BRITISH SPEEDWAY JUNE 18, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

HARRIS A DECISIVE WINNER

GREAT Britain’s Chris Harris took a superb victory in the second round of the FIM Long Track World Championship at Ostrow on Saturday.
The Leicester and Glasgow star dived inside Martin Smolinski to lead the decisive race and then held off constant pressure from the German to take his first-ever Grand Final win at the tenth attempt.

Harris had had to do things the hard way as a mechanical problem in his final qualifying race sent him into the Last Chance heat, but he made it through and then took the Final at the Polish venue ahead of Smolinski and Kenneth Hansen, with fellow GB racer Zach Wajtknecht finishing fifth.
With two of the six rounds completed, the top four are covered by just one point with Harris in fourth place overall, behind a three-way tie between Wajtknecht, Smolinski and Josef Franc.

(SPEEDWAY 2)

THE draw has been made for the British Under-21 Final at Glasgow on Sunday July 16.
BSP Ltd President Alex Harkess made the draw during Friday night’s Cab Direct Championship fixture between the Tigers and Edinburgh.

The line-up will be as follows:
1 Ace Pijper, 2 Joe Thompson, 3 Ben Trigger, 4 Sam Hagon, 5 Nathan Ablitt, 6 Drew Kemp, 7 Sam McGurk, 8 Dan Thompson, 9 Jake Mulford, 10 Dan Gilkes, 11 Leon Flint, 12 Jody Scott, 13 Jason Edwards, 14 Ashton Boughen, 15 Anders Rowe, 16 Connor Bailey.
 
(SPEEDWAY 3)

OXFORD kept up their 100 per cent record in the Cab Direct Championship with a 46-44 win at Berwick taking them back to the top of the table.
The Cheetahs overcame the loss of Lewis Kerr with a knee injury in a Heat 1 crash to still secure victory at Shielfield Park, with their top two of Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters both in top form.

Nicholls scored 13 and Masters 11+1, and both were unbeaten until the Bandits took a consolation 5-1 in Heat 15, whilst reserve Henry Atkins again made a vital contribution with nine points.
Meanwhile the Bandits were left to rue a spark plug failure for Thomas Jorgensen on the last lap of Heat 7 which turned a 3-3 into an Oxford 5-1. Leon Flint top-scored for the hosts with 10+2.

Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “I couldn’t be happier with the team’s performance tonight. We knew we were capable of getting the win, but Berwick is a tricky place to go given it’s a specialist track.
“That only makes the win feel sweeter. It was a big blow to lose Lewi in the first race, but the team pulled together to get over the line.

“I’m not the one to pick out individual performances as this is a team sport, but Henry really came to the fore towards the end of the meeting. He has come on leaps and bounds in recent weeks and those two race wins towards the end will make the drive home feel that bit shorter.”

Berwick manager Kevin Little said: “It is hard to point the finger at anyone as even those who were struggling for points put a lot of effort in.
“Nobody has pushed Oxford this close in the Championship so there is plenty to be positive about despite the result.
“The decision to rerun Heat 13 even though Sam Masters had handicapped himself by moving proved costly, while TJ’s breakdown was one of those things you couldn’t have predicted.

(SPEEDWAY 4)

LEICESTER reserve Max James enjoyed the best performance of his career as the reigning NDL champions won 47-43 at Edinburgh.
James took seven rides and scored 15+1 for the Lion Cubs, a total which would have been even more but for a fall on the last bend of Heat 14 when he was set for a 5-1 with Ashton Boughen.

Dan Thompson collected 12 points and Boughen added 9+2 as the Cubs won on the road for the first time this season, despite a 15-point maximum for Max Clegg on his debut for the Monarchs Academy. Adam Roynon scored 11 for the hosts.
Cubs boss Dave Howard said: “Max James had the meeting of his career so far, and it was an absolutely incredible performance by him.

“He won races by coming from behind, and later on in the meeting he won from the gate as well. He was just so confident on this track, he said he’d ridden it a couple of times before and liked it, but the way he went round people, and he beat Adam Roynon from the back, was fantastic and he’s coming on so fast.

“Everybody gave everything and to get the first away win was great, and really good for the whole team spirit.”
Clegg said: “I surprised myself a little by doing so well, especially as it is four weeks I think since I had last ridden. I felt a bit rusty in my first ride but settled down after that.

“Leicester have a really good team so I think we did well to run them so close without Jacob Hook in the team. I am looking forward to the return match next week when I feel we can give them a hard match.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

KENT stage just their second home NDL fixture of the season today (Sunday) when the Royals host Belle Vue at Iwade.
The home side last raced on their own track five weeks ago when they took maximum points available against Berwick in a Super Heat for the aggregate point.

Connor King moves up into the main body of the team with Rhys Naylor going to reserve, whilst the Colts are forced into changes. They operate rider replacement for Freddy Hodder who is taking his driving test, whilst Paul Bowen is unavailable at reserve with Sam Woods coming in.

Kent boss Jamie Willis said: “We are looking forward to being back on home shale. Although it’s been a little while since our last meeting, the likes of Ben (Morley) and Nathan (Ablitt) have been in Championship action, whilst Connor and Rhys have been getting plenty of practice.

“We will look to attack from the off as we try to build a lead to take to Manchester in a few weeks’ time, as we look to gain the extra aggregate point.”
Colts co-boss Steve Williams said: “Kent is not an easy place to go, not least because a 12pm start means a very early start for us travelling but also for us being without two of our usual seven.“But in the past, we’ve enjoyed our racing at Iwade and it is one of the fixtures that, even early on, we feel we can come away with something.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

BRITISH Speedway stalwart Ulrich Ostergaard stages his Farewell Meeting at Peterborough in a fortnight (Sunday July 2, 4pm).

The Dane who retired last year after a nasty back injury, bringing to an end a lengthy and successful career which saw him win two league titles with the Panthers and give good service to several other clubs.
There will be a 16-heat Four Team Tournament with an extra race for the top scorers featuring Panthers, Redcar, Glasgow and a Danish Select.

There are still some remaining sponsorships available and the auctions to shadow a team manager, the referee or even have a ride on the back of Ulle’s bike. To find out more contact ullefarewell@gmail.com
Ostergaard said: “Riding in the UK has been some of the best years of my life and it is sad for it to come to an end.
“I have made so many friends up and down the UK and can honestly say I have enjoyed myself at every club I’ve ridden for. I hope to see as many of you there to say my final goodbye as possible.”

(FIXTURES)

SUNDAY JUNE 18:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Belle Vue 12pm, Mildenhall (49) v Workington (41) OFF

MONDAY JUNE 19:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Wolverhampton (36) v Sheffield (54) 7.30

TUESDAY JUNE 20:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Oxford 7pm