landslide Premier League title victory is one of the proudest moments in his 43 years of speedway. Boocock said: ''We haven''t had a big name star in our team, we''ve had seven fabulous riders who wanted to win for the club, themselves, each other and the fans. They have been superb. ''I don''t always show how pleased I am, I know that, but deep down I''m so chuffed for the lads, they''re the ones who''ve gone out and done it, week in week out.'' ISLE OF WIGHT star Jason Bunyan says he has been fired up by Coventry''s decision to drop him from their Elite League team, leading to his improved displays for the Islanders. Bunyan said: ''That decision has inspired me. Whilst I certainly don''t agree with it, I''m very happy to be concentrating my efforts right now on helping the Islanders qualify for the Young Shield.'' KING''S LYNN youngster James Brundle is delighted to have regained his place in the Stars team after recovering from a serious road accident. Brundle said: ''I am back for the team that is in my heart and can''t wait to help them climb the league table to make the play-offs at the end of the season.'' NEWCASTLE manager George English was delighted with a win over Glasgow, and relieved that the injuries sustained in a night of accidents were not as serious as first feared. English said: ''It was great entertainment, and exhausting for all concerned. I''m just pleased that two awful looking crashes have apparently not resulted in too serious an injury list.'' NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone expects a high-octane affair against traditional rivals Glasgow on Sunday. Stone said: ''They have a very strong team with Eric Carrillo now in their top five, and they have four other riders who are eight or nine point men so they will provide a very tough challenge.'' READING star Danny Bird made a triumphant return to the Racers'' colours when he scored a paid maximum in the Smallmead club''s 56-39 win over King''s Lynn. Bird had been absent through injury for the last month, but his return is a big boost to Reading''s chances of a successul Young Shield play-off run. RYE HOUSE boss John Sampford has praised the returning Steve Masters, who is currently racing with a broken wrist. Sampford said: ''He is putting in some great performances, and it makes you think just what might have been had we now suffered with injuries this year.'' SHEFFIELD chief Neil Machin has paid tribute to Jason Bunyan after seeing him score plenty of points at Newport and Exeter. He said: ''Jason''s attitude was spot on. He mixed in with the rest of the lads and I would like to thank him for his efforts.'' SOMERSET have confirmed they will end the season with Glenn Cunningham''s testimonial on September 23. Boss Pete Toogood said: ''There really is no need for us to prolong the season and the plan right now is to finish with Glenn''s meeting. PREPARATION made perfect for ex-Stoke skipper Paul Pickering, who has relinquished the captaincy to concentrate on his own form - which returned with a 15-point maximum against Rye House. Pickering said: ''I''ve spent hours and hours in the workshop this week, but it sweems to have paid off.'' WORKINGTON boss Ian Thomas has paid tribute to his good friend Eric Boocock after seeing him win the Premier League title with Hull. He said: ''I''m delighted for my old pal Booey, but naturally disappointed that we couldn''t go on and win the title ourselves.''

FIXTURE PICTURE...

TUESDAY AUGUST 31:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v King''s Lynn 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1:

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

PREMIER LEAGUE: King''s Lynn v Rye House 7.30, Reading v Exeter 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Oxford 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINAL: Wimbledon v Boston 7.30

YORKSHIRE JUNIOR OPEN: Hull 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v King''s Lynn 7.45

PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Isle of Wight v Workington 7.30

CHALLENGE: Ipswich v Rye House 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Swindon v Newcastle 7.30 followed by Swindon v Buxton

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Arena Essex 7.30

PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30, Somerset v Stoke 7.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Oxford v Boston 7.15 followed by Oxford v Newcastle

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Rye House v Glasgow 7pm, Workington v Exeter 7pm, King''s Lynn v Sheffield 7pm

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Wimbledon 7.30, Armadale v Swindon 2pm

CONFERENCE TROPHY: King''s Lynn v Sheffield (follows PL meeting)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Exeter 5.30, Newport v Glasgow 2.30

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Carmarthen v Rye House 3.15, Newcastle v Stoke, Newport v Wimbledon (follows PL meeting)

CONFERENCE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Mildenhall v Oxford 3pm

CONFERENCE TROPHY: Buxton v Sheffield 3pm, Boston v Oxford 7pm, Mildenhall v King''s Lynn (follows KOC meeting)

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 6:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30, Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30, Belle Vue v Coventry 7.45

PREMIER LEAGUE: Exeter v Glasgow 7.30, Reading v Somerset 7.30

CONFERENCE TROPHY: Sheffield v Coventry 6.45

BRITISH UNDER 15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield (follows CT meeting)

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 7:

PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Rye House 7.30

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Oxford 7.45

PREMIER LEAGUE: Hull v Berwick 7.30, King''s Lynn v Newport 7.30

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

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 9:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Eastbourne 7.45, Ipswich v Arena Essex 7.30, Swindon v Oxford 7.30, Poole v Belle Vue 7.30

PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Workington 7.45

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE: Oxford v Ipswich 7.30, Arena Essex v Belle Vue 8pm

PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Stoke 7.30, Somerset v Newport 7.30, King''s Lynn v Isle of Wight 7.30

CONFERENCE TROPHY: Weymouth v Sheffield 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11:

ELITE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Eastbourne v Ipswich 7.30

PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Rye House v Isle of Wight 7pm, Stoke v Newport 7.30, Workington v Hull 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12:

SKYBET ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS'' CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole 4pm

PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v King''s Lynn 5.30, Sheffield v Stoke 6pm, Newport v Reading 2.30, Glasgow v Workington 3pm

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Swindon v Stoke 6.30 followed by Swindon v Oxford, Newcastle v Oxford (follows PL meeting), Newport v Newcastle (follows PL
meeting)

CONFERENCE TROPHY: Buxton v King''s Lynn 3pm, Mildenhall v Coventry 4pm

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