BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

CHEETAHS ON THE RUN

OXFORD raced to a 50-40 win over Redcar to take the initial advantage in their Cab Direct KO Cup semi-final.
However, the result came at a potential cost for the Cheetahs with Jordan Jenkins crashing out in Heat 14, and he is due to have X-rays on a wrist injury today.

Bears heat-leader Danny King was also in the wars, hurting his foot in a Heat 13 spill meaning he did not race in Heat 15.
Sam Masters (12+1) and Scott Nicholls (11+2) led the Oxford scoring with youngster Ashton Boughen picking up 10+1.
Charles Wright kept the visitors in contention with 12 and reserve Jake Mulford impressed with 9+1, and the tie will be concluded at the ECCO Arena on Friday.

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “Better ten points (lead) than no points. Last time we had a draw (at Redcar) without Ashton, if we are missing Jordan then we can look for a guest or use rider replacement.
“Jordan has been working so hard to get things right, it is a little upsetting at the moment.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD take a 20-point lead to Ipswich tonight (Thursday) for the second leg of the Premiership KO Cup Final.
The Tigers dominated on their home circuit on Monday to run up a 55-35 win and they will be favourites to clinch the silverware at Foxhall – with the Witches desperate to fight back as they defend the trophy.

Tom Brennan once again steps in for the home side, who operate rider replacement at No.1, whilst Sheffield continue to use r/r for Tai Woffinden who has now confirmed he will be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “Ourselves and Ipswich have built up a little bit of a rivalry over these past 12 months or so and you can feel that whenever we both meet.

“The lads appear to be even more pumped to get some more silverware and they’ve put us in a really good position heading to Foxhall. “We saw how strong they can start meetings the last time we went there a couple of weeks ago so we’ll take note of that. “But the lads really are buoyant at this moment in time and they’re adamant they’re not going to defend our 20 point lead, they’d love to try and win the second leg as well.”
Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “We saw in last year’s play-off final what Sheffield did to us in the second leg of that, things happen in sport.

“We are massive underdogs and face an uphill task, but we will be out there giving it everything.
“We don’t want to let the trophy go that we have worked so hard for, and the boys have shown enough this year for everyone to know what they are about and how hard they are going to fight.
“We need to start well and get momentum going early and keep it going from there. It looks like we will need a near-perfect night from everyone, and obviously that is what we will be going out aiming to do.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

LEICESTER and King’s Lynn wrap up the regular league stage of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership tonight (Thursday) when they meet at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park.
The Lions have qualified for the play-offs but they saw their ten-match unbeaten run ended by the Stars on Monday, with the Norfolk side pulling off a 48-42 win – their fifth victory in succession.

Leicester hand a recall to Joe Thompson in the Rising Star berth as a guest for the injured Sam Hagon, whilst King’s Lynn are unchanged from Monday’s meeting with Chris Harris, Norick Blodorn and Simon Lambert all stepping in.
Lions boss Stewart Dickson said: “It’s good to have the last league match of the season at home, and we’ll be going out to get all three points.

“We need to win by more than six on the night, and that’s something we are more than capable of doing.
“We still have a lot to race for with the play-offs coming up, so it’s going to be good for us to get back to Leicester in front of our own supporters, hopefully get a win, and that will get the confidence levels up again ahead of a very big week for the club.”
Stars manager Rob Lyon said: “Our main focus over the last few weeks has been to win our home meetings, and it’s been a fantastic effort to win all of the last four in quick succession, and against several teams who I’m sure would have expected to come to King’s Lynn and win.
“I guess that probably makes us the in-form team along with Leicester, which seems crazy, and of course it would be great to pull off a shock there. We’ll go there and give it 100 per cent, and see where that takes us.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

OXFORD and Scunthorpe have agreed dates for their Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final.
The sides, who finished second and third in the regular league table, will meet at Cowley next Wednesday (September 11) with the return fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceway 48 hours later on September 13.
Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “These are two huge meetings for our club and we would love to progress to the Final this season.

“My job is to keep our riders calm and doing the same job that they’ve being doing all season. I have every confidence in the boys, but plenty of support from the terraces does make a big difference and I hope the supporters come along in numbers and are our eighth rider.”

(FIXTURES)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R2: Leicester (42) v King’s Lynn (48) 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Ipswich (35) v Sheffield (55) 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh (40) v Glasgow (50) 7.30
CAB DIRECT KO CUP SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Redcar (40) v Oxford (50) 7.30, Scunthorpe (29) v Poole (60) 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington (47) v Plymouth (43) 3pm
NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS DEVELOPMENT SERIES: Berwick 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow (35) v Oxford (55) 5pm