BRITISH SPEEDWAY MARCH 29, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

IPSWICH DIG DEEP FOR WIN

IPSWICH found themselves trailing at home to newcomers Birmingham before finishing strongly for a 49-41 win at Foxhall in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The Brummies raced into an early six-point lead as home star Emil Sayfutdinov fell in Heat 1 and Danny King broke the tapes in Heat 5.

Sayfutdinov crashed again in Heat 13 but Keynan Rew and Rising Star Dan Thompson combined for a match-clinching 5-1 in the next race.
Jason Doyle made an almost perfect return to action with 14 points for the Witches, beaten only by Scott Nicholls in Heat 4, and Adam Ellis totalled 11 – whilst Nicholls again impressed for the Brummies with 11, and Tom Brennan added 8+2.
Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was a really tough meeting; we were behind for a lot of it. Birmingham will feel like they could have got more out of the meeting.

“I’m very happy with our team with how they fought and improved during the meeting, and we stuck to the task and got the win in the end. I go away with lots of positives, but it was certainly a tough night.
“I am massively impressed by Dan again; he was the star last week and I thought he improved again this week. I am really pleased with him, and he has started the season great, and he has contributed massively. His points were valuable tonight.”

Brennan said: “It was tough because Ipswich are really good at home. But we came here with an open mind and I think we continued to surprise quite a lot of people, which is awesome.
“Birmingham have worked really hard for this and to be a part of this 1-7 feels really good.
“We pushed Ipswich and we were right in the mix. Unfortunately, they got the upper hand towards the end but they’re obviously good at home.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

POOLE kick off their defence of the BSN Series as they face Oxford in the Southern group tonight (Friday).
The Pirates were successful in the early-season competition last year, eventually defeating Glasgow in the Final.
Their line-up has been revised for 2024 with Tom Brennan, Tobias Thomsen, Sam Hagon and Max Perry all making their first appearances tonight.

The Cheetahs have not won at Wimborne Road since 1999, but they did take part in some titanic battles with the Pirates last year, and they track a familiar line-up with all seven of their riders having been involved in 2023.
Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “This being our first competitive action means we need our new boys to, as they say, hit the ground running, as well as hoping that the guys from last season will provide a solid foundation.

“With Oxford being one of our nearest neighbours then of course there is the element of a local derby and I expect them to have some solid backing on the terraces given this is a holiday meeting.
“So, we have two good sides with loyal supporters getting behind them and that has all the promise to be a humdinger of a season opener for us.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SCUNTHORPE face newcomers Workington in the BSN Series this evening (Friday, 5.30pm) as both clubs get their competitive season underway.
The Scorpions have brought in Kyle Howarth and youngster Luke Harrison as they look to build on a positive 2023 campaign, which saw them lift the KO Cup, and they also have club legend David Howe making his debut as team manager.

Meanwhile the Comets return to the second tier for the first time since 2018, and there will be much interest in the performances of UK debutants Tate Zischke, Antti Vuolas and female racer Celina Liebmann.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “We are looking to pick up where we left off in 2023 as Knockout Cup winners and keep that going.

“Most of the team is intact and we’ve only made two changes from last year, whereas some of the other teams have made a lot more.
“Kyle is a quality act, while we don’t want to put any pressure on Luke, but I do think he will be scoring points from the word go.

“We get started against Workington and how good is it to see the Comets back at second division level where they belong!”
Comets manager James Denham said: “Competing at a higher level will mean this year will be massively different from last. 
“We will focus on home wins and turning Workington into a fortress, but I think we will surprise a few people and also pick up a few scalps on the road.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BELLE Vue host the first meeting in the WSRA National Development League this season with Leicester providing the opposition (1pm).
Both sides enjoyed strong campaigns in 2023 with the Lion Cubs going all the way to the Grand Final – but this year’s NDL is decided on league results only.

Chad Wirtzfeld makes his Colts debut and Harry McGurk returns to the club, whilst Ben Trigger guests at No.1 for Sam Hagon who is on Championship BSN Series duty with Poole.
Meanwhile Arran Butcher, Luke Crang and Sonny Springer appear for the Lion Cubs for the first time, with Jody Scott guesting for the unavailable Max James who is with Edinburgh.

Colts co-boss Graham Goodwin said: “We couldn’t ask for a tougher opening fixture than the Lion Cubs. They have been arguably our toughest NDL opponents in recent years.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but at the same time it will be a very exciting afternoon of racing and we hope to see a big crowd to cheer on the lads.”

Lion Cubs manager Dave Howard said: “As well as winning home matches you’ve got to get some points away as well to look to challenge for the league.
“Everybody likes riding at Belle Vue, so we’ll be giving it all we’ve got, and let’s see what we can do!”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

REDCAR warm up for their official campaign by facing a strong Newcastle Select side at the ECCO Arena tonight (Friday).
New signings Jonas Knudsen and Ben Trigger make their debuts for the Bears whilst Jake Mulford is also back at reserve after his season ending injury in 2023.

Diamonds fans are expected to make the short trip in large numbers with the club having closed just under two years ago, and their team is captained by Steve Worrall with all of their riders having connections with the Tyneside outfit.

Redcar manager Gavin Parr said: “Of course, we always want to win and we don’t want to be beaten by our closest rivals, but this will also be the opportunity for the boys to get some competitive track time and sort out any teething problems that may arise during the meeting.

“I’m really intrigued to see how the reserves do against each other. Danny (Phillips) was on the phone to me over the winter wanting the Redcar Bears’ No.7 berth, so I think he has a point to prove.
“Ben Trigger will be looking to get one over his Middlesbrough team-mate and vice versa so I’m looking forward to the battle of the reserves.”
 
(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY MARCH 29:
BSN SERIES: Poole v Oxford 7.30, Scunthorpe v Workington 5.30
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 1pm
TYNE/TEES TROPHY: Redcar v Newcastle Select 7.30

SATURDAY MARCH 30:
BSN SERIES: Plymouth v Poole OFF
BORDER TROPHY 1st leg: Berwick v Workington 7pm

SUNDAY MARCH 31:
BORDER TROPHY 2nd leg: Workington v Berwick 3pm

MONDAY APRIL 1:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Birmingham (43) v Oxford (47) 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v Sheffield 12pm, Leicester v Ipswich 7.30