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SPEEDWAY WEEKLY ROUNDUP AND FIXTURES - 30TH AUGUST
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST. ARENA-ESSEX skipper Steve Johnston enjoyed one of his best performances of the season with 14 points as the Hammers shocked play-off chasing Belle Vue at Purfleet. Johnston said: ''We thoroughly deserved that win as the boys rode extremely well. Losing Mikael (Max) so early on, we were up against it but the boys battled hard and got the win. ''On a personal level it was nice to get amongst the points today. Everything just seemed to click into place with the bike hooking up really well. The last few meetings have been pretty good for me and I hope it continues.'' BELLE VUE manager Ian Thomas says his side have a mountain to climb for the aggregate bonus point against Reading after losing by 15 points at Smallmead on Monday. Thomas said: ''We just simply didn''t win enough heats and didn''t get enough points from the reserves. They only pulled in one point between them from eleven rides all together but the other four all managed to win a heat. ''Against Eastbourne, we have a fourteen point lead which we managed to do in twelve heats at Belle Vue because the last three races were washed out. But we must win or at least get the bonus point in all our remaining fixtures now.'' COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes was pleased with his injury-hit side, who managed a comfortable win over Eastbourne to keep themselves in play-off contention. Oakes said: ''Everyone contributed fully to that result and it was a very impressive display. I don''t think we ever really thought it was a meeting we would lose, but to win by 17 points against a team putting in plenty of effort was a very good result. EASTBOURNE co-promoter Jon Cook was in downbeat mood after the Eagles let a winning position slip to finish with only a draw at home to Wolverhampton. Cook said: ''Because they came from behind to make the draw it feels like a defeat but I think if you look at the performances, Wolves deserved to win. ''It has not been a great couple of months really. Ever since the home and away victories in the cup over Wolves we have not really been on it. I don''t know why that is and that is something we have to think about long term.'' IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis says that his broken collarbone could not have come at a worse time as the Witches battle to hang on to the chance of a play-off spot. Louis said: ''Apparently it is a little bit of a messy break and maybe it will be a better option to plate it, which would speed things up. ''Obviously the timing is bad, but we are still in the play-off hunt and mathematics don''t come into it yet because there are plenty of points still for which to play.'' OXFORD star David Howe has confirmed that his disappointing show in the GP Qualifying Final was partly due to being let down by his Swedish mechanic. Howe said: ''The guy told me he was a good speedway mechanic at the start of the season but I cannot agree with his opinion. He has cost me a lot of money and the poor performances have been affecting my confidence. ''I relied on the guy to have my bikes prepared and I was devastated when I saw them late on the Thursday evening. It was not the preparation required for such a big meeting.'' PETERBOROUGH promoter Colin Horton says there is still a job to be done for the Panthers if they are to finish in the Elite League''s top two and therefore gain a home semi-final draw. Horton said: ''All of our fixtures will be very tough as every team in the Elite League seems to be capable of beating anyone else at the moment, but I look at the fixtures with Swindon and Reading as key meetings. ''The match with Reading should prove to be a real top of the table clash, as we look to claw back a nine point deficit from the first leg, with the added spice of the meeting taking place in front of the Sky Sports cameras.'' POOLE manager Neil Middleditch says the Pirates'' season is far from over despite accepting that they need ''a miracle'' if they are to reach the play-offs. Middleditch said: ''It was unfortunate that we went into a busy fixture period without Greg Walasek and Antonio Lindback, but to lose seven matches on the bounce hasn''t done us any favours. ''We can ill-afford to relax and think that the season is over. We have reached the semi-final of the Knockout Cup and must concentrate on getting ourselves in good shape for the challenge that lies ahead.'' READING star Travis McGowan is enjoying some of the best form of his career as the Bulldogs look to make certain of home advantage in the play-off semi-finals. McGowan said: ''Things have been going really well for me recently and I''ve just got to keep it going now until the end of the season. ''It''s difficult to say what has been the difference recently, but it''s probably a combination of things. I''ve been working really hard on a few things and I''ve also had a great engine tuned by Sam (Ermolenko).'' SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter hopes that Lee Richardson can return from injury as quickly as possible after being hurt in the Czech Grand Prix - two days after coming up with a crucial performance against Peterborough. Rossiter said: ''Lee has taken some criticism but answered his critics with a very good performance. He has not had the best of seasons but has battled through it and turned it around. ''We had plenty of faith in him and that is why we bought him. His pass of Ryan Sullivan was brilliant and that certainly contributed to the win.'' WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams says his faith in his team has been vindicated as the Monmore men''s great form sees them close in on the play-off places. Adams said: ''I produced a well prepared presentation for the media a few weeks back which stated that we were still in with a chance of the play-offs and I was laughed at by many people. ''We are one of the - if not the - form teams of the Elite League and we''re all buzzing right now. I''m in charge of a team which has lost once in nine outings and we''re right in there.'' PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST. BERWICK promoter Peter Waite accepts that the Bandits'' home defeat against Workington last Saturday was a damaging result to their play-off aspirations. Waite said: ''Some of our riders couldn''t raise their game to the level we need. I can''t explain it, but I''m far from satisfied.'' EDINBURGH boss John Campbell was satisfied with the Monarchs'' efforts in their 61-33 defeat at King''s Lynn last weekend. Campbell said: ''The scoreline just doesn''t reflect how close a lot of the races were. Even the King''s Lynn management and their supporters said it was one of the best meetings they had seen in a while.'' GLASGOW are hoping that heat-leader Danny Bird will be fit for this weekend''s Scottish derbies against close rivals Edinburgh. Bird missed the Bank Holiday Monday defeat at Newcastle as he was suffering from ''flu having pulled out after three rides in the home match against the Diamonds the previous day. ISLE OF WIGHT boss Dave Croucher feels the Islanders are riding well enough to take points from some of their three remaining away matches. Croucher said: ''They will be tough, but we are running into form at just the right time and the feeling in the camp is that we can go all the way.'' KING''S LYNN manager Rob Lyon is predicting a classic Premier Trophy Final between the Stars and Sheffield this week. Lyon said: ''We are both big track riders and I don''t think either of us will give up the chance of glory very easily. I think the public will see two of the best matches in British Speedway for a long while.'' MILDENHALL chairman Blayne Scroggins has not written off the Fen Tigers'' chances of making the play-offs despite a disappointing run of four straight defeats. NEWCASTLE manager George English was pleased to start a critical sequence of home matches with a ten-point win over Glasgow. English said: ''We have two more big home meetings next week against powerful sides in Sheffield and King''s Lynn so it was vital to start this sequence by beating Glasgow.'' NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone gave full credit to Somerset skipper Magnus Zetterstrom after the Swede inspired the Rebels'' win at the Hayley Stadium on Sunday. Stone said: ''Zetterstrom is a class act and he does ride our track well. He was excellent from the gate but it was clear to see that if he ever missed the start he would have the speed to be able to come from the back.'' REDCAR co-promoter Gareth Rogers says that a win in this week''s big home match with Workington is vital to the Bears'' top-four chances. Rogers said: ''It''s a make or break 48 hours for us. Victory at home is a priority but a reasonable margin will be sought too for the return and all of our riders have to be at the top of their game.'' RYE HOUSE moved firmly into top-four contention with a bumper points haul over the weekend including a win at Stoke and big home wins over the Potters and Newport. Team manager John Sampford said: ''There are no easy matches but I will be very disappointed if we throw any silly points away from here. And on aggregate, we can beat anyone.'' SHEFFIELD promoter Neil Machin is quietly confident ahead of this week''s Premier Trophy Final against King''s Lynn. Machin said: ''To win anything this year we will have to get past King''s Lynn, who have been taking teams apart in recent weeks. But we feel confident and buoyant and I''m sure the Final will provide us with some great racing.'' SOMERSET boss Mick Bell believes fans will be in for a treat when Swindon bring a full Elite League team to the Oak Tree Arena for a Challenge match on Friday. STOKE manager John Adams says the Potters have to put a heavy defeat at Rye House behind quickly if they are to retain their chance of a play-off place. Adams said: ''I''m not particularly making excuses, but it really was a gaters paradise out there and we are not a team of trappers. They were in another gear and we were well beaten on the day.'' WORKINGTON promoter Graham Drury has confirmed that he wants to make popular Pole Tomasz Piszcz a full asset of the club. Drury said: ''It might take a little while but I want to secure Tomasz''s signature for Workington so that he is the club''s first signing for 2007. I think that would give the fans a boost through the winter.'' FIXTURE PICTURE. TUESDAY AUGUST 29: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30: THURSDAY AUGUST 31: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
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