BRITISH SPEEDWAY JUNE 20, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)
OXFORD’S LAST RACE MATCH WIN
OXFORD defeated Poole in a Super Heat after a pulsating 45-45 draw between the Cab Direct Championship rivals at Cowley.

Cheetahs captain Scott Nicholls charged through to join team-mate Sam Masters for a maximum in the decisive race, which had been re-started with all four riders after Masters went down on turn two in the initial staging as Tom Brennan looked to force his way through.
Masters was unbeaten throughout the meeting having recorded a 14+1 paid maximum in the regular heats, with Nicholls adding 11.

Reserve Sam Hagon (12) inspired the Pirates’ comeback from four points down by winning Heats 8 and 9, with Richard Lawson scoring 11, and the league point for the draw still moves them to the top of the table.
Masters said: “I’m happy we got the win, because I think we deserved it. Everyone dug deep and everyone put in a massive effort. To beat Poole either home or away is tough and I’m stoked we’ve done that tonight.

“I had the easy job in the re-run. Scott did the hard yards, but he’s a class rider and he got through. When I looked over my shoulder and saw Scott in second place, I was well happy.
“I’m stoked with the result and it builds confidence to take to Redcar on Friday and for the rest of the season. If we can beat Poole, you can put up a fight with anyone.”

Pirates promoter Dan Ford said: “Naturally we are disappointed with the final result, but however, on reflection, I think we can take some heart in the fact that we pushed Oxford so hard on their own turf.
“Everyone in attendance was treated to a fantastic back and forth fixture which is always what we want as a sport, tough tight contests, and that is certainly what we got.
“I think we have put ourselves in a decent position for the return fixture at Wimborne Road and the aggregate point.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

BELLE Vue captain Brady Kurtz says he is still suffering with ankle ligament damage after a crash in Sweden last month.
Kurtz is missing for the Aces when they visit Sheffield in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Thursday.
Writing on Facebook, Kurtz said: “I have a lot of damage to my right lateral ankle ligaments. An MRI scan showed a grade 3/3 tear to one, grade 2/3 tear in another and grade 1/3 to the last.

“My absence right now is because I’m currently unable to walk on it, and if my ankle was to take any more damage in its current condition, surgery will be required to repair it.
“The recovery from that surgery would most likely end my season. My focus now is recovery and getting myself in a position to return to racing, but also when I know it will be safe to do so.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

ROWE Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich welcome back skipper Danny King for tonight’s (Thursday) home clash with Leicester.
The Witches are four points clear at the top of the table and King’s return means long-term injury victim Jason Doyle is now their only absentee.
Foxhall specialist Scott Nicholls comes in to guest for Doyle at No.1 whilst the Lions track a full-strength side as they look to move into the play-off places, with a trip to Belle Vue upcoming on Monday.

Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “It feels like a full team, and it will need to be because Leicester on paper certainly bring as strong a test as anyone else in the league.
“When you look at their line-up, I can’t see any weak links and if all their boys are going well and click into form then they’re going to be really tough for anyone to beat. “Another tough task ahead, we’ve performed very well against them home and away recently and we need to do that again.”

Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “When you go to Ipswich and there’s no Jason Doyle then you always think you have a chance, but they are pretty strong and they’ve shown they are probably the best team in the league at the moment.
“They came out on top in their battles with Sheffield so they look the business at the moment and we know what Scott Nicholls did against us there last time.
“These are two big meetings coming up for us over the next few days. I know I keep saying it, but it’s time we came to the party, and the riders all want to get to the play-offs. We need to do it when it counts.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

ROSES rivals Sheffield and Belle Vue clash at Owlerton tonight (Thursday, 8pm) with both sides currently on 17 points in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The Tigers won 35-25 in Manchester at the end of May in a meeting abandoned due to the weather, and they currently hold second place in the table with the Aces third.

Sheffield name a full-strength side whilst Belle Vue bring in Chris Harris at No.1 for Brady Kurtz who is ruled out with continuing ankle trouble.
Tigers manager Simon Stead said: “I’m sure Mark Lemon will have his boys fired up for this one after we beat them on their own patch by ten points on Bank Holiday Monday and everything else that went on that day.

“Belle Vue have been a bit up and down on the road so far this season but they’re one of those teams who could just turn it on away from the National Speedway Stadium if they’re in the mood.
“As I always say though, I’ve got full belief in our riders and as long as we ride how we know we can, then I have every confidence that the lads can go out there, get another win over the Aces and give us three more league points.”

Lemon said: “We were bitterly disappointed at how the first leg of this meeting ended, especially after all the work put in by the track staff to see it through to Heat 15.
“But that’s done now, and we know what’s expected of us on the night. I truly believe that ten points is more than doable for the boys to pull back.
 “We had an excellent night at Owlerton in the KO Cup and, for a time, we were leading that match and I firmly believe that we can replicate and improve on that performance.”

(FIXTURES)

THURSDAY JUNE 20:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich (47) v Leicester (43) 7.30, Sheffield (35) v Belle Vue (25) 8pm

FRIDAY JUNE 21:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30, Glasgow v Berwick 7.30, Redcar (36) v Oxford (53) 7.30

SATURDAY JUNE 22:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Workington v Scunthorpe 3pm

SUNDAY JUNE 23:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester v Oxford 3pm