BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 24, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1)

EDINBURGH LOSES ITS HOME OF 26 YEARS!

EDINBURGH are looking to secure their future at a new venue after the news that speedway will cease at Armadale Stadium at the end of 2022.

The West Lothian venue has been home to the Monarchs for 26 seasons, during which time the club have enjoyed their most successful era with a host of trophies including five league titles.

The current stadium owners are ending their tenure as landlords and intend to sell the site this year.
Chairman Alex Harkess said: “Armadale Stadium has been a happy place for the club over what has been very many years.

“We are thankful to have had it as our home and will be sad to see it go, but we must now look to the future and that is exciting. There is life beyond Armadale Stadium for the Monarchs.”

Co-promoter John Campbell added: “For many years there has been a threat to the existence of Armadale Stadium. Throughout that time we have been developing plans and casting a wide search over the local area for a new stadium.

“This will be a significant challenge, but as a club, with our wonderful supporters, we are known to rise to challenges again, and again, and succeed. This is what we will do here.

“We are working hard at it and will continue to work even harder still.
“The two critical ingredients for our new stadium are finding the right site and securing the necessary finance. We are putting out a call to anyone who can assist us in these areas to please come forward and contact the club.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

KING’S Lynn won the opening round of the Premiership Pairs after a dramatic finish to Monday’s meeting at Peterborough.

Josh Pickering and Richard Lawson defeated Sheffield duo Jack Holder and Adam Ellis with the British Champion crashing heavily at the start of the last lap.

Holder led the race convincingly but with second and third places being better than first and fourth, Lawson looked to slow things down to bring Pickering back into contention – and as Ellis came down, the Stars were awarded meeting victory.

Belle Vue were third having lost out in the semi-final to King’s Lynn when Max Fricke came to grief when he looked to make an outside move on the opening lap.

Stars boss Alex Brady said: “We came here and decided as you do in a Pairs competition that no last places was the mantra from the start, which we did very well.

“I’m really pleased. Richard and Josh were deserved winners, and Jack (Thomas) played his part too.
“First and foremost after the Final I’m glad Adam is okay. I thought it was hard racing but personally I felt it was fair racing, although I suppose if I was in Steady’s (Simon Stead – Sheffield boss) shoes I might see it slightly differently.

“I’d like to see it again before I make a final judgment call on it, but as I call it tonight, I thought it was hard but fair.”
Stead said: “Finishing second in the opening round isn’t a bad result at all, and in a series where the points accumulate, eight isn’t a bad start.

“What happened in the Final left a sour taste in our mouths; personally I think it could’ve been avoided, but the most important thing is that Adam got up and walked away from it because it could’ve been a lot worse.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

PLYMOUTH have booked regular Gladiators rider Aflie Bowtell to guest for their NDL team when they host Leicester tonight (Tuesday).

Bowtell stands in for long-term injury victim Dan Gilkes, whilst unattached rider Ben Phillips lines up in the middle order after Henry Atkins left the club.

The Lion Cubs are unchanged from their weekend win over Mildenhall with Kai Ward continuing as the injury replacement for Max Perry.
Cubs captain Joe Thompson said: “We’ve shown we’re a very good team at home, and I’m sure the away form will come as well.
“We had a few unfortunate mishaps at Kent with Max breaking his collarbone, but I’m sure we’ll sort out the away form.”
 
(FIXTURES)

TUESDAY MAY 24:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Plymouth v Leicester 7pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 25:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Poole 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 26:
PREMIERSHIP: Ipswich v Wolverhampton 7.30, Sheffield v Belle Vue 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 27:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Birmingham 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Redcar v Berwick 7.30, Scunthorpe v Leice