BRITISH SPEEDWAY JUNE 30, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1)

NEW STADIUM FOR MONARCHS

EDINBURGH have announced plans to construct a new stadium in the heart of West Lothian to open in spring 2023.
West Lothian Community Stadium will host the Monarchs speedway team alongside a range of projects and youth initiatives creating new opportunities for the local community.

An extensive search has identified the ideal location for the stadium just a stone’s throw away from M8 junction 3A in Deans Industrial Estate, Livingston, with a phased approach to development for the 1,500-capacity stadium as the club prepare to leave their long-time home of Armadale.

Development Director Gordon Campbell said: “West Lothian Community Stadium is a massively exciting development for the Monarchs and for West Lothian.

“Through an extensive search we have identified the perfect location for the stadium where the Monarchs will thrive for years to come while also significantly increasing our ability to deliver benefits to the local community.
“Following detailed discussions with West Lothian Council, the site has been selected for its ease of access while also being in a place that will cause no disruption to local residents.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD have moved to hand Justin Sedgmen a full-time recall to Tigers colours.
Sedgmen started the 2021 campaign with the club before being replaced in mid-season – but the club have reacted to his Championship form with Birmingham and a guest appearance at Owlerton on Monday where he scored double figures.

He replaces fellow countryman Jake Allen, himself a recent signing, who is currently out with a broken scaphoid.
Promoter Damien Bates said: “It’s one of those for Jake where nobody can put a time on how long he’ll be out for.

“We have to think of the team first and foremost and while we wish Jake a speedy recovery, we can’t afford to take any gambles as we approach the half-way point of our season.
“So we’ve drafted Sedgy in and as he proved on Monday, he’s a big fan of the track at Sheffield.
“He’s been going good for Birmingham in the Championship, that’s led to a lot of guest bookings in both of the top two leagues and he’s been on the bike a lot lately.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

LEICESTER enhanced their position at the top of the Championship with victory in a last-heat decider at Oxford on Wednesday.
The teams were tied with one race to go, and had never been separated by more than two points, but Nick Morris and Richie Worrall secured a 5-1 over Troy Batchelor and guest Erik Riss to give the Lions a 47-43 win.

Morris (13) and Worrall (12+1) were the top scorers for the visitors, who are now 12 points clear at the top of the table, whilst Batchelor scored 10 for the Cheetahs, whose play-off hopes were severely dented by the defeat.

Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “It was a great meeting, a great advert for the Championship, and we did want to win here to finish our final away league meeting with a win.

“It was nip-and-tuck throughout, how a good meeting should be, it all came down to Heat 15 and it was a really tough first bend, with no quarter asked or given by four top Championship riders, and we managed to get the 5-1 so obviously I’m very pleased!

“I was always going to go with Richie off gate two – Richie is my go-to rider when I need a job done to clamp somebody, and when they picked (gates) one and three, Richie was the man for that job off two. He managed to do it, and Nick got a stormer off gate four.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

POOLE returned to winning ways at Wimborne Road on Wednesday – despite a stunning paid maximum from Berwick skipper Chris Harris.
The former Pirates man proved unstoppable with 17+1 from six rides, but the Pirates won 49-41 with reserve Drew Kemp delivering an impressive display with 10+1.

Jonas Knudsen won two races on his Bandits debut and Leon Flint was unbeaten from his first three rides before being disqualified for a fall in Heat 13.
Kemp said: “Consistency was something I was aiming for last year but without too much success, but I seem to have found a bit just now.

“It is not perfect at the minute but two double-figure scores on the bounce is always a positive, and it’s nice to come away with a good meeting.”

Berwick boss Gary Flint said: “Jonas made a promising debut while Bomber was just different class. Leon seemed odds-on to get something out of Heat 13 but was denied by a poor piece of refereeing. “Twice we have fallen victim to strange decisions when riders have been left nowhere to go and yet they have been excluded.”

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY JULY 1:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30, Glasgow v Redcar 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 2:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Berwick v Leicester 7pm

SUNDAY JULY 3:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 5pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Leicester v Berwick 4pm

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 5: Redcar 10.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 6: Scunthorpe (follows Championship fixture)