BRITISH SPEEDWAY JULY 28, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

PANTHER POWER  WINS OUT

PETERBOROUGH came from eight points down to win 46-44 at King’s Lynn for their first Sports Insure Premiership victory on the road this season.
The Stars led 10-2 after two heats but the Panthers struck back with two 5-1s immediately, and they then edged the contest over the remaining races.

Rising Star Jordan Jenkins played a vital part as he was involved in 4-2 in Heat 8 and then 5-1s with Benjamin Basso in Heat 12 and Ben Cook in Heat 14, which meant late maximums from Nicolai Klindt and guest Richard Lawson were not enough for the home side.
Jenkins and Basso both scored 9+2 for the Panthers with Cook on 9+1 whilst Lawson (13+1) and Klindt (12+1) dominated the Stars’ scoring with guest Rory Schlein withdrawing after two races.

Peterborough boss Rob Lyon said: “From Heat 3 onwards the boys got into it, made some good starts, got some confidence going and as a team they worked really well tonight – it was a good team performance.
“Jordan has had a couple of hiccups with niggling injuries this year, but generally speaking his form for both Oxford and Peterborough has been on the up.

“I think he is probably the most consistent Rising Star this year and he was the match-winner tonight, man of the match and deservedly so, he rode really well.”
King’s Lynn manager David Hoggart said: “I’m not going to make any excuses, we weren’t good enough and we couldn’t get out of the starts to save our lives tonight.
“Later in the meeting Richard and Nicolai did a great job in Heats 13 and 15, but really the rest of them didn’t make a decent start all night to be honest.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

REDCAR are the latest team to look to end Oxford’s 100 per cent record in the Cab Direct Championship tonight (Friday).
The Cheetahs travel to the ECCO Arena with maximum points from ten matches, having won nine inside the regular 15 races and also taken a Super Heat victory at Scunthorpe.

The visitors are missing former Bears racer Lewis Kerr due to injury and bring in Kyle Howarth to guest, whilst skipper Scott Nicholls is absent due to a family commitment and is replaced by Benjamin Basso.
Meanwhile, youngster Luke Harrison again stands in for Jake Mulford at reserve for the home side.

Redcar star Erik Riss said: “We are good enough to beat the Cheetahs, last week against Scunthorpe it was a little closer than some expected but if we all perform up to our capabilities then we can win.
“They have brought in a good guest in Howarth. However, with Lewi being a former Redcar rider he knows the track really well so that may weaken them a little bit.”

Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “Everyone in the squad rides Redcar well and we’re really pleased to secure Kyle as our guest for Lewi. Kyle has a decent record at this track so we’re confident he’ll fit into the team nicely.
“We’ve enjoyed some close meetings with Redcar since our regeneration got going last year. They score from one to seven at home and I’d expect them to be featuring in the play-offs at the end of the year.
“It’s going to be a tough test and our unbeaten record is certainly going on the line here. It’d be great to get the win and tee-up Scunthorpe’s visit to Sandy Lane next week with another W in the bag.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SCUNTHORPE bid to boost their play-off prospects when they host Birmingham at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight (Friday).
The Scorpions are fourth in the Cab Direct Championship table and have an eight-point advantage over the Brummies who are still seeking a top six finish themselves.
The hosts bring in Zach Cook to guest for the injured Michael Palm Toft whilst Richard Lawson guests for the visitors in place of the suspended Nick Morris.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We’ve won all four matches against Brummies so far, but there can be no room for complacency against a side that has Poole’s Richard Lawson guesting at No.1, recent signing Troy Batchelor at No.3 and Justin Sedgmen completing a very solid heat leader trio.
“We’re expecting a much stiffer test from Birmingham this time, and we’ll treat them with respect, while our main objective will be to win the meeting and our second objective will be to build up a lead to take to Perry Barr on August 23 so that we are in command of the aggregate point.”

Brummies boss Stewart Dickson said: “We know Scunthorpe are traditionally a very dominant team at home and we know that they’ve been in very good form on their track once again this year.
“So we know it’s another big ask, but again we go there with the mindset that we can cause them some bother because our riders are keen to put in an improved display all-round after a disappointing couple of home results.
“Of course I’d love us to go there and pinch a win – but if we can’t do that then it’s important we keep the bigger picture in mind.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

EDINBURGH are targeting a win double over Berwick with the aggregate point available when the sides meet at Armadale tonight (Friday, 7pm).
The Monarchs snatched a last-gap 46-44 victory at Shielfield Park last Saturday and could move clear in sixth place in the league table with another positive result.

Rider replacement is again in operation for the injured Paco Castagna, whilst Adam Roynon stands in at reserve for Lasse Fredriksen.
The Bandits bring in Richie Worrall to guest for Rory Schlein who is out following an aborted comeback at King’s Lynn on Thursday, whilst James Pearson comes in for broken collarbone victim Jacob Hook.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “There are no easy matches for us this year, but Friday’s is a match that we must win, and there is no reason to think that we won’t win.

“Hopefully they will all produce what they are capable of, if Kye (Thomson) continues to improve as he did at Berwick, if the top two do what they usually do, if Bastian (Borke) keeps moving forward – though he could do with making a few gates to make life a bit easier for himself, then we will be OK, simple as that!”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

THE second half of an Armadale double header tonight (Friday) sees Edinburgh host Berwick in the National Development League.
A home win would take the Monarchs Academy into the top five, and give them three points as they were successful at Shielfield Park earlier in the season.

With three riders on the sidelines, Max Perry and Mark Parker come in for the hosts with rider replacement in operation for Alex Spooner, whilst Steve Boxall makes his debut for the Bullets, who operate rider replacement for the injured Greg Blair.
Edinburgh manager Scott Wilson said: “We have had an up and down time in the last fortnight and yet another injury blow to deal with having lost Jacob Hook.

“We will look to end a busy period with a win and three league points this evening before a month-long break in matches.
“Hopefully by the time we resume we will have Jacob (Hook) and Alex Spooner back in the side, allowing us to track almost a full team again.”
 
(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY JULY 28:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (46) v Berwick (44) 7pm, Redcar (38) v Oxford (52) 7.30, Scunthorpe v Birmingham 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh (51) v Berwick (38) (follows Champ fixture)

SATURDAY JULY 29:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick (33) v Redcar (57) 7pm
SUSAN ROPER MEMORIAL: Workington 3pm

SUNDAY JULY 30:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Poole 6pm