BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 10, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)
TIGERS CLAW THEIR WAY TO SEMI-FINAL
SHEFFIELD are through to the Premiership KO Cup semi-finals after overcoming Roses rivals Belle Vue in a Super Heat at Owlerton.
The Aces defended their eight-point first leg advantage for much of the evening before the Tigers produced a strong finish to take 4-2s in Heats 13 and 14 and then a 5-1 in Heat 15.

That came from Tai Woffinden and Jack Holder at the expense of Dan Bewley and Jaimon Lidsey to complete a 49-41 win on the night and leave the scores locked at 90-90 on aggregate.
And in the decider it was Woffinden and Holder who won it for Sheffield, this time against Bewley and Brady Kurtz to send the Tigers into the last four.

Woffinden (13) and Holder (12+2) led the scoring for the home side over the regular 15 races, with Bewley scoring 10+1 for the visitors.
Holder said: “It’s a bit of a local derby between Sheffield and Belle Vue so it’s always good to get one up on them.
“We’d rather get it done earlier on in the meeting but the fans would’ve loved the Super Heat. It’s probably good to watch but it’s not good for us with all the pressure on us.”

Belle Vue’s Rising Star Connor Bailey (4) said: “We are gutted to go out of the KOC in these circumstances, especially after we put in such a decent shift at home.
“For the majority of the night I think we did really well to maintain our advantage but towards the end the Sheffield boys really came alive and found something that worked.”
  
(SPEEDWAY 2)

REDCAR and Berwick are both seeking their first league points of the season when they meet at the ECCO Arena tonight (Friday).
Both sides lost their opening Cab Direct Championship fixtures at home last weekend, the Bears missing out to Scunthorpe whilst the Bandits suffered frustration against Poole.

With Danny King still sidelined, Redcar bring in Ben Barker to guest whilst Berwick have Tom Brennan taking the place of the injured Lewis Kerr, and Danyon Hume returns to face his club of 2023 in the first of two meetings in 24 hours between the clubs.
Bears manager Gavin Parr said: “We are trying to improve things at home, but we do have to put it into perspective that Scunthorpe are brilliant at our place.

“We do need a good, strong home performance to back up the result we had at Workington (in the Cup), so let’s hope we can start the weekend off with a win.”
Bandits boss Stewart Dickson said: “We should not be losing to Poole – or anyone else for that matter – from ten points up. That is a position from which you should always be able to get the job done, get over the line no matter what the opposition throws at you.

“Now we are going to Redcar needing to get a win just to wipe out the damage done by Poole winning at Shielfield.
“Three points from the weekend is the absolute minimum we should be looking for – no matter how good people might think Redcar are.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SCUNTHORPE are seeking to join Workington in the BSN Series semi-finals as the sides clash in the final Northern section fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight (Friday).
The Comets have won all three fixtures so far to top the group, and they will remain in that position if they defend their 22-point aggregate margin from the recent meeting in Cumbria.

But a home win of any kind will be enough for the Scorpions to also progress into the last four of the competition as it would mean they could not be beaten as best runners-up.
The home side are at full strength as Nathan Ablitt returns after a month out with an ankle injury, whilst the visitors have Antti Vuolas back from concussion but Celina Liebmnann misses out for personal reasons and is replaced by Luke Killeen.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “The main thing against Workington in terms of the BSN Series is that as long as we don’t lose to them, we will move through to the semi-finals as the best runner-up.
“But I don’t see any harm in aiming high and trying to pull back from the deficit from our defeat at Workington and aiming for the aggregate point as well. The weather is due to be good, so the track will be how we want it.”

Workington manager James Denham said: “It’s nice to know we have a bit of cushion on aggregate, but we’re not taking it for granted! Scunthorpe have proven they have a very strong team so far this season and again we will have to be on our toes from the off.
“We’re going there to win, and I’m confident the team can get the job done.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

GLASGOW meet Edinburgh at Ashfield tonight (Friday) in the first of two crucial contests to determine BSN Series qualification.
The teams are locked on three points, one behind group leaders Berwick who have completed their fixtures.
That means the aggregate point between the Tigers and the Monarchs is all important, with the return fixture scheduled for May 31 at Armadale.
Glasgow have Ace Pijper back from a spell on the sidelines with a wrist injury, and Jack Smith again stands in for the suspended Lee Complin, whilst Edinburgh are at full strength.

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY MAY 10:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Berwick 7.30
BSN SERIES: Glasgow v Edinburgh 7.30, Scunthorpe (34) v Workington (56) 7.30

SATURDAY MAY 11:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Redcar 7pm, Workington (43) v Glasgow (47) 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Workington (follows Champ fixture) (250cc/125A)

SUNDAY MAY 12:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester (49) v Belle Vue (38) 3pm