SHEFFIELD WITHOUT JACK HOLDER

Date: Monday May 16, 2022

(SPEEDWAY 1)

SHEFFIELD WITHOUT JACK HOLDER

IPSWICH and Sheffield both look to build on encouraging starts to the league campaign whey meet in tonight’s (Monday – UK time) televised clash at Foxhall.

The Witches have collected two Premiership wins out of two after struggling in the League Cup, whilst the Tigers remain unbeaten in all competitions so far in 2022.

But they travel without No.1 Jack Holder who picked up a leg injury in a crash during Saturday’s Grand Prix in Warsaw, and Chris Harris comes in to guest.

Danyon Hume continues in the Rising Star berth for the home side with Anders Rowe still sidelined, which means Hume faces the side for whom he rode last year.

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Sheffield are the favourites for the league title in most people’s eyes and they have started the season unbeaten home and away, so they are living up to that billing at the moment.

“We are coming off a great start to the league campaign as well though. It will be a stern test, but it is very important for us racing at home to carry on where we left off last week, which I thought was a very good performance at Foxhall.

“We then had that terrific win at Wolves, so we have got to carry on that momentum, and a great way to do that would be another victory against Sheffield.”

Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “It’s going to be interesting. It has been a little bit stop start, stop start up to now for us, but I’d like us to carry forward the momentum that we’ve got.

“We want to put in a dominant display – but we know we’re in for a tough fixture.
“Ipswich always ride their place very well so it won’t be easy, but it would be nice to continue the current form that we’re in.”
 
(SPEEDWAY 2)
 
EARLY Premiership pace-setters Belle Vue welcome King’s Lynn to the National Speedway Stadium tonight (Monday) – with a weekend GP winner at No.1.

Aces star Max Fricke triumphed in Warsaw on Saturday and is sure of a huge welcome back on his home track.
The hosts have eight points on the board from their first three matches, although they are waiting on the fitness of Jye Etheridge after a crash at Berwick on Saturday.

Meanwhile the Stars bid to get off the mark in the league, with former Aces star Richie Worrall expected to be a key figure at reserve.

Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “The last couple of weeks have been exceptional for us. The team has gelled so well, and so quickly since the signing of Matej Žagar and it feels like everything has fallen into place
“But we’re not about to get carried away with these early successes.

There’s still a long way to go to reach the play-offs and every point we can pick up along the way will be vital.

“We’re delighted to welcome back Max Fricke following his amazing win in Warsaw. He has struggled a bit early doors, so it’s very encouraging to see him hitting form. 

“On paper, these boys are more than a match for King’s Lynn. They are a solid unit and we have sent a clear message to our Premiership rivals that we mean business in 2022.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

GREAT Britain secured the bronze medal position in the FIME European Team Championship at Poznan on Sunday.
Hosts Poland won the event with a massive 47 points, with Denmark second on 28 and GB just behind on 27, whilst Sweden brought up the rear on 18.

Grand Prix stars Dan Bewley (11) and Robert Lambert (10) both scored double figures for GB, with Chris Harris adding four and Adam Ellis two. Janusz Kolodziej scored a 15-point maximum for Poland, and Bartosz Zmarzlik collected 14.

Meanwhile a far less experienced side were fourth in an International Fours event at German venue Neudstadt Donau.

Connor Bailey (8) and Danyon Hume (7) contributed the bulk of GB’s 21 points, with Sam Hagon and George Congreve both on three. The Czech Republic won the meeting on 42, ahead of Germany (31) and Denmark (26).

(SPEEDWAY 4)

ALFIE Bowtell scored a 15-point maximum to lead Kent to a 50-40 win over Leicester in the NDL on Sunday.

Bowtell was backed up by Ben Morley (11+1) and Joe Alcock (9) as the Lion Cubs were prevented from taking any league points from Iwade.
Dan Thompson and Connor Coles both scored 10 for the visitors, but they were hampered by a broken collarbone suffered by youngster Max Perry in a Heat 2 crash.

Cubs boss Dave Howard said: “Obviously losing Max in his first ride was a big blow, he was challenging for the position when he came down, and we’re all so sad for him after such a good start on Saturday.

“Then we had another race stopped when we were on a 5-1 early on in Heat 3, so that was unfortunate as well.
“Overall we got really close, we were only 37-35 down and well in touch, but their home advantage did show, and they’re strong on their own track.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

MILDENHALL have two injury concerns and were ultimately frustrated by the weather in Sunday’s abandoned clash with Plymouth.

Heavy rain intervened and forced a halt to be called after seven races, at which time the Fen Tigers led 31-10.
That was a remarkable achievement given that Ryan Kinsley (shoulder injury) and Sam Bebee (back spasms and sore ribs) were both ruled out after a Heat 1 accident which had seen all four riders come down on bends three and four.

Mildenhall co-owner Phil Kirk said: “It’s not been a good day for the club, to see Ryan and Sam get hurt in the opening race was awful, and we are waiting now to see how long we will be without them. 

“In just a short period of time the team has bonded so well and this is a big blow, but we will battle on and we all send Ryan and Sam our best wishes for a quick recovery.

“Then after this we had the remaining five lads riding with such commitment for the club and their injured team-mates, only to see the rain arrive after seven races and be left with no option but to abandon the meeting.

  “I guess if we take any positives from today it is the efforts of the five lads as we were heading towards a big win even without Ryan and Sam.”

(SPEEDWAY 6)

SAM McGurk and Luke Harrison took the honours in the first round of the British Youth Championship at Kent on Sunday.

McGurk and Jody Scott both scored ten points in the 500cc section with McGurk taking the Final ahead of Scott and Max James. Vinnie Foord was a non-starter after completing seven rides in the earlier NDL fixture.

Defending champion Harrison swept through the card in the 250cc class with four straight wins, and then won the Final ahead of Sonny Springer, William Cairns and Jamie Etherington.
 
(FIXTURES)

MONDAY MAY 16:
PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 7.30, Ipswich v Sheffield 7.30

TUESDAY MAY 17:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Oxford v Birmingham 7.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7pm

WEDNESDAY MAY 18:
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Oxford 7.30, Poole v Berwick 7.30

THURSDAY MAY 19:
PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30
LEAGUE CUP: Sheffield v Wolverhampton 7.30