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ELITE LEAGUE LATEST...
19 September 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ARENA-ESSEX promoter Ronnie Russell says it is still important for the
Hammers to attempt to move off the bottom of the Elite League table in the
closing weeks of the season.
Russell said: ''It feels a bit academic but we''re not giving up on it yet. It
would appear it''s now down to the results against Oxford.
''The result against Belle Vue was very disappointing for the fans who have
stayed loyal and got their chins up after some recent good performances.''
BELLE VUE boss Ian Thomas says he has no complaints about the efforts of his
team this season, whether or not they reach the end-of-season play-offs.
Thomas said: ''We''ll be going all out to qualify as well as making the
Knockout Cup final.
''But, whatever happens, Eastbourne boss Jon Cook has paid us the compliment
of saying we have already over-achieved in view of the way we had to weaken
the squad last winter when the cap on team strength was reduced.''
COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes was pleased with the Bees'' containing job at
Eastbourne, which leaves them needing to beat the Eagles by more than two
points at home next week to reach the Knockout Cup Final.
Oakes said: ''We''re certainly not over-confident, but we believe that we can
beat any team at home and we just have to make sure we beat them by three
points. It''s now in our hands.
''We won''t be feeling that it''s all over, and Eastbourne will not lie down
and believe that they have no chance. They have some very fine riders, but
if we show the spirit that we have been showing then we will go through to
the Cup Final.''
EASTBOURNE co-promoter Jon Cook paid tribute to both teams involved in a
thrilling Cup tie between the Eagles and Coventry at Arlington, with the
home side taking a narrow two-point win from the first leg.
Cook said: ''I have seen probably thousands of speedway meetings in my time
but this has been one of the very best. There has been some totally
committed racing by both teams.
''I would have liked to have had 20 or even ten points to take up there, but
fair play to Coventry, they are a team that fights to the very end. I am
just thankful we got the win on the night.''
IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis feels that one issue the club has to address
over the winter is the ability to keep their form throughout the whole
season - after a dramatic dip in the last few weeks.
Louis said: ''This is the third year running that we have dropped away in the
final weeks of the season, and we must learn from it and ensure that it
doesn''t happen again.
''Fatigue is perhaps the main reason we have slumped, with too many guys
running out of steam.''
OXFORD reserve Eric Andersson wants to stay with the club next season.
He said: ''I want to stay here next season, but I have not signed anything yet.''
Club owner Aaron Lanney said: ''Eric has made a commitment to Oxford and British speedway this year, not like some riders, who pick and choose their meetings.''
PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales paid tribute to the way his team bounced
back from a home defeat against Reading to book their home play-off draw
with an impressive win over Swindon.
Swales said: ''We really needed a home tie in the semi-finals. It''s much
better racing in front of your own fans than away, but we must now make sure
that we keep the momentum going next Monday.
''I don''t think I was breathing for most of the night, but to be fair to the
boys they were all up for it, they all did a job and fair play to them.''
POOLE manager Neil Middleditch is keeping his fingers crossed that Antonio
Lindback is not ruled out of the Pirates'' vital Cup semi-final against Belle
Vue next week due to his knee injury.
Middleditch said: ''This is our last chance to salvage something from this
season and we need to be at our very best if we are to win through to the
Final. We really need Antonio to be fully fit and ready to race.
''We are still awaiting news from the Lindback camp, but I''m told that he is
trying to make this weekend''s Grand Prix of Poland. He hasn''t ridden at all
since pulling out of last week''s match.''
READING boss Jim Lynch says that finishing top of the table ahead of the
play-offs is very important to the Bulldogs.
Lynch said: ''Now we have made it to the play-offs and are certain of
finishing in the top two, it would be nice if we can finish on top of the
table.
''To be top after 40 matches will show that we are the best side in the
league. The play-offs are one-offs like cup ties and anything can happen.''
SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams insists his side are still in the title race -
even though they are likely to face a play-off trip to Peterborough, where
they were beaten by 16 points on Monday.
Adams said: ''We are going to have a look at the engines at some of the other
guys and see whether we can change them, but perhaps they are better off
sticking to what they know.
''Our riders have scored points for us consistently this season and one bad
night doesn''t mean it is all over. Peterborough are now favourites but we
will have a talk, work out where it went wrong and be ready for the
play-offs.''
WOLVES legend Sam Ermolenko has announced his retirement - 23-years after making his British debut.
The 1993 world champion will stage a farewell meeting at his former club next March after a glittering career.
He said: ''It''s going to be a big occasion. Everyone knows I don''t do things by half, I always try and do things properly and I want to ensure everyone has a great time.'' PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST... BERWICK promoter Peter Waite''s only frustration after seeing his side win at
Mildenhall was that the Bandits have found their form too late to affect the
play-off places.
Waite said: ''I really wish this were the start to our season because with
the lads in this form we could really hit the top again. It''s all eyes to
2007 now when I''m sure we won''t have such a disappointing year.''
EDINBURGH skipper Theo Pijper was philosophical after a last-race engine
blow-up cost the Monarchs the aggregate bonus point against Newcastle.
Pijper said: ''My engine had done 25 meetings and was ready to burn out. I
could feel it on the second lap and I was slowing down.''
GLASGOW co-promoter Stewart Dickson believes that the Tigers can use the
memory of a heavy Premier League defeat at King''s Lynn as an inspiration
ahead of this week''s Knockout Cup semi-final.
Dickson said: ''We put up a terrible display last time we were there in the
League, our worst of the year in fact, but this time around we are going
there with all guns blazing.''
ISLE OF WIGHT team boss Dave Croucher is pleased to have Ray Morton back in
the Islanders'' side ahead of the play-offs after a long spell out with
injury.
Croucher said: ''I''m just happy to have him back in the team, for whilst we
managed to cope with his absence by using rider replacement it puts a lot of
strain on terms of the other riders both in terms of man and machinery.
KING''S LYNN co-promoter Jonathan Chapman is hoping to arrange a challenge
fixture between the Stars and a local Elite League club, believing his team
can take on anyone in the top flight.
Chapman said: ''We believe we could seriously give them a run for their
money. I have had calls from clubs all over the country and everybody seems
very excited about the idea. It looks as though it will be either
Peterborough or Ipswich, both are close and would prove to be great local
derbies.''
MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton is expecting to make major team changes next
year - but insists that the track preparation at West Row is just as vital.
Horton said: ''I''ve said all along that probably one, maybe two riders I
would consider keeping here. The most important thing we need to do at
Mildenhall is get our own track preparation right. If we get that correct
and get consistency, we''ll get consistent results.''
NEWCASTLE boss George English was proud to rescue the aggregate bonus point
from Edinburgh despite losing two riders due to injury.
English said: ''I honestly thought we had lost it, but we just dug in and did
everything we could. I was thrilled by the fighting qualities my side
showed.''
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone is in no doubt about the main reason why the
Wasps have been left in the unwanted position of collecting back-to-back
wooden spoons.
Stone said: ''It''s been a case of deja vu really when it comes to injuries,
and very similar to 2005 when we lost Craig Watson, who is a top Premier
League performer, at exactly the same time of the year.''
REDCAR boss Brian Havelock believes the Bears can upset the formbook and
build a good first leg lead against favourites King''s Lynn in the first leg
of the title play-offs.
Havelock said: ''I will emphasise the point to the whole team that if they
ride as they have ridden all season, victory is well within their means and
with the potential for a reasonable margin too.''
RYE HOUSE have been given a massive boost ahead of the Premier League
play-offs as inspirational skipper Stuart Robson will return to the Rockets''
side after missing almost the whole season with a badly broken wrist.
Robson practiced at both Coventry and Rye last weekend, and then came
through the Andy Smith Testimonial meeting at Belle Vue with an impressive
eight-point score.
SHEFFIELD: ANDRE Compton will decide on Wednesday night whether to make his comeback for Sheffield in their home play-off tie with Workington the following day.
''It''s hard to tell at this stage, I really don''t know how I''m going to feel until I get back on a bike,'' said Compton.
SOMERSET boss Mick Bell believes his side are in with a great chance of reaching the knockout cup final - after gaining a 15-point lead in the home leg.
''If you''d have offered me a 15-point lead before last Friday I would have bitten your hand off!'' said Bell.
STOKE skipper Paul Clews celebrates his Testimonial meeting at Loomer Road
on Saturday with stars from Elite and Premier League taking part - and
former captain Paul Pickering will make an emotional track return, albeit
not in a racing capacity.
Pickering has not ridden since seriously injuring his arm at Hull early last
season, and Clews believes the Potters fans will enjoy seeing him on a bike
again.
He said: ''Paul was always the rider who gave me all the help and advice I
needed, he was a great captain and it will be a very special moment to see
him back on a bike for the first time.''
WORKINGTON boss Graham Drury is relishing the prospect of this Saturday''s Cumberland Classic at Derwent Park.
He said: ''I''m sure Saturday night will be a great night of racing and I''m sure the fans will enjoy it.''
Five Comets riders will be included along with the following: Ricky Ashworth, Chris Kerr, Kenneth Hansen, Kauko Niemenen, Jason Lyons, Simon Stead, Craig Branney, Chris Holder, Daniel King, Matthew Wethers, Josef Franc. FIXTURE PICTURE... TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 19:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Reading 7.30, Oxford v Ipswich 7.30,
Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI FINAL: King''s Lynn v Glasgow 7.30 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
CRAVEN SHIELD SEMI-FINAL: Swindon v Poole v Reading 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF QUARTER FINAL: Redcar v King''s Lynn 7.30, Sheffield
v Workington 7.45 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Eastbourne 7.45
PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Weymouth v Cleveland Bays 7.30
MATT READ FAREWELL: Somerset 7.30
CHALLENGE: Plymouth v Isle of Wight 7.30 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23:
CONFERENCE LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI-FINAL: Rye House v Scunthorpe 6pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Rye House v Boston (follows KOC fixture)
ANDERSON''S QUALITY BUTCHERS NORTHERN FOURS: Berwick 7pm
PAUL CLEWS TESTIMONIAL: Stoke 6.30pm
CUMBRIAN CLASSIC: Workington 7pm SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24:
PREMIER LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield 6pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Newport 2pm
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Buxton v Scunthorpe 3pm followed by Buxton v Weymouth MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: Peterborough v TBC, Reading v
TBC
CRAVEN SHIELD: Wolverhampton v Ipswich v Eastbourne 7.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Scunthorpe v Cleveland 7.30 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26:
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF QUARTER FINAL: Isle of Wight v Glasgow 7.30 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Oxford v Arena-Essex 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF QUARTER FINAL: King''s Lynn v Redcar 7.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Stoke v Sittingbourne 7.30 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28:
ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30
CRAVEN SHIELD: Ipswich v Wolverhampton v Eastbourne 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI FINAL 2nd leg: Sheffield v Somerset 7.45
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Cleveland Bays v Stoke 7.30
MIKE BROADBANK BENEFIT: Swindon v Australia Select 7.30 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena-Essex v Oxford 7.45
ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI FINAL 2nd leg: Coventry v Eastbourne 8pm
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY OFF QUARTER FINAL: Somerset v Rye House 7.30pm
DAVID NIX MEMORIAL: King''s Lynn 7.30 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30:
CRAVEN SHIELD: Eastbourne v Ipswich v Wolverhampton 7.30
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY OFF QUARTER FINAL: Rye House v Somerset 7pm, Workington
v Sheffield 7pm
PREMIER LEAGUE: Stoke v Mildenhall 7.30 SUNDAY OCTOBER 1:
ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole 4pm
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY OFF QUARTER FINAL: Glasgow v Isle of Wight 4pm
CHALLENGE: Newport v Somerset 2.30
TYNE/TEES TROPHY: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Scunthorpe v Weymouth 3pm MONDAY OCTOBER 2:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL 1st Leg
BRITISH UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP: Wolverhampton 7.30
www.british-speedway.co.uk
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