BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2023/24

Feature photo by:  CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN… SHEFFIELD clinched their place in the Sports Insure Premiership play-offs with a 57-33 win on over King’s Lynn on Thursday at Owlerton. Former World Champion Chris Holder marked his return to British Speedway with 10 points from four rides for the Tigers.

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

SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP NEWSROUND…

LIONS A POINT AWAY
LEICESTER need one more point to reach the Sports Insure Premiership play-offs – and it will all be decided at Peterborough on Thursday.
An aggregate point against the Panthers will be enough for the Lions, who take a 24-point advantage into the meeting and are in good heart after a Super Heat victory at Wolverhampton on Monday.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “We’ve given ourselves a chance on Thursday night at Peterborough, and now we need to grab it.
“We need to do a solid, steady, professional job there, but Peterborough are a much-improved side now so we still know it’s going to be very tough.”

WITCHES LEFT WAITING
IPSWICH completed their league campaign on 34 points after holding on for a 46-44 win at King’s Lynn on Monday, and are now looking for a favour from Peterborough.
The Witches are fourth in the table but need the Panthers to take a big win over Leicester on Thursday in order for them to edge out the Lions to make the play-offs.

Boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Another win at Lynn and I’m really proud of the boys and how determined they were.
“They stuck with it throughout the meeting and Lynn tried everything to get the better of us tonight and tried every trick in the book really as they have done all season, but we managed to get another win and I’m super proud of how they’ve been over the last six weeks or so.
“That is seven wins in eight to finish the league season and we look forward to the Cup Final next week now.”

WOLVES LOSE OUT
WOLVERHAMPTON dropped points at home for the first time this season as Leicester triumphed in a Super Heat on Monday.
It was the Wolves’ third 45-45 draw at Monmore this season, but boss Peter Adams says they will still go into the play-offs in good heart.

He said: “There were one or two disappointing performances in our team and that’s where the points were lost.
“After 15 heats it was a draw though, so our unbeaten home record is intact and we’re the only team in this league to achieve that this year.”

STEAD – WE MUST IMPROVE
SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead had no complaints after his side were well beaten at Peterborough on Monday with the absence of the injured Tai Woffinden a key factor.
The Tigers also struggled at reserve and will look to hit back when they host Wolverhampton prior to next week’s KO Cup Final.

Stead said: “We were missing the brilliance of Tai Woffinden; the display he put on last time he was here could’ve made all the difference. But he wasn’t here and we weren’t able to cover him and we suffered for that.
“Fair play to Rob (Lyon – Peterborough team manager) and his boys though, they got the job done and we now need to regroup and produce a better performance on Thursday.”

STARS SO CLOSE
KING’S Lynn were edged out by Ipswich in a thriller at the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday, and Stars owner Keith Chapman admits recent home matches against Belle Vue and the Witches have re-fired his enthusiasm.
Chapman said: “It’s been a rough old season and everyone knows I didn’t want to be here this year so it wasn’t what I’d planned, but things happened and we had to get on with it.
“But the last two meetings have been tremendous and now we’ll start to go again for next year.”

PANTHERS MARCH ON
PETERBOROUGH completed a hat-trick of home wins with a 53-37 victory over Sheffield to again underline what might have been in 2023.
The Panthers have substantially improved since making changes and have three home matches remaining to add to their league total.

Boss Rob Lyon said: “It would have been nice to have had this team several weeks ago, but circumstances dictated that wasn’t the case.
“It’s probably one of the strongest teams in the league now, and it’s going to finish near the bottom which is a shame, but that’s the way it goes. Now we’ve got this team we want to make sure we make the most of it and get a feel-good factor, and finish on a high for everyone.”

ELSEWHERE… BELLE Vue are now confirmed as league leaders ahead of the Sports Insure Premiership play-offs, and will take on the fourth-placed team in the semi-finals.
The identity of their opposition is yet to be resolved, but the Aces will stage their home leg of the semi-final on Monday September 18.

THE WEEK AHEAD… THE final play-off spot will be decided on Thursday when Leicester visit Peterborough needing 34 race points to edge out Ipswich… elsewhere Sheffield host Wolverhampton with both clubs safely in the top four, whilst Wolves travel to Peterborough on Monday… Sheffield take on Ipswich on Monday in the first leg of the KO Cup Final at Owlerton.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP NEWSROUND…

TIGERS WANT MORE
CHRIS Harris and Benjamin Basso sealed Championship Pairs glory for Glasgow at Oxford last Friday – and are now chasing further silverware.
The Ashfield side will be in the play-offs with new signing Vadim Tarasenko set to make his debut against the Cheetahs this week.

Harris said: “I’ve won this twice in the old Elite League but not at this level, so it’s nice to put this on the mantelpiece now.
“That’s one down and a few more to go at Glasgow. Now we can concentrate on the play-offs but we’ll see what happens. Some really tough meetings ahead.”

ATKINS IN RESERVE
OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck is happy with the Cheetahs’ team configuration ahead of two big matches this week.
The Cowley host Scunthorpe on Tuesday and then have a crucial trip to Glasgow on Friday as they look to edge out Poole for top spot heading into the play-offs.

Schroeck said: “This is a big week for us. Finishing top of the league would be a massive achievement for everyone connected to the club just 17 months after our return.
“Cameron (Heeps) is back in the main body of the team with Henry (Atkins) back at reserve. That can be a real trump card for us as Henry has been a real gem for us, especially at home, this year.”

PIRATES KEEP FOCUSED
POOLE promoter Dan Ford is calling for no slip-ups when the Pirates visit Edinburgh on Wednesday and look to set a testing target for their rivals for top spot Oxford.
Ford said: “We have got 15 heats left and we just need to outscore Edinburgh over those heats. That will put the pressure back on Oxford, assuming of course that they don’t slip up on Tuesday.

“I believe that we can go to Edinburgh and do the job but we mustn’t forget that Edinburgh are still trying to cement their place in the play-offs and Wednesday will be the first of three home matches they have this week.”

LASSE BACK FOR MONARCHS
EDINBURGH will welcome back Lasse Fredriksen after a lengthy spell on the sidelines as they go into three crucial home matches this week looking to secure a place in the play-offs.
The Monarchs face Poole on Wednesday and then stage a vital double header on Friday against Plymouth and Birmingham.

Manager Alex Harkess said: “We will never go into any match at home to do anything other than win the match, but obviously Poole will be a hard fixture as it is for anyone.
“Whatever happens in that, we must win the matches in Friday’s double header. We are certainly not underestimating our opponents in that one.”

SCORPIONS WANT MOMENTUM
SCUNTHORPE boss Dave Peet is looking for his side to head into the play-offs in the best possible form, after some frustration in the Championship Pairs at Oxford.
Peet said: “Ryan (Douglas) and Simon (Lambert) were very unlucky not to reach the semi-finals, only missing out on countback after a couple of decisions went against us.
“We’ll be looking to pick up three points when we host Berwick at the Eddie Wright Raceway in our concluding regular meeting on Friday, because we want to head into the play-offs with momentum on our side.”

BANDITS EXPECT CHANGES
BERWICK co-owner Jamie Courtney admits things may look “a little different” in 2024 – with the club having confirmed they will be back at the tapes in the second tier.
Courtney said: “As with every year, plans for the following season both within the club and at BSP level began in July.
“Berwick Speedway may look and feel a little different next season, but we will be back on track and striving to do the best we possibly can.”

BRUMMIES’ HOPES FADING
BIRMINGHAM boss Stewart Dickson admits Edinburgh’s late win at Plymouth last week was a body blow for the Brummies’ play-off hopes.
The Perry Barr side have been playing catch-up all season and despite two away wins, their awful home record looks set to prove costly.
Dickson said: “Edinburgh winning at Plymouth on Tuesday night was a pretty big blow to us, but we just have to focus on our last couple of meetings that we’ve got.”
 
THE WEEK AHEAD… Top spot ahead of the play-offs will be decided this week with current leaders Poole visiting Edinburgh on Wednesday, whilst rivals Oxford host Scunthorpe on Tuesday and then visit Glasgow on Friday… Edinburgh will look to wrap up sixth place with three home matches this week as they also host Plymouth and Birmingham on Friday… the bottom two meet twice with Berwick travelling to Plymouth on Tuesday and hosting the return on Saturday… a busy week for the Gladiators also sees them visit Birmingham on Wednesday… the Bandits are also in action on Friday when they race at Scunthorpe… two play-off qualifiers clash as Redcar meet Glasgow on Sunday.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NEWSROUND…

WORK TO DO
OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck is taking nothing for granted as his side go into Wednesday’s home clash with Kent on an eight-match winning run.
Schroeck said: “The boys have been outstanding this season. Although we’ve won our last eight meetings, we still have a job to do and can’t afford to lose focus at any moment.

“It’s been a frustrating period for ourselves and Kent with three fixtures having to be postponed or abandoned between us, but we have a clear weather forecast and we’re ready to do the job required.”

HOPE FOR FEN TIGERS
MILDENHALL boss Jason Gardner is challenging his side to keep the pressure on the other sides vying for top two finishes in the NDL when they host Workington on Sunday after an extended break from action at West Row.
Gardner said: “It’s been out of our direct control that we’ve gone over a month since our last home meeting.
“But we need to put those frustrations behind us and concentrate on getting the win, the three points and making sure the other teams chasing the play-off positions know we are still around.”

McGURK STANDS DOWN
WORKINGTON’S Harry McGurk has stepped down from his place in the Comets team after a tough season in which his average has fallen significantly.
McGurk will sit out the rest of the 2023 season but team boss James Denham is optimistic he could return in future.
Denham said: “I feel for Harry, it just hasn’t happened for him this year. But he’ll be back. He has been professional throughout the season even when things haven’t gone his or the team’s way.
“Not just that his determination to overcome his drop in form has been clear to see and that’s just testament to the type of lad he is, it’s just a shame we haven’t seen the best of Harry this year.”

THE WEEK AHEAD… League leaders Oxford are back in action at Cowley on Wednesday against Kent… play-off hopefuls Belle Vue and Leicester meet in Manchester on Friday… the Lion Cubs then face Workington in a double header with league and Cup business to attend to on Saturday… Mildenhall are still chasing the top two and they host the Comets on Sunday… the same day sees Kent face Edinburgh at midday.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

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 (46) v Plymouth (44) 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) 6.30
NDL KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Leicester (53) v Workington (37) (follows previous fixture)

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

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Peterborough (45) v Wolverhampton (45) 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh (41) v Mildenhall (48) 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Berwick (29) v Belle Vue (61) 7pm, Workington (40) v Kent (50) 3pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Belle Vue v TBC 7.30