BRITISH SPEEDWAY JULY 27, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BRUMMIES RE-SIGN AUSSIE

BIRMINGHAM have re-signed Australian racer Zach Cook on a short-term deal to replace the injured Justin Sedgmen.
Cook lost his place with the Brummies in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership recently when they moved to sign Fredrik Lindgren at No.1, but he impressed in a guest appearance back at Perry Barr on Monday.

Club CEO Nigel Tolley said: “With Sedgy looking like he’ll be out for at least three weeks and with us approaching a run of nine quickfire fixtures, we needed an injury replacement.
“So after Zach rode the way he did on Monday, we pulled him straight into the office and asked him if he’d like a place back in the Brummies’ team.

“I totally understand why he needed a couple of days to consider his decision, but we’re delighted he’s agreed to come back into our line-up and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do over the course of these next few weeks.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

POOLE maintained top spot in the Cab Direct Championship after a thrilling 46-44 win at Glasgow on Friday.
Both sides traded the lead in a nip-and-tuck encounter, and they were level heading into the final race.
Richard Lawson and Ben Cook collected the decisive 4-2 for the Pirates as both recovered from disqualifications earlier in the meeting, with Tigers skipper Chris Harris passing Cook but being unable to get to Lawson.

Both Lawson and Cook scored 11 for the visitors and Tom Brennan chipped in with nine on his old home track, whilst Harris (12), reserve James Pearson (11+2) and Anders Rowe (10) dominated the Glasgow scoring.
Lawson said: “I was still fired up from that Heat 1 incident. That annoyed me, and I keep saying it, when we are that close I have such belief in the team just to come through. We just never, ever, give up.

“We knew what we had to do there and to be fair, I got the win but Ben did so much hard work on that first lap. He got out in front and then he let me onto the good racing line, and he held Bomber back and we got what we needed.”
Glasgow manager Cami Brown said: “No excuses from us, we were beaten by the better team on the night.
“But I have to say our fighting spirit this season has been outstanding. The boys really got stuck in early on and battled hard to keep Poole at bay.
“We’ve got to pick ourselves up quickly from this setback. It’s going to be very tight now to try and get into the top four and the play-offs.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SCUNTHORPE recovered from their midweek disappointment at Poole to defeat Workington 54-36 at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
The Scorpions returned to Cab Direct Championship action and moved back into second place in the table with another strong home performance which also saw them take the aggregate point.      

Michael Palm Toft scored a 12-point full maximum from four rides, whilst Kyle Howarth added 11+1 in an all-round display which saw all seven Scunthorpe riders take at least one win or paid win. Craig Cook led the Comets’ resistance with 13 points.
Scunthorpe boss David Howe said: “It was a great team performance for us, and job done.

“The bonus was also picking up the aggregate point. With a 12-point deficit, we knew we could pick it up, but it’s not a given. You can’t afford any slip-ups.
“Those extra points always help – it just makes our job of reaching the play-offs that little bit easier. Tonight not only did we win a bonus point, but Workington missed out on one, and they are one of the teams we are battling against in the top half of the table.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

EDINBURGH moved up to seventh in the Cab Direct Championship with a 51-39 win over Berwick at Armadale.
The Monarchs’ top four rides were all paid for double figures as they covered for the injured Justin Sedgmen with rider replacement, and Josh Pickering and Kye Thomson led the way with scores of 14+2 and 13+1 respectively.
The Bandits’ resistance came primarily from two riders as captain Lewis Kerr racked up 15 from six rides and guest reserve Joe Thompson contributed 10+1, with the aggregate point up for grabs when the sides meet at Shielfield Park tonight (Saturday).

Edinburgh captain Paco Castagna said: “It was a good win, though we wanted to win by more. We are all happy but we did want more points. Heat 14 was my fault for missing the start.
“I think we’re strong for tomorrow (Saturday), we’re going for a win there as well, that is the mindset. We have a good guest in Leon Flint you can’t do better than that at Berwick.”

Bandits boss Stewart Dickson said: “There’s no hiding it, this was a pretty poor performance bar two riders.
“We had a good travelling support tonight and it was just not good enough from the riders.
“I know we have only just returned from a four-week break but for the first six or seven races some of our riders were riding their bikes rather than racing them. It’s not good enough.”
Flint stands in for Sedgmen for Edinburgh in tonight’s return, whilst the Bandits once again track Ben Barker and Thompson as guests.

(SPEEDWAY 5)

OXFORD collected their second away win in the WSRA NDL this season with a 49-41 victory at Middlesbrough on Friday.
The Chargers have moved to within one point of league leaders Leicester, who have a match in hand, thanks to the result on Teesside.

William Cairns again served nolice of his ability in a guest appearance, scoring 14 from five rides for Oxford, whilst Luke Killeen notched 11. Jake Mulford top-scored for the Tigers with 10.
Oxford reserve Senna Summers (5+2) said: “I had a good night. I felt comfortable on the bike. I plugged away tonight and made it work. It was a good for my confidence.

“In Heat 8, once Jacob (Clouting) came past, I thought I just need a smooth ride now. Smooth ride, smooth laps, and we took the 5-1.
“We’re not put any under pressure. It’s just laps and we’re progressing. It will come to how I want it, while it is enjoyable riding for the Chargers.”
Cairns also enjoyed success in the British Youth Championship, winning the 500cc section ahead of Jamie Etherington and William Hocaniuk. Jack Scully-Syer won the 125cc support class.
 
(SPEEDWAY 6)

WORKINGTON host Poole in a Cab Direct Championship top four clash at the GT Tyres Arena today (Saturday).
The Comets have lost recent away matches at Edinburgh and Scunthorpe but they still hold a play-off position – ironically thanks to today’s opponents, who have won at both Redcar and Glasgow over the same period.
The Pirates hold a huge advantage for the aggregate point, and a fourth away win of the season would take them four points clear at the top of the table.

Workington again track Jason Edwards as a guest for the injured Tate Zischke, whilst Ashton Boughen continues for Poole in place of Tobias Thomsen.
Comets boss James Denham said: “Saturday will be the toughest test yet at Northside, Poole are so strong at the moment which is why they are top of the table.

“But being top or being fourth doesn’t matter as we are both in a play-off position which is the all-important factor.”
Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “They are strong at home, just slipped up once since becoming a Championship club, but if we can get dialled in quickly there then we could be in with a good chance.”
The meeting is followed by more action from the British Youth Championship in 500cc and 125cc support classes.

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY JULY 27:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick (39) v Edinburgh (51) 7pm, Workington (29) v Poole (61) 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington (follows Champ fixture) (500cc/125cc support)

MONDAY JULY 29:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Birmingham v Belle Vue 7.30, King’s Lynn (32) v Sheffield (58) 7.30

WEDNESDAY JULY 31:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole (46) v Glasgow (44) 7.30