BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 19

Feature photo, Pirates Skipper Danny King

Date: Thursday August 19, 2021

 (SPEEDWAY 1)

POOLE jumped up to second in the Championship table with a 57-33 win over injury-hit Scunthorpe at Wimborne Road.
The Pirates clocked up four 5-1 advantages in the first five heats to put the match beyond the Scorpions, who were without three members of their regular septet.

Skipper Danny King led the way for the home side with 13+1 from five rides, whilst Steve Worrall added 11+1. Guest Broc Nicol picked up 11 for the visitors.
King said: “It was good to have Ben (Cook) back with us tonight and I think it made a big difference to us.
“I am now looking forward to having a full complement of permanent Pirates when the other Ben (Benjamin Basso) is available, which I believe is on Friday.”

Scorpions boss Dave Peet said: “We had a rough night at Plymouth and this was always going to be a hard place to come. One or two of our lads were still feeling the effects of their crashes from the previous night.
“Poole was always going to be tough. I don’t think the scoreline gave credit to how much we contributed to the match. We took five heats to get dialled in, but then we played our part.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

BIRMINGHAM finished with three 5-1s in the last three heats to wrap up a 53-37 win over Berwick at Perry Barr.
The Brummies only led by two points after Heat 11 but dominated the closing stages for their third home league victory in succession.
Erik Riss completed a 14+1 paid maximum and twice combined with Chris Harris (12+1) for late 5-1s. Former Brummie Leon Flint starred on his return to his old home track with 12+2.

Birmingham boss Laurence Rogers said: “It was a bit worrying at one time, it was getting a bit close, but the boys pulled it out of the bag with those 5-1s at the end.
“Erik had his favourite engine back and that very much showed, that was more like the Risky we know, and hopefully it’s the first of many maximums.
“The track was way different, and no dust which was lovely! It’s still a bit bumpy in place, but John (Priest) will be working on that, and we’ll get it right.”

Berwick manager Gary Flint said: “We could have run Birmingham a lot closer in all fairness, as we lost a lot of points we could have held on to, but that’s how speedway goes at times.
“We have Kent up at Shielfield Park on Saturday and fully intend to be back on the winning track at the weekend.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SHEFFIELD have confirmed Danyon Hume in their Rising Star berth ahead of tonight’s (Thursday) Premiership trip to King’s Lynn.
Hume, who has made several guest appearances for the Tigers recently, replaces Josh Bates who is likely to be out for the remainder of the season due to a back injury.Said Hume: “I’m buzzing to have signed for Sheffield. When I got the opportunity to race a couple of meetings to prove myself I took the opportunity with both hands and sealed the deal.
“I want to continue doing what I’m doing, picking up points and enjoying my racing. It’s cool to be asked to ride for such a big and professional team and surrounded with a good group of lads.”

Sheffield will be without British Champion Adam Ellis at the Adrian Flux Arena as he has a knee injury, with Chris Harris booked to guest as they look to repeat a recent away win in Norfolk to boost their play-off hopes.
Stars boss Alex Brady said: “We want revenge against Sheffield. We went to their place and ran them really close, we have to be positive and believe we can win on Thursday.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

PREMIERSHIP leaders Wolverhampton head to Ipswich tonight (Thursday) seeking a ninth win in succession.
Should the Monmore side repeat their Foxhall victory from earlier in the season when their run started, in a meeting where Sam Masters scored a paid maximum, they will go at least six points clear at the top of the table.

Meanwhile Ipswich have vowed to finish the season strongly as they go into their final four matches, with any play-off hopes now reliant on a collapse by Sheffield above them.
Manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “Wolves have already won at our place this year, but we have got our 1-7 out for two meetings in a row now. 

“We are going to need to perform better than our last meeting, but I have no doubt if we all perform at the same time, we can get the win.”
In-form Wolves reserve Ryan Douglas said: “We weren’t too worried about not making the play-offs but we would like to finish top and then have the pick.

“With a result like last week at Sheffield it definitely goes a long way.
“We’ve got a run of away meetings on the trot now and if we can pick up a few more points out of those then that will put us in a good position.”

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY AUGUST 20:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Kent 7.30, Glasgow v Leicester 7.30, Redcar v Poole 7.30, Scunthorpe v Birmingham 7.30

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Armadale 7.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHP (125cc): Belle Vue 6pm

SATURDAY AUGUST 21:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Kent 6.30, Leicester v Glasgow 7pm

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Berwick v Kent (follows previous fixture)

SUNDAY AUGUST 22:

BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Mildenhall 3pm
CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Kent 4pm