BRITISH SPEEDWAY OCTOBER7, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

SCORPIONS INTO CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL

SCUNTHORPE marched into the Championship KO Cup Final for the first time in five years with a convincing two-legged victory over Redcar.

The Scorpions won 49-41 at the ECCO Arena on Friday to complete a 26-point aggregate triumph and set up a Final clash with holders Poole.
In-form skipper Simon Lambert collected 12+2 for the visitors with Jake Allen notching 9+2 against his former club and Drew Kemp picked up nine, whilst guests Richard Lawson (10+1) and Leon Flint (10) led the way for the injury-hit Bears.

Scorpions manager Dave Peet said: “We didn’t come here to defend an 18-point lead – we went out to extend that lead even further. The lads were desperate to have another crack at Poole in the Cup Final and now they’ve earnt that.

“It was a proper team performance tonight. Dougie (Ryan Douglas) is always so strong away from home, but tonight he had an eventual night, and it was engine room pairing of Simon and Jake at No. 3 and 4 who really shone for us. “We had the mindset to win tonight – not just on aggregate but the meeting too. We put out a statement of intent that we mean business. Fhe final will be the same – we’ll be out to win both legs against Poole.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

PETERBOROUGH are set for an emotional occasion as they stage the Farewell to the Showground meeting tonight (Saturday, 7pm).
The Panthers have been consistent members of British Speedway ever since 1970 and have enjoyed some massive highs along the way, including their three top-flight league titles in 1999, 2006 and most recently 2021.
They have also staged many of the top UK and International events including being the spiritual home of the Fours competition.

But their Alwalton home is to close at the end of the season as the owners pursue plans for a major housing development.
Three members of the ’21 title winning line-up – Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls and Michael Palm Toft – will be racing in the finale along with a host of the club’s other past and present riders, and track specialists.
 
(SPEEDWAY 3)

GLASGOW star Tom Brennan insists now is the time to end their Poole hoodoo as the sides prepare to do battle in the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final.
The Tigers have reached their third title decider in four seasons but missed out in both 2019 and 2021 – the latter at the hands of the Pirates, who followed up by knocking them out in the semi-finals last year and recording a convincing BSN Series Final triumph earlier this summer.

But Brennan said: “We go into the Final believing in ourselves. We are not going to look back at past results. They mean nothing now. “We are a much better team than in any of the previous meetings with Poole. I’m not bothered by what has happened before. 

“But the character we have shown recently has been unbelievable. We were dead and buried against Oxford with four races to go. But we hit them with three 5-1s to knock them out.
“We’ve got the likes of Chris Harris, Ben Basso and Vadim Tarasenko who are all in amazing form.  Lee Complin was our true hero last Tuesday, he had his best performance of the season. I know what I can do when I bring my A game.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

WORKINGTON wrap up their first season back at league level when they host Kent in a re-arranged NDL clash at Northside today (Saturday).
The Comets welcome back Ace Pijper for his first appearance since late August, whilst Sam McGurk is also fit to race after recovering from a fractured kneecap suffered in a crash at Leicester last month.

Youngster Senna Summers will guest at reserve in place of Harry McGurk, whilst Freddy Hodder steps in for the Royals, who also operate rider replacement with Jack Kingston and Rhys Naylor on the sidelines.
The Comets trail by ten points after a 50-40 defeat at Iwade, but all three points on Saturday would see them move above their opponents into sixth place in the final NDL table.

 (FIXTURES)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 7:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Workington (40) v Kent (50) 3pm
FAREWELL TO THE SHOWGROUND: Peterborough 7pm

SUNDAY OCTOBER 8:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Glasgow v Poole 6pm
NDL KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Mildenhall v Leicester 4pm

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Glasgow 7.30
ALAN GRAHAME MEMORIAL: Birmingham v Cradley Heathens Select 7.30