BRITISH SPEEDWAY APRIL 5, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BSN SERIES LAUNCH

OXFORD and Poole launch the new BSN Series when they meet in the Southern section at Cowley tonight (Wednesday – UK time).

The Cheetahs revamped their side over the winter to include a powerhouse top order, with new signings Sam Masters and Lewis Kerr joining skipper Scott Nicholls.
The Pirates are also racing for the first time this season with Steve Worrall taking over the captaincy, Adam Roynon making his debut and Kyle Newman back with the club after starting 2022 with Oxford.

Cheetahs boss Peter Schroeck said: “There’s no reason why we can’t challenge for silverware this season. But we need to stay fit, and we need to own our home patch.
“Poole held us to a draw last time we met at Sandy Lane and won earlier in the season, plus they reached the final of the Pairs tournament. Already, their record around Oxford is proven.

“They look strong again this season and we’ll have to be on our a-game to begin our BSN Series campaign on a winning note.
“We’re expecting a strong turnout and Poole will bring an army of supporters too which will generate a terrific atmosphere on the terraces which is exactly what we want.”

Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “This is going to be a good test for us but I believe our boys will put on a show to be proud of and with the two teams meeting again on Friday at Wimborne Road.
“It certainly looks like there are a couple of close contests on the cards this week and I am sure I speak for fans across the region that it will be great to get some racing under our belts at last.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

RICHIE Worrall took the honours in Paul Starke’s Testimonial meeting at Plymouth on Tuesday.
Worrall was part of a Poole side who won the Four Team Tournament, which formed the main element of the event, with the new Gladiators signing scoring ten points along with Kyle Newman.

And he then finished ahead of fellow Plymouth team-mates Kyle Howarth and Starke himself in the individual Grand Final.
James Wright was the highest scorer in the team event, picking up 11 for the Somerset Select who finished two points behind Poole overall, but Wright then fell in the first running of the individual Final.

(SPEEDWAY 3)

GREG Blair admits taking over the captaincy of Berwick Bullets in the National Development League is a personal honour.
Blair and Mason Watson are the only two riders remaining from last year in a much-changed team, who go into action for the first time this weekend with trips to Belle Vue on Friday and champions Leicester on Saturday.

Said Blair: “I think that most people know that my links to Berwick stretch right back to my grandparents Danny and Liz Taylor, who brought the sport here in 1968, and it will be something special to lead a Berwick team out as captain.
“But we’re not here just to take part. We plan to make a serious statement to the rest of the league this weekend.

“With the new scoring system this season it is important to battle for every point and look to collect aggregate bonus points as well as meeting wins.“Look around the league and there are no weak teams. The focus is on developing riders for the Championship and Premiership and there is no better way that making every ride in every meeting competitive.”

(FIXTURES)

WEDNESDAY APRIL 5:
BSN SERIES: Oxford v Poole 7.30

THURSDAY APRIL 6:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Ipswich v Leicester 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY APRIL 7:
BSN SERIES: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Poole v Oxford 7.30, Scunthorpe v Redcar 5pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Berwick 1pm