SPEEDWAY WEEKLY ROUNDUP AND FIXTURES 11 JULY
11 July 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association

ELITE LEAGUE LATEST...

ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell took great encouragement from a battling Hammers display even though they ended up two points short in their Knockout Cup tie at home to Belle Vue.

Russell said: ''I was really pleased with our performance and we nearly managed the win. I think we are showing signs that we are on our way back.

''We can go home with a smile on our faces and it really feels like a win instead of a loss. The lads are slowly getting their confidence back.''

BELLE VUE boss Ian Thomas felt his team selection had been justified as the Aces took victory at Arena-Essex in the Cup despite being without key riders.

Thomas said: ''It raised a few eyebrows when I booked a Premier League rider but Gary Havelock is a former World Champion who used to ride for Arena. It wasn''t a bad way to start our defence of the cup.

''Jason Crump was magnificent in the away leg and landed another maximum after winning his five races at Ipswich the night before, but everyone chipped in with a contribution at Arena.''

COVENTRY boss Peter Oakes was pleased that he had an on-form Scott Nicholls lining up in Heat 15 of the Bees'' last-heat decider against Poole.

Oakes said: ''We certainly deserved the win. We''d talked with Scott about the big races and he knew what he had to do in Heat 15.

''It gives you a lot of confidence when he goes to the tapes in a last-heat decider - but all credit to Chris Harris too because he still split the Poole riders which was what we needed from the race.''

EASTBOURNE promoter Jon Cook insists that another serious injury to Adam Shields will not cause the Eagles to write off their chances this year.

Cook said: ''We are not going to give up on this season. It is too easy to say, ''oh, it was one of those years'' and give up.

''We are not giving up. We are going to go all the way this year and we will do whatever we can, whether it is League, Cup or Craven Shield - we will be giving it our very best.''
IPSWICH No.8 Steve Boxall made a hugely successful home debut for the Witches as he earnt the man-of-the-match award with a score of eight (paid nine) against Belle Vue
Boxall said: ''I want to reach the top in speedway and the Elite League is where I eventually want to be. The crowd were great and they gave me such fantastic support.
''I was really happy with the way things went for me and I to pinch myself when I had Mark Loram tooking for me in one of our races!''

OXFORD promoter Aaron Lanney says he hopes Todd Wiltshire will continue his highly successful comeback to the sport into next season.

Lanney said: ''I had to work hard to get him back over here, he went through a difficult time personally and he had a lot on his plate to think about but I think everyone will admit it''s worked out very well.

''Todd has very much been the highlight of an otherwise disapointing season, and I would welcome the opportunity to work with him again next year.''

PETERBOROUGH skipper Hans Andersen will miss this week''s trip to Swindon after being concussed in last weekend''s World Championship qualifier in Poland.

Andersen''s manager Mick Bratley said: ''Apparently whilst leading his final race he hit a hole in the track which caused his footpeg to catch the air fence, throwing him over the handlebars.

''He was really groggy and was concussed for about 20 minutes, and doesn''t remember anything about the crash or the meeting. But thankfully no bones appear to have been broken.''

POOLE co-promoter Mike Golding says the club may have to wait a little longer for the return to fitness of Krzysztof Kasprzak, who continues to struggle with collarbone problems.

Golding said: ''He isn''t anticipating having his plaster cast off until Friday. He would then need to have a week''s practice and build his muscles up in the gym.
''It''s difficult because we are anxious to have KK back because of our team situation, but we are very aware that he does need to practice to make sure his collarbone is ready.''

READING boss Jim Lynch says the Bulldogs must put their Knockout Cup exit behind them as they still hold a strong position in the Elite League.

Lynch said: ''Obviously it was a disappointment to lose to Poole in the cup, but our total attention must now be focused on our remaining league meetings.

''We''ve got to look to win all our remaining home matches and pick up as many bonus points as possible. Every meeting is going to be like a cup tie now until the end of the season.''

SWINDON promoter Alun Rossiter feels the recent departure of Swedish youngster Sebastian Alden came as no great surprise after his poor run of form.

Rossiter said: ''In the last couple of weeks he was showing us that he didn''t really want to be here, and you could see that from his perfomances.

''I''m very disappointed because we nurtured him through last year, but the situation couldn''t carry on. He wasn''t performing and we were not very happy about it.''

WOLVERHAMPTON veteran Ronnie Correy says it is crucial that the team halt their mini-slump which has seen them lose three of their last four home matches.

Correy said: ''It''s not a Wolverhampton thing to lose so many home meetings, you can afford to lose one here or there but you can''t afford to be losing three or four.

''We are all disappointed and I''m sure the management are feeling a bit low about things right now. We have to get things right as soon as possible and all the boys will be working hard to get it right.''

PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST...

BERWICK promoter Peter Waite was encouraged by his team''s showing during a welcome win over reigning Champions Rye House after a dismal defeat at Redcar.
Waite said: ''That was much more like it, a good result and not a bad meeting despite the rain. Both sides deserve a pat on the back for getting on with racing the full 15 heats and it was a refreshing match to be at.''

EDINBURGH have parted company with Rusty Harrison following a disagreement over track conditions at Armadale on Friday which resulted in the Australian not taking his final two rides.

Promoter John Campbell said: ''We felt that it was important to make this announcement quickly to end the speculation which has naturally been taking place amongst our supporters.''

GLASGOW co-promoter Alan Dick has given his backing to second-string Lee Dicken who is currently going through a difficult spell.

Dick said: ''The lack of points is getting him down, but all we can do is try to keep his head up as best we can and hopefully he will start to get the points his efforts deserve.''
ISLE OF WIGHT chairman Martin Newnham knows that King''s Lynn will provide far tougher opposition at the Smallbrook Stadium than in May when the Islanders romped to a 32-point win.

Newnham said: ''I''m very confident we can collect another win and put us level with King''s Lynn in second place, but it''s not going to be easy.''

KING''S LYNN star Kevin Doolan is delighted to have been handed the No.1 race-jacket for the Stars after his best-ever run of form.

Doolan said: ''It''s a dream come true for me, I love King''s Lynn and want to help Tomas Topinka lead the rest of the team to glory this year.''

MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton confirmed during a Fans'' Forum at the weekend that speedway will remain at West Row in 2007 despite recent concerns over the track.
Horton said: ''The forum was a fantastic success and it was positive. We all believe in the same thing, we all want Mildenhall to go forward and remain in the Premier League and there were a lot of good things to come out of it.''

NEWCASTLE star Christian Henry scored his first-ever paid maximum in the Diamonds'' eight-point win over Edinburgh on Monday.

Henry said: ''I didn''t want to spoil my 15 points by riding in Heat 15! In six years I''ve been riding over here it''s the first time I''ve ever got 15 points in one meeting.''
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone had no complaints about being eliminated from the Knockout Cup after home and away defeats by Sheffield.

Stone said: ''We were beaten by the better team, no excuses. They did a job on us and we are out of the cup, but not through lack of effort.''

REDCAR boss Brian Havelock says there is no reason why his side cannot remain near the top of the table after the Bears leapt up to third over the weekend.

Havelock said: ''In the last three weeks the lads have exceeded my expectations. I thought we could be in the top five or six, but they have proved they are better than that and they are riding as a team.''

RYE HOUSE managed to take some rewards from their Northern tour with a win at Edinburgh before making sure of the bonus point against Berwick.

Danny Bird put in a terrific double guest appearance with back-to-back maximums - before scoring a full house against the Rockets the next day for Glasgow!

SHEFFIELD should have British Under-21 Champion Ben Wilson back from injury for their Premier League clash with Newcastle on Thursday.

Wilson said: ''I''ve rested up at home and I feel alright to get back on a bike now. It does my head in resting at home, I get bored and all I want to do is ride speedway.''
SOMERSET manager Mick Bell says it is vital that his team bounces back quickly after the shock of a second home Premier League defeat of the season.

Bell said: ''It was a major setback for us to lose last week and I don''t want a repeat of that. We thought we would beat Mildenhall comfortably, but a number of things went against us.''

STOKE boss John Adams says that gating was the prime factor which cost the Potters dearly as they went down to a home defeat by Redcar.

Adams said: ''I thought there were some decisions by the referee that could have gone another way, but we were poor from the gate and that cost us as well.''

WORKINGTON star Ritchie Hawkins says the Comets can have a major say in the Premier League title race during the second half of the season.

Hawkins said: ''I see no reason why we can''t go on and challenge for the league title. I believe we''ll get into the top eight without too many problems and anything can happen from there.''

FIXTURE PICTURE...

TUESDAY JULY 11:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v King''s Lynn 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 12:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Swindon 7.45, Oxford v Wolverhampton 7.30, Poole v Belle Vue 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: King''s Lynn v Stoke 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 13:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Wolverhampton 7.30, Swindon v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Newport 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.45

FRIDAY JULY 14:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Arena-Essex 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, Somerset v Rye House 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 15:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Stoke 7pm, Rye House v Edinburgh 7pm, Workington v Glasgow 7pm
BRITISH SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHIP at Stoke 7.30

SUNDAY JULY 16:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Edinburgh 3.30, Newport v King''s Lynn 2.30, Newcastle v Redcar 2pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Mildenhall v Plymouth (follows PL fixture), Newport v Boston (follows PL fixture), Scunthorpe v Rye House 3pm

MONDAY JULY 17:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Sheffield 7.30
INDIVIDUAL: Junior Challenge, Belle Vue 7.45

TUESDAY JULY 18:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Somerset 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 19:
PREMIER LEAGUE: King''s Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30
YOUNG GUNS INDIVIDUAL at Poole 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 20:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Stoke 7.30, Sheffield v Workington 7.45

FRIDAY JULY 21:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Glasgow 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Plymouth 7.30
BRITISH UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 22:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Redcar 7pm, Mildenhall v Newport 7.30, Rye House v Glasgow 7pm, Stoke v Newcastle 7.30, Workington v Sheffield 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Newport (follows PL fixture)

SUNDAY JULY 23:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Oxford 3.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Berwick 4pm, Newcastle v Workington 6.30, Newport v Mildenhall 2.30,
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Newport v Mildenhall (follows PL fixture)
CONFERENCE LEAGUE KO CUP: Scunthorpe v Stoke 3pm
TONY RICKARDSSON FAREWELL: Poole 4pm

MONDAY JULY 24:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Swindon 8pm, Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Reading 7.30

TUESDAY JULY 25:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Newport 7.30

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