BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 28, 2023

(SPEEDWAY 1)

WRIGHT ON THE MONEY!

REDCAR captain Charles Wright won the Championship League Riders’ Championship in a thrilling Final at the ECCO Arena.
Wright came out on top in a three-way battle with Glasgow’s Chris Harris and Ben Cook of Poole, with Cook having led the scorers heading into the closing stages.

Another Bears rider Danny King was fourth in a meeting which provided some excellent racing after superb work by the track staff to get the event on following afternoon rain. Wright said: “It feels brilliant, especially on my home track as well, and with the weather we has before we didn’t even think we’d get this meeting on.

“I battled through, I had a slow start but I got in the semi, got through that, and I had the worst gate in the Final but I made a cracking first corner and my home track knowledge came through.
“It’s one I’ve never won before, and it’s a great feeling.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

LEICESTER face two meetings in one day as they bid to boost their faltering Sports Insure Premiership play-off chances.
The Lions first visit Belle Vue in the midday fixture today (Monday) before hosting King’s Lynn (8pm) at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park.

Meanwhile the Aces race their final fixture of the regular programme, and a win would take them closer to confirming top spot ahead of the play-offs – although the Lions have a 14-point advantage for the aggregate point and will look to former Belle Vue man Max Fricke for inspiration.

Aces CEO Mark Lemon said: “It was a difficult decision for us to see Max leave Belle Vue after so many years, but as a club asset it has been very rewarding to us to see how he has flourished in a new setting.
“I’m sure he will be coming back with a point to prove, and the Leicester team as a whole will be hoping to put in a shift and a half as they look to secure their play-off place.

“Just because we’re already there doesn’t mean we’re letting up for a moment. We want to finish top of the table, and we want other clubs to know that we fully intend to defend our title.”
Former Lions skipper Chris Harris guests for Richard Lawson this morning after the latter crashed in the CLRC on Sunday, whilst rider replacement is in operation for Craig Cook.

Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “The aggregate point has to be the target, and normally a few weeks ago you’d have said we’d be pretty confident of going up there and getting it with the 14-point advantage.
“At the moment I’m not 100 per cent sure, I’ve got to be honest about that. Ideally we need to get a point at Belle Vue and then of course we need to win at home in the evening, but the riders need to get lifted.”

That evening fixture sees the Lions face a King’s Lynn side inspired by their dramatic win over Belle Vue on Thursday following the arrival of Robert Lambert.
Connor Mountain and Kye Thomson make guest appearances for the visitors, with Emil Breum joining their injury list after a heavy crash last week.

(SPEEDWAY 3)

WOLVERHAMPTON need a win against Sheffield in tonight’s (Monday, 8pm) televised Sports Insure Premiership clash to confirm their place in the play-offs. The Tigers, too, are close to making sure of a top four finish, and an away win would all-but secure their own position.

And the meeting sees Tai Woffinden’s first return to Monmore Green as a visiting rider after spending the entirety of his previous top-flight career with Wolves.

Home star Ryan Douglas has emphasised the importance of improving their home form, after a number of close calls in recent weeks.
Douglas said: “We had a chat last time we were there and as a team we want to stop these close meetings at home.
“As riders we’d much rather get some big home wins and that’s the sort of advantage we’re going to need in the play-offs.
“Sheffield are a good team but we’ve already beaten them twice at home this season so hopefully we can do that again on Monday.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 4)

PETERBOROUGH’S revised line-up faces a huge test in the Premiership KO Cup tonight (Monday) when they host Ipswich with a place in the Final at stake.
The Witches lead by 24 points from the first leg way back in May but the Panthers now have a much-changed team including the shock weekend signing of Artem Laguta, who comes in at No.1.

Sheffield have already qualified for the Final and await the overall winners, and Ipswich hand an opportunity to Ashton Boughen at reserve to replace the injured Dan Thompson.
Panthers manager Rob Lyon said: “We know we need a big performance on Monday to pull that score back against Ipswich, and with their top boys it’s going to be difficult.

“But at least we’ve got a side which appears very strong ourselves now, so although it’s a massive task you never say never.
“First and foremost we have to concentrate on the win, because that’s always good for morale, and then like last week (against Sheffield), the aggregate is something you focus on if you’re in that position to do so.”

Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “We have done very well at Peterborough this season and we go there with a massive lead, but we can’t go there looking to defend the lead. We have got to go there looking to do as much as we can to win the meeting and then hopefully the lead should be enough.
“They are a lot stronger team now and they are in better form, and we have got to be wary of that and not relax too much and switch off.”
(FIXTURES)

MONDAY AUGUST 28:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue (38) v Leicester (52) 12pm, Leicester (46) v King’s Lynn (44) 8pm, Wolverhampton v Sheffield 8pm
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Peterborough (33) v Ipswich (57) 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 29:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Edinburgh 7pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole (54) v Birmingham (36) 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 31:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Peterborough (45) v Wolverhampton (45) 7.30, Sheffield (57) v King’s Lynn (33) 7.30