BRITISH SPEEDWAY JUNE 8, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BEWLEY CHASES THREE-PEAT

BELLE Vue favourite Dan Bewley bids for a hat-trick of national titles in the 2024 Attis Insurance Sports Division British Final in Manchester tonight (Saturday).

The stakes have been raised with the presence of Bewley’s Grand Prix rivals and former champions Robert Lambert and Tai Woffinden, along with the Saturday staging and a bumper crowd is expected at the National Speedway Stadium.
Previous winners Adam Ellis, Craig Cook, Charles Wright and Chris Harris will be amongst those looking to upset the GP riders, along with ex-Ace Tom Brennan, with the Wild Card place for the British GP at Cardiff also available.

Bewley said: “Winning the British Championship for the second time was such a thrill and it would be cool to do it for a third time, but it’s going to be a tough night for all of us.
“I’m ok with being the guy with the target on his back. It motivates me to be even better than before, but anything can happen and there’s 15 other guys who are capable of winning.”

Meanwhile Aces CEO Mark Lemon says the club’s ninth successive staging of the event has the potential to be one of the very best.
Lemon said: “It’s always an honour for us to host the British Final and we’ve very excited to bring this brilliant meeting to Manchester on a Saturday night this year.

“Just looking at the calibre of rider, the sheer number of British titles this field has between them is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, and it guarantees we’ll be in for a great night.”
A late change sees Ipswich and Oxford rider Jordan Jenkins come into the line-up as a replacement for Rory Schlein who was injured in a crash on Friday.

(SPEEDWAY 2)

FIVE of Great Britain’s top Under-21 riders are on the continent this Saturday as they compete in SGP2 qualifiers looking to book places in the main World Championship series at that level.
Sam Hagon, who took the British Under-21 title at Glasgow last weekend, races at Ludwigslust in Germany where he, like the other riders, will need a top four place to progress.

The other two rostrum finishers at Ashfield, Leon Flint and Ashton Boughen, are both in action at French venue Macon.
Meanwhile Joe Thompson, who placed fourth at Glasgow, and his brother Dan who was forced to withdraw from that event due to illness, compete at Terenzano in Italy.
British Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “With only the top four from each qualifier being guaranteed a place in the 2024 SGP2 final series there is no room for error, and each of the competing riders will be aiming for a minimum score of around 11 or 12 points to qualify.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SCUNTHORPE thrashed Berwick 62-28 at the Eddie Wright Raceway to go top of the Cab Direct Championship table.
Kyle Howarth scored an 18-point maximum for the Scorpions who were again in dominant form at home, but the meeting was marred by injury to Bandits captain Rory Schlein.

He required lengthy attention after coming to grief on the first bend of Heat 6, being withdrawn from the meeting with shoulder and rib injuries.
Howarth’s full house was almost matched by Jake Allen who racked up 14+2 for the hosts, and skipper Simon Lambert added 10+1, whilst Lewis Kerr was best for the Bandits with nine.

Scunthorpe manager David Howe said: “It was a strong performance from the boys tonight and a good result for us.
“Berwick were already a bit wounded going into the meeting and I join everyone in wishing Rory Schlein a speedy recovery from his injuries.
“We put in an all-around team performance, although I would highlight another good night for young Luke Harrison, who scored paid nine and just gets better and better every week.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

EDINBURGH edged out Oxford 46-44 in a classic Cab Direct Championship contest at Armadale which was decided in a thrilling Heat 15.
Monarchs No.1 Josh Pickering completed a sensational last-to-first blast, getting the better of Cheetahs duo Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls to ensure the home side got over the line with a win.

There had earlier been a vintage Heat 13 involving the top riders, with Justin Sedgmen holding on to second place in a spectacular battle with Nicholls as Pickering just missed out.
Pickering top-scored for the Monarchs on his return to the side with 11, and captain Paco Castagna picked up 10. Masters (13+1) and Nicholls (11) were the top scorers for Oxford.

Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “A bit too tight for my liking, though it was always going to be tight. I was certainly happy with the determination the team showed, throughout the side from 1 to 7.
“Paco kept his excellent form going, Kye Thomson and Lasse Fredriksen won heats when it mattered, and Sedgy certainly played a full part in that last race, an incredible ride by Josh.”

Cheetahs manager Peter Schroeck said: “When a team loses by such a small margin, you always reflect on the points that got away from you during the evening. But our riders gave their all and I couldn’t have asked for any more from them.
“In the meantime, we picked up an aggregate bonus point and that puts us into the play-off places.
“The key is to pick up points from every meeting, and the hard work we did to beat Edinburgh well at Oxford meant we came out of today with a point and it means we don’t make the long drive home completely empty handed.” 

(SPEEDWAY 5)

MIDDLESBROUGH are off the mark in the WSRA National Development League thanks to a 48-41 win over Belle Vue.
The Tigers were given a close contest at the ECCO Arena but a 5-1 from Jake Mulford and Ben Trigger in Heat 13 proved crucial, and Trigger went on to win the last race in a 4-2.
Trigger top-scored for the hosts with 13+1 and Mulford collected 12, whilst Colts guest Dayle Wood topped their scorechart with 13+1 from six rides.
 
(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY JUNE 8:
2024 ATTIS INSURANCE SPORTS DIVISION BRITISH FINAL: Belle Vue 7.30

MONDAY JUNE 10:
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1: Ipswich (46) v Sheffield (44) 7.30

TUESDAY JUNE 11:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth (42) v Berwick (47) 7pm