BRITISH SPEEDWAY APRIL 22, 2022
(SPEEDWAY 1)
KING’S LYNN WIN A THRILLER
KING’S Lynn edged out Peterborough 47-43 in a League Cup thriller at the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday.
The Stars are now favourites to win the Southern group after triumphing in a terrific last-heat decider which saw Josh Pickering and Niels-Kristian Iversen get the better of Ulrich Ostergaard and Chris Harris for a 5-1.
Pickering top scored for the hosts with 12+2 whilst reserve Benjamin Basso racked up 14+1 from seven rides for the Panthers. Aggregate victory over the week also gave the Stars the inaugural Colin Pratt Trophy.
King’s Lynn boss Alex Brady said: “It was a fantastic night, fantastic racing in the end and in that Heat 15 I had to shut my eyes a few times, it was brilliant.
“We nipped in front, they nipped back in front, there were a few 3-3s, and it was here, there and everywhere – but we stood firm and did it when it really mattered, so I’m really pleased.
“Josh was fantastic, and Niels rode through the pain barrier in Heat 15 for us as well, and this is what this team’s all about.”
Peterborough manager Rob Lyon said: “Rider replacement for Michael brought us seven paid eight, which is a reasonable return, but he’s our No.1 and I do think we missed him, he’s normally pretty good around there.
“I think he would have scored a tad more than that, and it meant our options were somewhat limited – but having said that, we win and lose as a team, and the boys put in 100 per cent, you can’t fault them for effort.
“It was unfortunate in Heat 15 because we got into a 4-2 position and I thought we’d nailed it, but fair play to the Lynn boys because they had other ideas and came back at us and pipped us.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SCUNTHORPE are set to welcome back several of their former riders when they host Birmingham at the Eddie Wright Raceway tonight (Friday).
Adam Ellis, Ashley Morris and Stefan Nielsen are all ex-Scorpions although club legend Josh Auty is ruled out after suffering a suspected broken leg on Wednesday. The visitors will use rider-replacement to cover.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “It will not be an easy match tonight, because they have riders who like our track. But I think we learned a lot against Leicester last week. The riders were perfecting things and you saw that in the second half of the meeting.
“I’m sure it will be a top-notch night of racing at the Eddie Wright Raceway, while I have every confidence that we can finish the night with a victory and another three league points.”
Birmingham boss Laurence Rogers said: “Josh hit the kickboards hard on Wednesday and if his injury is as bad as first feared then he’s facing quite a lengthy spell on the sidelines unfortunately.
“Scunthorpe are always tough opponents on their home track and they’ve already shown that by beating an in-form Leicester side comfortably last week.
“So we know it’s not going to be easy but we have to go there with confidence and belief and believe that we can come away with something.”
*LIVE STREAMING for £11.99: https://tv.scunthorpe-speedway.com/ .
(SPEEDWAY 3)
GLASGOW reserve Connor Bailey hopes 2022 will prove third time lucky ahead of their Championship clash with Berwick tonight (Friday).
Bailey has been part of the Ashfield side’s two Grand Final appearances in the last two seasons, with the Tigers having to settle for runners-up spot on both occasions.
He said: “We’ve come close for the last two seasons, but unfortunately we’ve just lost out over the second leg. This year will hopefully be third time’s the charm.
“I think the main factor that has played a part in our past losses is injuries. I feel that had we had Ulrich [Ostergaard] for the second half of last season, we’d have been hard to beat for the remainder of the season.“If we can all stay injury free, and focused throughout our 2022 push for the title, we stand a good chance of taking it this year.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
LEICESTER boss Stewart Dickson is demanding a reaction when his side visits Redcar in the Championship tonight (Friday).
The Lions were hammered 60-30 at Plymouth on Tuesday, their second heavy away defeat of the season, whilst the Bears have opened their home league campaign with wins over Plymouth and Birmingham.
Dickson said: “We have two tough fixtures coming up, this sport gives you no time to feel sorry for yourself and we have to be ready for Redcar and the visit of Glasgow.
“There were no injuries at Plymouth, that was the one good thing, and at least we don’t have to wait seven or 10 days for the next fixture but that will only be good if we can bounce back and show some sort of character.
“I had expected to see something at Plymouth after the Scunthorpe match, we spoke about it and I thought that disappointment would be a one off.
“We cannot let this continue. I know it is early in the season but these results have been a shock and we are going to have to pull together, get it sorted and start working a bit harder to put things right on our travels.”
*LIVE STREAMING for £11.99: http://www.redcar-speedway.com .
SPEEDWAY 5)
EDINBURGH will look to complete the job of KO Cup progression when they host Newcastle at Armadale tonight (Friday).
The Monarchs lead 49-41 from the first leg although the visitors do include former Edinburgh riders Matthew Wethers and Max Clegg in their side. The Diamonds operate rider-replacement at No.1 for the injured Bradley Wilson-Dean.
Monarchs boss Alex Harkess said: “This Friday we have to keep improving and making things better.
“(Hopefully any mechanical gremlins that anyone has had will be sorted out. Newcastle certainly have a few riders that have been round our place.”
*LIVE STREAMING for £11.99: https://www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/emtv .
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY APRIL 23:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Oxford 7pm, Leicester v Glasgow 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 24:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Oxford 4pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Mildenhall v Kent 3pm
NO PRESSURE ON ZMARZLIK AFTER LATVIAN GP WIN