BRITISH SPEEDWAY SOLOS JULY 15
Date: Thursday July 15, 2021
(SPEEDWAY 1)
JORDAN Palin has been called back into the full line-up for Friday’s British Under-21 Final at Redcar after Leon Flint was ruled out.
Flint has confirmed he has a fractured scaphoid after crashing in Berwick’s clash with Edinburgh last weekend, and he therefore misses the showpiece event at the Media Prima Arena.
He said: “Gutted is an understatement, but I’ve got a long career in front of me and it’s not worth making things worse.
“It’s time to rest up and come back where we left off.”
Palin moves back into the line-up after dropping back to reserve when Jordan Jenkins was declared fit. Elliot Kelly and Ben Trigger take the reserve berths.
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SCUNTHORPE have taken over at the top of the Championship after an impressive 51-39 win at Birmingham.
The Scorpions collected all four points from their trip to Perry Barr to overhaul Glasgow at the summit, with former Brummies Adam Ellis and Tero Aarnio both scoring heavily.
Ellis (13+1) dropped his only point to Chris Harris in Heat 1 whilst Aarnio contributed 12+1 and Thomas Jorgensen (9) won his first three rides.
Harris scored 12+1 in the Brummies’ first home match for five weeks, and reserve Jack Thomas won two races to end on 8+1.
Scorpions boss Dave Peet said: “I said a few weeks ago that it was only a matter of time before we started getting points on the road. I felt tonight was a must-win and all the lads chipped in and we did it – it was superb.
“Adam is a class act; it’s as simple as that. He’d didn’t put a wheel wrong tonight and won the big races for us. Once he sorts out our track – and he will – he’s going to be almost unstoppable.
“But the whole team were terrific tonight – every single last one of them. They all contributed to this victory.”
Harris said: “It’s not ideal because you’ve got to win your home matches especially if you want to make the play-offs.
“But Scunthorpe have got a good side, solid pretty much all the way through, and some of the boys struggled having not being on the bike.
“I’m sure that given time they’ll get back to their best, but the thing is we haven’t got time – so hopefully next week we can regroup and go again.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
CAMERON Heeps has been ruled out for a further two weeks to leave King’s Lynn and Kent seeking cover for their upcoming meetings.
Heeps has recently returned from a shoulder injury but his scores in both leagues have been well below expectations.
Stars promoter Dale Allitt said: “We had a chat with Cam this morning (Wednesday) and you can tell he’s not really ready to be back on a bike.
“He feels he needs more time for the injury to heal and we support him in that. The last thing he needs right now is to risk any long-term damage.”
Kings manager Chris Hunt added: “It doesn’t come as a surprise knowing how Cam is suffering with this injury. A separated shoulder is certainly a nasty knock to recover from.
“We support him completely in this decision that he needs more time for the injury to heal.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
BELLE Vue host Wolverhampton tonight (Thursday) in a rapidly re-arranged clash between two of the Premiership’s top three.
The Aces can go level on points with leaders Peterborough if they win, with the meeting going ahead 72 hours after Monday’s planned staging was rained off.
The hosts are at full strength whilst Jack Smith steps in at reserve for Wolves with Leon Flint ruled out due to a wrist injury.
Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “We are very grateful to Chris Van Straaten and the Wolverhampton management for their swift action in helping to re-arrange this meeting.
“This will be our final meeting operating under restricted circumstances and everyone at the club is very much looking forward to being able to welcome back all of our fans.
“We always relish our battles with the Wolves and this year will I’m sure prove no different. They are a very strong team and hungry for success.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
SHEFFIELD have been forced into two changes for tonight’s (Thursday) Premiership clash with bottom club King’s Lynn at Owlerton.
The Tigers have booked former favourite Danny King to guest for Jack Holder, who suffered a bruised lung in an horrific crash when racing for his Polish club Torun at Grudziadz on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Leicester youngster Dan Thompson makes his top-flight debut as he comes in for the still sidelined Josh Bates.
Co-promoter Damien Bates said: “We’ve been impressed by Dan’s performances so far this season, so this is a good opportunity for him and we wish him well.
“Danny is a delight to deal with and we know he’ll give it everything for us, just like he did when he rode for us two years ago.
“We’re hopeful Jack won’t be out for too long, but he’s in a lot of discomfort. Anyone who has seen footage of the crash will be able to see why.”
The Stars include Chris Harris as a guest for the injured Erik Riss, and operate rider-replacement for Cameron Heeps, whilst former boss Rob Lyon steps in for the night as they work on a replacement for Peter Schroeck who left the club last week.
Co-promoter Dale Allitt said: “We know what a tough meeting it will be for the boys, but we also know they’ll give it their all.
“Richard Lawson likes it around there, in fact he was signed by them for 2020, the season which never happened!
“We’re going through a difficult time, but we have to get on with it. We have to get through it, we’ve been in crisis before and no doubt we will again, but it’s how you bounce back from these things.”
(SPEEDWAY 6)
YOUNGSTER Vinnie Joe Foord has pledged his future to local club Eastbourne – and will make his debut in the National Development League on Sunday.
Hailsham-based Foord turned 15 on Tuesday and will replace the unavailable Richard Andrews for the Seagulls in this weekend’s Arlington clash with Leicester.
Co-promoter Lee Kilby said: “Vinnie cannot sign a formal Eastbourne contract until he is 16.
“However, he will today (July 14) be signing a formal ‘Letter of Intent’ to join the Eastbourne Eagles as a full asset on his 16th birthday, and, therefore, pledging his future to Eastbourne, which we know has long been his dream, and an opportunity we have all been eagerly awaiting.”
(FIXTURES)
THURSDAY JULY 15:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 7.30, Sheffield v King’s Lynn 7.30
FRIDAY JULY 16:
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Redcar 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30
SUNDAY JULY 18:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Eastbourne v Leicester 3pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Leicester (follows Champ fixture), Mildenhall v Kent 3pm
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