BRITISH SPEEDWAY WEEKLY BULLETIN 2022/25

THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN

PIC OF THE WEEK…

Leicester have booked their place in the Championship Grand Final following a 106-73 aggregate semi-final win against Edinburgh. The Lions now must sit and wait to find out their opponents in the Final when Poole and Glasgow complete their semi-final this week.
Photo Credit: STEVE DIXON

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

PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…

BELLE VUE
“We’ve been saying for a while that we’re not overly concerned about whom we meet in the semi-finals and I think the boys are quite looking forward to this one. With that said, we’re not about to take anyone for granted. We’re move into the business end of the season now, the slate is wiped clean and everything that came before is irrelevant.”
Aces boss Mark Lemon is looking forward to their play-off semi-final against Ipswich, with an important decision to be made regarding cover for No.1 Max Fricke who was injured in Poland last weekend.
NEXT HOME: Ipswich (Play-Off S/F), Mon Oct 3
NEXT AWAY: Ipswich (Play-Off S/F), Thur Sept 29
 
IPSWICH
“Belle Vue have been in great form especially at home, we have had one good meeting there this year where we ran them close and one poor performance. Over the two legs we are certainly going to need to be on top of our game and all click together, which has rarely happened, to make sure we progress to the Final.”
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins is calling for an all-round effort from his side in order to overcome Belle Vue in the play-off semi-finals this week.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue (Play-Off S/F), Thur Sept 29
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue (Play-Off S/F), Mon Oct 3
 
KING’S LYNN
“Picko (Josh Pickering) summed it up on the back of the parade truck, it was just fun with all seven riders chipping in together with smiles on their faces. The track was spot on, the crowd was noisy and it was one of those nights that you just wish could happen every week.”
Stars boss Alex Brady saw everything come right in a 63-27 demolition of Wolverhampton at the Adrian Flux Arena last week which sets them up well for their League Cup Final trip to Sheffield.
NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield (LC Final), Thur Sept 29
 
SHEFFIELD
“Belle Vue have been really dominant of late so to get a win like that over such a good team is obviously pleasing. You look through the scorecard and everybody did their bit, everybody chipped in and while we won’t be taking anything for granted now in the play-offs, we are really pleased.”
Tigers boss Simon Stead saw his side rack up 57 points at home to Belle Vue to go to the top of the table ahead of the play-offs, which set up a semi-final clash with fourth-placed Wolverhampton.
NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn (LC Final), Thur Sept 29
NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton (Play-Off S/F), Mon Oct 3
 
WOLVERHAMPTON
“We like to try and establish some form of lead to take into the away leg and as a team we’re ready. We’ve had some close meetings with Sheffield this season both at their place and at Wolverhampton. We’re two strong teams and this is the time of the season where we need to strike our best form.”
Wolves boss Peter Adams is content to be staging the home leg of their play-off semi-final against Sheffield first, with the meeting rearranged for Monday October 3 after this week’s rain-off at Monmore.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield (Play-Off S/F), Mon Oct 3
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield (Play-Off S/F), Thur Oct 6
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
 
EDINBURGH
“It’s been a disappointing weekend for us, we thought we would do better. No excuses though, we were not good enough.”
Monarchs boss John Campbell pulled no punches over his side’s play-off exit at the hands of Leicester, who were winners by a 33-point aggregate margin after an impressive show to win 53-36 at Armadale on Friday.
NEXT HOME: Farewell To Armadale, Sat Oct 15
 
GLASGOW
“The track just wasn’t raceable after the rain unfortunately. Craig Cook came in after his previous heat and said you can ride round, but you can’t race, so the fans wouldn’t see proper racing and I think it was the right decision.”
Tigers boss Cami Brown says the correct decision was taken to abandon last Sunday’s play-off semi-final against Poole, with the Ashfield meeting set to be re-staged this Saturday at 3pm.
NEXT HOME: Poole (Play-Off S/F), Sat Oct 1
NEXT AWAY: Poole (Play-Off S/F), Wed Sept 28

LEICESTER
“The objective was to get to the Final and we’ve managed to do that rather more convincingly than I thought we would do. Edinburgh had a tough night on Friday which we took advantage of, and we did a thoroughly professional job tonight, so now it’s all systems go and we’re looking forward to the Final,”
Lions boss Stewart Dickson was pleased to see his side get the job done against Edinburgh in the play-off semi-final, and they now look forward to a Grand Final against either Glasgow or Poole.
NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: TBC

PLYMOUTH
“Who would have believed we could get this far with all of the problems we have had on and off the track with injuries, suspensions, weather delays and an arson attack on the stadium, all of which have cost us tens of thousands of pounds in lost revenue and unexpected costs?”
Gladiators promoter Mark Phillips is proud of his side’s efforts in 2022 to reach the play-offs despite an almost unprecedented injury run, with their title hopes finally ended by Poole last week.
NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Tues Oct 11
 
POOLE
“We must move on and focus on Wednesday night when the mission will be to build as big a lead as possible to bring back here. Judging by the reaction of our boys after tonight’s decision, they should be really fired up for what is now going to be the first leg.”
Pirates promoter Danny Ford was stressed the importance of Wednesday’s play-off clash with Glasgow after the two clubs disagreed over the decision to abandon Sunday’s meeting at Ashfield.
NEXT HOME: Glasgow (Play-Off S/F), Wed Sept 28
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow (Play-Off S/F), Sat Oct 1
 
REDCAR
The Bears have agreed dates for the KO Cup Final with Poole, and will host the Pirates in the first leg at the Ecco Arena on Friday October 7. But Stuart Robson’s Farewell Meeting, which was scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed and will now take place in 2023.
NEXT HOME: Poole (KO Cup Final), Fri Oct 7
NEXT AWAY: Poole (KO Cup Final), Wed Oct 12
 
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…

ARMADALE
Devils star Lee Complin gave a strong performance in Sunday’s NDLRC at Scunthorpe, finishing fourth overall on 11 points, whilst captain Tom Woolley scored seven points to finish midway down the field.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Fri Sept 30
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues Oct 4
 
BELLE VUE
The Colts need a point from their final regular league fixture at Armadale on Friday in order to move into the top four of the NDL and qualify for the play-offs.
NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: Armadale, Fri Sept 30

BERWICK
The Bullets are back in action at Leicester on Saturday with the winners of the meeting set to top the table ahead of the play-offs. Berwick have announced they plan to stage the home leg of their semi-final on October 8.
NEXT HOME: TBC (Play-Off S/F), Sat Oct 8
NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Sat Oct 1
 
KENT
“The result doesn’t match the effort the team put in, from getting Sam Woods onto the start in Heat 1, to Lee (Complin) giving Ben (Morley) a bike when a circlip disintegrated. I am very proud of what we have achieved this season, and look forward to the 2023 campaign.”
Promoter Si Kellow said the Royals hadn’t received their just rewards at Oxford, when a 60-29 defeat last Wednesday saw their outside hopes of reaching the NDL play-offs finally come to an end.
NEXT HOME: TBC
 
LEICESTER
“We want to keep our momentum going and carry on our positive home form, which with a win will put us in the No.1 spot to face whoever finishes fourth.”
Lion Cubs boss Dave Howard says his side are fully focused for this Saturday’s home clash with Berwick where they will look to secure top spot in the NDL table ahead of the play-offs.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Sat Oct 1
NEXT AWAY: Armadale, Fri Oct 7

MILDENHALL
Fen Tigers skipper Jason Edwards made a successful return from injury to finish third in the NDLRC on Sunday, with former Mildenhall star Jordan Jenkins taking the title ahead of Max Clegg.
NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: TBC

OXFORD
“I’m really pleased that we now have Henry as an asset. He’s a great lad. He’s already a top rider at National League level and hopefully we can help him develop over the next few years and make him the rider we know he can be. We look forward to working with him in the long run.”
Chargers boss Peter Schroeck has confirmed mid-season signing Henry Atkins is now an Oxford asset, with the team awaiting the outcome of Belle Vue’s trip to Armadale on Friday which will determine their own play-off destiny.
NEXT HOME: TBC
NEXT AWAY: TBC

PLYMOUTH
The Centurions will wrap up a tough campaign with a home clash against Armadale next Tuesday, which could go a long way towards determining with of the two sides end up with the wooden spoon this season.
NEXT HOME: Armadale, Tues Oct 4

FIXTURE PICTURE…

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Glasgow OFF (Now Tues Oct 11)

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 28:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Poole v Glasgow 7.30

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29:
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Ipswich v Belle Vue 7.30
LEAGUE CUP FINAL 1st leg: Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Armadale v Belle Vue 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 1:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow v Poole 3pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester v Berwick 7pm

MONDAY OCTOBER 3:
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30, 1st leg: Wolverhampton v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Plymouth v Armadale 7pm

THURSDAY OCTOBER 6:
PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 2nd leg: Sheffield v Wolverhampton 7.30

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Redcar v Poole 7.30
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Armadale v Leicester 7.30

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PLAY-OFF S/F: Berwick v TBC 7pm

MONDAY OCTOBER 10:
PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: TBC v TBC 7.30

TUESDAY OCTOBER 11:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Glasgow 7pm