BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 2

Monday August 2, 2021

(SPEEDWAY 1)

PREMIERSHIP leaders Wolverhampton host second-placed Peterborough in a big top-of-the-table clash at Monmore tonight (Monday).
Wolves have a 100 per cent home record although they were run close by Belle Vue last week, whilst the Panthers defend a hugely impressive unbeaten away record of three wins and one draw.
The visitors operate rider replacement at No.1 for the injured Ulrich Ostergaard, with fellow Dane Hans Andersen switching to reserve.
Wolves star Nick Morris said: “A couple of our guys didn’t start as they normally do against Belle Vue and it made it a bit tough so we need to start better against Peterborough.
“I think everyone is still getting dialled in really, but we’ve got a good team and I think there’s still more to come, which is obviously good.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)

BELLE VUE take on Ipswich in a meeting between two sides currently in the play-off places tonight (Monday).
The Aces are comfortable in third place and could well climb with a win, whilst the Witches reach the three-quarter mark in their schedule and need more away points to fend off Sheffield.
Belle Vue will be without Jye Etheridge, who escaped serious injury in a crash at Berwick on Saturday, whilst Ipswich operate rider-replacement for No.1 Jason Crump who is again ruled out.
Aces boss Mark Lemon said: “Jye is quite battered and bruised but, amazingly, hasn’t broken any bones so we hope it will not be too long before he is back with us.
“We’re getting down to the business end of the season now and the shootout for the top four is getting more intense with each meeting.
“We have already shown that we can defeat Ipswich convincingly here in Manchester and I will expect nothing less than for all of the boys to so again come Monday.”
Witches manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “We head to Belle Vue with R/R at No.1 and I have had a tinker with the line-up, moving three around and we will see if that will make a little bit of difference.
“We are performing well away from home and I don’t think there is a lot wrong with our form on the road to be fair. We will try at Belle Vue and see how we get on and hopefully it will work, and we go well.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

KING’S Lynn go for a second successive home win when they take on Sheffield at the Adrian Flux Arena tonight (Monday).
The bottom club are on an improved run having defeated Belle Vue last time out on their own circuit as well as suffering two narrow last-heat decider defeats on the road.
The Tigers hand a debut to new signing Stefan Nielsen and also have Danyon Hume standing in at reserve, and they go into the meeting four points behind fourth-placed Ipswich but with four matches in hand.
Stars boss Alex Brady said: “I’m just about over the narrow defeat at Ipswich on Thursday where again the boys did themselves proud.
“Now we need to head home and see the place packed. The fans made one heck of a difference with the feel-good factor against Belle Vue and they were like an extra rider for us.
“Now we need to continue that against Sheffield who have some class riders in their side. We know it will be tough, but we can do it, I’m confident of that.”
Nielsen said: “This week’s meetings could turn out to be so important as Sheffield aim to get into those play-offs, and hopefully we can add some more points and get a win or two away from home too.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to come back into the Premiership now; I’ve been going well for Poole lately so my confidence is up, and I know I can score some points.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

NEWCASTLE produced a strong finish to defeat Berwick 49-40 to consolidate their place in the Championship’s top ten.
The Diamonds led by just one point with three heats to go, but then recorded two successive 5-1s to put the match beyond the Bandits.
Reserve James Wright piled up 11+3 from six rides whilst Max Clegg returned to form with 10, a total matched by guest Ricky Wells. Kasper Andersen impressed for the Bandits with 13+1 from seven rides.
Newcastle boss Steve Pate said: “This was a vital win for us as we needed to prove we can take good wins, and this was a good win!  
“This meeting proves what we can do, and now we need to continue for the rest of the season.
“It was great to see the Max Clegg from 2019 back to his brilliant best. The lad’s a star and tonight we saw that.”
Bandits manager Gary Flint said: “Without Jye (Etheridge), Dany (Gappmaier) and Leon (Flint) we were up against things from the off, and Theo (Pijper) had an off-night, but the guys pulled together and for a good while really worried the Diamonds who were wondering what was going on.
“Unfortunately we lost our grip over the last three races, but Heat 10 didn’t help after Theo was excluded and then Kye Thompson was when Adam Roynon fell – but to be honest we though at least it should have been all three back and thought that exclusion somewhat controversial.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

MILDENHALL put their first home win of the season on the board by overcoming Armadale 50-39 at West Row.
Jordan Jenkins made a successful return to the side with 13 points whilst Jason Edwards added 12+1 as the Fen Tigers pulled clear in the closing stages of the meeting.
The Devils challenged strongly for a league point but missed out after a solid display, with Danny Phillips top-scoring on 10+1.
Mildenhall boss Malcolm Vasey said: “It was great to have all seven riders available today and the team spirit was very positive. Everyone contributed to our victory, and we now have a solid base to build on.
“Elliot (Kelly) was smiling again, clearly responding to the help he was receiving from Jon Armstrong in the pits and both Jordan and Jason returned to the team and put in fine performances.”
Devils manager Alan Budzynski said: “I thought we were unlucky not to come away with something. Several times we were well placed in heats which were stopped and didn’t do so well in the restart.
“The track was pretty slippery at the start. I was pleased to see George Rothery have his best meeting for a while, and Gregor Millar is certainly making progress.”

(FIXTURES)

MONDAY AUGUST 2:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30, King’s Lynn v Sheffield 7.30, Wolverhampton v Peterborough 7.30

TUESDAY AUGUST 3:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Eastbourne 6.30, Plymouth v Edinburgh 7pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Kent 7.30, Poole v Edinburgh 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 5:
PREMIERSHIP: Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30, Peterborough v King’s Lynn 7.30