BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2023 / 23

Feature photo by: Colin Poole…REDCAR captain Charles Wright won the Championship League Riders’ Championship in a thrilling Final on Sunday at the ECCO Arena. Wright came out on top in a three-way battle with Glasgow’s Chris Harris and Ben Cook of Poole, with Cook having led the scorers heading into the closing stages.

HERE’S our latest news and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country…

SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP NEWSROUND…

ALL CHANGE AT OWLERTON
CHRIS Holder has made a late move to join the Sheffield team along with Claus Vissing as Tigers prepare for a likely play-off campaign.
The Owlerton side have released Adam Ellis and Lewis Kerr, and will retain the services of Tai Woffinden with Jack Holder sitting out the UK run-in.

Promoter Damien Bates said: “Coming into the middle order of the team, we feel Chris can do a job for Sheffield and we know he’s going to slot in pretty much instantly as he’s been at a number of our meetings this season.
“Our focus is to now make sure we get into that top four and have a real good go at going one further and winning the league.”

KERR IN FOR LIONS
LEICESTER have signed Lewis Kerr following his release from Sheffield as they bid to hold on to a play-off place.
Kerr replaces Craig Cook with the Lions back in the top four following a home win over King’s Lynn on Monday, but still under serious pressure from Ipswich.

Manager Stewart Dickson said: “Lewi is experienced and he knows what he has to do, he needs to help us win at Wolverhampton next Monday ideally, and if we get in the play-offs we know he rides Leicester well.
“It’s all amicable with Craig, I had a chat with him and he understands our position. The important thing for him is that he gets back to scoring points with Edinburgh, and who knows what the future may hold.”

IT TAKES TWO
WOLVERHAMPTON star Ryan Douglas raced to a paid maximum in Monday’s win over Sheffield which clinched their play-off place.
Douglas enjoyed a terrific combination with American star Luke Becker, with the two securing 5-1s in each of their three programmes rides.
Said Douglas: “I find when myself and Becker go well in the middle there and when one of the reserves is going well, we can beat anyone.
“I wouldn’t say it’s extra pressure but it does also remind us what this team can do if we’re firing.”

UP FOR THE CUP
IPSWICH will definitely have the chance for silverware this season after booking their KO Cup Final place where they will face Sheffield.
The Witches are also in the race for the top four of the Sports Insure Premiership, with next week’s fixtures vital to their hopes.
Boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We have got a date with the new-look Sheffield team in the final in two weeks’ time and I’m sure everyone will look forward to that.
“We haven’t won the Cup for a long time, and we are in good form and are in a good position to go and win it.”

A WRIGHT GOOD RESULT
BELLE Vue star Charles Wright completed a busy weekend with 7+3 for the Aces in their Bank Holiday Monday demolition of Leicester.
Wright was back in action shortly after taking a memorable win in Sunday’s CLRC individual event at Redcar.
He said: “I had a couple of knocks in the CLRC meeting and I think I actually broke my finger, so I’ll get it x-rayed and see what’s going on but I’ve got a few days off now to recuperate.
“We’ve had a brilliant year so far but we’ve still got work to do to finish it off, so we’ll need to make sure to keep ourselves fit and fresh ready for the semi-finals.”

LAGUTA THE PANTHER
PETERBOROUGH manager Rob Lyon accepts the irony of the club’s late-season move for Artem Laguta.
The Panthers have struggled for strength and results all year but now as the end of the campaign approaches they appear to have a line-up which could do plenty of damage to those with play-off aspirations.
Lyon said: “It’s ironic that it gives us the sort of line-up that at the start of the season you’d say if it didn’t get in the play-offs you’d eat your hat!
“Now it will probably end up as one of the strongest teams in the league and it will end up near the bottom of the league. But it gives us the chance for a good send-off.”

OH WHAT A NIGHT!
KING’S Lynn hero Robert Lambert produced a stunning Heat 15 ride against Belle Vue to put smiles back on faces at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Lambert passed both Brady Kurtz and Dan Bewley to secure a shock 46-44 win – but he said it was all about the team effort.

He said: “It was definitely a team performance today. Simon (Lambert) did exceptionally well, and all of us had a great morale in the team, and that brought everything a little bit closer.
“At the point of where we were leading the meeting, we really had that belief that we could finish it off.
“I had a great meeting as well, I was a bit nervous coming into the first heat as I hadn’t ridden on such a grippy track in four years, but after the first heat I was well away.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… Sheffield can clinch their play-off place when they host King’s Lynn on Thursday… the Tigers also travel to Peterborough next Monday with the Panthers facing Wolverhampton at home on Thursday… the race for what is likely to be the final play-off place continues on Monday with Ipswich needing a win at King’s Lynn in order to pile the pressure on Leicester, who visit Wolverhampton on the same night.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP NEWSROUND…

FORD RALLIES PIRATES
POOLE promoter Dan Ford is urging his side to avoid any slip-ups when they host Birmingham this Wednesday.
The Pirates are firmly in the race for top spot and the right to pick play-off opponents, with Oxford seemingly their biggest threat.

Ford said: “We have got to keep the pressure on and so it is important that we keep our current form going.
“Both of our remaining fixtures are winnable but there is still work to do starting on Wednesday. This could be one of those banana-skin meetings if we aren’t careful.”

SCORPIONS STING TIGERS
SCUNTHORPE are heading into the business end of the season in great shape after two big wins last week.
The Scorpions won 55-35 at Birmingham for their club record away victory at this level, and then pulled off an impressive 54-36 home victory over Glasgow.
Manager Dave Peet said: “We fired on all cylinders on Wednesday at Birmingham and we didn’t quite do that tonight. But such was the contribution of the reserves that it allowed us to win comfortably.
“It’s always about the overall team performance and I can only be very happy about an 18-point win over a Glasgow side that won its previous meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
“We wanted to ride ourselves into form and that’s what’s happening and this is the time to do it. We’re in the play-offs and we want to keep this momentum going into them.”

BANDITS STILL ALIVE
BERWICK have confirmed they will be back at the tapes at senior level in 2024, despite the most trying of seasons this year.
Co-owner Jamie Courtney said: “2023 has provided us with our most challenging season on track but we are ready to regroup, rebuild, recharge, and go again.
“Bringing the fans, sponsors, and supporters of Berwick Speedway the best possible version of the club in 2024 is our top priority and we are well underway with plans to improve in all areas.
“We have always been resilient through the toughest of times and ever since the Taylor family founded the club back in 1968, there has been trials, tribulations, victories, defeats, controversies, heartbreak, and the odd triumph.”

WHAT A START
YOUNGSTER Ashton Boughen won his first race for Oxford at Cab Direct Championship level in their big win over Plymouth last Friday.
Boughen signed for the Cheetahs on his 16th birthday and could have a big part to play in their upcoming play-off battle.
He said: “I had a few nerves heading into the meeting tonight, although a guest booking at Premiership level at Sheffield last night helped me.
“Paid eight in my first meeting for Oxford is more than I expected. I was aiming for five points. To get a win in my first race in the Championship in my first race was awesome.”

THE BIG PICTURE
GLASGOW boss Cami Brown is adamant his side will regroup for the play-offs after a tough night at Scunthorpe.
The Tigers were beaten heavily at the Eddie Wright Raceway, but have a major incoming rider in time for the resumption next month.
Brown said: “Maybe it has been a long week, this was the fourth away meeting for us in six days. The guys battled hard and it was an exciting meeting but the tough run has taken its toll on men and machines really.
“We can now regroup for our next meeting on September 8 with new superstar signing Vadim Tarasenko in the side. We have hugely exciting times ahead and we will improve.”

HECTIC RUN AHEAD
EDINBURGH will race three home meetings in a spell of around 48 hours next week in a bid to secure a play-off place.
The Monarchs host Poole on Wednesday September 6 and then Plymouth and Birmingham in a double header two nights later following a spate of recent call-offs.

Promoter Alex Harkess said: “We have worked hard to reschedule these fixtures before the cut-off date for the play-offs as we are determined to have a big finish to the season.
“Qualifying for the play-offs is still within our grasp and that is our target. Circumstances have led us to staging three home fixtures in quick succession and we need the backing of our wonderful supporters, as they always do, to make these a success to finish the season on a high.”

BRUM BOSS FUMES
BIRMINGHAM CEO Nigel Tolley was an angry man after a 55-35 home defeat to Scunthorpe did major damage to the Brummies’ play-off hopes.
Tolley said: “We accept that the track may have acted as a catalyst for those opening four races and we know we got it wrong from the off on that front – but it’s the same for both sides and Scunthorpe attacked it better than we did.
“The riders knew the importance of tonight’s meeting and apart from Josh (Pickering), who of course is a guest, and somewhat Sedgy (Justin Sedgmen), as a team we didn’t exactly pull our weight did we?”

THE WEEK AHEAD…  Poole and Oxford are battling it out for the top two, with the Pirates at home to Birmingham on Wednesday whilst the Cheetahs have no league fixture until next Tuesday… at the other end of the table, Plymouth take on sixth-placed Edinburgh this Tuesday.

ELSEWHERE… after Charles Wright’s CLRC success at Redcar on Sunday, the Bears defend the Championship Pairs title at Oxford on Friday with Wright and Danny King making up their combination whilst Lewis Kerr, a winner with Redcar last year, now lines up for the host club alongside Sam Masters.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NEWSROUND…

COLTS ON THE CHARGE
BELLE Vue moved into the top two of the NDL table with their first away win of the season at Workington on Saturday.
That completed a weekend double over the Comets as the Colts look to put pressure on the teams around them who have matches in hand.

Co-boss Steve Williams said: “We’ve got two meetings left before the Play Offs and it feels like everyone is coming good at the right time, so that does give us a psychological boost.
“We’re second ion the table after Saturday but we really need to make the most of these final two meetings to finish the job and make sure we stay there.”

CHARGERS KEEP CHARGING
OXFORD are top of the NDL after a thumping 60-30 win over Berwick on Wednesday, although their crunch clash at Leicester will need to be re-staged after Saturday’s meeting was abandoned.
Manager Peter Schroeck said: “It was the right decision to call a halt to the meeting tonight. The idea was to quickly get to Heat 10, but then the unfortunate crash to Max James happened. The good news seems to be that he has escaped any major injuries.

“The track had already had quite a lot of usage tonight, because of the meeting before us, and therefore when the heavens opened up, it couldn’t take much. Both teams agreed to call it off, so we can re-stage on a better night. I think it was the fairest thing for both teams. We’ll find another date and live to fight again.”

BULLETS STANDING DOWN
BERWICK will end their three-year stay in the National Development League at the end of the season, with club bosses choosing to focus on higher-level racing, although there will still be a Youth programme at Shielfield Park.
Co-promoter Scott Courtney said: “After an incredibly demanding season on and off the track, we have made the decision to channel our attention towards the Bandits and a revamped youth system for 2024 and moving forward.
“The reality is that Berwick Speedway has always been more than just a team that enters a league year in year out. Berwick Speedway is bigger and more valuable to the sport than we are all probably feeling right now.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… A weekend off for the National Development League with the play-off chase set to resume on September 6 with leaders Oxford hosting Kent.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY AUGUST 29:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Edinburgh 7pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole (54) v Birmingham (36) 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 31:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Peterborough (45) v Wolverhampton (45) 7.30, Sheffield (57) v King’s Lynn (33) 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1:
CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS: Oxford 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2:
FIM BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 5pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: King’s Lynn (39) v Ipswich (51), Peterborough (42) v Sheffield (48) 7.30, Wolverhampton (51) v Leicester (39) 7.30

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 5:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford (45) v Scunthorpe (45) 7.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7pm

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham (47) v Plymouth (42) 7.30, Edinburgh (31) v Poole (59) 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Oxford (51) v Kent (39) 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Peterborough (33) v Leicester (57) 7.30, Sheffield (35) v Wolverhampton (55) 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8:

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Plymouth 7pm, Edinburgh (54) v Birmingham (36) (follows previous fixture), Glasgow (38) v Oxford (52) 7.30, Scunthorpe (43) v Berwick (47) 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue (39) v Leicester (51) 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Plymouth 7pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester (39) v Workington (50) 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar (39) v Glasgow (51) 5pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent (37) v Edinburgh (52) 12pm, Mildenhall (49) v Workington (41) 4pm