BRITISH SPEEDWAY APRIL 13, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

COMETS ROAR TO VICTORY

CHAMPIONSHIP newcomers Workington pulled off a stunning comeback to win 46-44 at Redcar in the BSN Series.
The Comets trailed by 12 points after four races at the Ecco Arena but gradually worked their way into the meeting, and they narrowed the gap to two points before producing a series of heat wins.

Home captain Charles Wright then crashed out of Heat 15 and the turnaround was completed by Craig Cook and Troy Batchelor with a 5-1 over Danny King in the re-run.
Cook recovered from being disqualified for touching the tapes in Heat 1 to score 12+2 from his next five rides, with Batchelor (11) and Claus Vissing (10) also in double figures, whilst Wright scored 10 for the Bears.

Said Cook: “We’ve got quality in this team. Obviously we’ve got three big hitters, me, Batch and Claus, but you’ve seen the quality of the newbies Antti (Vuolas) and Tate (Zischke).
“They’ve got sublime quality and credit to the management for picking them out, I can’t sing their praises enough.
“Sam (McGurk) needs to find his feet but he’s got talent in abundance, and it’s fantastic to see Celina (Liebmann) mixing it with the boys and scoring a few points. I’m so happy for her.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2

MICHAEL Palm Toft and Jake Allen both scored maximums as Cab Direct KO Cup holders Scunthorpe put one foot firmly into this year’s quarter-finals.
The Scorpions slammed Plymouth 61-29 at the Eddie Wright Raceway with Palm Toft reeling off five wins for a 15-point full house, whilst Allen joined him in the unbeaten stakes with 13+2, and Connor Mountain added 11.

There was more bad news for the depleted Gladiators as captain Ben Barker was withdrawn midway through the meeting, whilst Joe Thompson and the Scorpions’ Nathan Ablitt suffered a heavy crash in Heat 14.
 
(SPEEDWAY 3)

GLASGOW captain Chris Harris made an incredible entry to Friday’s BSN Series clash with Edinburgh – only for the weather to have the final say.
Harris had been delayed by traffic issues on the M6 and made it into the stadium with the two-minute warning for Heat 1 already on.
He had changed into his racesuit into the van and went straight out on track on a borrowed machine, coming from the back to record a 5-1 with James Pearson.

However, the meeting was abandoned after Heat 6 due to heavy rain with the Tigers 21-15 up, and it will have to be re-staged.
Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “It was the most sensational start to our season at Ashfield.
“Only Chris could do that sort of thing. He was on a borrowed bike and then came from last to second to win the race with James.

“He crossed the finishing line. Yet literally two minutes earlier he wasn’t even in the stadium!
“We made a brilliant start and led by 10 points but Edinburgh came back at us. It was shaping up to be a huge meeting. But the rain just poured down. It was such a shame.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BERWICK No.1 Lewis Kerr has been ruled out of tonight’s (Saturday) BSN Series clash with Edinburgh at Shielfield Park.
Kerr is targeting a quick recovery after suffering a broken ankle in a crash when racing in the top-flight for Oxford on Thursday.
The Bandits have called up Richard Lawson to guest against the Monarchs, whose series opener at Glasgow on Friday was abandoned due to rain after six races.

Berwick manager Stewart Dickson said: “Rest assured that I have been drumming into the riders all week, and will again on Saturday’s track walk, the importance of not getting carried away by what has been a good start to the season, taking their eye off the ball and letting Edinburgh take advantage.

“We have momentum but need to keep pushing onwards. It is important we perform well against Edinburgh. Anything less would undermine the hard work we have put in to achieve the results against Workington and Glasgow.
“Edinburgh are a very different challenge; a team which, perhaps like ours, has depth to it which means we again have to account for every point.”

(FIXTURES)
 
SATURDAY APRIL 13:
BSN SERIES: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm

MONDAY APRIL 15:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue (48) v King’s Lynn (42) 7.30, Birmingham v Leicester 7.30

WEDNESDAY APRIL 17:
BSN SERIES: Oxford v Plymouth 7.30

THURSDAY APRIL 18:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich (48) v Oxford (42) 7.30, Leicester (33) v Belle Vue (51) 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30