BRITISH SPEEDWAY DAILY LATEST
SPEEDWAY 1)
PETERBOROUGH booked their place in the Premiership play-offs with a thrilling 49-41 win over Wolverhampton in front of a big crowd at Alwalton.
The league leaders’ nine-match wining run was ended in a pulsating contest with a last-race Panthers’ 5-1 meaning the Monmore side went away without a point – and it keeps the race for top spot alive.
A maximum to the visitors would have seen them grab a draw but Hans Andersen and Chris Harris got the better of Nick Morris and Luke Becker to complete a comeback from 32-34 down with four races to go.
Andersen scored 16 from six rides at reserve with Harris also in vintage form late in the meeting with 10+1. Reserve Ryan Douglas led the way for Wolves with nine.
Panthers boss Rob Lyon said: “We had a little chat after Heat 10 and we knew we had inside gates in three of the last five races, which we needed to take advantage of.
“We really wanted it done and dusted before Heat 15 because we knew they’d have one and three, but we chose right, and sometimes you get heroes in meetings – certainly Hans and Bomber were that tonight.
“That Heat 15 was a fantastic race, and it really keeps the top spot alive and kicking.”
Morris said: “It was a good meeting and it didn’t end the way we would have liked – we would have liked to at least got something.
“But there’s definitely room for improvement. Sam (Masters) had two breakdowns, but I think we’ve got a lot of positives to take from it and next time we come back we’re only going to be better.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BELLE Vue consolidated their position in the Premiership’s top four with a 48-42 win over bottom side King’s Lynn on Monday.
Dan Bewley (12) and Brady Kurtz (11+1) led the scoring for the Aces whilst Jye Etheridge made a successful return to the side with 9+1, and he was unbeaten in his first three rides.
The home side were ten points up with four heats to go but Stars No.1 Richard Lawson (12+1) inspired a comeback, and his win over Bewley and Kurtz in Heat 15 ensured they came away with a league point.
It means they can mathematically move level with the Aces on 31 points, although that would require maximum points from all six remaining meetings and the Manchester side to lose their last five.
Etheridge said: “It was a tough one for us, King’s Lynn had nothing to lose and they absolutely didn’t make it easy for us.
“A few of their lads were here last week for the British Final and were already quite dialled in, and they really pushed us from start to finish.”
Stars boss Alex Brady said: “We could never quite get it back close enough, but we came away with a point which I’m over the moon about. The game plan at the start the point was a minimum from this meeting, so at least we’ve hit that target tonight.
“A couple of the boys struggled with the set-up a little bit. But by the end of the night it was improving. We are back here in three weeks so hopefully the track will be similar and we can run them even closer.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
KENT return home after two draws on the road with tonight’s (Tuesday) clash with Newcastle at Central Park.
The teams drew 45-45 in the North-East on Sunday which was the second shared result in three days for the Kings on their Northern tour.
The home side are at full strength with reserves Jake Mulford and Dan Gilkes returning, whilst the Diamonds operate rider replacement for the injured Matt Wethers.
(SPEEDWAY 4)
PLYMOUTH and Birmingham both name full-strength line-ups for tonight’s (Tuesday) Championship encounter at the Coliseum.
It’s the first of two clashes in 24 hours between the sides as they also meet at Perry Barr tomorrow.
A change to the Gladiators’ riding order sees Bjarne Pedersen take the No.1 position with Jason Crump now having an established average, so he switches to No.5.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
WOLVERHAMPTON skipper Rory Schlein has confirmed 2017 World Champion Jason Doyle will make a rare UK appearance at his Farewell Meeting in October.
Doyle, who looked destined to remain with Swindon until they withdrew from the 2021 season, has been based in Poland throughout the year.
Now he will race in the UK at the Speedway of Nations in Manchester and then be at Monmore Green on Monday October 18 as Schlein brings the curtain down on his glittering career – and former British Champion Danny King is also a confirmed starter.
Said Schlein: “Jason and I have raced each other for so long and both have come back from huge injuries, so not only do we share respect as racers but also as really tough blokes.
“He’s a very hard racer who will not give an inch and is most likely the most determined rider on the planet.
“Danny and myself really get on. On track and off track there is so much respect between us – we race hard and fight hard, and when we are in the same team we bounce off each other so well.”
(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Plymouth 7.30, Poole v Newcastle 7.30
THURSDAY AUGUST 26:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30, Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY AUGUST 27:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Poole 7.30, Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30, Glasgow v Berwick 7.30
NO PRESSURE ON ZMARZLIK AFTER LATVIAN GP WIN