BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 19, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

OXFORD BACK AT THE TOP

OXFORD regained top spot in the Cab Direct Championship with a scintillating performance to win 52-37 at Edinburgh.
The visitors took the lead in Heat 2 and never looked back, outscoring the home side at reserve 13-2, whilst Lewis Kerr gave his best-ever Armadale display with a 12-point maximum.

Sam Masters added 11 points with Scott Nicholls on nine, whilst guest Richie Worrall and Josh Pickering scored 12+1 and 11 respectively for the Monarchs.
Cheetahs boss Peter Schroeck said: “Tonight proved to me how far we have progressed as a team. Edinburgh are no pushovers and beating them on their home track was going to be a challenge.

“To put 50 points on the board with a race still to go was fantastic and again everyone contributed positively to the final score.
“Everyone knows the season is defined by the end-of-season play-offs, so we’ve made it clear amongst the team we’ve got to keep the positive momentum rolling and tonight they did just that.”

Edinburgh manager Alex Harkess said: “It was very disappointing, but that’s where we are at the moment. We got the best possible start and it just went downhill from there.
“We couldn’t win races and didn’t look like winning one until Heat 8. You can’t win matches if you don’t win races.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)
 
CHRIS Harris and Benjamin Basso both scored maximums as Glasgow raced to a ruthless 63-27 home win over Berwick.
Harris scored 14+1 and Basso 13+2 with Claus Vissing added 11+1 and Lee Complin enjoyed his highest points total as a Tigers rider with 10+3 as the Ashfield side maintained their strong position in the Cab Direct Championship.

And Harris included one vintage ride when he came from 15 metres back after suffering mechanical trouble at the tapes in Heat 10, and still won the race.
Rory Schlein and Leon Flint both registered seven for the Bandits, who will look for far better when the teams meet again at Shielfield Park tonight (Saturday).

Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “We were definitely red-hot tonight. The boys looked right up for it and put in a powerhouse show.“In fairness Berwick had a tough night with some mechanical issues but we showed a ruthless streak.
“I like that a lot. We are going to need that a great deal more over the next month or so.”

Berwick manager Kevin Little said: “That was a pretty horrible night when nothing went right.
“We need to get our heads together and put in a much better performance at Shielfield on Saturday night.”
Harris misses Saturday’s return fixture as he is on FIM World Long Track duty, with Richie Worrall coming in to guest, whilst Marcin Nowak returns for the Tigers at No.2.

(SPEEDWAY 3)

REDCAR confirmed their Cab Direct Championship play-off place with a hard-fought 46-44 home win over Birmingham.
The Bears had the match won prior to Heat 15 where skipper Charles Wright suffered mechanical trouble prior to the start, but the Brummies had remained in contention for much of the evening.

Danny King produced some spectacular action on his way to 11 points whilst Erik Riss added 9+2. Richard Lawson was a superb guest for the Brummies with 16+1 and skipper Justin Sedgmen scored nine.
Redcar manager Gavin Parr said: “I wasn’t happy early doors, but I told them before we started that Birmingham are a far different team now than they were. They’ve got three heat leaders now, which makes a huge difference.

“But we managed to pull away and luckily it didn’t come down to Heat 15.”
Birmingham boss Stewart Dickson said: “I’m glad we gave them a match. The plan was to be competitive, and I think we’re now doing that, I don’t think folk are saying ‘it’s only Birmingham coming to our track this week’ and that’s what we’ve tried to do.
“We’re one rider short, but I suppose every team manager in the league says they’re one rider short – but we gave a good account of ourselves.”

 (SPEEDWAY 4)

POOLE have handed Joe Thompson a full-time team berth at No.7 as a replacement for the injured Adam Roynon.
Thompson, who himself is just back from a broken collarbone, comes in for Roynon who is out with shoulder damage.
Promoter Dan Ford said: “We looked at our options and we knew that having a permanent one to seven was important as we prepare for some crucial matches between now and the end of the season, with two trophies still to ride for.

“Searching for suitable guests is no easy task and a different face in the pits every meeting is not ideal, particularly for team morale, so hopefully having Joe in on a permanent basis we will be able to forge a strong team off track as well as on.
“Obviously it is hard luck on Adam, but being uncertain of when he would be fit enough to return and with three league matches, two legs of the Knockout Cup Final and the play-offs all to come, and with the signing deadline rapidly approaching, we knew we had to act sooner rather than later.”

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY AUGUST 19:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick (27) v Glasgow (63) 7pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 20:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Edinburgh 5pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent (37) v Mildenhall (53) 12pm, Kent v Oxford (follows previous fixture)

MONDAY AUGUST 21:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 7.30, Wolverhampton (43) v Ipswich (47) 7.30
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: Peterborough (23) v Sheffield (37) 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 22:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth (35) v Glasgow (55) 7pm