BRITISH SPEEDWAY SOLOS JULY 1

Date: Thursday July 1, 2021

(SPEEDWAY 1)

POOLE raced to a commanding 58-32 Championship win over Kent – with Scott Nicholls scoring exactly half of the visitors’ total.
Nicholls kept up his terrific form with a 16-point haul on his old home track from over two decades ago, and ended the maximum hopes of home star Steve Worrall (14) in the last race.
Rory Schlein added 12+1 for the Pirates with reserve Danyon Hume voted rider of the night after an impressive 7+2 display.
Hume said: “That was a lot better than last time I was here, and I was pleased with how things went. I am learning all the time and I was happy to have played my part in the team tonight.”
Kent promoter Len Silver said: “Scott was magnificent, showing everyone how to do it. Ben (Morley) did a good job as reserve and Paul Starke was always in the thick of it. So it wasn’t all negative.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

PREMIERSHIP leaders Peterborough head to local rivals King’s Lynn in an A47 derby clash at the Adrian Flux Arena tonight (Thursday).
The Panthers go into the meeting having won all five of their June fixtures, whilst the Stars have lost all three of their home matches so far.
And the hosts have two riders on the sidelines with Thomas Jorgensen and Erik Riss both ruled out by injury. Rory Schlein guests at No.1 with rider replacement also in operation.
King’s Lynn co-promoter Dale Allitt said: “The boys have to be up for it. We’ve not started meetings well at all in recent times and by about Heat 8 it’s too late and we’ve left ourselves with too much to do.
“For that reason I feel it’s important the boys make a good start tonight, we need to get some points on the board early on and avoid the disaster of a first half we’ve been having.”
Panthers boss Rob Lyon said: “There’s four points up for grabs and we’re going for all four, that’s our mentality, but I’m sure King’s Lynn will have their own thoughts on that.
“Everyone in our team wants to win and that’s a great way to be. Hopefully we can take a few of our fans across to King’s Lynn and they can make their presence felt.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead admits the pressure is on his side ahead of tonight’s (Thursday) Roses clash with Belle Vue at Owlerton.
The Tigers under-performed in a heavy defeat at Peterborough earlier this week and now face an Aces side who are unbeaten in 2021 and have already picked up ten points from three away matches.
Stead has called up Anders Rowe to guest in the Rising Star position with Josh Bates still on the sidelines.
He said: “It’s a shortened league season and meetings will soon be coming thick and fast so we can’t afford to hang around, we need to pick up points to secure a place in the all-important top four.
“If we fail to do that then it would have to go down as a massive disappointment and a shock to many.”
Aces manager Mark Lemon said: “It’s still early doors for us, we’ve only had six meetings so far, but we have been very encouraged by those performances and the boys have only been getting better.
“But Sheffield have proven themselves just as capable and they definitely showed their potential when they visited us at the National Speedway Stadium in May.
“Equally, we will be heading their way with a win in mind. Owlerton is a track not so dissimilar to ours and I know these boys have what it takes to cause a major upset.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

PLYMOUTH have announced the signing of Australian racer Zane Keleher following his release from Poole.
Keleher made his final appearance for the Pirates on Wednesday and now replaces Steven Goret for the Gladiators – with his first home appearance ironically set to come against his former club later this month.
Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “I have had a frank conversation with Zane and drew the conclusion that I do not view him as becoming a Poole asset.
“I felt the time was right now, for both him and ourselves, to make the move as we have a bit of room for manoeuvre before Zane and Ben [Cook] attain their official match averages and become club assets.
“I was also aware that Plymouth were looking to make changes and that a position would arise in their side for Zane to move into and he will do as a free agent, and I genuinely wish him all the best.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

FORMER Coventry Storm racer Luke Crang is coming out of a near six-year retirement to join Berwick’s NDL side.
Crang spent three seasons at Brandon from 2013-15 and also had spells at senior level for Redcar and with the Bandits.
He comes into the Bullets team to replace Leon Flint, who is now ineligible for the third tier having joined Premiership club Wolverhampton.
Boss Gary Flint told the club website: “Luke has been working with us behind the scenes all season and he’s been getting plenty of track time in too. His talent is unquestionable, and he has found his love for the sport once again.
“Much like Greg (Blair), Luke was lost to the sport at a young age but he is back and we can’t wait to see him join the Bullets side and fulfil his potential.
“We are sad to see Leon leave the team, but we are also very proud to see his progress. Leon won’t be a stranger to the Bullets matches he can attend, and he is excited to see Crangy join the side.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

EASTBOURNE will celebrate 90 years of racing at Arlington on Sunday September 26.
The sport actually first came to the venue in 1929 but the club have had to wait to mark the milestone, and they plan to revive the historic Championship of Sussex with a field of top British riders.
Initial details of a festival afternoon have been announced, and will include static displays, memorabilia products and the opportunity to meet riders and promoters of the past, whilst other on-track attractions include a cavalcade of machines from the 1930s onwards and races involving former Eagles stars.
Online tickets for the event are set to go on sale from Monday July 5.

FIXTURES)
 
THURSDAY JULY 1:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Peterborough 7.30, Sheffield v Belle Vue 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 2:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Eastbourne 7.30, Scunthorpe v Berwick 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Armadale v Leicester 7.30, Belle Vue v Kent 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 3:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Leicester v Kent OFF