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SPEEDWAY WEEKLY ROUND-UP
26 September 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS'' CHAMPIONSHIP
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST
THE top three riders in world speedway all feature in this Sunday''s mouthwatering Elite League Riders'' Championship at Poole (4pm).
Newly crowned world champion Jason Crump represents Belle Vue, runner-up Greg Hancock will carry Reading''s hopes and Nicki Pedersen will be looking for another ELRC success for Eastbourne.
LINE-UP: Todd Wiltshire (Pxford), Jesper B Jensen (Peterborough), Billy Hamill (Wolverhampton), Scott Nicholls (Coventry), Greg Hancock (Reading), Nicki Pedersen (Eastbourne), Bjarne Pedersen (Poole), Pepe Protasiewicz (Ipswich), Hans Andersen (Denmark), Jason Crump (Belle Vue), Kris Kasprzak (Poole), Peter Karlsson (Wolverhampton), Leigh Adams (Swindon), Simon Stead (Belle Vue), Mark Loram (Ipswich), Joonas Kylmakorpi (Arema-Essex).
ARENA-ESSEX skipper Steve Johnston says the Hammers are desperate to avoid finishing bottom of the table for the second consecutive season.
Arena go into a crucial basement battle with rivals Oxford this week at both Cowley and Purfleet and are likely to need a positive result away as well as at home.
Johnston said: ''The lads know what the have to do against Oxford and we must also get the bonus point against Eastbourne. We certainly don''t want to finish in that last place again.''
BELLE VUE boss Ian Thomas has included Aces legend Jason Lyons, who could not be fitted into this season''s team, in the side as a guest for all three legs of their forthcoming Craven Shield semi-final.
Thomas said: ''He was unhappy when I didn''t include him in the field for the
Peter Craven Memorial Trophy at the start of the season.
''I promised him then I would give him a booking at Belle Vue if possible and
I have more than kept my word by giving him three matches.''
COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes had no complaints about the result after seeing
the Bees'' title defence come to an end with defeat at Peterborough in
Monday''s semi-final.
Oakes said: ''None of us will take anything away from Peterborough, they did
deserve their win and I hope they go and win the Grand Final.
''All credit to our lads because we were written off but we can still reach
the Knockout Cup Final and got within a few races of the play-off Final, so
you can''t point any fingers at anyone.''
EASTBOURNE have confirmed that they want to keep World No.3 Nicki Pedersen
at Arlington next season despite reported strong interest from South coast
rivals Poole.
A club statement said: ''The reasons for Eastbourne Speedway not purchasing
the rider''s contract have been to protect Nicki''s rights to a Testimonial,
but he has suggested we now pursue a full transfer agreement even though it
means he will have to waive that right.
''It is our intention to build a successful team in 2007 and Nicki is very
much part of those plans.''
IPSWICH supporters seem likely to have seen the last of Piotr Protasiewicz
in their colours, at least for this season, with the Pole officially in
dispute with the club.
Protasiewicz told the Witches promoter John Louis that he would not be able
to make Monday''s Craven Shield match at Wolverhampton - and the club''s
management were, not surprisingly, far from happy.
They used the guest facility at Monmore Green and Protasiewicz is expected
to be handed a ban for withholding his services which would rule him out of
the Witches'' final meetings anyway.
OXFORD owner Aaron Lanney has called a Fans'' Forum at Cowley next Wednesday, October 4.
''I just thought it represented a good opportunity to update supporters and give them my own honest opinions on the future of the club,'' said Lanney.
''I said from day one that I walways wanted to communicate with the supporters and sponsors because they are the lifeblood of the club, not me.''
PETERBOROUGH manager Trevor Swales says the Panthers will certainly not be
on the defensive when they go to Reading for the first leg of the play-off
Final.
Swales said: ''We''ll be going there next Monday trying to win - we''re not
interested in just trying to keep things close. We''ve already won there once
this season, and hopefully we''ll find that the track will be to our liking
when we get there.
''I thought we rode well as a unit in the semi-final. It was good to see
Jesper Jensen back to his best and Richard Hall was simply outstanding. He''s
been doing it for quite a few weeks now and it is great to see the way he
has stepped up.''
POOLE manager Neil Middleditch has expressed his disappointment at Antonio
Lindback''s decision to cut short his 2006 season due to a knee injury.
Middleditch said: ''What surprises me is that Antonio was still prepared to
risk the knee in the final Grand Prix.
''I would have much preferred he race for us in the crucial KO Cup semi-final
second leg rather than the GP where, let''s be honest, he should get selected
by the GP panel for next season. But it''s not going to happen and we have to
soldier on in pursuit of the Cup and the Craven Shield.''
READING boss Jim Lynch was proud of his team after they overcame numerous
setbacks to defeat Swindon and set up a Grand Final showdown with
Peterborough.
The Bulldogs were without skipper Greg Hancock due to food poisoning ahead
of Monday''s semi-final, and both Travis McGowan and Matej Zagar took painful
falls.
Lynch said: ''It was a hell of a blow losing Greg in the early hours of the
morning, but it was an incredible response from the team and I''m so proud of
all of them with the way they contributed to this fantastic victory.''
SWINDON owner Terry Russell insists that Robins fans should not be too
disappointed about their play-off defeat at Reading, pointing out how far
the club have come this season.
Russell said: ''We have had a very good season, our best since we have been
back in the Elite League. I hope next year there will not be too many
changes.
''It was always going to be hard coming away (in the play-offs) and now we
have to go back to the drawing board and come back again.''
WOLVERHAMPTON have given Magnus Karlsson the week off - as he prepares to become a proud dad!
Karlsson missed out on Monday''s Craven Shield defeat by Ipswich and winners Eastbourne and will also miss the trips to both clubs on Thursday and Saturday.
Promoter Chris Van Straaten said: ''We felt it was the right thing to do. I also feel this has been weighing heavy on his mind in recent weeks.''
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST... BERWICK promoter Peter Waite has been delighted with the standard of racing
in the club''s season-ending events, which included a hotly contested four
team tournament last weekend.
Waite said: ''It was another excellent meeting, and the riders put in some
amazing efforts to get their points. The season is coming to a thrilling end
with some of the best racing seen this year.''
EDINBURGH have refuted suggestions that William Lawson has agreed an Elite
League contract with Wolverhampton, with the rider himself saying that he is
happy with the current arrangement.
Lawson said: ''I haven''t signed anything, but I have been told the rules
won''t change next season so hopefully I can carry on riding for Edinburgh
and doubling up for Wolves.''
GLASGOW promoter Alan Dick has explained why the Tigers chose to undertake
the mammoth journey to the Isle of Wight in the quarter finals of the
play-offs.
Dick said: ''We have a terrible record at Somerset. The Isle of Wight is a
long, long way to go but we didn''t do too badly there in the League and
Danny Bird knows the place like the back of his hand.''
ISLE OF WIGHT co-promoter Martin Newnham wants his team to build a good lead
over Glasgow in the first leg of their play-off quarter final.
Newnham said: ''We''ve qualified for the play-offs on merit and now we have it
in our power to win this year''s Premier League title. There''s a belief in
the camp we can do it but it won''t be easy to defeat Glasgow over two legs.''
KING''S LYNN boss Rob Lyon hopes the Stars fans will back the club''s bid to
complete the most successful season in the club''s history over the next
month.
Lyon said: ''The fans need to be there for us and we need them to dig deep
and support us at every opportunity. I want them to savour every minute of
our success if we achieve it.''
MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton says that sorting out the West Row track
preparation is a crucial factor in the club having a future at Premier
League level under his promotion.
Horton said: ''I can''t really do anything until I have it in writing that we
will be in charge of our own track preparation. Everything has to wait until
we get an agreement.''
NEWCASTLE star George Stancl was forced to pull out of last weekend''s
Premier League Riders'' Championship at former club Sheffield as he was still
struggling with a back injury.
Diamonds team boss George English said: ''George accepts it was too quick a
comeback when he rode for us at Edinburgh and lasted only two races. He''s
not in as much pain as he was, but he still has a lot of discomfort.''
NEWPORT promoter Tim Stone is keen for his side to sign off with a win in
their last team match of the season against local rivals Somerset on Sunday.
Stone said: ''It is important for us to try to win on the day. There will be
no pressure on the riders and they will be going out to do their very best.''
REDCAR boss Brian Havelock knows that a home defeat against title favourites
King''s Lynn in the first leg of their play-off quarter final virtually
spells the end of the Bears'' aspirations.
Havelock said: ''King''s Lynn run like the proverbial train and it will be a
catastrophe if they don''t win the League. At least we had some good news
with Matt Tresarrieu signing for us permanently. He is young and attractive
to watch.''
RYE HOUSE skipper Stuart Robson hopes that his return to the saddle after
missing almost the whole season with a serious wrist injury can spur the
Rockets on for their title defence in the play-offs.
Robson said: ''Hopefully the fact I''m back will give the team a boost, but
I''m going to need a boost myself as my confidence is not exactly high after
having almost a year out.''
SHEFFIELD have booked Mildenhall''s Jason Lyons for their Knockout Cup semi-final with Somerset at Owlerton on Thursday.
Lyons deputises for skipper Andre Compton who aggravated a shoulder injury in the Premier League Riders'' Championship on Sunday.
Somerset lead by 15 going into the second leg.
SOMERSET boss Mick Bell is backing his side to put Sheffield out of the cup at Owlerton on Thursday.
''I''ll be very disappointed if we lose a 15-point advantage, but I guess if we do then we only have ourselves to blame. I''m sure it won''t happen!'' said Bell.
STOKE boss John Adams accepts that there will be an element of
disappointment about the Potters'' final Premier League fixture of the season
this weekend as the club failed to make the play-offs.
Adams said: ''We kept out belief but losing three home meetings made the
going very hard and we just didn''t get the away results we needed to keep us
in the mix.''
WORKINGTON boss Graham Drury believes fans are in for a treat when his side face Sheffield in the Premier League play-off quarter-final on Saturday.
Comets need to overhaul a 13-point deficit to go through and Drury said: ''I believe the supporters coming along on Saturday will have a fantastic meeting to look forward to, it promises to be something special because there is so much on the line.'' FIXTURE PICTURE: 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 OFF 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
SCOTTISH CUP: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30
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
CHALLENGE: Scottish Junior Select v English Junior Select (Berwick) 7pm 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: Buxton v Stoke 3pm, Scunthorpe v Weymouth 3pm
LINCOLNSHIRE OPEN: King''s Lynn 7.30
BRITISH U15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Newport (follows Challenge fixture) MONDAY OCTOBER 2:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL 1st Leg: Reading v Peterborough 7.30
BRITISH UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP: Wolverhampton 7.30 TUESDAY OCTOBER 3:
CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7.30 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4:
CRAVEN SHIELD SEMI-FINAL: Belle Vue v Coventry v Peterborough 7.45, Poole v
Reading v Swindon 7.30
PRIDE OF THE EAST: King''s Lynn 7.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Stoke v Sittingbourne 7.30 THURSDAY OCTOBER 5:
CRAVEN SHIELD SEMI-FINAL: Peterborough v Belle Vue v Coventry 7.30
16-LAP CLASSIC: Ipswich 7.30
TYNE/TEES TROPHY: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30 FRIDAY OCTOBER 6:
CRAVEN SHIELD SEMI FINAL: Coventry v Peterborough v Belle Vue 8pm
DEVON/DORSET TROPHY: Plymouth v Weymouth 7.30 SATURDAY OCTOBER 7:
PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Workington 7pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI FINAL 1st leg: Rye House v Scunthorpe 7pm
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Sittingbourne v Scunthorpe 12pm followed by Sittingbourne
v Buxton
BRITISH UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar 3pm SUNDAY OCTOBER 8:
PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Glasgow 4pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI FINAL 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Rye House 3pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Newport 4.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Stoke v Buxton 7.30 MONDAY OCTOBER 9:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL 2nd Leg: Peterborough v Reading 7.30
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