BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN

Date: Tuesday July 27, 2021

BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2021/10

THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN

HERE’S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.

PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BELLE VUE
“We’ve only got a couple more away fixtures left now, I think, before we have a good run of home meetings in the run up to the play offs. The boys are all raring to go, it feels like we’ve hardly been at home this year so it’ll be good to get back to Manchester and bang in plenty more points to secure our top four spot.”
Aces star Jye Etheridge is looking to get in a consistent run of matches at the National Speedway Stadium as they look to confirm their play-off place.
NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Mon Aug 2
NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, Mon Aug 30

IPSWICH
“I’m really pleased to have Anders back; I think at the stage in his career that a few weeks off might not be a bad thing for him to refresh his batteries. He’s come through practice and practiced well so I’m delighted to have him back and he has been our highlight of the year so far.”
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins is delighted to have Anders Rowe back in the side this week after spending most of the month of July on the injured list.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Thur July 29
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Mon Aug 2

KING’S LYNN
“The fan in me was very excited. I had a lot of family, friends and colleagues who came along, in excess of 50 of them, and along with the die-hard fans the atmosphere created helped get us over the line. It was brilliant.”
New Stars boss Alex Brady admitted he’d gone through the full range of emotions after making a dream start to life in management with last Thursday’s dramatic home win over Belle Vue.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Mon Aug 2
NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Thur July 29
 
PETERBOROUGH
“I don’t like singling people out, especially when everyone has chipped in, but Chris Harris was man of the match tonight. To score paid-17 when you’ve had an engine failure thrown in says it all. Ulrich was superb as well and the rest of the boys all played their part.”
Panthers boss Rob Lyon was delighted with the reaction of his side to their home defeat to Belle Vue by going to Sheffield and winning three nights later – although the subsequent injury to Ulrich Ostergaard now leaves him with decisions to make for upcoming fixtures.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Thur Aug 5
NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, Mon Aug 2

SHEFFIELD
“We’re missing Jack (Holder – injured) and a fit Josh Bates could be scoring a lot of points for us at reserve too. But for the foreseeable, there’s nothing we can do about that, and we have to take it on the chin.”
Tigers boss Simon Stead admitted last Thursday’s home defeat to Peterborough left them with several questions to answer in various areas of the side as they look to establish themselves in the play-off places.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Thur Aug 12
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Mon Aug 2

WOLVERHAMPTON
“It’s not the first time we’ve done that and came on strong in the second half of a meeting and I think there’s a pattern developing here. Thankfully we were able to arrest the slide and put ourselves in a very good position at the halfway point of our season.”
Boss Peter Adams praised the character of his side after they came back from eight points down to defeat Belle Vue in a thrilling contest at Monmore on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Mon Aug 2
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Thur Aug 12

CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BERWICK
“It’s going to be a tough test but, especially away from home, we have proved that we can live with the best for long spells this season. And after Edinburgh’s victory here last time out, no-one is in any doubt about the need to improve around Shielfield.”
Bandits co-promoter Jamie Courtney says the Bandits can still go into this weekend’s KO Cup tie with Glasgow with optimism, despite the Tigers being top of the Championship table.
NEXT HOME: Glasgow (KOC), Sat July 31
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow (KOC), Fri July 30

BIRMINGHAM
“I think it will be quite an exciting meeting and if the track is as good as it was last week then we should see some more fantastic racing. Hopefully people will have read or heard about how much the racing is improving week on week and that mixed along with such a positive result will hopefully get more people back on the terraces this Wednesday.”
Brummies owner Davd Mason has sent a ‘same again’ message to his side after last week’s impressive display to put holders Redcar out of the KO Cup with a 55-35 home win.
NEXT HOME: Plymouth, Wed July 28
NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh (KOC), Fri July 30

EASTBOURNE
“With my last two rides at Kent I felt a lot like more old self and I passed Scott (Nicholls) from the back. I still knew I had it. It was just a confidence thing. I shouldn’t have been riding the way I was and I hold my hand up.”
Eagles star Edward Kennett blasted back to form this week with a 15-pont maximum against Scunthorpe, and admitted the last two matches had given him a massive boost after a below-par start to the season.
NEXT HOME: Plymouth, Sat July 31
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues Aug 3

EDINBURGH
“I felt if our heat-leaders did what they can do they’d win enough races and we’d just need the rest to pick up the odd points, and today we had Kye (Thomson) scoring points and that was the big difference.”
Monarch boss Alex Harkess took great satisfaction from Sunday’s derby victory at fierce rivals Glasgow, coming less than 48 hours after the Tigers had taken a similarly narrow victory at Armadale.
NEXT HOME: Birmingham (KOC), Fri July 30
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues Aug 3

GLASGOW
“Obviously we wanted to win the three points, but we’re still at the top of the table. It’s swings and roundabouts and we’ve got to take it on the chin. It’s just a minor speed bump on the road to success.”
Tigers skipper Craig Cook wasn’t panicking after a narrow home defeat to Edinburgh on Friday, especially after winning the reverse fixture two nights earlier.
NEXT HOME: Berwick (KOC), Fri July 30
NEXT AWAY: Berwick (KOC), Sat July 31

KENT
“We have reached agreement for a new rider to join us in August – all subject to approval from the BSP Ltd. More news on that later.”
Kings promoter Len Silver confirms the club’s long search for a new signing looks to have finally come to an end.
NEXT HOME: Poole, Tues July 27
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Fri July 30

LEICESTER
“I think Poole were the better side, and credit has to go to them. We can offer excuses, a couple of our guys were off-form, but the bottom line is Poole are a decent side, and I did say beforehand we had to make sure we kept the back door closed at home – and we didn’t do it.”
Lions boss Stewart Dickson gave full credit to their opponents after an unbeaten home run stretching back nearly three years came to an end at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Birmingham, Sat July 31
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues July 27

NEWCASTLE
“We really lost this match mainly from being way slower from the gate than the Bears tonight and we couldn’t get back on terms with them despite some gutsy racing from some of the Diamonds. This was the one we needed to win, so this defeat has left a very sour after-taste for us all.”
Diamonds boss Steve Pate said defeat had hit hard after being beaten by a 20-point margin at home to great rivals Redcar at Brough Park on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Sun Aug 1
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues Aug 24

PLYMOUTH
“I’m feeling a bit tender but not as bad as when I first had the injury so hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Gladiators’ No.1 Jason Crump is hopeful his latest injury setback will not keep him out for an extensive period, after he crashed out of last Tuesday’s narrow home defeat to Glasgow.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Tues July 27
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, Wed July 28

POOLE
“Whilst there is still a very long way to go before the league title is decided it is victories at places like Leicester that can prove to be critical. They are a very strong side and with such a proud home record behind them, so that defeat will have hurt them.”
Pirates co-promoter Danny Ford stressed the significance of the Pirates’ away win at Leicester last weekend – although he is aware the Lions still have the strength to hit back when they head to Dorset this week.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Wed July 28
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues July 27

REDCAR
“I’m happy with my performance and I’m stoked with the result for the team! It was an awesome performance from the team’s point of view, winning by 20 points would be a great achievement but to do it away from home is something pretty special!”
A great day for Redcar’s Jake Allen and the Bears in general as they recorded a 55-35 away win at Newcastle to complete a derby double over the Diamonds.
NEXT HOME: Kent, Fri July 30
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues Aug 10

SCUNTHORPE
“It’s a massive clash on Friday for both clubs for our respective play-offs aspirations. We will be out to maintain our 100% home league record, while Pirates will be chasing valuable away points. It promises to be an absolute belting evening of speedway and one that should appeal massively to the supporters of both clubs.”
Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey can’t wait for this week’s first-ever visit of Poole to the Eddie Wright Raceway in a huge Championship encounter.
NEXT HOME: Poole, Fri July 30
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Fri Aug 6
 
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…

ARMADALE
“Now I’ve got that first National League maximum of the year under my belt I don’t want to drop now. My standards have definitely gone up as a result.”
Devils star Nathan Greaves tells Speedway Star he’s looking to maintain his unbeaten record after a maximum against Belle Vue before the recent break in fixtures.
NEXT HOME: Eastbourne, Sat Aug 28
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Sat July 31

BELLE VUE
“It was a big blow to lose Sam so early in the meeting. For someone who is only in his first full season of NDL racing he is already a big presence for us at reserve. We knew we were going to have to work even harder after that if we wanted the win, but everybody knuckled down and chipped away, and I think we got the result we deserved.”
Colts star Paul Bowen felt the side had worked hard to get the better of Eastbourne at the NSS last Thursday, despite youngster Sam McGurk crashing out in his first ride.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Thur July 29
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, Sun Aug 8

BERWICK
“Every time we went behind, we hit back and led again in one of the tightest matches I can remember, and it was all done through top class teamwork which deserved the success they got after a huge effort, and we’re still top of the league on 15 points, three ahead of Leicester.”
The Bullets edged out Mildenhall in a classic NDL contest on Saturday thanks to a last-heat 5-1, with Luke Crang scoring a paid maximum on debut – to the delight of boss Gary Flint.
NEXT HOME: Kent, Sat Aug 21
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Sun Aug 15

EASTBOURNE
The Seagulls slipped to a second home defeat of the season on Saturday as Kent won a last-heat decider, with the home side going into the meeting without regulars Joe Alcock, Nathan Ablitt and Nick Laurence.
NEXT HOME: Armadale, Sat July 31
NEXT AWAY: Armadale, Sat Aug 28

KENT
“It was a great meeting tonight for myself and the team. We knew it was going to be tough as Eastbourne is such a specialist track, but we all stuck together and worked well as a team.”
Royals star Dan Gilkes scored another 15-point maximum as the team recorded their third away win of the season with Saturday’s last-heat triumph at Arlington.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Tues Sept 21
NEXT AWAY: Berwick, Sat Aug 21

LEICESTER
“Our team is full of youth this year, but we keep helping them and they’re all pushing and scoring good points. Everyone gets on well and it’s good that me and Joe can offer help from what we’ve learned in the Championship.”
Lion Cubs No.1 Dan Thompson and brother Joe are playing the senior role this season – despite being aged just 17 themselves!
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Sat Sept 11
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Thur July 29
 
MILDENHALL
“Injuries are part and parcel of this wonderful sport and that’s now two riders we are missing from our starting seven. We still await concrete news from Arran Butcher but his injury is taking longer to heal than we hoped and it may be a while yet before he is in contention for a team spot.”
Fen Tigers boss Malcolm Vasey fully understood the decision of Jordan Jenkins to sit out last weekend’s action due to his wrist injury, leaving his side two riders down from their original septet.
NEXT HOME: Armadale, Sun Aug 1
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Sat Aug 21

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY JULY 27:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Poole 6.30, Plymouth v Leicester 7pm

WEDNESDAY JULY 28:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Plymouth 7.30, Poole v Leicester 7.30

THURSDAY JULY 29:
PREMIERSHIP: Ipswich v King’s Lynn 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30

FRIDAY JULY 30:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Kent 7.30, Scunthorpe v Poole 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Birmingham 7.30, Glasgow v Berwick 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 31:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Eastbourne v Plymouth 6.30, Leicester v Birmingham 7pm
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Armadale (follows Champ fixture)

SUNDAY AUGUST 1:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Berwick 4pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Armadale 3pm

MONDAY AUGUST 2:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30, King’s Lynn v Sheffield 7.30, Wolverhampton v Peterborough 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 3:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Eastbourne 6.30, Plymouth v Edinburgh 7pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Kent 7.30, Poole v Edinburgh 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 5:
PREMIERSHIP: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30, Peterborough v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY AUGUST 6:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Poole 7.30, Glasgow v Scunthorpe 7.30, Redcar v Berwick 7.30

SATURDAY AUGUST 7:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Poole 7pm, Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30, Leicester v Edinburgh 7pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 8:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Poole 4pm, Newcastle v Plymouth (follows previous fixture)
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Belle Vue 3pm

MONDAY AUGUST 9:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 10:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Edinburgh 6.30, Plymouth v Redcar 7pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Redcar 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.30