BRITISH SPEEDWAY SOLOS JULY 9

Date: Friday July 9, 2021

(SPEEDWAY 1)

CRAIG Cook scored a 15-point maximum against his former club as Ipswich completed a positive week with a 48-42 win over Belle Vue.
The Witches followed up their victory at King’s Lynn by defeating the second-placed Aces for only their second success at Foxhall this season, giving their play-off hopes a boost in the process.
Two 5-1s in Heats 12 and 13 took the hosts eight points clear but the visitors forced a nervous finale by hitting back with their own 5-1 in Heat 14, before Cook secured the Witches’ win in the decider.
Second place for Brady Kurtz (13) in Heat 15 ensured the Aces would take a league point from the meeting, despite Charles Wright crashing out in his first ride.
Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “Cookie is really enjoying his time with us, and he certainly got something working tonight.
“I’m really pleased for him and how he has conducted himself and fitted into the club from the word go. He has become an integral part of the team very quickly.
“We needed those two wins this week. We still have a big task ahead of ourselves to push for the play-offs, but we are still in the picture at least.”
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It was always going to be a challenge when you’re faced with Craig Cook in vintage form, but the boys were very impressive and really dug deep to claw back the point.
“It was a major blow for us losing Charles Wright so early on in the meeting, and to his credit he was prepared to race on, but it was quite apparent that would have been unwise.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD have made a team change with Josh Pickering joining the club in place of Justin Sedgmen.
Pickering has impressed with Championship side Edinburgh and now steps into the top-flight for the first time, with his debut set for the Tigers’ away match at Peterborough on Monday.
Co-promoter Damien Bates said: “We feel Josh deserves an opportunity with us, and it’s a surprise he’s not had a Premiership place before.
“As a club we would like to thank Justin for his efforts and wish him well, we hope he gets another Premiership place soon. We just feel Josh is the better option for us at this time.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

GLASGOW look to maintain their position at the top of the Championship when they host Newcastle tonight (Friday).
The Tigers are currently three points clear whilst nearest rivals Scunthorpe race twice this weekend – as do Scottish rivals Edinburgh, who have only lost once so far.
The hosts are at full strength with reserve Connor Bailey making his first Ashfield appearance since returning to the side.
The Diamonds continue to operate rider-replacement for Adam Roynon and have declared Steve Pate as manager.
Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “It’s been a real buzz for me to see supporters inside the stadium again on a Friday night, and I know the boys get a real boost from it.
“I’ve said all along that if we can all click at once we can give someone a real going over – hopefully we can set the tone for the rest of our season by doing that against Newcastle.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

SCUNTHORPE promoter Rob Godfrey is urging his team to keep their home focus as they prepare to face Kent tonight (Friday).
The Scorpions have won all six league matches at the Eddie Wright Raceway to lift themselves to second place in the Championship, although they are aware an improvement in away form will be required to reach the play-offs.
Former Scunthorpe man Steve Worrall guests for Adam Ellis, who is competing in the European Pairs this weekend, whilst the Kings continue to operate rider-replacement for Tom Bacon and have named Jake Mulford as No.8.
Godfrey said: “While we fully realise we do need to get some away points, first and foremost it’s about your home form, it’s about keeping a clean sheet at home and, so far, we have managed that while some other teams haven’t.
“I think it’ll be another top night of speedway. Kings are led by a class rider in Scott Nicholls, who has been in excellent form so far this season, and they contain some riders who can be a real handful around the Eddie Wright Raceway.
“We need to be on our guard and ensure we bring home the three league points.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

EDINBURGH and Berwick go into a big double Championship clash this weekend with the sides first meeting at Armadale tonight (Friday).
The Monarchs have a change to their riding order with William Lawson moving up into the top five and Kye Thomson dropping to reserve – whilst Joe Lawlor is ruled out due to Covid, and Jack Smith comes in as a guest.
Berwick have a full side for the first time this season as Kasper Andersen makes his debut having replaced the absent Coty Garcia.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “I’d like to believe that Kye will gain from being in the reserve berth and won’t be there very long. William shouldn’t be fazed because he’s done it all before
“Berwick have one or two riders who have done well at Armadale – at times – but with for example Aaron Summers, you can never be sure what he’s bringing to the table. 
“It’s not really dependant on what Berwick do, it’s what we do, and if we do what we are capable of we will be fine.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

REDCAR seek to bounce back from last week’s home defeat when they host Birmingham at the Media Prima Arena tonight (Friday).
The Bears lost at home to Eastbourne in their previous outing and are without reserve Anders Rowe due to a knee injury, with Drew Kemp guesting. Rider-replacement remains in operation for Jordan Stewart.
The Brummies are missing German duo Erik Riss and Valentin Grobauer due to injury as they race for the first time in a month. Poole duo Rory Schlein and Stefan Nielsen come in as guests.
Bears star Michael Palm Toft said: “The home meeting against Birmingham is a must-win, we are ready to give it 100 per cent as normal and send them home with nothing.  
“I still believe we can reach the play-offs, it just means we can’t lose at home and we need some points from away meetings too.”

Brummies boss Laurence Rogers said: “The boys may not have ridden together for a month but Redcar is kind of the ideal place for us to get going again.
“It was our last away meeting when we faced them in the Cup at the beginning of June and we can certainly take a lot of heart from the way we fought back in that meeting.”

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY JULY 9:

CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Glasgow v Newcastle 7.30, Redcar v Birmingham 7.30, Scunthorpe v Kent 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 10:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Leicester v Scunthorpe 7pm

MONDAY JULY 12:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30, Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY JULY 13:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Redcar 6.30, Plymouth v Poole 7pm