BRITISH SPEEDWAY JULY 20, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

POOLE TAKES IT TO THE TOP

POOLE moved clear at the top of the Cab Direct Championship with a spectacular finish to collect a 49-41 away win at Redcar.
The Pirates trailed by six points with four races remaining but remarkably they ended the meeting with three 5-1s and a 4-2 to collect maximum points on Teesside.

Captain Ben Cook piled up 15+2 from six rides for the Pirates, with Richard Lawson also dropping just one point to an opponent with 13+1.
The visitors lost reserve Vinnie Foord after two early crashes – one, most unusually, coming on the parade lap due to a stuck throttle.

Danny King top-scored for the Bears with nine, winning his first two outings, but the home defeat was a major blow to their play-off hopes.
Cook said: “It was a good night and obviously it didn’t start too well losing Vinnie, but we had to dig deep for sure and try and do it without him.

“We kind of struggled at the start but once we got dialled in it was really good and we showed what we can do and got the win, which is what we wanted.
“Me and Rich had a couple of good races tonight and that is what it is all about. You’ve got to be able to do some good team riding like that and that is what wins meetings, so it is all nice when it works out.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

GLASGOW skipper Chris Harris inspired a crucial comeback victory over Scunthorpe – despite suffering a heavy crash in his first ride.
Harris required medical attention after the Heat 1 incident but recovered to play a starring role in the 48-41 victory which moves the Tigers up to fifth in the Cab Direct Championship, just a point behind Workington.

However, the home side had to come from behind as they trailed by eight points after five races, and after taking the lead the meeting ended in high drama as the Scorpions’ Connor Mountain was disqualified from Heat 14 after a crash with Tigers newcomer Matic Ivacic.

With Glasgow three points ahead, Harris (14+1) and Leon Flint (11) took the home side to victory in the final race over Michael Palm Toft (8+2) and Kyle Howarth (10), with the Scorpions doing enough for the aggregate point.
Tigers boss Cami Brown said: “That was quite incredible entertainment. The meeting had a bit of everything and pure drama from start to finish.

“I think it’s probably taken about five years off my life. But we serve up entertainment with a capital E at Ashfield.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Chris. To get up from that incident and lead the side in that way was quite incredible. He is a very special sportsman.
“A hell of a night of racing. We have very big tests around the corner. But we’ll enjoy that outstanding entertainment.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

EDINBURGH raced to a 55-35 win over Workington as both sides suffered issues before and during Friday’s Cab Direct Championship clash.
The Comets arrived without Claus Vissing and Celina Liebmann, who were unable to make it to Armadale due to travel chaos caused by the global IT outage.

But the Monarchs then lost heat-leader Justin Sedgmen after a four-rider pile-up in Heat 4, although no serious injuries are reported, whilst the visitors’ Troy Batchelor was also involved and was limited to four outings.
Josh Pickering (13), Paco Castagna (12+3) and Lasse Fredriksen (11+1) all scored heavily for the Monarchs, whilst former Edinburgh star Craig Cook piled up 17 from six rides as the Comets protected the aggregate point.
Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “The way things, were Comets only had two riders to give us any problem, was the way we were looking at it.

“I was disappointed for the second meeting running that we lost Heat 12, I thought we should have won that one. These guys have got to start stepping up against the lesser opposition in that race.
“It was a great shame to lose Sedgy in his first race through no fault of his own. The rest beat who they should have beaten, and Mark James falling was the only last place we got.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

OXFORD have promoted Luke Killeen into their Spires team – meaning he will race for the club at all three levels.
Killeen, who is already a member of the Cheetahs and Chargers sides at Cowley, will join their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership line-up in time for Monday’s trip to Belle Vue, with Drew Kemp making way.

Manager Peter Schroeck said: “We are known to make brave and bold decisions, and as far as we are concerned, this is another positive move to bring Luke into our Premiership side to develop and secure our future at Oxford Speedway!
“We are very proud to give this opportunity to Luke, who is without any doubt a great talent. Being alongside Ashton (Boughen), it will be very exciting to follow their progress.
“Our one to five is a match against anyone in this league, and having Ashton and Luke at reserve, we have two of the most promising young talents on board!”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

GREAT Britain’s 125cc riders Oliver Bovingdon and Charlie Luckman have travelled to the Zarnovica track in Slovakia for the European 125cc Youth Gold Cup Final and FIM Track Racing 125cc Youth Gold Trophy this weekend.
Both will be competing against the best riders of their category from across Europe.

Bovingdon competed in the same competitions in 2023, whereas Luckman makes his European debut this weekend.
Thanks to the British Youth Sponsors, both Bovingdon and Luckman have been supplied with tyres for both events.

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY JULY 20:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Oxford OFF

MONDAY JULY 22:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v Oxford 7.30, Birmingham v Sheffield 7.30

                                    WEDNESDAY JULY 24:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Berwick 7.30
CAB DIRECT KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Poole v Scunthorpe 7.30