BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BELLE VUE CHASING UNBEATEN HOME RECORD

BELLE Vue look to complete a 100 per cent home record when they host Sheffield in tonight’s (Monday- UK time) Roses clash at the National Speedway Stadium.

The winners of the match will also secure Premiership play-off qualification, and the Aces are boosted by being at full strength after Tom Brennan and Charles Wright both crashed out of last Monday’s defeat at Wolverhampton.

The Tigers, meanwhile, bring in Nicolai Klindt to guest for Tobiasz Musielak who is competing in the Polish Championship, and welcome Adam Ellis back from injury.

Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “I strongly believe that had we not been so unlucky with injuries at Wolverhampton we could’ve taken a point, if not more.

“But the main thing for us is that both Charles and Tom appear to be on track to fitness, and it’s crucial now that we have all the boys firing.

“We’ve been hitting some good form recently and we need to make the most of the meetings that we have left to get as many points on the board as possible.”

Tigers manager Simon Stead said: “I’ve been really pleased with the lads again in recent meetings, and we’ve been on the sort of form you want to be in at this stage of the season.

“I’d love to see them produce another strong performance on Monday, but we know Belle Vue is the one place this year where you have to go and really deliver your A-game.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

PETERBOROUGH face Ipswich in a bottom versus top Premiership clash at the East of England Arena tonight (Monday).

The Witches are still favourites to finish first in the regular standings and a fifth away win of the season would solidify that position – but they did suffer a 50-39 defeat on their last trip to Alwalton.

The injury-hit Panthers bring in Josh Pickering and Simon Lambert to guest for Michael Palm Toft and Ulrich Ostergaard, with rider replacement in operation for Hans Andersen.

Danyon Hume misses out for the Witches with a broken collarbone, with fellow Rising Star Anders Rowe stepping in at reserve.

Panthers skipper Scott Nicholls said: “It has been a stinker of a season for the team and I have had a really tough year too. 

“I was not 100 per cent happy (at King’s Lynn last Thursday) but I did feel like I had found something a bit better, bits were still missing but it was a step in the right direction.

“For the team to battle back like that, it was a boost and will stand us in good stead for Ipswich. We will go into it with a positive frame of mind.”

Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We have said as a team we would like to finish top of the league. It has been a little goal we have had over the last few months, and if we are to achieve that we will need to win at Peterborough. It would be great to finish top before the play-offs.

“They have had a poor year but still have a very capable side with many members of their league winning team. 

“They have been hit by a lot of injuries and problems this year but on the night, they can certainly be a good team. Our previous meetings with them this year show that.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

MILDENHALL raced to the top of the National Development League with two wins from two in their home double-header on Sunday.

The Fen Tigers have completed their regular league campaign on 30 points, which confirms a play-off place, after defeating previous leaders Berwick 57-33 and then Plymouth 56-34.

They overcame the blow of No.1 Jason Edwards crashing out in Heat 1 against the Bullets as he suffered a shoulder injury in an incident which saw Berwick’s Ace Pijper also ruled out with concussion.

But Connor Coles, standing in for James Shanes, top-scored in both meetings with 17 and a 15-point maximum respectively, and reserve Alex Spooner was also a high scorer with 16+2 followed up by 10+4.

Greg Blair scored 13 and Kyle Bickley 11+1 for the Bullets, whilst in the second meeting Adam Roynon notched 11 for the Centurions.

Mildenhall co-boss Jason Gardner said: “Obviously it was a very sticky moment when we lost Jason but the way the lads pulled together and worked as a team was simply outstanding. We are very proud of them.

“It is a great feeling to be top of the table at the completion of our fixtures and more importantly knowing that we are guaranteed a place in the play-offs.  

“We are actually the only team in the top four to have lost a couple of home matches and that shows that our away form has actually outstripped all others in the division.”

Berwick manager Gary Flint said: “The track was as good as I can ever remember on a visit to Mildenhall, so that was not our problem.

“In the end with three riders not really on the pace and no tactical substitutions allowed in the National League, we ran out of options.

“It’s a tough lesson but as long as it is one that is learned then we move on and prepare for the play-offs.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

KENT kept their outside hopes of a play-off place alive with a 55-35 win over Armadale at Iwade on Sunday.

Recent signing Max Clegg raced to yet another 15-point maximum for the Royals and No.1 Ben Morley was also unbeaten with 13+2.

Danny Phillips top-scored for the Devils with 10, as the visitors took some encouragement from their performance.

Manager Alan Budzynski said: “With five heats or so to go I thought we were in with a chance, but in the last three or four heats Kent’s more experienced riders were too good. 

“We put up a good fight, I was proud of the boys. Everyone put in the effort and the final result doesn’t show how close the match had been. Kent were appreciative of our efforts.”

(FIXTURES)MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5:

PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Sheffield 7.30, Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Plymouth v Poole 7pm

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7:

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Poole v Plymouth 7.30

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Oxford v Kent 7.30

ALAN GRAHAME MEMORIAL: Birmingham v Cradley Select 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8:

PREMIERSHIP: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, King’s Lynn v Sheffield 7.30