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ELITE LEAGUE LATEST.
08 August 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell is refusing to write off his team''s season and hopes to be able to introduce new blood into the Hammers'' line-up this week.
Russell said: ''I am, at present, in discussions with several riders with a view to bringing in a couple for the remaining few months of this season.
''I have a passion for the Sport, and Arena-Essex in particular, and that passion has not diminished despite what has happened to us following the string of injuries we have seen.''
BELLE VUE promoter Ian Thomas says the Aces top four hopes are very much alive after an eventful clash with Ipswich that saw Jason Crump break the track record.
Thomas said: ''It was the best meeting we''ve had at Belle Vue this season.
''The racing was superb on a great track, and we took all three points available to keep alive our chance of making the end of season play-offs.''
COVENTRY skipper Scott Nicholls knows that the Bees must regain their reserve strength if they are to have a chance of defending their title in the play-offs.
Nicholls said: ''We are desperately missing our reserves, their injuries are really hitting us. The lads that have come in have done the best they can but with no disrespect they aren''t Elite League riders.
''Even if the reserves get three points each that''s six overall and that makes a big difference.''
EASTBOURNE promoter Jon Cook feels the Eagles can improve on their one point win over Coventry when the sides meet in the Knockout Cup semi-final.
Cook said: ''I think I have seen enough in the meeting to think that there is a lot more points scoring in our team for the KO Cup.
''We won''t be making the play offs this year and we both know the cup semi-final is going to be our biggest meeting of the season. We will enter it as underdogs but that may well suit us.''
IPSWICH No.1 Piotr Protasiewicz believes that a heavy schedule is a contributory factor to his current disappointing run in the Witches'' away fixtures.
The Pole said: ''I feel as though I could do with a break but I have 24 meetings in August so have no chance of a few days off which is perhaps what is needed.
''I have to hold my hands up and say I have let my team-mates down, but hopefully I can put together a good meeting soon and it will all come together again.''
OXFORD promoter Aaron Lanney feels that things are finally coming good in his first season in charge as the Cheetahs have moved off the bottom of the table.
Lanney said: ''The new found confidence in the team is clear for all to see now, and at long last we have riders who are riding to their true ability.
''Speedway is so much easier when you are riding with confidence. We are now going into every match with a confident mindset and aim to be real party poopers for the play-off elect.''
PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales says it is time for the rest of his team to step up and support skipper Hans Andersen on a consistent basis.
Swales said: ''Hans cannot win the Elite League on his own. He has been scoring huge amounts of points, and the rest of the boys haven''t been contributing in the way they should.
''The result at Ipswich flattered us, and it is definitely two points dropped rather than a bonus point gained. I had pinpointed both trips to Ipswich as meetings we could and should win, but we failed both times.''
POOLE star Craig Boyce says that the Pirates will still be giving their all to make their top four despite a number of recent setbacks.
Boyce said: ''We''ll keep battling away with the play-offs but it''s been a tough year all over. It''s been an uphill battle with Krzysztof Kasprzak being out with his injuries and other guys not performing.
''Then I''ve not performed in the last couple of home meetings, but there''s still a long way to go yet.''
READING boss Jim Lynch had immediate justification for his decision to sign Mark Lemon as the Bulldogs'' No.8 with the Australian hitting double figures in his debut against Arena-Essex.
Lynch said: ''It''s difficult to single any rider out after a result like that, but Mark came in and did a terrific job for us.
''It was an excellent team performance with every rider more than playing their part.''
SWINDON promoter Alun Rossiter had high praise for new signing Tomasz Chrzanowki after the Pole top-scored with paid 14 on his debut against Oxford.
Rossiter said: ''That was fantastic, you could not ask for more. He settled in well, and much to several fans'' surprise he had his own race jacket.
''Hopefully Tomasz will be the icing on the cake but I am not going to say too much but I am confident we will now reach the play-offs.''
WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Peter Karlsson was unusually satisfied with a third place finish in Heat 15 - because it secured his team a vital victory over revitalised Oxford.
Karlsson said: ''I don''t think I''ve ever been so happy with a third place in Heat 15. I''d normally be pretty fed up to only get one point, but to do that with Billy Hamill was very important for us and I''m pleased we won.
''We always knew it could be a difficult match without Ronnie Correy, and Oxford have a couple of real Monmore specialists.'' PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST. BERWICK promoter Peter Waite regarded the aggregate bonus point from the Bandits'' trip to Newcastle as a satisfactory conclusion to a positive weekend.
Waite said: ''It keeps us in the chase for a top eight slot and shot at the play-off for the title. It''s going to be tough, but we won''t let it go until it''s mathematically out of reach.''
EDINBURGH may consider the possibility of team changes with a view to the future after slipping to the bottom of the Premier League table over the weekend.
Spokesman Mike Hunter said: ''The supporters'' patience must be wearing thin with the away displays and it may be time to lay some plans for 2007, whatever effect this may have on the present side.''
GLASGOW co-promoter Alan Dick says that finishing top of the Premier League table is still important for the Tigers despite the fact that the title will be decided by play-offs.
Dick said: ''We still want to finish first and to do that we have to maintain our 100 per cent home record. Having got to the top of the pile, we want to stay there.''
THE Isle of Wight could be without Jason Doyle for a fortnight with possible knee ligament damage after an horrific crash with Edinbugh''s Henrik Moller.
Co-promoter Dave Pavitt said: ''Jason has to rest, it is all he can do. Considering the severity of the crash, both riders were very lucky to come away with relatively minor injuries.''
KING''S LYNN promoter Jonathan Chapman is excited by the prospect of the Stars'' Premier Trophy Final against Sheffield after they overcame Workington in a rain-delayed semi.
Chapman said: ''''This meeting will be an absolute stonker, I can''t wait to phone Neil Machin and get the dates arranged. Both teams have big-track riders and we''re both at the top of the League.''
MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton believes his team now have real strength in depth after beating Stoke at home.
Horton said: ''Brent Werner had probably his best meeting for us yet and I was very pleased with Jordan Frampton''s debut. What pleased me most was that we showed we can win comfortably with Jason Lyons having an off day.''
NEWCASTLE boss George English praised referee Tony Steele for his insistence that Sunday''s clash with Berwick was completed despite heavy rain.
English said: ''We''re happy with the win and our team can hold their heads up high. We really didn''t want another meeting called off this year but if it wasn''t for the exceptional skills of Tony Steele we wouldn''t have finished it.''
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone was disappointed with the way events turned against the Wasps during the closing stages of a home defeat to Redcar.
Stone said: ''It was a match that we could and should have won, especially having won at their place earlier in the season. I couldn''t look at any of my top six and say they under-scored.''
REDCAR boss Brian Havelock was ecstatic after the Bears pulled off a dramatic win at Newport despite having at one stage been 12 points down.
Havelock said: ''I''m absolutely over the moon. We were dead and buried at Heat 9 and I thought we were out of it, but the lads proved me wrong and pulled it out of the bag.''
RYE HOUSE manager John Samford has given his backing to Ross Brady, who has endured a torrid time with injuries since arriving at Hoddesdon.
Sampford said: ''He''s just not had any luck at all since he joined us. People might be moaning about his scoring but half the time he''s not fully fit and just when he seems to be getting back to fitness, he always gets another knock.''
SHEFFIELD promoter Neil Machin has handed Tai Woffinden his Tigers debut on his 16th birthday against Redcar on Thursday.
Machin said: ''Tai has been fast enough and successful enough to warrant his inclusion. His rise through the Conference ranks has been meteoric.''
SOMERSET co-promoter Jo Lawson says the Rebels riders will be left in no doubt as to the importance of their home clash with Newcastle this Friday.
She said: ''We did the hard work to get a draw up there, so we must make sure we don''t chuck away that extra point in what will be another tough meeting.''
STOKE manager John Adams hailed a marvellous night for the Loomer Road club as they recorded their first-ever Premier League win at Sheffield.
Adams said: ''The riders worked their socks off to produce what was a tremendous achievement. Very few teams run Sheffield close at Owlerton and Stoke have never won there in the past, so this is a terrific night for the club and the supporters.''
WORKINGTON promoter Graham Drury has taken great encouragement from the form of Rusty Harrison since he brought the Australian back into the set-up at
Derwent Park.
Drury said: ''Rusty has has been a revelation. Whether it''s wet or dry he is riding with real enthusiasm and I''m sure that will stand us in good stead for making the play-offs.'' FIXTURE PICTURE. 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: Ipswich v Reading 7.30, Peterborough v Poole 7.30, Swindon v Coventry 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Redcar 7.45
SMALLBROOK SPECTACULAR at Isle of Wight 7.30 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
CHALLENGE: Weymouth Select v Rye House Raiders 7.30
SIDECARS: GB v Rest of the World, Plymouth 7.30 SATURDAY AUGUST 12:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Berwick v Mildenhall 7pm, King''s Lynn v Edinburgh 7.30, Rye House v Newcastle 7pm, Stoke v Isle of Wight 7.30 SUNDAY AUGUST 13:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Mildenhall 4pm, Newcastle v Isle of Wight 6.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Newport 4.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Scunthorpe v Cleveland 3pm
UK SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP Round 6: Newport 2.30pm 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 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Oxford v Swindon 7.30, Poole v Reading 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: King''s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Stoke v Buxton 7.30 THURSDAY AUGUST 17:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Poole 7.30, Peterborough v Wolverhampton 7.30, Swindon v Reading 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Somerset 7.30, Sheffield v Edinburgh 7.45
BRITISH UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Isle of Wight 7.30 FRIDAY AUGUST 18:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Poole 7.45, Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30, Somerset v Newport 7.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Boston v Scunthorpe 7.30, Plymouth v Stoke 7.30
FOUR-TEAM TOURNAMENT: Weymouth v Poole v Exeter v Swindon 7.30 SATURDAY AUGUST 19:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Poole 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm SUNDAY AUGUST 20:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Redcar 4pm, Mildenhall v Berwick 4.30, Newcastle v King''s Lynn 6.30, Stoke v Workington 7.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Buxton v Stoke 3pm MONDAY AUGUST 21:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Oxford 7.45, Coventry v Peterborough 7.30, Wolverhampton v Arena-Essex 7.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Scunthorpe v Buxton 7.30 TUESDAY AUGUST 22:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Redcar 7.30
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