BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

CHEETAHS CHARGE TO THE TOP

OXFORD are back on top of the Cab Direct Championship after a hard-fought 50-40 win over play-off bound Scunthorpe at Cowley.

The league leadership will now be decided in Scotland this week with the Cheetahs on 33 points ahead of their final regular match at Glasgow on Friday, whilst Poole are on 32 and visit Edinburgh tonight (Wednesday).
Peter Schroeck’s side were made to work hard for their points against Scunthorpe. Although Scorpions never led the hosts, they did come from ten points behind to trail Cheetahs by only two points with four heats to go.

Home heat leaders Sam Masters (13) and Lewis Kerr (11) led the way as Oxford pulled clear, whilst Ryan Douglas piled up 14 for the visitors.
Schroeck said: “We knew Scunthorpe are capable of putting in a big performance and so that proved tonight.

“They’ve gone under the radar this season and I’d expect them to cause an upset or two when the play-offs come around. From our point of view, it was another solid team performance from one to seven.”

Douglas said: “I was happy with my own night. I was here a few days ago in the Pairs and that prepared me well for tonight. They’ve got a strong top three, so there’s never an easy race against Oxford, but once I start making some starts, I had a good evening.
“Oxford are obviously a strong side because they went back to the top of the table tonight, but we pushed them at their own track, and our away form hasn’t always been as strong in previous seasons.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

PLYMOUTH moved off the bottom of the Cab Direct Championship with a 45-44 win over Berwick in an eventful clash at the Coliseum.
The Bandits led by one point going into the last race but home skipper Kyle Howarth took the win over Rory Schlein with guest Joe Thompson in a crucial third place over Jye Etheridge.

Howarth scored 13 from five rides for the Gladiators whilst James Pearson notched a vital 13+1 from seven at reserve. Schlein scored 13 and Etheridge added 12+2 for the visitors.

(SPEEDWAY 3)

EDINBURGH face Poole at Armadale tonight (Wednesday) with play-off issues on the line in the final week of regular Cab Direct Championship competition.
The Monarchs race three matches at home in the space of 48 hours as they look to make sure of sixth place, whilst an away win for the Pirates would take them top and force Oxford to respond at Glasgow on Friday.
The home side operate rider replacement for Craig Cook who is withholding services, whilst Mason Watson and Jacob Hook replace absent reserves Dayle Wood (injured) and Bastian Borke (Danish duty). Lasse Fredriksen returns from injury.

Edinburgh boss 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.”

Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “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.
“Only last week they went to Plymouth and sneaked a valuable away win So, it is going to be a test for us but one that I know our boys will be up for.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BIRMINGHAM stage their final regular home league fixture of the season tonight (Wednesday) when they host Plymouth at Perry Barr.
The Brummies have only enjoyed one win all year in front of their home supporters – and are looking to round off their Cab Direct Championship programme in the Second City with another.

Lewis Kerr steps in at No.1 for the home side whilst there are a host of changes for the Gladiators who include Simon Lambert and Matt Marson, and former Brummies rider James Pearson is at reserve.
Birmingham boss Stewart Dickson said: “We certainly want to win it, of course we do.

“The form has been indifferent, shall we say, since I came in. There have been too many inconsistencies and that has been our problem.”But the supporters have stuck by us, and the riders need to reward them on Wednesday night by beating Plymouth and giving them something to cheer about.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)
 
OXFORD can take a big step towards achieving a top two finish in the NDL with victory over Kent at Cowley tonight (Wednesday).
The Chargers are on top of the table at present and on a run of eight straight wins including an unbeaten record at home, with Belle Vue, Leicester and Mildenhall also in the race for the Grand Final.

Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “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.

“Luke (Killeen) moves into the main body of the team for the first time which we’re really excited about and Jacob (Clouting) stepping down to reserve can be a real trump card for us.”

The Royals bring in Freddy Hodder to guest for the injured Jack Kingston, with rider replacement in operation for Rhys Naylor.
Manager Jamie Willis said: “We are under no illusions that Oxford are a very strong side, but I will be expecting our boys to fight for every point.
“Anything can happen on the night, so we go there looking to gain league points which would help us climb up the league table.”

(FIXTURES

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