BRITISH SPEEDWAY JULY 2, 2022
(SPEEDWAY 1)
Photo: HOT COOKIE
GLASGOW No.1 Craig Cook shook off fitness concerns with a 15-point maximum in the Tigers’ 57-33 win over Redcar.
The home side were dominant at Ashfield, going ten points clear after three races, with the Bears only really fighting back in the closing stages, but too late to make any impression.
Tom Brennan and Ulrich Ostergaard both added 9+1 with Connor Bailey on nine for the hosts, whilst Charles Wright picked up 11+1 for the visitors.
Glasgow are now ten points adrift of league leaders Leicester, with three matches in hand in the race for top spot in the Championship.
Tigers boss Cami Brown said: “It was the same kind of performance as last week – but the difference this week is Craig and the imperious maximum he had. “It just shows how well your team fits together when your number one is doing a number one’s job. But again, everyone chipped in tonight.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
EDINBURGH celebrated having their full septet back on track with a convincing 56-34 win over Scunthorpe.
Skipper Sam Masters led the way with a 15-point maximum with Josh Pickering adding 10 in a strong all-round display with Lasse Fredriksen scoring 7+3 on his return from injury.
Ryan Douglas scored 12 for the Scorpions, who have suffered an injury crisis of late and will now turn their attentions towards Sunday’s return fixture.
Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “I was pleased that everyone in the team did their bit.
“Lasse Fredriksen did especially well with three paid wins on his comeback after having five weeks out and I was happy we didn’t have a last heat decider to face for a change. “We’ve got some important matches coming up so it was an encouraging night.”
Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It was always going to be tough to come here with three riders injured, although James Wright has come to help us plug the gap.
“We did have a plan for this weekend, and if would have been nice to have scored a point in this meeting. But we didn’t have enough back-up for Ryan Douglas.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
BERWICK and Leicester meet in the first leg of their NDL KO Cup semi-final at Shielfield Park tonight (Saturday – UK time).
The meeting involves the current top two teams in the league, with the return scheduled for the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Sunday.
Both sides are at full strength, with the Bullets having won their league encounter 49-41 last month.
Berwick coach Kevin Little said: “Last year the sides drew 45-all at Leicester with five riders on each team who will be in action again this weekend.
“I’m expecting it to be a tight tie and I wouldn’t be surprised if it went right down to the closing races on Sunday before it was decided.
“Every point, whether a heat win or a third place, could be vital – and that’s the attitude that has made the Bullets so successful in their short history.”
Cubs boss Dave Howard said: “Berwick will be tough, they are top of the league and are a solid team, but we’ll be giving it our all to try and make it to the Cup Final.“We probably should have come away with points there in the league if we hadn’t had some misfortune, so hopefully we can ride there in the same way we did last time.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
THE British Youth Championship moves on to Redcar and Scunthorpe with a double header on Sunday.
The action gets underway at the Ecco Arena in the morning before the next round take place at the Eddie Wright Raceway in the early evening following the Scorpions’ Championship clash with Edinburgh.
GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “With another good turnout across three of the classes 500cc, 125cc and the 125cc Supports class it is sure to be a busy and exciting day for all concerned.
“Due to there being FIM European 250cc events taking place across Europe later next week and a number of those riders in that class already en route, the 250cc class for these two rounds will be non-scoring towards the British Championship.
“The 500cc class looks a particularly strong line-up with NDL regulars Freddy Hodder and Ben Trigger, as well as British Under-21 Finalist Sam McGurk who currently leads, the returning Jody Scott back from a broken wrist, and probably the biggest surprise this year in the class, Max James who is heading towards a podium finish.
“The 125cc class has increased numbers for these rounds, with previous support class winners Daniel McTeer and Casper Kluczniak both stepping up to the A group to compete against the likes of current British 125cc Champion Cooper Rushen and Stene Pijper.
“In a very competitive 125cc support class, previous 2022 finalist Kayden Mundy, Harry Fletcher and Emerson Betty will be battling for the top spot as well as Scunthorpe mascot Jack Franklin.”
The Young Lions would like to thank both promotions of Redcar and Scunthorpe Speedway for their continued support of British Youth Speedway along with their series sponsors – Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, Wessex Marine, RMCS Racing (Gordon Pairman) Foxbury Motors, Friends of Speedway, Rentruck, Northern Scaffolding Solutions, Brian Royle Racing, Abrams Insurance and ATPI as well as members of the BSP Ltd.
(FIXTURES)
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)
MONDAY JULY 4:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Sheffield 7.30, Peterborough v King’s Lynn 7.30, Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30
TUESDAY JULY 5:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7pm
NO PRESSURE ON ZMARZLIK AFTER LATVIAN GP WIN