BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 31, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1)

BRITISH UNDER 21 FINAL

BIRMINGHAM stage the 2022 British Under-21 Final at Perry Barr tonight (Wednesday – UK time) as the country’s top youngsters battle for a national title.

Defending champion Tom Brennan will make a late call on his fitness after his crash at Wolverhampton on Monday, and the line-up also includes recently crowned British Under-19 Champion Leon Flint and three-time winner at that level, Drew Kemp.

Birmingham promoter Laurence Rogers said: “Fingers crossed for Tom, I know how much he was looking forward to defending his title on Wednesday so we’ll have to wait and see what the official line is with him but it was a really awkward crash he had.

“We’ve had two or three other riders from the original line-up who have sadly been ruled out too but it’s still a cracking line-up nevertheless.
“This event showcases the next generation of British Speedway and it’s always hugely competitive and highly entertaining.

“We’ve seen some cracking racing at Birmingham this year and with such a big individual honour on the line, I’m sure that will be the case again on Wednesday night.”
Parade time at Perry Barr is 7.15pm with the first race at 7.30pm sharp.
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

REDCAR snatched the final Championship play-off place with a 51-39 win at Plymouth in their final meeting of the regular league campaign.
The result in fact moved the Bears into fifth place ahead of the Gladiators as they took all four points from the meeting, and it spelt disappointment for Scunthorpe who drop out of the top six.

It sets up a quarter-final clash between Redcar and Edinburgh, who met at the same stage last season, whilst Poole will face Plymouth.
Guest Richard Lawson scored 12+2 for the Bears at the Coliseum with in-form Lewis Kerr adding 11+2. Ben Morley scored an impressive 12 for the hosts.
 
(SPEEDWAY 3)

POOLE manager Neil Middleditch finally gets the deserved honour of his second Testimonial meeting at Wimborne Road tonight (Wednesday).
Middleditch was first awarded a benefit event in 1984, but he was unable to call upon the proceeds due to the club’s promotion at the time going into administration.

Now nearly 40 years on, Middleditch will receive his reward having served the Pirates as both rider and manager, a role he took up in 1999.
He said: “I am truly grateful to Matt (Ford) for being true to his word, although I can’t help thinking that there has been a curse put on me as far as the Testimonial is concerned.

“I lost out back in 1984 and then, due to Covid-19 we had to shelve the plans to stage it back in 2020 and last year’s shortened season made it impossible to fit in.

“Now, in the build-up to the event it has been something of a nightmare to be honest, with injuries and unforeseen circumstances causing changes to the original plans.

“First and foremost, I wish all the riders who have taken knocks and can’t ride all the very best for speedy recoveries, especially Chris Holder who seems to have suffered the worst.

“I think that I have been able to assemble two good sides and we have a number of stars from the past, both of my racing time at Poole and also since becoming manager, so it is going to be a packed programme for sure.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

KENT have made a late-season move for Sam Woods to bring them back to a full seven-rider side as they bid to gatecrash the National Development League play-offs.

Woods, who originally rode for the club in their Central Park days, has signed for the Iwade outfit as a replacement for Jamie Halder, who suffered a thumb injury at Mildenhall in late-July.

Promoter Si Kellow said: “On paper it’s a risk bringing in Sam at this stage, but as we have proved with Joe Alcock and Connor King this season, our team ethos brings out the points.
“With four matches to go, every league point is vital to us, and the only way we can maximise our chances is to have the team at full strength.”

(FIXTURES)

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31:
TOLLEY BADGES BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Birmingham 7.30
NEIL MIDDLEDITCH TESTIMONIAL: Poole 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Peterborough 7.30, Sheffield v Wolverhampton 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Scunthorpe v Leicester 7.30