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SPEEDWAY: WEEKLY ROUND-UP
17 October 2006 - British Speedway Promoters Association
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST.
BELLE VUE boss Ian Thomas is proud of his team''s achievements in the last two seasons although he faces an uncertain future with the recent takeover of the club.
Thomas said: ''We have some silverare in the cabinet from our EL Pairs victory courtesy of Jason Crump and Simon Stead, and we also have the World Champion with us.
''A lot of teams would like to settle for that, add to that our KO Cup success and being top of the League after 38 matches last season and I think it''s safe to say that we have done reasonably well in the past two years!''
COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes said it was an all-round team effort which secured the Knockout Cup for the club for the first time since 1967.
Oakes said: ''We did our job over the 30 heats and I thought we gave a super performance over the two legs. I don''t think anyone could doubt that we were the better team in the Final.
''You can''t really pick out individuals because all season long it''s been a collective effort, not only from the riders but also the management, the back-up team and the fans. It''s all one team, and that''s why you win things.''
EASTBOURNE boss Jon Cook is proposing a change to the sport''s tactical ride regulation which would see teams only once allowed to nominate a rider for double-points from the start line.
Cook said: ''When the first one comes you know they are going to throw the kitchen sink at you but they should not get a second chance.
''If we did away with the second one, that would lead to more teams using the tactical substitute rule when a rider comes off a 15-metre handicap and that is tremendously exciting to watch.''
IPSWICH star Robert Miskowiak said mechanical problems had stopped him from winning the club''s 16-lap season finale, but the Pole wants to return to Foxhall next year.
Miskowiak said: ''If I had kept going I would have passed Adam Shields around lap 12 or 13 after tailing him for seven circuits.
''I just lost power and could not get a reaction from the machine, but I hope I have done enough to keep my Witches'' place in 2007.''
PETERBOROUGH reserve Richard Hall is keen to remain in the Elite League with the Panthers next year after a storming end to his first campaign in the top flight.
Hall said: ''The Peterborough track is perfect for my style and I''ve scored a lot of points for them. I would like to be back at Peterborough, that has to be my first choice because of the way everything has gone for me.
''The Elite League is tough, but I think I''ve handled it well and it would be a backward step for me to go back into the Premier League now.''
POOLE boss Neil Middleditch is pleased that the Pirates have extended their season in the Craven Shield competition, and now wants to see off Coventry and Eastbourne in the Final.
Middleditch said: ''It gives us a great chance of redeeming what has been a poor season for us. Now that we are in the Final, it would be really pleasing to go all the way and pick up the silverware.
''It was another good team performance [at Reading] and one which will give us a big boost for the Finals.''
READING star Travis McGowan says that he has enjoyed his best season ever in the sport with the Bulldogs this season.
McGowan said: ''It was a big move for me to come here from Oxford, but it definitely paid off and showed in my performances, especially away from home. I feel I''m a much better rider for it.
''We''ve had a great team this year, so hopefully the management can put together another one for next season.''
SWINDON manager Alun Rossiter accepted that the absences of Sebastian Ulamek and Adrian Miedzinski were a contributory factor to the Robins bowing out of the Craven Shield in the semi-finals.
Rossiter said: ''With a couple of key riders missing it was always going to be hard to pull back the three-point advantage from Poole going into the third leg.
''It was extremely difficult under the circumstances. Everyone tried their best but it wasn''t to be. But it has been a very good season with third place in the Elite League table.''
WOLVERHAMPTON have won the race to sign teenage sensation Tai Woffinden on a full contract.
Woffinden, the son of former rider Rob, has attracted the interest of a host of clubs throughout the year.
Said Tai: ''Talking to people respected by my dad, we have been told nothing but good things about Wolverhampton and what a great club they are with a great management, supporters and stadium.'' PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST.
EDINBURGH gained some consolation for a disappointing season by lifting the Scottish Cup with a surprise win at fierce rivals Glasgow on Sunday.
Club spokesman Mike Hunter said: ''The whole team fought hard, and seemed to have a belief which has largely been lacking away from home this season. There were no failures in the blue and gold on this occasion.''
GLASGOW wrap up a successful season with the staging of the Ashfield Classic this Sunday. Tigers bosses are working to put together a strong line-up for the meeting, which could include a number of Elite League riders.
ISLE OF WIGHT manager Dave Croucher felt his side had not done themselves justice against Sheffield in the play-off semi-final - but still praised them for a strong season.
Croucher said: ''The boys didn''t really perform over the two legs as a unit for I know they are better than the aggregate scoreline suggests. Had we ridden at our very best, as we have done so many times this season, a place in the Final was a possibility.''
KING''S LYNN skipper Tomas Topinka will make his return to the Stars side for Wednesday''s play-off semi-final after two weeks out with a hand injury.
The Czech star said: ''It has hurt me more emotionally than physically to miss these last three matches. Winning the League means more to me then anything else in my career and I want to me the man that leads the team to it.''
GEORGE Stancl kept Newcastle in contention for the Tyne/Tees Trophy with a bumper 19-point haul, beaten only by home skipper Gary Havelock, at Redcar.
The Diamonds stage the re-arranged home leg at Brough Park this Sunday.
REDCAR boss Brian Havelock believes his side have one hand on the Tyne/Tees Trophy after a twelve point first-leg win over Newcastle.
Havelock said: ''It was a good effort form everyone and now we''ve just got to motivate them to finish the job off. We''ve got a great chance of winning the trophy.''
RYE HOUSE promoter Len Silver says his team will be going all out to protect their six-point lead over King''s Lynn in the play-off semi-final when they travel to the Norfolk Arena on Wednesday.
Silver said: ''We wanted a few more points to take with us but six will do, we tried our hardest and had a bit of bad luck but the same can happen to King''s Lynn on Wednesday night.''
SHEFFIELD have booked teenage sensation Tai Woffinden for both legs of the Play-off Grand Final against King''s Lynn or Rye House.
Co-promoter Neil Machin said: ''We need strength in-depth for both legs of the final and using Tai will help us achieve that.''
WORKINGTON are hoping to reveal the identity of their new co-promoter next week.
Owner Tony Mole said: ''There has been plenty of interest in the vacancy and I hope to make an announcement soon.'' FIXTURE PICTURE. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18:
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: King''s Lynn v Rye House 7.30
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Stoke v Sittingbourne OFF THURSDAY OCTOBER 19:
CHALLENGE: Swindon v Rest of the World 7.30
YORKSHIRE CUP: Sheffield v Hull 7.45
SOUTH TEES SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30 FRIDAY OCTOBER 20:
CRAVEN SHIELD FINAL: Coventry v Eastbourne v Poole 8pm
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE: King''s Lynn v Peterborough 7.30
CONFERENCE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL 2nd leg: Plymouth v Scunthorpe 7.30 SATURDAY OCTOBER 21:
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Stoke v Buxton 7.30 SUNDAY OCTOBER 22:
CRAVEN SHIELD FINAL: Eastbourne v Poole v Coventry 3.30
TYNE/TEES TROPHY: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30
2006 FEN FINALE: Mildenhall 3pm
ASHFIELD CLASSIC: Glasgow 4pm
CONFERENCE LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Plymouth 3pm MONDAY OCTOBER 23:
MIDLAND TROPHY: Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30
CONFERENCE TROPHY: Boston v Scunthorpe 7.30 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25:
CRAVEN SHIELD FINAL: Poole v Coventry v Eastbourne 7.30 THURSDAY OCTOBER 26:
CONFERENCE SHIELD: Cleveland Bays v Buxton 7.30 FRIDAY OCTOBER 27:
MIDLAND TROPHY: Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm SATURDAY OCTOBER 28:
SAINSBURYS ACE OF HERTS INDIVIDUAL: Rye House 7pm SUNDAY OCTOBER 29:
COVENTRY: Reserved 1pm
CONFERENCE TROPHY FINAL 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Plymouth 3pm
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