BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 28, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1

PICKERING’S  MAXIMUM

EDINBURGH’S Josh Pickering scored a paid maximum as the Monarchs raced to a 52-36 Championship win over Birmingham.In an eventful clash at Armadale, Pickering scored 14+1 with skipper Sam Masters adding 13+1, and the pair combined for two late 5-1s to see off a stubborn Birmingham challenge.

The visitors remained just six points down going into the closing stages despite the loss of James Pearson (chest) and James Shanes (damaged helmets after two crashes), whilst Stefan Nielsen was subsequently withdrawn due to a shoulder problem. The hosts themselves lost Lasse Fredriksen with a shoulder injury.

Monarchs reserve Jacob Hook scored a best-yet 9+2, whilst Ashley Morris (11) and guest Tom Brennan (10+1) reached double figures for the Brummies.

Edinburgh star Paco Castagna (7+1) said: “This week was a tough meeting, it was unfortunate that we lost Lasse when James (Sarjeant) is already injured.

“I don’t know what will happen now with the team. But I think the team is getting in the groove now. I think Hooky was good tonight as well.”

Birmingham boss Laurence Rogers said: “I’m very proud of the four riders we had remaining, who battled right to the end of the meeting and kept us in with a chance of a point. We had a lot of juggling of riders to do.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

REDCAR established a 12-point advantage over Berwick with a 51-39 win in the first leg of their KO Cup quarter-final.

The gap was just two points after nine races but the Bears then pulled clear to build a lead to take to Shielfield Park on June 11. Erik Riss (11) and Lewis Kerr (10+1) led the way for the hosts with reserves Jason Edwards and Jordan Jenkins picking up 13+2 between them, whilst Chris Harris top-scored for the Bandits with 13.

Berwick boss Gary Flint said: “We have left ourselves more to do in the second leg than we hoped for, but the tie is still very much alive.

“Leon (Flint) and Ty (Proctor) were obviously short of time on the bike, but they adapted well, Ty pipping Adam Roynon on the line for an extra point in Heat 8 could yet prove vital.“Even though Redcar ride Berwick well we know that on any given night we are more than capable of beating anyone at home by 12 or more points.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

LEICESTER’S KO Cup clash with Scunthorpe tonight (Saturday) will now be a first leg tie after the abandonment of Friday’s fixture at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Scorpions guest reserve Joe Alcock suffered a suspected broken femur in a Heat 2 crash, which resulted in the air ambulance arriving at the stadium.

But the crew then decided it was better for Alcock to remain in the initial ambulance and make his way to the hospital in that, accompanied by the paramedic, and with no guarantee of the time of their return, the meeting was abandoned.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “First and foremost, we wish Joe Alcock a speedy recovery from the leg injuries he sustained.
“Meanwhile, I can only apologise to the supporters, who came along to watch a full speedway meeting but only saw two races.

“We didn’t have to offer full re-admission to another meeting using last night’s tickets, but I know that it’s the right thing to do as a goodwill gesture, because we have to keep faith with our supporters. 

“It’s sod’s law that this happened on a night when we only had one paramedic at the track, while at the previous meeting we had two. But even then, we would have been waiting on the ambulance.”

Leicester had led 7-5 at the time of the stoppage, and in the second leg the Scorpions will be without No.1 Ryan Douglas who aggravated a shoulder injury in Heat 1.

Justin Sedgmen guests for Tero Aarnio, who has been banned for 14 days by the SCB after failing to return from Thursday’s FIM World Long Track event, and Jamie Halder steps in at reserve.

*LIVE STREAMING: British Speedway Network – https://watch.britishspeedway.co.uk

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BELLE Vue demolished Armadale 69-21 in the National Development League with three Colts riders scoring maximums.
Jack Smith went through the card with a full 18-point score, Harry McGurk was paid for the lot from six rides, and Nathan Ablitt recorded a 15-point maximum on his home debut.

The final eight races of the meeting all resulted in Belle Vue 5-1s, with Tom Woolley top-scoring for the Devils on 6+1.
Ablitt said: “It couldn’t have gone any better for me really. You don’t come into a meeting expecting to get a 15-point maximum so I’m buzzing with that.

“It’s been a fantastic night for us all individually and as a team. We needed this result to give us the boost we’ve been after these last few weeks. 
“Although we’ve struggled on the road, I think we’ve proved that we can take on anyone at home and give them a serious challenge and we know we are capable of doing that away as well.

“We’ve just got to build on this tonight. We’ve got some good momentum behind us right now, and if we can keep this up we can put ourselves in a very good position.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

BERWICK face Glasgow tonight (Saturday) in a clash of two sides currently in the Championship top six.
The Bandits are sixth and looking to get back to winning ways at home after losing to Redcar last time out at Shielfield Park.

Meanwhile the Tigers, who dropped points with a draw at home to Poole last weekend, can take over at the top of they take all four league points from the meeting. Berwick continue to operate rider replacement for Jye Etheridge, with Leon Flint and Ty Proctor having made their comebacks on Friday, whilst Glasgow are at full strength.

(SPEEDWAY 6)

THE 2022 British Youth Championship Series gets underway in earnest this weekend with back-to-back full rounds at Edinburgh today (Saturday, 2.30pm) and Glasgow tomorrow (2pm).

There are 30 qualifying races and 30 riders taking part in both events, with the 125cc class taking to the track for the first time this season
The 500cc class has eight quality riders taking part, including NDL regulars Sam McGurk, who currently leads the series after winning Round 1, Ace Pijper, Freddy Hodder and current champion Ben Trigger.

The 250cc class is equally impressive with double British 250cc champion Luke Harrison already leading this year, with Sonny Springer and William Cairns also currently in the top 3 after Round 1.

It is the first showing of the 125cc and support classes in this season’s Championship, with the 125cc class looking particularly hard to call with the likes of Stene Pijper, Oliver Bovingdon, Archie Rolph and Seth Norman chasing Cooper Rushen for his British Championship trophy, plus local favourite Caydin Martin and new boy Oliver Binns.

The support class has the biggest numbers, with nine riders in this class and plenty of local interest in riders from the Edinburgh Academy making their debuts in this series – Lewis Hague, Rocco Webb and Zaak Gallacher.

GB Youth boss Neil Vatcher said: “Supporters can pay at the turnstiles and come along and watch the stars of the future.

“Remember it was only a couple of years ago that the likes of Tom Brennan, Drew Kemp and Jordan Palin to name just a few were competing in this series, and only last weekend those same riders were representing Great Britain in the FIM European Under-23 Team qualifier in the Czech Republic.”

The Young Lions Management would like to thank both the Edinburgh and Glasgow promotions for their continued support of British Youth speedway, along with their series sponsors Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club, Wessex Marine, Friends of Speedway, Rentruck, Foxbury Motors, RMCS Racing, ATPI, Abrams Insurance Services, Northern Scaffolding Solutions, Royle T Racing and the BSP Ltd Members.

(FIXTURES)

SATURDAY MAY 28:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Leicester v Scunthorpe 7pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 3: Edinburgh 2.30

SUNDAY MAY 29:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Redcar 4pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4: Glasgow 2pm

MONDAY MAY 30:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Peterborough 7.30, Wolverhampton v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY MAY 31:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Edinburgh 7pm