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ELITE LEAGUE LATEST.
01 August 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell felt there were some encouraging sides for his struggling team in a 46-44 home defeat against Coventry last week.
The Hammers face Oxford at Purfleet on Wednesday with the two teams level in tenth and eleventh places in the Elite League on 13 points each.
Russell said: ''The boys are in a very positive mood despite everything and looking at their display against Coventry, it won''t be long before we get that win. ''
BELLE VUE boss Ian Thomas paid tribute to skipper Jason Crump, who scored a brilliant 15-point maximum against Coventry despite his ankle injury.
Thomas said: ''Jason wasn''t very keen on doing the nominated race for obvious reasons but I didn''t have a lot of choice because the bonus depended on it.
''I asked him if he would do it and he agreed. He won it but he was in a class of his own all night. He asked if I could put anyone else in and I said not really - we desperately needed him to go out.''
COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes felt the Bees'' recent away win at Arena-Essex was crucial to their chances of reaching the play-offs this season.
Oakes said: ''It was a good performance and one that we needed. We couldn''t afford to lose at Arena so we went home happy with the result, and the results elsewhere.
''Without always being in control, I felt we always had the beating of their heat-leaders, and we had tremendous back-up from Billy Janniro.''
EASTBOURNE star David Norris had a painful end to the Eagles'' damaging defeat at bottom club Oxford last Wednesday.
Norris caught his foot in the front wheel of Cheetahs rider Adam Skornicki, and limped off the track having sustained an injury to his toe.
IPSWICH youngster Tobias Kroner believes he is developing rapidly as a rider during his stint with the Witches, where his home results in particular have improved dramatically.
Kroner said: ''Each week I learn more and more about the Foxhall track, and I enjoy riding the dirt line on the outside.
''It really does hook up when you are on the bends, so you really have to concentrate to corner, but I am really loving riding at Ipswich.''
OXFORD promoter Aaron Lanney has taken over team management duties at Cowley with Graeme Gordon released from his position.
Lanney said: ''Graeme has done an excellent job for the club in what have been very difficult circumstances, and it wasn''t the easiest of decisions for me to let him go by any means.
''I wish him every good fortune in the future and if circumstances were different then he''d still be here, but the plain fact of the matter is that given our levels of attendance recently, I have been forced to look at ways of cutting costs.''
PETERBOROUGH manager Trevor Swales said that the Panthers'' 56-36 demolition of Poole at Wimborne Road goes down as the club''s best-ever away display.
Swales said: ''It is a great pleasure to be associated with such a memorable performance and every one of the lads was fantastic.
''Every rider scored to at least their average and we made a very good team in Poole look very ordinary, despite still being without Jesper B. Jensen.''
POOLE promoter Matt Ford has explained his decision to release Shaun Tacey from the Pirates'' reserve berth and replace him with doubling-up duo Robert Ksiezak and Matthew Wethers.
Ford said: ''Shaun put in a lot of hard work but in the end it didn''t work out, maybe it was just a step too far at this time in his career.
''We are now looking to the futue, and feel it might be time to give some youngsters a chance.''
READING have announced that experienced Australian Mark Lemon will take over from Glenn Cunningham as the club''s No.8 from August 1.
Team manager Jim Lynch explained: ''I''ve been following Mark''s form all season and with the new averages coming out at the start of August, we are now able to include him in our squad.
''The opportunity to bring Mark in was too good a one to turn down to be honest. He''s got plenty of Elite League experience and is a top Premier League rider, so I''m sure he''ll do a very good job for us when called upon.''
SWINDON promoter Alun Rossiter believes the Robins are bang on-course for a play-off place, and that their current form could see them finishing in the top two.
Rossiter said: ''It is a very confident team at the moment and showing everyone what they are capable of. It is a very exciting side riding to its full potential.
''A lot of people will say we are in a false position as we have ridden more matches but we have ridden far more away and therefore have quite a few left at home.''
WOLVERHAMPTON manager Peter Adams has set his side a points target for a potential top four place this season - the Monmore men''s hopes having been boosted by a sensational win at Reading.
Adams said: ''I believe 59 points will be needed to get there and we can do it. For us to go to the League leaders who were at full strength and beat them on their own track last Wednesday must give us confidence for the rest of the season.
''I sat the boys down before Monday''s meeting and told them what''s needed and therefore they are all in no doubt where we need to get wins from.''
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST.
BERWICK promoter Peter Waite paid tribute to the efforts of Somerset skipper Magnus Zetterstrom who roared to a maximum at Shielfield Park last weekend.
Waite said: ''It''s a long time since a visitor here dominated a meeting with such power and expertise and it''s a relief for us to get the bonus point.''
EDINBURGH have confirmed a strong line-up for the prestigious Scottish Open Championship at Armadale this Friday, headed by defending Champion David Howe.
Current Monarchs Matthew Wethers, Theo Pijper and newcomer Daniel Tessari will be looking to provide the club with a home winner.
GLASGOW co-promoter Alan Dick is not getting carried away with the Tigers'' rise to the Premier League summit, insisting that there is still plenty more work to be done.
Dick said: ''I think we are worthy leaders, but we still have a job to do. The team were brilliant at Stoke and that has given us all the confidence in the world - it is essential that we carry that on.''
ISLE OF WIGHT co-promoter Dave Pavitt has re-assured the Islanders fans that Chris Holder will still be in their colours next season despite agreeing a deal with Elite League Poole.
Pavitt said: ''Chris has decided that when he decides the time is right to move up to the Elite League, be it in 2008 or 2009, he wants to ride for Poole but I must stress that Chris will remain an Islander for at least another season.''
KING''S LYNN boss Rob Lyon was satisfied with the Stars'' efforts in the first leg of their Premier Trophy semi-final at Workington, which gives them a 12-point deficit to pull back at home.
Lyon said: ''I believe we are good enough to overcome that on Wednesday and my aim is for the team to win by at least 20 points. That way, even if we don''t achieve it, we might come close and that would mean we''ll be through.''
MILDENHALL have signed Ben Powell on loan from Rye House after releasing fellow Rockets asset Barry Burchatt who rode for the Fen Tigers in the first half of the season.
Powell will share a reserve berth at West Row for the remainder of the campaign with Jordan Frampton.
NEWCASTLE manager George English felt the Diamonds'' home draw with Somerset was a clear case of one point lost rather than one gained.
English said: ''We really should have had the winning of this match well and truly within us. Points were lost early on that we never should have given away.''
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone hopes that Wasps star Carl Wilkinson can quickly overcome a hand injury which forced him out of Sunday''s clash with Rye House, which was eventually abandoned.
Stone said: ''There''s no doubt that we missed him, and couldn''t really cover for his
usual contribution through the rider replacement facility. I spoke to him again on Monday morning and told him how much we wanted him back for the weekend.''
REDCAR are looking to inspirational skipper Gary Havelock, who works with British No.1 Scott Nicholls in the Grand Prix series, to help them to victory in their key clash with King''s Lynn this week.
Co-promoter Gareth Rogers said: ''Gary will be turning his motivational skills on to his Bears'' team-mates on Thursday and will have them fired up to take the battle to their formidable opponents.''
RYE HOUSE star Ross Brady is expected to return to action this weekend against Somerset after missing last Sunday''s trip to Newport with concussion.
Brady sustained the injury when he fell in Heat 8 of the Rockets'' Premier Trophy semi-final against Sheffield.
SHEFFIELD expect to have Kyle Legault back in their team for this week''s clashes with close rivals Stoke after he picked up an arm injury in a crash at Owlerton last Thursday.
Co-owner Neil Machin said; ''Kyle needed a few stitches on Friday morning and the arm stiffened up, meaning he couldn''t ride at Rye. But he should be back to face Stoke this week.''
SOMERSET boss Mick Bell says the Rebels'' results from their Northern tour were somewhat unexpected as they struggled at Edinburgh and Berwick but collected a draw at Newcastle.
Bell said: ''I thought we could have got something from Berwick and I expected us to run Edinburgh close, but it didn''t work out. Then we went to Newcastle when I thought we would struggle and we pulled off a draw. How do you explain something like that?''
STOKE promoter Dave Tattum was far from happy with the Potters'' performance in a 55-38 home defeat by Glasgow - and has hinted that remedial action could be taken.
Tattum said: ''I am not going to rant and rave about it but if the riders, and they know which ones they are, think that there is a comfort zone to be had here at Stoke, they are very much mistaken.''
WORKINGTON promoter Graham Drury praised referee Rod Smith for going ahead with Saturday''s Premier Trophy semi-final against King''s Lynn despite the misgivings of some of the competitors.
Drury said: ''These are the same riders who are getting quite a reputation for themselves, and a weaker referee may have buckled and just called it off. The racing was good and there was nothing wrong with the track in terms of the meeting going ahead.'' FIXTURE PICTURE. TUESDAY AUGUST 1:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Edinburgh 7.30 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Oxford 7.45, Poole v Eastbourne 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Somerset v Edinburgh 7.30
PREMIER TROPHY SEMI FINAL: King''s Lynn v Workington 7.30 THURSDAY AUGUST 3:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Oxford 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v King''s Lynn 7.30, Sheffield v Stoke 7.45 FRIDAY AUGUST 4:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Ipswich 8pm
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Boston v Mildenhall 7.30, Plymouth v Buxton 7.30
SCOTTISH OPEN: Edinburgh 7.30
CHALLENGE: Weymouth v Clwb Caerfyrddin 7.30 SATURDAY AUGUST 5:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30, Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Rye House v Somerset 7pm, Stoke v Sheffield 7.30, Workington v Mildenhall 7pm
SIDECAR GOLD TROPHY: Isle of Wight 7pm SUNDAY AUGUST 6:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Workington 4pm, Mildenhall v Stoke 4.30, Newcastle v Berwick 6.30, Newport v Redcar 2.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm, Mildenhall v Rye House (follows PL fixture)
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Sittingbourne v Weymouth 12midday MONDAY AUGUST 7:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.45, Reading v Arena-Essex 7.30, Wolverhampton v Oxford 7.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Scunthorpe v Boston 7.30 TUESDAY AUGUST 8:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Glasgow 7.30 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Reading 7.45, Oxford v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Ipswich 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: King''s Lynn v Glasgow 7.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Stoke v Plymouth 7.30 THURSDAY AUGUST 10:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Redcar 7.45 FRIDAY AUGUST 11:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Arena-Essex 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Mildenhall 7.30, Redcar v Sheffield 7.30,
Somerset v Newcastle 7.30 SATURDAY AUGUST 12:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Mildenhall 7pm, Rye House v Newcastle 7pm, Stoke v
Isle of Wight 7.30 SUNDAY AUGUST 13:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Mildenhall 4pm, Newcastle v King''s Lynn 6.30, Newport v Somerset 2.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Newport 4.30 MONDAY AUGUST 14:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Peterborough v Eastbourne 7.30, Reading v Poole 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30 TUESDAY AUGUST 15:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Rye House 7.30
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