BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 27, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

LINDGREN BECOMES A BRUMMIE

BIRMINGHAM have pulled off the sensational signing of Swedish superstar Freddie Lindgren who will join the club from the beginning of June.

The 38-year-old, who was last season’s World Championship runner-up, is returning to British Speedway for the first time in seven years.
The former World Cup winner has only ever ridden for Wolverhampton in the UK previously, spending 14 campaigns with the old Monmore Green outfit.

Brummies CEO Nigel Tolley said: “I think it would be very fair to confidently say that this is one of Birmingham Speedway’s biggest ever signings – what a coup!
“Freddie’s CV speaks for itself and he is one of the most consistent, high-level performers on the world stage, particularly over the last six years or so where he’s never finished outside of the top four come the final reckonings of the Grand Prix series.

“He has topped the top league’s averages here on numerous occasions and the thought of seeing him in a red and yellow race jacket strutting his stuff around Perry Barr is something that will surely get everyone very excited indeed!
“We haven’t yet decided who Freddie will replace in the team; let’s just say that we’ll be monitoring performances very carefully in both Monday’s home fixture against Ipswich and then Thursday’s meeting at Sheffield.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

BELLE Vue and Sheffield clash in the latest instalment of speedway’s ‘War of the Roses’ at the National Speedway Stadium this lunchtime (Monday, midday).
The Tigers took the honours the last time the sides met with a close-fought KO Cup victory at Owlerton, but the Aces have again built a strong home record in the league and will take over at the top of the table with another win.

However, the hosts have suffered a blow with captain Brady Kurtz again ruled out after his crash in Sweden last week, and they operate rider replacement – whilst the Tigers welcome back Jack Holder and Dan Gilkes, and ex-Aces rider Tom Brennan is in as a guest for the injured Josh Pickering.
Aces CEO Mark Lemon said: “Our two clubs have always enjoyed a fierce but respectful rivalry and we’re looking forward to another great afternoon of racing against Sheffield.

“Although we were pipped to the post at Oxford, I feel the boys are starting to find some very good and consistent form which will be crucial on Monday against the reigning league champions.
“It would be very satisfying to make it two of two in Manchester against them, and though they are a man down I’m certain they will make us work just as hard for the points.”

Tigers boss Simon Stead said: “It’s going to be good to get a couple of the boys back and in Tom Brennan we’ve got a guest who’s been showing some good form of late who has also already done one of these afternoon meetings at Belle Vue with Birmingham.
“It’s always such a tough place to go to though, their guys are so dialled in there, but it’s a fixture I’m really looking forward to.
“We’re ready for it and it should be another great speedway meeting.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 3)

ROWE Motor Oil Premiership leaders Ipswich have suffered a major injury crisis with three of their top four riders missing from tonight’s (Monday) trip to Birmingham.
With skipper Danny King (hand) still on the sidelines, the Witches lost Jason Doyle with rib and shoulder injuries in a crash at King’s Lynn on Thursday before Adam Ellis, who was to captain the team at Perry Barr, suffered a dislocated shoulder in France on Sunday.

Nicolai Klindt and Troy Batchelor step in as guests with rider replacement in operation for Doyle, whilst the Brummies have Justin Sedgmen making his debut after rejoining the club recently.
Birmingham CEO Nigel Tolley said: “If we can pick up where we left off at home to Belle Vue and get off to a fast start then we’ll give ourselves a real chance.

“As Sam (Ermolenko – team manager) has said previously, we want to try and get a run going at home now; we’re doing everything we can to try and turn things around in the second half of this season, and hopefully this Bank Holiday weekend can go a long way to us doing just that.”
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We are buzzing with our form and are in great spirits, but we are going to be missing Jason, Danny and Adam which is a big blow to us.

“It is the first time we have been there for a long time, but we have faced a lot of challenges already this season and have taken them in our stride.
“We will continue to do that on Monday, and even though we are depleted we are looking to get another victory and carry on this superb run we are on at the top of the league.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

LEICESTER and Oxford are either side of the play-off cut-off line ahead of their televised ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash tonight (Monday).
The Lions are just outside the top four after losing their last two matches, whilst the Spires raced to a thrilling home win over Belle Vue last time out.

Sam Hagon makes his home debut for the hosts in the Rising Star berth, with the meeting also featuring the official opening of the new mini-track to assist rider training at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park.
Lions boss Stewart Dickson said: “The bottom line is that at the moment we aren’t getting all seven riders firing at the same time, and that is costing us.

“We can’t be losing any more meetings at home, regardless of who it’s against, and obviously Craig Cook could be a dangerman on Monday night, we have to be aware what he can do.
“But this is all about us and what we need to do. If we ride to our capabilities it’s a meeting we should be winning.”Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “It is possible to get something there. We know that one or two of our riders are not quite delivering what they are capable of, and we are getting closer to it so hopefully Monday will be a good day for us.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

DUE to the re-arrangement of Plymouth’s BSN Series fixture against Poole for this Saturday (June 1), the scheduled British Youth round at the Coliseum has been postponed.
This will enable the Gladiators and Pirates to complete the Southern group and progress the competition into the semi-finals.
The Plymouth promotion are wanting to restage the BYC round and are working with the Young Lions to find a suitable date later in the season.

(FIXTURES)
 
MONDAY MAY 27:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Belle Vue v Sheffield 12pm, Birmingham (41) v Ipswich (49) 7.30, Leicester v Oxford 7.30

WEDNESDAY MAY 29:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Edinburgh 7.30, Poole (46) v Berwick (44) 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 30:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Sheffield (45) v Birmingham (45) 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Ipswich (48) v Leicester (42) 7.30

FRIDAY MAY 31:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe (46) v Redcar (44) 7.30
BSN SERIES: Edinburgh (45) v Glasgow (45) 7.30