BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

PIRATES QUALIFY FOR GRAND FINAL

POOLE marched into their 13th play-off Grand Final with a 55-35 win over Edinburgh to make themselves uncatchable in Cab Direct Championship Group A.

The titleholders have topped the section with one match to spare, and now await news as to whether they will face Oxford or Glasgow in the decider.
The Pirates provided a full six-man performance against the Monarchs, operating rider replacement for Anders Rowe, with Richard Lawson top-scoring on 13 points whilst Steve Worrall and Zach Cook picked up 11+2 apiece and Ben Cook had three wins and one retirement.

None of the home side were able to record a maximum thanks to the efforts of Josh Pickering who won three races in a 14-point total, with Paco Castagna adding 11 from seven rides. Worrall said: “We did the hard work at Scunthorpe to put us in the driving seat, and so tonight we were able to treat this as something like a dress rehearsal.

“No disrespect to Edinburgh, they put up a good fight, but we were able to try different things and have a play around with the track and kind of had a bit more dirt out wide. Obviously it’s getting cooler and the bikes react differently so it was good for us to try these things.”

Monarchs boss Gordon Campbell said: “Circumstances dictated that we were racing without a No.1 which added significantly to the difficulty of the task.
“Paco and Josh led the charge admirably, but Poole were always comfortable. Paco did particularly well considering he had a heavy crash on Monday but completed seven rides without question.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

GLASGOW set up a massive shootout for Grand Final qualification with a 51-39 win at Redcar despite suffering a nightmare start to the meeting.
The Tigers now need to defeat Oxford next Tuesday and also take the aggregate point, where they trail by ten points, in order to win Group B with defending Cab Direct Championship holders Poole already through from the other group.

Redcar raced into a 10-2 lead after two races at the ECCO Arena but then suffered a huge blow when guest Justin Sedgmen crashed out in Heat 3, and the Tigers then turned things around in spectacular fashion.
Chris Harris (12), Vadim Tarasenko (11+1) and Benjamin Basso (11) were all in double figures, whilst reserve Jason Edwards scored an impressive 12 points at reserve for the Bears.

Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “We made a very slow start but the boys produced a really gutsy performance to come back. It’s a massive win.
“We were eight points down after two races but they all got stuck in and worked so hard. I’m really proud of them, they were magnificent.
“It sets up a huge meeting with Oxford next Tuesday at Ashfield. We need to win by 11 points at least to reach the Grand Final against Poole.
“That’s going to be so tough, we know that. But tonight we’ve given ourselves a chance for a third Grand Final in four seasons.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 3)

SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead insists his riders ‘can’t afford to take their foot off the gas’ when they host Wolverhampton in their Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final decider at Owlerton tonight (Thursday – UK time).
Despite including three guests, the Tigers produced a brilliant display in the West Midlands on Monday to come away with a 50-40 triumph, putting them in the driving seat to set up a Grand Final clash with Ipswich.

But despite many now making them favourites to progress, Stead says the Steel City side cannot rest on their laurels – and believes treating it as a normal home fixture is the best approach.
He said: “It’s quite simple, we’ve drawn a line underneath Monday’s first leg. We start from zero again on Thursday as far as we’re concerned because the important thing when you get to this time of year is momentum. 

“It’s about using what you did in the previous meeting to help boost your belief and confidence but then it’s about not taking anything for granted to ensure you’re always sharp and ready to keep that ball rolling.
“So we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas, we need to carry on doing what we’re doing and if Monday is anything to go by then we’re going to be a threat to anybody.”

The Tigers again bring in Robert Lambert and Richard Lawson to guest in heat-leader berths, whilst Connor Mountain steps in for Claus Vissing at reserve. Wolves are at full strength and unchanged from Monday’s first leg.
Wolves star Steve Worrall said: “We’ve got to stay positive, it’s not over. We could quite easily go there and do what they did at our place.

“But we’ve got to forget about Monday and go to Sheffield, give it our all and put everything on the line.
“Obviously we want to make that Final because we want to give Wolves the send-off they deserve. We know we’re going to be up against it but we have to go there thinking positively.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

OXFORD warmed up for the National Development League Grand Final with a 55-35 home win over Edinburgh.
The Chargers rounded off their regular campaign with a strong performance in a meeting which saw both teams reduced in numbers as Jason Garrad and Mickie Simpson crashed out in Heat 2.

But the home side’s other reserve Jacob Clouting piled up 12+3 from seven rides whilst Henry Atkins scored 12, and guest Alfie Bowtell picked up 11. Jacob Hook (12) and Max Clegg (11+1) led the way for the Monarchs Academy.
Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “It was a professional performance and one we needed to stand us in good stead ahead of the Grand Final.

“There’s a lot of excitement in the camp, of course. But we’re keeping our heads level and I thought tonight the boys did everything asked of them.
“Now our attention turns to the serious matter of our two-legged Grand Final. Leicester have been quality all year but I know we have the capability to win over the two legs. It’s a mouth-watering Final and one everyone at the club is excited for.”
Edinburgh manager Scott Wilson said: “I’m very proud of the lads who represented us tonight. To be without Alex (Spooner) and Dayle (Wood), then lose Mickie after a promising first ride, and still score 35 points against a top side deserves credit. 
“We dug in and battled on all night despite the tough circumstances and I couldn’t have asked for any more than that.”

(FIXTURES)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Sheffield (50) v Wolverhampton (40) 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP A: Edinburgh (35) v Poole (55) 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester (46) v Mildenhall (44) 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30:
STUART ROBSON FAREWELL: Redcar 5pm