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Busy weekend of speedway action ahead
Rory Schlein takes over the number one spot on Friday night when the bid to make it third time lucky against Redcar Bears.
Having lost home and away to them in this year’s Knockout Cup Berwick travel to Cleveland looking for a much better performance in what is only their second Cabs Direct Championship meeting of the season.
New signing Jacob Hook slots into the reserve berth alongside Connor Coles who is in the form of his life.
This is Redcar’s first Championship outing of the season while the Bandits’ won their only fixture so far, at home to Scunthorpe.
Berwick skipper Leon Flint was hampered by a leg injury sustained during the pre-meeting warm-up session at Redcar in April but he is raring to get back on track with the Bandits.
“It’s been a while but we’ve all been riding in the Premiership and on the continent so it is not as if we are going in cold,” he said.
“Rory is so experienced that he is unlikely to be phased by taking over the number one spot while the signing of Jacob Hook in the midweek is a good move by the management.
“Beginning on Friday we now have a run of fixtures – Oxford at home and Birmingham away – where we will be looking to pick up the points with a view to qualifying for the play-offs.”
“So far the league has shown that there is not much between the teams. On their day everyone seems capable of beating anyone.”
After the dust settles at the Ecco Arena National Development League Bullets take centre stage again when high-flying Mildenhall Tigers visit Shielfield Park on Saturday.
That means skippers Greg Blair and Lee Complin going head-to-head for the third time this season with pulses still racing from their clash three weeks ago when the former Bandit guested for Workington.
When the teams met at West Row last month it was Connor Coles, Danny Phillips and an inspired Jamie Halder who took the fight to Complin and Alfie Bowtell, going into heat 15 with the chance of a draw.
Josh Embleton is sidelined by a chipped wrist and knee ligament damage sustained in a high speed crash against Workington, former Edinburgh and Leicester teenager Mickie Simpson guesting.
The Tigers enjoyed back-to-back victories at Workington and at home to Belle Vue last weekend but lost a bruising top of the table encounter at Oxford on Tuesday night.
Missing at Cowley was teenage sensation Ben Trigger who was on Championship duty with Plymouth but the 17-year-old will be back on Sunday.
Tuesday’s result came as no surprise to Blair who said: “Having ridden against everyone other that Monarchs’ Academy, I would say that Oxford are my favourites to go on and win the league.
“Mildenhall are a good team too and, from a personal point of view I’m looking forward to facing Lee (Complin) again. He’s a good mate and I know he’s keen to get one over me after Workington.
“Both teams are packed with talent and the meetings have been so tight around the National League this year that the battle for the minor places is as important as race wins.
“With the season over halfway through we didn’t plan to be sat at the bottom of the table but, despite everything, I don’t think our performances have been reflected by our points’ tally.
“Against Oxford Mason (Watson) looked back to his old self after a tricky start to the season and a firing reserve is always going to be an advantage when the scores are tight.”
Tickets are available from berwickspeedway.com/tickets and the meeting will be livestreamed by BanditsTV! tv.berwickspeedway.com
Bears: Danny King, Danyon Hume, Erik Riss, Connor Bailey, Charles Wright, Jason Edwards, Jake Mulford
Bandits: Rory Schlein, Jonas Knudsen, Leon Flint, Jye Etheridge, Thomas Jorgensen, Jacob Hook, Connor Coles
Bullets: Danny Phillips, Ben Rathbone, Connor Coles, Jamie Halder, Greg Blair, Mickie Simpson, Mason Watson
