BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 29, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BANK HOLIDAY CLASH

SPORTS Insure Premiership leaders Belle Vue and second-placed Wolverhampton meet twice in one packed Bank Holiday Monday of racing today (UK time).
The sides clash at the National Speedway Stadium at midday before reconvening at Monmore Green this evening (8pm) for a fixture which will be televised live on Eurosport and discovery+.

The Aces are forced into one change with reserve Norick Blodorn involved in a Grand Prix qualifier, so Paco Castagna is once again called up to guest.
Belle Vue star Charles Wright said: “It’s first versus second in the league and we’ve always had a fierce but respectful rivalry with Wolverhampton.

“There’s the possibility of five league points on offer on Monday and we absolutely will be targeting that, and we do have some unfinished business with them at Monmore Green.
“As a team, we have turned our form around dramatically in recent weeks, we’ve learned a lot of lessons and are much better prepared for the challenge Wolves will bring this time.”

Meanwhile Wolves received a major boost over the weekend with Luke Becker’s successful return from a broken leg, when he made progress in his GP qualifier, and the American returns to domestic duty today.
Wolves will celebrate their 95th anniversary in the evening fixture, and Rory Schlein said: “Belle Vue can be a funny place, especially in the daytime, so the track could be completely different.

“We know what we’re capable of at home, and on that front we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing.
“The aggregate point is on the line in the same day as well and of course it goes without saying, we’d love to walk away with all five league points on offer.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

PETERBOROUGH go for a second successive Sports Insure Premiership victory when they host Leicester at the East of England Arena tonight (Monday).
The Panthers finally got off the mark last week against King’s Lynn and have Richie Worrall back in the side after he missed their previous two matches with a shoulder injury.

Michael Palm Toft guests at No.1 for the home side whilst Ben Cook moves up into the top five and skipper Hans Andersen drops to reserve.
Richard Lawson returns for the Lions after missing last Thursday’s narrow defeat at Ipswich after a crash last Monday, and Kyle Howarth comes in to guest for skipper Chris Harris who is away at a GP qualifier.

Panthers co-promoter Carl Johnson said: “It was a great feeling last week to finally get that first home win in what has been an exceptionally long time, and put some points on the board.
“Now for this meeting against Leicester we need to knuckle down and get the home victory we need.”

Lions boss Stewart Dickson said: “This should be a good fight between the two sides. We need to stick tight to the Panthers, with having a five-point lead from the home leg.
“If we can do that, keep this lead and grab the aggregate point as well, that would be good.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

BELLE Vue Colts star Sam Hagon led the qualifiers for the British Under-21 Final with victory at Workington on Sunday.
Hagon collected 14 points from five rides, dropping his only point to Nathan Ablitt in Heat 9.

Kent’s Ablitt, who has recently joined Scunthorpe in the Cab Direct Championship, scored 12 and also went safely through, level on points with Plymouth and Mildenhall rider Ben Trigger, who was classified second on the day.

Youngsters Ashton Boughen (Leicester) and Ace Pijper (Glasgow/Workington) both impressively made it through on 11 despite a fall and a starting disqualification respectively, whilst Sam McGurk made it two Comets riders into the Final by taking the last qualifying place, also on 11.

(FIXTURES)

MONDAY MAY 29:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 12pm, Peterborough (42) v Leicester (47) 7.30, Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 8pm

TUESDAY MAY 30:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Oxford v Poole 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Glasgow (37) v Redcar (53) 7.30

WEDNESDAY MAY 31:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Poole v Oxford 7.30
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham 7.30

THURSDAY JUNE 1:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich (41) v Wolverhampton (49) 7.30, King’s Lynn (30) v Sheffield (60) 7.30