BRITISH SPEEDWAY PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES

Dan Bewley completed a memorable week with victory in Belle Vue’s Peter Craven Memorial on Saturday. Bewley, who had won the FIM Speedway of Nations with Great Britain the previous weekend, scored 14 points in the qualifiers and then took the six-man Grand Final.
Picture: IAN CHARLES

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

PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BELLE VUE
“I rode my first Peter Craven Memorial in 2018. I remember it like it was yesterday, I had Workington press and practice the following morning! It doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago, but to be here on the top of the podium in this meeting this year is a very special feeling.”
Aces No.1 Dan Bewley completed a stunning season with victory in the club’s major individual event at the weekend, adding his name to a prestigious list of winners.

PETERBOROUGH
“This is a real fun meeting and it’s great for me to win it. I always enjoy racing in it, so I was delighted to be in it and the racing is always enjoyable on a good track like this. It’s great to round the season off with another honour on the board.”
Panthers skipper Scott Nicholls wrapped up a memorable season in style by taking victory in Monday’s Ladbrokes Olympique individual event at Wolverhampton.
 
WOLVERHAMPTON
“I’ve always enjoyed being at Wolves and we have a good team spirit, it’s a good club to ride for and the fans are great. I want to be back in the UK riding in the Premiership but I’m also looking to ride in Poland as well, so we’ll see what happens there.”
Australian star Ryan Douglas has enjoyed a successful season at Monmore Green and is already keen to book a return in 2022.

CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

EDINBURGH
“Our riders tried hard but were not at their best which was disappointing. Our top riders seem to have lost their gating touch this week and that has cost us. I have no complaints about their effort and Heat 15 was a real thriller to finish Monarchs’ home season.”
Boss Alex Harkess reflected on a weekend where his side just fell short, losing out in the Championship play-off semi-finals to Glasgow, and going down to a five-point defeat at home to Poole in the first leg of the KO Cup Final.

GLASGOW
“Last week was tough, we had plenty of questions asked of us after the way we lost at Edinburgh – including of my own position – but I think tonight we saw the real Glasgow Tigers. We’re going to enjoy this win tonight before we turn our attentions to another huge task in taking on Poole over two legs.”
Tigers boss Cami Brown was delighted with his side’s recovery from KO Cup exit against Edinburgh as they turned the tables on the Monarchs in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

POOLE
“I don’t think there could be a tougher one at this stage of the season than to visit Ashfield as they have been very strong at home all year. I sense that they will be really fired up for this one, especially as they missed out on the title the last time it was staged, back in 2019. For us it is about achieving the objective that we had at the start of the season, the reason why we brought together this bunch of lads who have developed into a very good team indeed.”
Pirates promoter Danny Ford expects this week’s Championship Grand Final against Glasgow to offer their toughest test of the season – and is mindful of the Tigers’ impressive recent home record ahead of the first leg

. REDCAR
“Tonight was brilliant, we had to dig deep early on after my retirement as I was only on four points after three rides but we kept going to get through to the semi-finals. I couldn’t believe my luck when they left me gate 3 in the Final, I felt fast tonight and I’m chuffed. I’d love to return to Redcar in 2022, since I’ve joined it’s been a dream and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it!”
Lewis Kerr completed his season with victory in the Teesside Silver Helmet and immediately stated his desire for a return to the Media Prima Arena next season after joining the Bears in the latter stages of the current campaign.
 NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE UPCOMING FIXTURES…

ARMADALE
“I’m disappointed certainly, I thought we would get a win today. The conditions were tricky but we can’t use that as an excuse because they were tricky for everyone.”
Alan Budzynski’s Devils completed their home campaign with a heavy defeat as Mildenhall clinched the title, and the Armadale outfit now prepare for their finale against Kent on Sunday on the neutral territory of Leicester.
NEXT AWAY: Kent (at Leicester), Sun Oct 31

BELLE VUE
“Being reduced to six riders made an already tough meeting even tougher but full credit to the lads, they never flinched, and they really stepped things up. Sam Woolley ended up taking seven rides, one of which was a paid second with Connor (Coles) to get a 5-1, so we definitely didn’t make it easy for Leicester.”
Colts co-boss Steve Williams praised his side’s efforts in defeat at Leicester on Saturday, where skipper Paul Bowen crashed out of the meeting in Heat 2.

LEICESTER
“I believe we were the only team to have three first-year riders, and if you look at Ben (Trigger) and Mickie (Simpson) from their first race this year to now they’ve clearly made big improvements, and Kai (Ward) tonight was fighting for every single point – that was his best performance of the year as well.”
Lion Cubs boss Dave Howard says it has been a year of progress from a very young side at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena, as they completed their season with a convincing 54-36 home win over Belle Vue.

MILDENHALL 

“I feel extremely emotional after today’s efforts. These are a brilliant band of riders who have not given a moment’s difficulty to me all season. They want to ride, they want to win and they are all a credit to themselves, their families and the club they represent. I am so pleased for everyone associated with the club, the owners have worked so hard to put on a season to remember in difficult circumstances and deserve great credit for their efforts. Today they got the ultimate reward, the league title.”
Fen Tigers boss Malcolm Vasey paid tribute to all involved at West Row as his side were officially confirmed as NDL champions with their win at Armadale last Saturday.

FIXTURE PICTURE…

  FRIDAY OCTOBER 29:
CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Poole v Glasgow 7.30

SUNDAY OCTOBER 31:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Armadale (at Leicester) 3pm