BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

(SPEEDWAY 1)

ACES IN GRAND FINAL

BELLE Vue are through to their third top-flight Grand Final in four years after getting the better of rivals Sheffield in a tense semi-final this week.
The Aces will battle it out with Leicester for the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership title after a 91-89 aggregate win over the defending champions.

They led by 12 points heading into the second leg at Owlerton and defended superbly, with the aggregate gap never falling below six points until they became mathematically uncatchable.
Skipper Brady Kurtz pulled off a big ride to defeat Jack Holder and guest Chris Harris in Heat 13, and reserve Antti Vuolas then held his nerve to take second place in the penultimate race to seal the Aces’ progression.

However, their victory was marred by a heavy crash for Ben Cook in Heat 10, with the Australian rider taken to hospital.
Kurtz and Dan Bewley both scored ten points for the Aces whilst Harris (12+1) and Josh Pickering (11) led the way for the Tigers.

Aces manager Mark Lemon said: “The rivalry between us is huge, and the boys really dug deep to come out on top.
“We knew how tough Sheffield are, they’ve been superb all year and credit to them, and it’s harsh that someone has to lose and their season is over.

“But we can fight another day and take on Leicester, and we look forward to that challenge, although my thoughts are with Ben, I hope he’s good. None of us want to see an accident like that.”
The Aces will host the first leg of the Grand Final against Leicester on Monday (September 23) with the return in the East Midlands on Thursday September 26.

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD manager Simon Stead admitted his side had fallen just short as their reign as ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions was ended by Roses rivals Belle Vue.
Just as in the 2022 Grand Final against the same opponents, the Tigers found a 12-point first leg deficit just too much to overcome at Owlerton as the Aces booked a title deciding clash with Leicester next week.

Stead said: “It was a good fight and they carried on believing right to the end, so I can’t fault the effort.
“We just came up short in some departments, and we needed a full one-to-seven doing their bit tonight and it didn’t quite click for whatever reason.
“Ultimately we’ve raced over 30 heats and Belle Vue have come out on top, so we have to accept that, build for next year and go again, and well done to Belle Vue.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 3)

LEICESTER have confirmed Australian star Ryan Douglas will be back in their side for the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final next week.
Douglas missed the Lions’ semi-final win over Ipswich with an arm injury, but he will return in the title decider against Belle Vue which gets underway in Manchester on Monday.
The Lions will also continue to track Lewis Kerr as a guest at reserve for Craig Cook, who remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s exciting for the club to have the second leg at home, but the first task is to go to Belle Vue on Monday and make sure we stay in the tie.
“They did a good job at Sheffield, especially with Brady Kurtz’s ride in Heat 13, and we know they’re going to be tough opposition whatever the situation with Ben Cook.

“For ourselves, Dougy is definitely riding and he’ll be getting a practice this weekend just so he’s back on a bike before the big meeting on Monday.
“I spoke to Craig today and he’s still in pain, so although he wishes he could ride he has to be sensible, which I fully understand and Lewi will come in for both legs.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

SCUNTHORPE take a nine-point advantage into the home leg of their BSN Series semi-final against Edinburgh at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight (Friday).
The Scorpions saw their league title hopes ended at Oxford on Wednesday but have the chance to reach the Final in this competition where once again Poole await the aggregate winners.

The Monarchs trail in the tie after losing out in the first leg at Armadale, and they bring in Thompson twins Dan and Joe to replace injured duo Justin Sedgmen and Kye Thomson.
Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey said: “After our nine-point win in Scotland in the first leg, we should be confident that we can get through to a final against Poole.

“Having said that, let’s not take Edinburgh for granted. They are coming here to do the same to us as we did to them at their place and, after our last two home results, we need to be on our guard.
“We need a win to boost morale after last Friday’s home defeat by Oxford, which meant we had quite a deep hole to dig ourselves out of going into Wednesday night’s rearranged second leg.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

MIDDLESBOROUGH sign off their first season in the WSRA NDL when they host Edinburgh at the ECCO Arena tonight (Friday).
The two sides are level on five points in the league table with the Monarchs Academy having a 15-point advantage for the aggregate point.

But the visitors make two changes with Connor Coles on duty for the club’s senior side and Mason Watson having a rib injury, so Freddy Hodder and Jacob Clouting come in to guest. The home side bring in Kieran Douglas to replace Jamie Halder who has work commitments.
Middlesbrough No.1 Jake Mulford said: “It’s been a really good year for me in the National League. Racing in this division has been good for me, it’s a shame it’s our last match but it’s been a good season.
“It would be good if we can sign off in style and finish on a real high.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

WORKINGTON co-promoter Andrew Bain says work is already underway to build on the Comets’ successful return to the Cab Direct Championship.
The Cumbrian outfit qualified for the play-offs in their first season back at senior level, and also reached the semi-finals of the BSN Series with some spectacular action taking place at their new GT Tyres Arena home which only staged league racing for the first time in 2023.

Bain said: “With regards to team building, we have of course already started with Tate [Zischke] confirmed for 2025 so far which is a fantastic early coup for us and one we are sure many other clubs will envy.
“But now it’s important to continue that strong start, and the wheels are already in motion for 2025 where we are in conversation with a number of riders already.
“We need to know that the riders we want, want to ride for Workington. Nevertheless, we are aiming to create an exciting team for 2025 and one which will compete for silverware.”

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
BSN SERIES SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Scunthorpe (49) v Edinburgh (40) 7.30
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Middlesbrough (37) v Edinburgh (52) 7.30

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh (34) v Leicester (56) 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Oxford 3pm