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SPEEDWAY WEEKLY ROUND-UP AND FIXTURES
30 May 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST... ARENA-ESSEX have re-signed former favourite Roman Povazhny as a short-term replacement whilst Henning Bager recovers from a shoulder injury.
Promoter Ronnie Russell said: ''I picked Roman as he has the experience around our Raceway instead of a completely new rider to this country.
''He should be able to come in and do a good job for us from the start. The signing of Roman shows that we really mean business this year.''
BELLE VUE boss Ian Thomas is optimistic ahead of a tough week which sees the Aces face three of their rivals in the top five of the Elite League.
Thomas said: ''It''s an important time for us with three tough matches coming up and we need everyone to be on song.
''It wasn''t a good result for us at Reading on Monday but it wasn''t a disaster, either. The result was fair. They are a strong side and with a nine-point deficit the bonus point is very much in the balance.''
COVENTRY skipper Scott Nicholls blasted back to top form ahead of the British Grand Prix with a 15-point maximum in the Bees'' impressive home win over Eastbourne.
Nicholls said: ''Personally I was very pleased with the maximum, it was long overdue and things went the way I wanted them to go.
''The team all pulled together and did a fantastic job. Nobody gives you points and everyone battled hard even though we had our fair share of bad luck.''
EASTBOURNE promoter Jon Cook offered no excuses after the Eagles were surprisingly beaten at home by a weakened Reading team.
Cook said: ''We were just not good enough, I don''t think you can hide from that. Normally at the end of meetings we come on strong but this week we didn''t.
''We have lost our second home match of the season, we have only won one away and we are dropping bonus points everywhere. There is a lot of work to do to get us back on track to make something out of the League.''
IPSWICH youngster Daniel King enjoyed his best night at Elite League level with paid 16 as the Witches stormed to a convincing win over Eastbourne.
King said: ''I really did enjoy myself but we have not changed much in the set-up. We continue, like everyone, to tinker with the machinery, but everything just came together for me.
''It was a great effort by the Witches and to get all three points to go means that with the ''B'' fixtures coming up soon we are in a strong position.''
OXFORD promoter Aaron Lanney continues to monitor the rider market as he looks to make the Cheetahs a competitive force in the second half of the season.
Lanney said: ''It''s getting to the stage where I''m thinking something will need to be done to keep our season alive.
''I''m having talks and that''s all I can say at the moment. We''ve got room for change and if I could do it, then I would. I know people will be guessing but I really don''t want to say any more on the matter.''
PETERBOROUGH have ruled out making a short-term signing in the immediate future until they assess the length of Piotr Swiderski''s likely absence with a hand injury.
Team boss Trevor Swales said: ''We hope it''s not going to be too long, and we''re hoping he''s going to be able to come back to the UK to get treatment from Brian Simpson.
''We were looking initially to sign another rider on a short-term basis, but we will not be doing that now and we will cover Piotr''s absence with our No.8 Jon Armstrong until we know how long he''ll be out for.''
INJURED Poole star Krzsysztof Kasprzak has set a target date of June 14 to return to the Pirates'' team following his second broken collarbone in quick succession.
Kasprzak said: ''I have to have two courses of treatment every day until the weekend, when I shall return home to Leszno where I will help my father to work on my bikes until I am ready to start training again.
''I should be able to start racing in two weeks'' time, although I''m sorry that I am not able to represent Poole in the Elite League Pairs meeting. But I think that Antonio Lindback will be more than useful replacement for me.''
READING manager Jim Lynch said that the Bulldogs'' shock win at Eastbourne had to rank as the performance of the season so far.
Lynch said: ''That was an awesome display. We came here with a depleted team but they really upped their game and pulled off a great performance and result.
''Hans Andersen rode extremely well as a guest, but I was really pleased with all the lads as they all played their part and had good rides. It was a fantastic team effort.''
SWINDON have been hit by an injury to Russian star Renat Gafurov, who sustained knocks to his head and back in a crash during last weekend''s World Cup qualifier in Latvia.
Promoter Alun Rossiter said: ''This is a real blow, just as Renat was about to start a spell at reserve. He has to remain in hospital until 4 June although thankfully it is understood nothing is broken.
''The only consolation is that we can use the rider replacement facility at Oxford on Wednesday before the new averages come into effect.''
WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Peter Karlsson said his team had been given a good test by struggling Oxford before pulling clear in the later stages of the meeting.
Karlsson said: ''Oxford pushed us hard and the conditions weren''t ideal, but full credit to all the riders from both teams.
''We looked comfortable at one stage and then they kept hitting back with some good riding and kept us on our toes in a big way.'' PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST... BERWICK promoter Peter Waite believes the Bandits'' home match against the Isle of Wight should be re-staged after they were refused a facility for banned Pole Stanlislaw Burza.
Waite said: ''We have now lodged an immediate appeal to the SCB, with the appropriate fee and asked for a re-staging of the meeting allowing us Rider Replacement to cover Burza''s one meeting ban.''
EDINBURGH youngster William Lawson is confident that the Monarchs can have a big say in the Premier League title race this year by making the play-offs.
Lawson said: ''I think we will reach the top eight, and once we all get going at the same time I think we''ll have a very good side.''
GLASGOW co-promoter Stewart Dickson feels that the Tigers are coming into a run of home form which will make them serious contenders this season.
Dickson said: ''Ever since we took ove the reins our Achilles heel has always been our home form as Ashfield is such a fair track. But now it''s going to take a very good team to come here and beat us.''
ISLE OF WIGHT star Jason Bunyan recorded a brilliant full maximum in the Islanders'' comfortable win over Newcastle in their first home Premier League match.
Bunyan said: ''I had a good night, but so did the rest of the team and we''re really starting to gel together as a unit. I''m sure all of us will continue to improve.''
KING''S LYNN manager Rob Lyon says there must be no complacency from the Stars as they look to overturn a narrow first-leg deficit against Berwick in the Knockout Cup.
Lyon said: ''Berwick are one of those teams that you can never rule out of anything and they have a tendency to spring a few surprises throuhgout every season. I think they have an interesting team on paper.''
MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton says the Fen Tigers need to quickly put the disappointment of losing at home to local rivals King''s Lynn behind them.
Horton said: ''The boys have got to start digging deep now, potentially we have a great team but now they''ve got to start producing.''
NEWCASTLE manager George English regarded the Diamonds'' one-point Knockout Cup win over Workington as one of the big highlights in the history of the club.
English said: ''It was an absolutely stupendous victory, they are a very strong side this year and it was always going to be tough but all our lads rode brilliantly.''
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone says that the Wasps'' Friday evening clash with Glasgow, usually an incident-packed affair, should prove to be a tasty appetiser to the Grand Prix weekend in South Wales.
Stone said: ''The match always seems to attract plenty of drama and controversy, and I don''t see any reason why things shouldn''t be any different this time.''
REDCAR owner Chris Van Straaten has underlined the importance of the fit-again Kevin Little to the Bears'' chances of a good debut Premier League campaign.
Van Straaten said: ''I think the most points we ever got from rider replacement was three, and when you have a rider that''s been rattling in seven or eight, it''s difficult to cope with the loss.''
RYE HOUSE reserves Steve Boxall and Luke Bowen took star billing in the Rocket''s Bank Holiday Monday demolition of Berwick.
The visitors'' Stanislaw Burza denied Rye''s heat-leaders their maximums, but Bowen and Boxall were both unbeaten from five rides in the reigning Champions'' 65-27 success.
SHEFFIELD promoter Neil Machin believes that this week''s clash with King''s Lynn could be a rehearsal for a possible play-off Final later in the season.
Machin said: ''We know that we have to beat them if we are to have any aspirations ourselves. I believe the eventual champions will be on show, and there is a determination about our team now.''
SOMERSET manager Mick Bell has hailed the return to top form of the experienced Paul Fry, who piled up a total of 30 (paid 32) points in two matches last week.
Bell said: ''Fryer was back to his best without a doubt, and it was great to see. He was flying both at Sheffield and at home to King''s Lynn. He is a great lad and very popular with everyone here at the club.''
STOKE manager John Adams fired a warning to his riders after a succession of disappointing results on the road, and was pleased with the response at Workington despite another defeat.
Adams said: ''The score won''t reflect how much effort the riders put into this meeting and I''m far less disappointed at this performance than I was on Sunday at Glasgow.''
WORKINGTON have handed youngster James Wright the No.1 race-jacket for the next month as he continues his rise up the Premier League rankings.
Co-promoter Graham Drury said: ''The lad has ridden like a number one rider, and he deserves the opportunity to wear that jacket. Going out in the first race home and away can only give him more experience which will benefit Workington Speedway in the long run.''
FIXTURE PICTURE... TUESDAY MAY 30:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Berwick 7.30 WEDNESDAY MAY 31:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Coventry 7.45, Belle Vue v Reading 7.30, Oxford v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: King''s Lynn v Berwick 7.30 THURSDAY JUNE 1:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Wolverhampton 7.30, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.45
ELITE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Ipswich v Coventry 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v King''s Lynn 7.45
PRREMIER TROPHY: Redcar v Stoke 7.30
FRIDAY JUNE 2:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Newport v Glasgow 7pm, Somerset v Berwick 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Edinburgh v Sheffield 7.30
CHALLENGE: Plymouth v Exeter Select 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 3:
FIM GRAND PRIX OF GREAT BRITAIN: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, 7pm SUNDAY JUNE 4:
ELITE LEAGUE PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP: Swindon 5pm
WELSH OPEN: Newport 1pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Glasgow 3.30, Rye House v Workington 2pm, Stoke v Berwick 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Boston 5pm MONDAY JUNE 5:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.45, Eastbourne v Swindon 7.30, Reading v Ipswich 7.30, Wolverhampton v Arena-Essex 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Newport 7.30 TUESDAY JUNE 6:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Workington 7.30 WEDNESDAY JUNE 7:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Wolverhampton 7.45, Poole v Oxford 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: King''s Lynn v Workington 7.30 THURSDAY JUNE 8:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Oxford v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Arena-Essex 7.45
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY: Sheffield v Stoke 7.45 FRIDAY JUNE 9:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Belle Vue 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v King''s Lynn 7.30, Somerset v Isle of Wight 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Stoke 7.30
CONFERENCE CHALLENGE: Plymouth v GB Under-21 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 10:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Belle Vue 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v King''s Lynn 7pm, Mildenhall v Newcastle 7.30, Workington v Somerset 7pm, Stoke v Glasgow 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Buxton 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 11:
CHAMPIONSHIP OF GREAT BRITAIN FINAL: Belle Vue 4pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Somerset 4pm, Newcastle v Mildenhall 6.30, Newport v Isle of Wight 2.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Newport v Plymouth (Follows PL fixture) MONDAY JUNE 12:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Swindon 7.30, Reading v Oxford 7.30, Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Buxton 7.30
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