BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1)

SHEFFIELD CHASE TOP SPOT

SHEFFIELD will go top of the Premiership ahead of the play-offs with a home win over Belle Vue at Owlerton tonight (Thursday – UK time).

Three points will lift the Tigers above Ipswich on race points difference and set up a likely semi-final against Wolverhampton, whilst an Aces win would leave the two sides meeting again in the semis.
Sheffield name a full strength side whilst Belle Vue will be without No.1 Max Fricke after his crash in the Swedish Grand Prix last Saturday.

Tigers co-promoter Damien Bates said: “We’ve already beaten Belle Vue twice here this season so we know what it takes to get the job done against them.
“It won’t be easy, though, we all know that. It’s a huge night for a number of reasons, but ultimately we need to keep building momentum to hit top form just at the right time ahead of the play-offs.”

Aces reserve Jye Etheridge said: “As a team, we’re not really bothered who we face, and unfortunately top spot for us is out of reach. “But we’re still motivated to go to Sheffield and pull off a big result. We owe them from the last time we came to Owlerton and we do like the track.

“The fact that we can influence their overall top four position is a good excuse for us to pull out all the stops, because they’ll know if we win they’ll have to face us again in the next fortnight.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

KING’S Lynn host play-off qualifiers Wolverhampton at the Adrian Flux Arena tonight (Thursday).
The Stars’ biggest league win of the season came at the expense of Wolves in mid-July, although on that occasion the visitors were without No.1 Sam Masters.

Frederik Jakobsen returns at reserve for Lynn but the home side are without both of their regular Rising Stars, with club asset Ryan Kinsley stepping in to guest.
Stars boss Alex Brady said: “Wolverhampton are a team and club who are an excellent blueprint for anyone in this league, and they are consistently in and around the play-offs.

“For ourselves it’s time to get through these last few fixtures giving as much back to the fans as possible, and giving it absolutely everything in the Cup to try and bring the first piece of ‘full-team’ silverware to King’s Lynn since our return to the top flight.”

Wolves star Ryan Douglas said: “With a full team we’ve shown plenty of times the kind of results we can get.
“A few of the boys, including myself, still think our best is still to come and obviously it would be great if we could go out and do that in these play-offs.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

POOLE steamed into the KO Cup Final with a massive 60-30 win at home to Leicester – despite the scores being close at the halfway stage.
The aggregate position was tied after Heat 7 with the Lions having gone into the meeting two points ahead, but the Pirates then embarked on a remarkable run of seven 5-1s in the last eight races to sweep their opponents aside.

Richard Lawson (14+1) and Ben Cook (11+4) both scored paid maximums for the rampant hosts as they set up a Final against Redcar, whilst Richie Worrall notched nine for the Lions.
Poole skipper Danny King said: “When we went behind after Heat 5 and were down on aggregate, we just all got together and said, ‘this just isn’t good enough, so come on.’ 

“I suppose there were a few choice words exchanged, but it seemed to do the job and when those 5-1’s started coming we thought, ‘Right, that’s great, we are back in it.’ Then we got another one, and it was, ‘Right, let’s keep it going.’ “Then the third 5-1, that’s it, you’re away, everyone’s buzzing, everyone’s bouncing around and we just kept it going. 

To see that scoreline at the end was just unbelievable. To be that close after five heats and to win by 30, it’s just crazy.”Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was a very disappointing night. We started pretty well but then it was basically the same as last year, and we just collapsed again.

“I’ve told the riders I’m bitterly disappointed, but the conversation other than that remains between me and them, and obviously they’re disappointed too.

“I’m not going to dress it up, we weren’t good enough and we’re all hurting, myself included. But it’s one big defeat, which we haven’t had since way back at the start of the season.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

OXFORD charged into the NDL play-off places with an impressive 60-29 win over Kent in their final match of the regular league campaign.
The result eliminated the Royals from top-four contention and means Belle Vue now need to score at least one league point at Armadale next Friday to move back ahead of the Cowley club.

Jordan Jenkins returned with a 17+1 paid maximum for the Chargers, with guest Adam Roynon also unbeaten on 14+1, whilst Henry Atkins notched 13+1. Skipper Danno Verge top-scored for the visitors with seven.
 
(FIXTURES)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30, Sheffield v Belle Vue 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Leicester v Edinburgh 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Glasgow v Poole 6pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe 3pm