BRITISH SPEEDWAY APRIL 14, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BANDITS’ DECISIVE VICTORY 

BERWICK skipper Rory Schlein and guest Richard Lawson pulled off a dramatic last-heat 5-1 to secure victory over Edinburgh in the BSN Series.

The scores were level heading into the decider and the Monarchs tracked Josh Pickering, who had won his first five rides – but Schlein took it from tapes to flag whilst Lawson held off Pickering’s challenge to clinch a 47-43 victory.
But the win did come at a potential cost as the Bandits, already without broken ankle victim Lewis Kerr, had Bastian Borke taken to hospital with lower back and pelvis pain after a first-bend clash with Paco Castagna in Heat 14.

Schlein top-scored with 14 points from six rides in a meeting where both teams used a tactical substitute, and Pickering piled up 16 for the Monarchs.
Said Schlein: “We had to dig deep to beat a very good side.
“In the end we had to battle hard and show some real character to get over the line.”

Monarchs reserve Connor Coles said: “We all had a good match I think, but they just got that maximum in the last heat.
“Josh was fantastic to only get beat in heat 15 all night, and I think we all had our moments in the team. It shows what is needed to win and you can’t afford any slip- ups.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

SCOTT Nicholls will make a swift return to Birmingham colours this Monday (April 15) following a knock sustained by Wiktor Lampart.
The Pole crashed during the week whilst racing on the continent and has been ruled out of the Brummies’ home ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash against Leicester with a knee injury.

And just as Nicholls thought he’d made his last appearance for Birmingham following an impressive stint during Piotr Pawlicki’s time on the sidelines, the British legend has answered their call once again.
Club CEO Nigel Tolley said: “Just when we thought we’d got our initial 1-7 ready to go, unfortunately Wiktor was involved in a nasty incident where he hit another rider’s bike who had already fallen.

“We’re yet to find out the extent of his injuries but he’ll definitely be out on Monday.
“Of course we wish him the speediest of recoveries but in the meantime we’ve called on Scotty again and he’ll be in the main body of the team on Monday.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

MICHAEL Palm Toft has reflected on his return to top form with a 15-point maximum in Scunthorpe’s Cab Direct KO Cup win over Plymouth on Friday.
The Dane reeled off five straight wins as the Scorpions made themselves strong favourites to progress in the tie after racking up a 61-29 victory.

But they are awaiting further news on reserve Nathan Ablitt, who was involved in a big crash in Heat 14 and has sustained an ankle injury, although the hope is that is has escaped any broken bones.
Palm Toft said: “I had a good chat with my mechanic and we’re keeping it simple and not complicating things. I’m using a very similar set-up to last season and it paid off tonight. There’s a little fine tuning to do, but otherwise everything is good.

“I felt I had speed tonight. The track is more-or-less the same to last season and I know what to do around here and was able to make the moves in a couple of races to get through when I didn’t make the start and needed to pass other riders.
“I wish Nathan a speedy recovery – I didn’t see the accident because I was in the race. There is a good team spirit. We all talk to each other and help each other out and look out for each other on the track. It’s a good unit and I hope Nathan is back soon.”

(FIXTURES)
 
MONDAY APRIL 15:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue (48) v King’s Lynn (42) 7.30, Birmingham v Leicester 7.30

WEDNESDAY APRIL 17:
BSN SERIES: Oxford v Plymouth 7.30

THURSDAY APRIL 18:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich (48) v Oxford (42) 7.30, Leicester (33) v Belle Vue (51) 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30