BRITISH SPEEDWAY NOVEMBER 5, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1)

POOLE’S DOUBLE DELIGHT

POOLE completed the double at Championship level for the second successive season by retaining the league title with a Grand Final victory over Leicester.

The Pirates led by eight points heading into the second leg on the neutral territory of King’s Lynn, and were initially put under pressure with their overall advantage cut to two points in the early stages.
But they then pulled away for a 52-38 win on the night, and a 22-point aggregate triumph, with Richard Lawson collecting a 14+1 paid maximum from five rides.

Steve Worrall won three races as he scored 11 from four, whilst the contributions of the in-form Cook brothers were also key as Zach scored nine and Ben added 8+3.
Nick Morris top-scored for the Lions with 7+1 as they ran out of race winners after their early flourish, except for a consolation 5-1 in Heat 14 from the Thompson twins.

Pirates boss Neil Middleditch said: “It was a brilliant performance from the boys. We came here with eight, and I would have liked more to be honest, and in the first couple of races Leicester hit the ground running, but the boys got it back together and the result is there.

“Everybody played their part but Ben and Zach in the engine room of the team were fantastic, and Richard Lawson believe it or not has never won a league title, I’m so pleased for him as well, and I’m so proud of them all.”
Stand-in Lions manager Garry May said: “We started off well, we were getting out of the gate, but then the Poole boys got dialled in, and it was hard from there.

“Poole are a good side, they’ve got five or six good riders who can get you points, so we were up against it all the time.
“It was an honour to do the job for Stewart (Dickson). He’s such a good manager and it’s a shame he’s ill, but we couldn’t really do much tonight – Poole were on fire, the Leicester boys tried hard, but we just couldn’t do it.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

BRITISH Speedway Promoters’ Ltd are pleased to confirm several key decisions have been made in order to assist forward planning for the Championship in the 2023 season.

A recent General Council meeting has seen the structure for next year agreed, with a focus on more meaningful meetings and the overall sustainability of the league to protect its long-term future.
This includes a limit to rider guarantees, with any club found guilty of breaching this regulation to incur a significant points penalty.

With Leicester expected to move into the Premiership next season, the BSP are delighted to hear that an agreement has been reached in principle for Edinburgh to continue at Armadale. This means the remaining nine clubs from this year are all set to take their places in the Championship.

It has been agreed that teams will meet each other home and away twice in the regular league programme in 2023, giving a 32-match schedule – an increase on recent years, which will ensure more regular league racing.
Official confirmation of SCB rulebook issues such as the points limit, league scoring system and play-off structure, and details of other competitions, will follow after the AGM later this month.

(SPEEDWAY 3)

LEICESTER wrapped up the National Development League title with a 62-28 win over Mildenhall to complete a third-tier double for the second time in three seasons.
The Lion Cubs had already beaten the Fen Tigers to lift the KO Cup, and they secured their league success in Friday’s Grand Final at King’s Lynn having taken a 15-point lead into the meeting and with their opponents depleted by injuries.

The strength of Leicester’s developing riders was clear at the Adrian Flux Arena with 15-year-old Max Perry top-scoring with 11+4, whilst heat-leaders Dan and Joe Thompson both scored 11 and Tom Spencer added 10+3.
The Lion Cubs also included No.8 Max James for two rides, and he was unbeaten with 5+1 as they raced to an overall 114-65 aggregate triumph.

Captain Jason Edwards was the only regular Fen Tigers team member on track, and he scored 17 points, missing out only to Dan Thompson in a fine Heat 13 battle, with youngster Ashton Boughen the other race winner for the outgoing NDL champions.
Lion Cubs boss Dave Howard said: “The team spirit has been fantastic all year, everyone has been so together, even with the mechanics helping out and diving in when things go wrong.
“There’s so much togetherness in the team, and that spirt really helps. It’s just been a joy to be manager of them.
“The progression the riders have made as well, everyone has been great.”