BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2022/18

Leicester booked their place in the Championship Jubilee League Final with a 56-34 win against Scunthorpe at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena on Saturday night. The Lions will face the two other group winners Glasgow and Poole in the final later in the season.
Photo Credit: STEVE DIXON

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

PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BELLE VUE
“The last time they came here, we beat them even though we were slightly under strength but this time around they had strengthened up, so we knew we’d have our work cut out. But things just seemed to come together for us. Everyone is hitting brilliant form and we’ve got to keep this up now that the play-offs are only a few weeks away.”
Aces star Max Fricke hailed the 60-30 win over Ipswich as a demonstration of their rapidly growing momentum as the season heads towards the decisive stage.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Mon Aug 29
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Mon Aug 22
 
IPSWICH
“Rohan (Tungate) was probably our best rider on the night, so I was pleased with his debut. He knows us well and fitted straight back in. It is one bad night at the office, as a team it is not massively damaging to us in the league table and mentally it won’t be either. We will pick ourselves back up ready for Thursday.”

Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins wasn’t going overboard with Monday’s 60-30 defeat at Belle Vue which saw both Rohan Tungate and Aaron Summers make their first appearances after the club made a double change.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Thur Aug 11
NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Mon Sept 5
 
KING’S LYNN
“Frederik was keen to join us and we’re delighted to get the deal over the line with still a decent number of meetings remaining. It means we have an Ekstraliga rider coming in at reserve with the potential for me to give him seven rides, and that gives us a good opportunity.”

Stars boss Alex Brady is confident of a strong finish to the season with Frederik Jakobsen becoming their second new recruit added to the recent arrival of Nicolai Klindt.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Mon Aug 22
NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Thur Aug 11

PETERBOROUGH
“I know it’s difficult for our fans. I’m sure they’re all frustrated as I am, but I can only put out what I can put out. Hopefully we can put out a more recognisable one-to-seven next Monday at home to Sheffield and turn in a home win, because we badly need it.”

Frustrated Panthers boss Rob Lyon saw a threadbare side defeated 62-28 at Wolverhampton on Monday, with the visitors grateful for a brilliant 17-point haul from Chris Harris to secure some respectability.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Mon Aug 15
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Thur Sept 1
 
SHEFFIELD
“We had a couple of issues early on but they all did their bit and ultimately we got the job done. We would’ve liked to have sent them home with nothing but looking at the scorecard throughout the meeting, them going home with one point is probably fair – but tonight was all about us getting three points which we managed.”

Tigers boss Simon Stead was satisfied with a 48-42 victory over King’s Lynn on Monday, which saw his team come back from an early six-point deficit.
NEXT HOME: Premiership Pairs Round 5, Thur Aug 18
NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Mon Aug 15
 
WOLVERHAMPTON
“That’s two home matches running now that Drew has managed to win Heat 14, and he’s getting more dialled in now, and Leon was very accomplished as well, I thought. But there was strength in every department of the team and we had far too much for a weakened Peterborough.”

Wolves boss Peter Adams had praise for reserve pairing Drew Kemp and Leon Flint after his side hit 62 points against patched-up Peterborough at Monmore on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Mon Aug 22
NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Thur Aug 25
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BERWICK
“It is a real shame as Nathan has been going well for both us and Oxford Chargers in the National League and had quickly become a very popular member of the Bandits’ family. Nathan himself hopes to be back racing before the end of the season but I think that’s a bit ambitious.”
Bandits boss Gary Flint has confirmed reserve Nathan Stoneman faces a period on the sidelines with a broken scapula in a heavy crash at Shielfield Park on Saturday.
NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe, Sat Aug 27
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, Wed Aug 10

BIRMINGHAM

“We put together that business plan for 12 months but of course we didn’t take over until December in the end. Things took a little bit longer than we’d have liked to put into operation so with our season almost over, it really is a two-year plan. So we’ve now got to be looking to next season to put all the things right that were wrong this year.”
Co-promoter Nigel Tolley has confirmed the club intend to take their place in the Championship again next year despite the difficulties encountered in 2022.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Wed Aug 10
 
EDINBURGH
“It was a bit tight, but we had choice of gates in the last one. Heat 15s hadn’t gone too well for me previously so it was great to get a 5-1. My riding tonight, I did things that I have been trying to work on but hadn’t quite mastered, cut-backs and passing.”
Monarchs star Kye Thomson came up with a big ride in Heat 15 along with guest Richard Lawson for a vital 5-1 to win a last-heat decider against Plymouth.
NEXT HOME: Redcar (KOC), Fri Aug 19
NEXT AWAY: Oxford, Wed Aug 17
 
GLASGOW
“I’m delighted that we have finished our programmed home league fixtures without defeat. We have been building real momentum at home and that has continued. Ben Basso put in an amazing performance. He’s a real showman and we saw more of that tonight.”
Tigers boss Cami Brown said it was job done in Friday’s 56-34 win over Birmingham, with Benjamin Basso scoring a spectacular 18-point maximum.
NEXT HOME: Grand Prix Challenge, Sat Aug 20
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Sun Aug 21
 
LEICESTER
“I’m not saying the scoreline flattered us at 56-34, but I don’t think we panicked at any stage, and I think we were well worth the victory. We’ve got a place in the Final and you could probably argue it is the three ‘big’ teams in the Final, so that’s going to be really tough, but we’re just glad to get there and overall I’m pretty pleased.”
Lions boss Stewart Dickson is looking forward to the prospect of the three-team Championship Jubilee League Final between his side, Poole and Glasgow.
NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: Scunthorpe (KOC), Fri Sept 2
 
OXFORD
“The two meetings against the Pirates were everything that was good about British Speedway. They were two superb speedway meetings in front of large and enthusiastic crowds. I can’t fault the performance from our lads and I’m proud that we gave Poole a real match. We had them worried.”
Cheetahs co-boss Peter Schroeck said the sport was the overall winner from two very entertaining Championship Jubilee League matches against Poole, who secured group victory with their results over the two nights.
NEXT HOME: Championship Pairs, Fri Aug 12

PLYMOUTH
“Dan Gilkes has reported that following further medical meetings in the past week, the experts have advised that the broken bones in his arm are not yet sufficiently healed or strong enough to increase either the physio and extra strengthening exercises to consider a return to riding, let alone racing, and he must rest and allow nature to continue to heal and strengthen his injuries.”
A blow for the Gladiators with the news that long-term injury victim Dan Gilkes is unable to yet put a date on a potential comeback following the broken arm he sustained in late April.
NEXT HOME: Redcar, Tues Aug 16
NEXT AWAY: Poole (CJL), Wed Aug 10
 
POOLE
“These three boys have been stalwarts for the Pirates all season and they have been leading by example, both on and off the track. It’s such a pleasure to work with them this year, especially as they have been entertaining us with some breath-taking exploits. I’m absolutely delighted to have all three of them involved and there is no way I could have left them out of the line-up!”
Pirates boss Neil Middleditch is delighted to confirm the club’s three heat-leaders Steve Worrall, Danny King and Richard Lawson are all starters for his Testimonial meeting at Wimborne Road on August 31.
NEXT HOME: Plymouth (CJL), Wed Aug 10
NEXT AWAY: TBC
 
REDCAR
The Bears made it two home wins in the Championship Jubilee League by defeating Scunthorpe at the Ecco Arena, but with no away points gained they missed out on a place in the Final.
NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Sun Aug 21
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues Aug 16

SCUNTHORPE
“We’re still right in the mix for the play-offs. I think we sent out a message to Redcar the other day. Rider replacement for Jake (Allen) only scored 4+1, and we know Jake can score well there, so we’ll go back to Redcar with a degree of confidence and to Berwick as well. We’ll see what happens in other matches and we’ll know what we need to do.”
Stand-in Scorpions boss Kevin Moore says the chase for the play-offs is very much on, and took encouragement from last Friday’s narrow defeat at Redcar in the Championship Jubilee League.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Fri Aug 19
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Fri Aug 26
 
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…

ARMADALE
“It was a long time coming but we finally have got a win on the board and some points on the board and now we aren’t the laughing stock. It was a good performance, all the boys rode well and hopefully it will give us something to build on.”
Devils skipper Tom Woolley summed up the feeling of overall relief after they finally picked up their first win of the season against Plymouth last weekend.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Fri Aug 26
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Sun Sept 4
 
BELLE VUE
“Our last few fixtures will be absolutely crucial when it comes to giving ourselves the best chance of getting into the top four. Every point is more important than the last so hopefully we can carry this momentum into these last few meetings and do what needs doing to get the job done.”
Colts youngster Archie Freeman recorded his first maximum in the big victory over Kent last Friday, and now wants to keep the good run of scoring going in order to secure a play-off place.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, Fri Aug 19
NEXT AWAY: Oxford, Wed Aug 10

BERWICK
“With their home campaign finished it is now time for the Bullets to wrap up their play-off position with trips to Mildenhall and Leicester following tonight. Plymouth were much better than their points’ tally on Saturday but with Kyle (Bickley), Luke Crang and Greg Blair all unbeaten by an opponent it was a dominant display.”
Bullets boss Gary Flint is keen to see his team complete the job of play-off qualification after competing a 100 per cent home league record with Saturday’s win over Plymouth.
NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues Aug 9
 
KENT
The Royals were beaten heavily at Belle Vue last Friday and will now hope their injury problems begin to ease ahead of the home clash with fellow play-off chasers Mildenhall a week on Sunday.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, Sun Aug 21
NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Sat Sept 3 

LEICESTER
NEXT HOME: NDL Pairs, Sat Aug 20
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Fri Aug 19

MILDENHALL
NEXT HOME: Oxford, Sun Aug 28
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Sun Aug 21
 
OXFORD
“We’ve got to carry on our form against Belle Vue. That’s another meeting we have to win, and we need to take advantage of some of the lesser experienced riders that they’ve got. We’ve got a few meetings left and there’s no reason why we can’t do some damage in this league.”
Chargers skipper Jordan Jenkins has underlined the importance of this week’s home clash with Belle Vue, with both teams currently in the NDL play-off places.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Wed Aug 10
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, Sun Aug 28

PLYMOUTH
The Centurions suffered double defeat on their Northern tour, losing 51-39 at Armadale and then 67-23 at Berwick with both matches taking place on the same day.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Tues Aug 9
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Sun Aug 28

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY AUGUST 9:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Plymouth v Berwick 7pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Berwick 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP JUBILEE LEAGUE: Poole v Plymouth 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Oxford v Belle Vue 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 11:
PREMIERSHIP: Ipswich v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY AUGUST 12:
CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS: Oxford 7.30

SATURDAY AUGUST 13:
BRITISH GRAND PRIX: Cardiff 5pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 14:
SGP2: Cardiff 1pm

MONDAY AUGUST 15:
PREMIERSHIP: Peterborough v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 16:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Redcar 7pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Edinburgh 7.30, Poole v Redcar 7.30
CHALLENGE: Birmingham v Coventry Select 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 18:
PREMIERSHIP PAIRS Round 5: Sheffield 7.30

FRIDAY AUGUST 19:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe v Berwick 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30
 
SATURDAY AUGUST 20:
GRAND PRIX CHALLENGE: Glasgow 7pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PAIRS: Leicester 7pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 21:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Glasgow 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Mildenhall 12pm

MONDAY AUGUST 22:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Wolverhampton v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 23:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Glasgow 7pm