BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2022/23

THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN

PIC OF THE WEEK…

SHEFFIELD booked their place in the Premiership play-offs with a 51-39 win at King’s Lynn last Thursday.
The Tigers, Ipswich, Belle Vue and Wolverhampton will now fight it out for the 2022 Premiership title.
Photo Credit: DEREK LEADER

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

PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BELLE VUE
The Aces will race away at Peterborough this Thursday and then at Sheffield next Thursday (Sept 22) to establish their position in the league table ahead of the play-offs, with their home leg set for October 3.
NEXT HOME: Sports Insure British Final Championship, Sun Sept 18
NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Thur Sept 15
 
IPSWICH
“We need to be better than we were, but once again we did enough to grab all three points.

We will have to better than that come September 29 whoever the opposition is. You have only got to look at the league table and all four teams are very evenly matched, so it won’t be an easy meeting whoever you meet, so we will need to improve for sure.”

Witches promoter Chris Louis says his side need to step things up from their narrow victory over a depleted Peterborough side last week, with the play-offs now only a fortnight away.
NEXT HOME: TBC, Thurs Sept 29 (Play-Off Q/F)
NEXT AWAY: TBC
 
KING’S LYNN
“It was disappointing but now it is all about performing to the best of our ability to gain some momentum to go into the League Cup Final. We want to finish as positively as possible and give the fans plenty to shout about.”

Stars boss Alex Brady saw his side beaten at home by Sheffield last Thursday to end their play-off hopes, but is now targeting a turnaround over their closing fixtures with another big clash with the Tigers to come this season.
NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Thur Sept 22
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Thur Sept 15

PETERBOROUGH
“It defies logic really. It’s three meetings on the trot, but specifically the two away meetings, the fight in the riders, and our own riders especially, has been incredible.

It’s baffling in lots of ways, because you’re juggling to get the best out of every opportunity, given the resources in front of you, and our own boys have really put it on the line.”
Panthers boss Rob Lyon is full of praise for his side’s efforts in a depleted state over recent weeks, as they have been involved in last-heat deciders against both King’s Lynn and Ipswich.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Thur Sept 15
 
SHEFFIELD
“All you can do in the build-up is try and make sure you learn from any negatives and use any positives that you can to your advantage. Belle Vue was just one of those nights – but if you look at our overall form of late then that tells you exactly what we’re capable of.”

Tigers boss Simon Stead in confident mood with a play-off place secured and a busy schedule to come at Owlerton, with their home semi-final date set for October 6.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn, Thur Sept 15
NEXT AWAY: TBC
 
WOLVERHAMPTON
“Nobody really holds any fear for us at Wolverhampton and we’re ready to take on whoever comes our way. It’s nice to have the comfort knowing we’re already in the play-offs with a meeting to spare; we didn’t really want to have to go to King’s Lynn (next Thursday) looking for points.”

Wolves boss Peter Adams is comfortable with his club’s position in the top four with a play-off place guaranteed, and the Monmore side will stage the first meeting when the competition reaches that stage on September 26.
NEXT HOME: TBC, Mon Sept 26 (Play-Off Q/F)
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Thur Sept 22
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BIRMINGHAM
“It’s going to be a good meeting looking at the teams and it’s going to be good to see Cradley back on track too. I really hope we have a good turnout for Alan with supporters from both clubs and it’s nice that he’s being remembered with a meeting like this.”

Former Brummies and Cradley racer Tom Perry will make a return to track action after a three-year absence in Wednesday’s re-arranged Alan Grahame Memorial meeting at Perry Barr.
NEXT HOME: Cradley Select (Ch), Wed Sept 14
 
EDINBURGH
“West Lothian Community Stadium is a fantastic proposal that would deliver significant social, economic and community benefits to the local area and across West Lothian.

Monarchs firmly believe that our bid offered best value to West Lothian and we are extremely disappointed that a portion of the Council Executive voted to approve a rival bid for the site.”

Development Director Gordon Campbell summed up the frustration felt by all at the club, who have vowed to look at all options going forward, after they received disappointing news regarding their superbly presented new stadium proposal.

NEXT HOME: NEXT AWAY: Redcar (PO QF), Sat Sept 17
 
GLASGOW
The Tigers continue to await news of their Championship play-off opponents having been out of action since securing second place in the league table with a win at Redcar on August 21.

NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, TBC
 
LEICESTER
The Lions moved quickly to re-arrange their home KO Cup clash with Poole for this Saturday (September 17), and are awaiting the outcome of the play-off quarter-finals before they can resume their bid for league honours.

NEXT HOME: Poole (KOC SF), Sat Sept 17
NEXT AWAY: TBC

PLYMOUTH
“Hans Andersen returns from injury, with the postponements last week having the silver lining of giving him an extra week to recover from his shoulder injuries.”

The Gladiators will head to Poole on Wednesday in what now becomes the first leg of their play-off quarter-final, and will try again at the Coliseum next Tuesday after successive postponements due to bad weather.

NEXT HOME: Poole (PO QF), Tues Sept 20
NEXT AWAY: Poole (PO QF), Wed Sept 14
 
POOLE
 “If anything, the weather-enforced delay makes for an even tougher set of meetings as Plymouth will have Hans (Andersen) back after his concussion stand-down period imposed after he crashed in Middlo’s Testimonial.

I am sure that the Poole fans will have a warm-hearted welcome for Hans as it did look a very nasty fall and to be able to see him back racing so quickly is great.”
Pirates co-promoter Danny Ford expects the return of captain Hans Andersen to make Plymouth a tougher proposition when the sides finally get to stage their weather-affected play-off encounter.

NEXT HOME: Plymouth (PO QF), Wed Sept 14
NEXT AWAY: Leicester (KOC SF), Sat Sept 17
 
REDCAR
The Bears still have plenty to look forward to this season with their re-arranged play-off against Edinburgh this weekend and a KO Cup Final against either Leicester or Poole already on their agenda.

NEXT HOME: Edinburgh (PO QF), Sat Sept 17
NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh (PO QF), Fri Sept 16
 
SCUNTHORPE
“I’m happy how my season has gone with Scunthorpe. I rode here for Scunthorpe for five seasons previously, so obviously I knew the track, and when I was coming back with Leicester, I wasn’t dropping many points around here.

I knew it was going to be a good home track for me this year, because I enjoy racing around here. I was aiming for around a 10.00 home average and I think it’s above 10.50, so I’ve outdone myself.”

Scorpions No.1 Ryan Douglas admits he enjoys having the Eddie Wright Raceway as a home track, having established himself as one of the Championship’s most consistent top riders this year.

NEXT HOME: NDL Riders’ Championship, Sun Sept 25
 
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…

ARMADALE
The Devils still have two home matches remaining this season, with Leicester and Belle Vue to visit Armadale, whilst they will also make the long trip to Plymouth on a date to be confirmed.

NEXT HOME: Leicester, Fri Sept 23
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, TBC
 
BELLE VUE
The Colts’ trip to Kent has been re-arranged for this Sunday (September 18) and they know they are likely to need points from either that meeting or another away match at Armadale in order to hold on to a top four place.

NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Sun Sept 18

BERWICK
“Things are up in the air a little with regards to the outstanding league match against Leicester. They will offer us three dates and we will choose the one that fits in with our rider availability. Once the top four is known we get on with arranging the play-off semi-final which will be the next action at Shielfield Park.”
Bullets boss Gary Flint explains the current situation with future arrangements as his team awaits news over who they will face in the play-offs.

NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: TBC
 (PO QF), Fri Sept 16

KENT
The Royals have re-arranged their final two matches of the regular NDL season, as they will host Belle Vue this coming Sunday (Sept 18) before returning to Oxford four nights later.

NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Sun Sept 18
NEXT AWAY: Oxford, Wed Sept 21

LEICESTER
The Lion Cubs have confirmed their place in the play-off semi-finals, but do have two matches remaining of the regular campaign in which they will look to secure top spot in the league table. 

NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: Armadale, Fri Sept 23

MILDENHALL
“Obviously it was a very sticky moment when we lost Jason (Edwards) but the way the lads pulled together and worked as a team was simply outstanding.

We are very proud of them. It is a great feeling to be top of the table at the completion of our fixtures and more importantly knowing that we are guaranteed a place in the play-offs.”
Co-boss Jason Gardner praised the efforts of his side in securing a top-four finish in the NDL, as they now await news of their opposition in the play-offs.

NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: TBC
 
OXFORD
“We want Oxford Speedway to be a long-term success and appreciate the support we have received through the season particularly in such challenging and uncertain times for many families.

We hope our offer to refund tickets and make them valid for the fixture’s restaging can help us conclude what has been a mostly memorable campaign on a high.”
The Chargers have re-arranged their home clash with Kent for September 21, with promoter Jamie Courtney quick to apologise for last week’s late call-off.

NEXT HOME: Kent, Wed Sept 21
NEXT AWAY: TBC

PLYMOUTH
The Centurions have one meeting to arrange to complete their NDL campaign, with that fixture being an outstanding home clash with Armadale.

NEXT HOME: TBC

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Plymouth v Poole OFF (Now Tues Sept 20)

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Poole v Plymouth 7.30
ALAN GRAHAME MEMORIAL: Birmingham v Cradley Select 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15:
PREMIERSHIP: Peterborough v Belle Vue 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Redcar 7pm

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Redcar v Edinburgh 5pm
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Leicester v Poole 7pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18:
SPORTS INSURE BRITISH FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue 3pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Belle Vue 12pm

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Plymouth v Poole 7pm

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Oxford v Kent 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30, Sheffield v Belle Vue 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Armadale v Leicester 7.30

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe 3pm

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26:
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Wolverhampton v TBC 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29:
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F: Ipswich v TBC 7.30