BRITISH SPEEDWAY ROUND-UP #8 – Tuesday, May 16, 2023

HERE’S our latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.

PIC OF THE WEEK…

WORKINGTON Comets got off to a winning start at their impressive new home venue when beating Edinburgh Academy 53-37 on Saturday in the National Development League. The fans turned out in large numbers in the Cumbrian sunshine and they were rewarded with an entertaining afternoon’s racing.
Photo Credit: DAVE PAYNE

SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP NEWSROUND…

REW BEAUTY!
IPSWICH’S Australian youngster Keynan Rew raced to his first paid maximum in the UK in an emphatic KO Cup win over Peterborough.
The Witches took the first leg 57-33 in a powerful performance with Rew unbeaten from five rides, meaning they are strong favourites to reach the Cup Final.
Boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Everybody is delighted to see Keynan ride like that and get his first paid maximum, it was brilliant to see. It was probably Danny’s (King) best meeting around here for a little while as well. The top four dropped two points between them, so nobody will be able to compete with that.
“Going to Peterborough we will go there looking to win a meeting but obviously we have a big lead, and it is one that you wouldn’t expect us to throw away. We have to make sure we are focused enough not to throw it away and make ourselves look silly.”

WOLVES MARCH ON
WOLVERHAMPTON remain unbeaten at home this season after a 50-40 win over Sheffield at Monmore Green on Monday.
The Black Country side are placed a strong second in the league table thanks to three wins on their own circuit and the aggregate point they gained against King’s Lynn.
Wolves star Rory Schlein said: “We know we’ve got to get a few away wins, but keep this place a fortress, keep winning at home and that will build the confidence.”

NO PANIC FOR TIGERS
SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead says there are no alarm bells after a ten-point defeat at Wolverhampton, with the Tigers being without Jack Holder and Kyle Howarth.
Stead’s side won at Monmore in the play-offs last autumn but were unable to repeat the feat on Monday despite a terrific display from Polish star Tobiasz Musielak, who scored 14.
Said Stead: “Trying to juggle the programme and get the best out of every heat that we could wasn’t easy.
“It was tough and I think we did the best we could under the circumstances. Yes, we went on to lose the meeting, but what I will say is there were plenty of positives.”

PANTHERS ON REPEAT
PETEROROUGH boss Rob Lyon said last week’s KO Cup defeat at Ipswich followed a familiar pattern for his side.
With no resolution to their issues at No.1 the Panthers had no answer to the Witches’ top four, and a heavy 57-33 loss was the outcome.
Lyon said: “Every night is tough at the minute, and three heat winners tells its own story.
“Ipswich are a good side at home with the top two boys, and Danny (King) is riding as good as I’ve seen him ride to be fair, so they were deserved winners tonight.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… A47 rivals King’s Lynn and Peterborough meet twice in the space of five days, both desperate to kickstart their seasons… Wolverhampton test their impressive home form against Ipswich at Monmore Green… Leicester host Sheffield who are led by former Lions captain Kyle Howarth… Belle Vue and Wolverhampton resolve their KO Cup quarter-final on Thursday with the Wolves 26 points ahead from the first leg.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP NEWSROUND…

BEARS’ ARMADALE DELIGHT
REDCAR collected their first away win at Edinburgh since 2013 when they took the points in a last-heat decider on Friday.
Charles Wright completed a paid maximum in Heat 15 and was joined by Danny King for a match-clinching 5-1 after the sides had gone into the race level.
Bears boss Gavin Parr said: “Overall, we rode well and there’s still room for improvement within the side, which is exciting!
“If I’m being honest, I didn’t see a 5-1 in Heat 14 to Edinburgh but when you can rely on two former British Champions to get the job done in Heat 15 it’s pretty good and they went out there and did the job!”

MONARCHS COME UP SHORT
EDINBURGH boss Alex Harkess accepted the Monarchs had lost to the better side when Redcar took the points from Armadale on Friday.
Harkess said: “We started so well with that very good first race, but we just haven’t been good enough. Our starting was so poor though obviously the Redcar heat leaders are very strong.
“I felt slightly surprised that we did get back into it but in the end, we came up short.”

ADVANTAGE TIGERS
GLASGOW took control of their BSN Series semi-final with Scunthorpe by winning 46-44 in an entertaining first leg at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
But boss Cami Brown says there will be no complacency ahead of the second leg at Ashfield on Friday.
Brown told glasgowtigers.co.uk: “I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true, this is only half time of this tie. We’ve got a big second leg to come. Scunthorpe are a strong side and have guys who like our track and they will be fired-up to do the same to us.
“We had a team meeting before we left the track and praised the boys. But it was made clear that it’s far from over. There simply cannot be any complacency. We still need to be strong at home and finish the job.”

SCORPIONS’ WAKE-UP CALL
SCUNTHORPE boss Dave Peet viewed last Friday’s home defeat to Glasgow as a wake-up call after an encouraging start to the season.
The Scorpions lost 46-44 in the first leg of the BSN Series semi-final although Peet insists the tie is not all over at this stage.
He said: “It’s not over yet, there’s still a second leg and another 15 races at Glasgow, although that’s now going to be tough.
“More than anything, tonight was a bit of a wake-up for some of the lads, and one they need to respond to, if we’re going to take what we think we can take from this season.”

RETURN OF THE KING
POOLE promoter Danny Ford says former skipper Danny King is assured of a warm welcome when he returns to Dorset with Redcar this week.
King led the Pirates to a series of trophies over the last two seasons before making the switch to the Bears over the winter, and the two sides now meet in the BSN Series semi-finals.
Ford said: “Seeing Danny back around Wimborne Road will be something special. He was such an important part of the team in the past couple of seasons and we were truly gutted to lose Danny this year, purely because of the numbers.
“It was certainly the hardest decision I have had to make since my involvement here at the club. We know what he can do here, so for sure he is going to be the danger man if you like, but we have got riders who can go out there and take it to him.”

BRUMMIES GO FOR JOE
BIRMINGHAM have brought in Joe Thompson following his recent release from Cab Direct Championship rivals Scunthorpe.
Thompson will make his Brummies debut in two league matches this week having been signed to replace Ty Proctor for the West Midlands side.
Manager Laurence Rogers said: “Joe has ridden brilliantly against us twice already this season – now we need him to come in and produce something very similar with the Brummies race-jacket on!
“He’s got a point to prove now I think, he’s very determined, he likes the track at Perry Barr and I think he’ll slot in with no problems at all.”

KINSLEY CHANCE FOR CHEETAHS
OXFORD will hand a senior opportunity to recent Chargers signing Ryan Kinsley in Wednesday’s final BSN Series group match against Plymouth.
Kinsley is set to stand in for the injured Luke Killeen, who crashed out at Belle Vue last week.
Boss Peter Schroeck said: “We looked at the alternatives while Luke is out, and it didn’t take long for us to decide that Ryan is the best option.
“Last week, Ryan came back after being out of action with a shoulder injury for a year, and he put in three terrific performances for Chargers. He was a Championship rider before his injury and he will be keen to show he deserves a full-time place in this league.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… Birmingham are looking for a first win of the season when they start their league campaign with two matches in 24 hours, visiting Plymouth on Tuesday and then entertaining Edinburgh on Wednesday… the BSN Series semi-finals reach a conclusion with Glasgow taking a two-point lead into their home tie with Scunthorpe on Friday, whilst Poole and Redcar meet in Dorset on Wednesday and Teesside on Saturday… the final group fixture is concluded as Oxford host Plymouth at Cowley.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NEWSROUND…

WHAT A START!
WORKINGTON promoter Andrew Bain was able to look back with pride upon a hugely successful opening meeting at Northside.
The new era Comets defeated Edinburgh 53-37 in the NDL in front of a tremendous crowd, and now look ahead to home and away clashes with Berwick this weekend.
Bain said: “It’s been an absolutely awesome day from start to finish – the weather, the racing, the crowd. We are really pleased with how it’s gone.
“We said our first target was to win the opening meeting and we’ve done that. Five of the team won heats and that’s good, and they showed signs of really starting to gel as a team.”

COLTS ON TOP
BELLE Vue raced to a second big home win of the season over a depleted Oxford side at the National Speedway Stadium.
The Colts are top of the early NDL table and new signing James Pearson is still unbeaten on his new home track.
Pearson said: “I think, as a team, we’ve been having a lot of fun with our racing and the results, especially at home, are coming naturally because of the atmosphere amongst the boys.
“We started the meeting strongly and maintain that strength throughout the night. We’ve built some good momentum and now we’ve got to keep it up ready for our next few matches.”

ACADEMY SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT
EDINBURGH made a strong start at Workington on Saturday but eventually suffered a 16-point defeat – although boss Scott Wilson felt they deserved more from the meeting.
He said: “Naturally I’m very disappointed with the result, we’ve set ourselves higher standards than that this season. Having said that 16 points doesn’t reflect how we rode or tell the story of the meeting.
“Each of the boys had their moments with the top five all securing at least one win or paid win. But for misfortunes, that might have been all seven.”

ONE WIN BUT TWO DOWN
AN eventful week of NDL racing for Oxford saw the Chargers defeat champions Leicester at home but then suffer two rider absences.
Jordan Jenkins was ruled out of away matches at Belle Vue and Mildenhall with concussion, whilst Luke Killeen suffered a wrist injury after a crash at the NSS. Both matches were lost, with the Chargers beaten in a last heat decider at West Row.
Boss Peter Schroeck said: “There is great character in the Oxford Chargers team, and we’ve shown that by coming here today without Jordan and Luke and still pushing Mildenhall all the way. My thanks to Joe Thompson and Sam Woods for coming in for us.
“As far as I’m concerned, we won today even though we lost, because the lads have again grown and that’s what the Chargers are all about.”

FEN TIGERS’ COMEBACK JOY
MILDENHALL overcame Oxford in an NDL classic at West Row on Sunday with the lead repeatedly changing hands.
Fen Tigers top two Lee Complin and Alfie Bowtell eventually won it for the home side with a 5-1 in Heat 15 to turn a two-point deficit into a 45-43 win.
Complin said: “We never gave up and when our backs were against the wall we clubbed together as a team. Oxford deserve a great deal of credit for their part in the match – they are a very good side.
“It was great to do it for our fans who have been terrific.”

LION CUBS MISS OUT
NDL Champions Leicester were beaten in their opening away match at Oxford despite holding an advantage in the early stages.
Boss Dave Howard said: “We had a good start and we were four points up after six, and then in Heat 7 Tom (Spencer) had been knocked and fell, and everyone was put back.
“But then when exactly the same thing happened, Max (Perry) was excluded, and that was the start of the move the other way.”

BACK ON TRACK
KENT secured their first win of the NDL season with a 54-34 win over Berwick at Iwade – and for good measure they also took the aggregate point in a Super Heat.
Manager Jamie Wills said: “Si (Kellow) and I are delighted with the win and it’s a weight off our shoulders. The boys showed what they are really made of and I’m very proud of them.
“There is an excellent team spirit in our camp, and this is just the start.”

BULLETS LEFT FRUSTRATED
BERWICK boss Jamie Courtney felt his side hadn’t received what they deserved when they came away from Kent point-less on Sunday after a series of incidents.
The Bullets had defeated the Royals by 20 points at Shielfield Park but lost by the same margin at Iwade, and were then beaten in a Super Heat for the aggregate point.
Courtney said: “It was a gater’s paradise so the run to the first bend was all-important. It was always going to be tight but the referee penalised the faller every time.
“Everyone is hugely disappointed not to have taken the aggregate point but we had little or no luck on the afternoon.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… NDL action this weekend features a double clash between Berwick and Workington as the sides meet at Shielfield Park on Saturday before the return at Northside on Sunday afternoon.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY MAY 16:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Birmingham 7pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 17:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.30
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Redcar 7.30
BSN SERIES: Oxford (48) v Plymouth (42) 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 18:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: King’s Lynn v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Belle Vue (20) v Wolverhampton (46) 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 19:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow (46) v Scunthorpe (44) 7.30

SATURDAY MAY 20:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Redcar v Poole 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Berwick v Workington 7pm

SUNDAY MAY 21:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Workington v Berwick 3pm

MONDAY MAY 22:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: Leicester v Sheffield 7.30, Peterborough v King’s Lynn 7.30, Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30

WEDNESDAY MAY 24:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Scunthorpe 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Oxford (33) v Belle Vue (56) 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 25:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich v Leicester 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 26:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Mildenhall 7.30

SATURDAY MAY 27:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester v Kent 7pm

SUNDAY MAY 28:
BRITISH U21 QUALIFIER: Workington 3pm

MONDAY MAY 29:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 12pm, Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 8pm