BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 9
Date: Thursday September 9, 2021 (Featured photo of Australian Jason Crump)
(SPEEDWAY 1)
POOLE are on the brink of confirming semi-final qualification after a 55-35 win over Plymouth at Wimborne Road.
The Pirates have already reached the Championship play-offs but are seeking a top two finish to automatically reach the last four stage, and moved to within one point of achieving that aim.
Skipper Danny King scored 13+1 although he saw his proud unbeaten home run dating back to August 18 ended by former Pirates favourite Jason Crump in Heat 7.
Rory Schlein added 10 for the Pirates whilst Crump top scored for the Gladiators with 11 points including three race wins.
King said: “I have had a good run and found some form, but Crumpie was just fantastic.
“He was fast out there tonight and I couldn’t catch him even though I gave it my best shot. I guess I knew that at some time the run would come to an end.
“But once again the team were great all round. I was really pleased to see Anders (Rowe, guest) have a fantastic meeting. It was good to ride with him, we have been team-mates at Ipswich, and he has really come on.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
REDCAR secured their place in the Championship play-offs with a 48-42 win at Birmingham as the two clubs clashed over track conditions.
The Brummies led 16-8 after four races but the Bears took control following an extensive break and turned the meeting around to record their fourth away victory of the season.
Lewis Kerr was in outstanding form for the visitors with 15+1, suffering his only defeat to home skipper Chris Harris in Heat 15. Charles Wright added 13 whilst Paco Castagna (11+1) and Harris (10+2) top-scored for the Brummies, whose play-off hopes took a dent.
Redcar co-promoter Jamie Swales said: “The instruction from the management this evening was to leave with seven riders and for the lads not to take any risks and potentially suffer any injuries, but the boys were outstanding.
“Lewis has been a great signing so far and (guest) Jason Edwards got some really important points for us. For once, we got out of the gate as a team and we were brilliant, we fully deserved to take the win.”
Birmingham boss Laurence Rogers said: “I wonder whether if Redcar had been winning, they would still have complained.
“To be honest, there was very little wrong with the track. We know there’s a few bumps and bits, but the riders are experienced enough to ride those – but they (Redcar) wanted the track as they wanted it, and amazingly by the end they enjoyed it by the look of it.”
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Plymouth 7.30, Redcar v Leicester 7.30, Scunthorpe v Poole 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Birmingham 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Leicester v Edinburgh 7pm
NO PRESSURE ON ZMARZLIK AFTER LATVIAN GP WIN